Michael Bublé has made a career out of sounding like he was born forty years too late. He’s the guy who brought the velvet-smooth standards of the 1950s back to the top of the charts, so it was only a matter of time before he crossed paths with the ghost of the King himself. When news broke years ago that a Michael Bublé and Elvis Presley collaboration was actually happening, fans were a mix of thrilled and deeply skeptical. How do you duet with a man who passed away before you even released your first album?
It wasn't magic. It was tech. And honestly, it’s one of the few times a "posthumous duet" didn't feel like a cheap cash grab.
The Virtual Duet That Actually Worked
In 2015, the Elvis estate released an ambitious project called If I Can Dream: Elvis Presley with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The idea was simple but risky: take Elvis’s original vocal stems and back them with massive, lush orchestral arrangements. But they wanted something extra. They wanted Bublé.
The track they chose was "Fever." Now, "Fever" is a song that belongs to a specific kind of late-night, smoky-room aesthetic. Elvis recorded his famous version in 1960 for the Elvis Is Back! album. Bublé, being the "Elvis obsessive" he admits to being, didn't just phone it in. He treated the session like a sacred duty.
Why Priscilla Presley Was "Chilled" by the Result
Priscilla Presley, who was heavily involved in the project, told reporters at the time that the recording gave her "chills." It wasn't just because of the technology. She noted that Elvis would have loved Bublé’s voice and material. High praise from the woman who knew the King's musical tastes better than anyone.
Bublé himself called the experience a "highlight of my career." He wasn't exaggerating for PR. If you listen to the track, there’s a genuine chemistry there that’s hard to manufacture when one singer is in a modern studio in Vancouver and the other has been gone since 1977.
Michael Bublé and Elvis Presley: A Shared DNA
People often lump Bublé in with Frank Sinatra, and that makes sense. The suits, the timing, the "Chairman of the Board" swagger. But if you look at how Michael moves on stage—especially in his early career—there’s a massive amount of Elvis in his DNA.
✨ Don't miss: Golden Disc Award Album Division: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
He’s a student of the craft.
I’ve seen him do impressions of Elvis during live shows and interviews (like his famous appearance on the Parkinson show). He doesn't just do the lip curl. He nails the specific, quick vibrato that Elvis used on tracks like "Can't Help Falling in Love." It’s a geeky, technical appreciation for what made Elvis a great singer, not just a great icon.
The 2019 All-Star Tribute
The connection didn't end with the 2015 album. In 2019, NBC aired the Elvis All-Star Tribute, a recreation of the legendary '68 Comeback Special. Bublé was front and center. He performed "Can't Help Falling in Love," and while other artists tried to modernize the King's hits, Michael stayed true to the romantic, almost fragile core of the song.
He gets it. He understands that Elvis wasn't just a "rocker"—he was a crooner who happened to have a lot of rhythm.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Collaboration
There’s a common misconception that these two recorded "Such a Night" together. You’ll find dozens of YouTube videos titled "Michael Bublé & Elvis Presley - Such A Night."
🔗 Read more: I Touch Myself: Why the Divinyls’ Riskiest Song Is Still a Masterpiece
It’s a fake. Well, not "fake" in a malicious way, but they are fan-made edits. Bublé did a fantastic cover of "Such a Night" with Jools Holland, and Elvis obviously had the definitive version. Fans have mashed them together because the styles are so similar, but it was never an official release. If you're looking for the real deal, "Fever" is the only official studio collaboration that exists.
The "Always on My Mind" Connection
If you ever get a chance to see Bublé live, wait for the encore. For years, he’s used Elvis covers to close out his shows. Most notably, his rendition of "Always on My Mind" has become a staple.
During his Higher tour, he frequently talked about how Elvis influenced the way he approaches a ballad. Elvis had this way of making a stadium feel like a tiny club. Bublé tries to do the same. He uses the Elvis songbook as a roadmap for how to handle fame without losing the "guy next door" charm.
Is There More Coming?
The Elvis estate (EPE) is notoriously protective, but they clearly like Bublé. While there are no confirmed reports of a second virtual duet, the success of the Royal Philharmonic project—which topped the charts in the UK and did massive numbers globally—suggests the door isn't closed.
The tech is only getting better. With the rise of AI-assisted vocal isolation (like what Peter Jackson used for the Beatles’ "Now and Then"), we could eventually see a full album of collaborations. But for now, we just have "Fever" and a handful of live tributes.
Why This Connection Matters in 2026
In an era of hyper-produced pop, the link between Bublé and Elvis represents a bridge to a different kind of stardom. It’s about the voice. It’s about the "it factor" that transcends decades.
✨ Don't miss: Once Upon a Time Violet: The Truth About That Deleted Plot and What Fans Missed
Bublé isn't trying to be Elvis. He's paying rent in the house that Elvis built.
If you want to dive deeper into this musical crossover, here is how you should actually listen to it to appreciate the nuances:
- Listen to the 2015 "Fever" duet with high-quality headphones. Pay attention to how the engineers panned the voices. Elvis is often centered, while Bublé’s harmonies wrap around him. It’s a technical marvel.
- Watch the Parkinson interview from the early 2000s. It’s on YouTube. Seeing a young Bublé break down Elvis’s vocal technique shows he’s a historian, not just a singer.
- Compare Bublé’s "All Shook Up" BBC session to the original. He turns a rockabilly anthem into a jazz-swing masterpiece, proving that the bones of Elvis’s songs are indestructible.
The reality is that Michael Bublé and Elvis Presley are two sides of the same coin. One defined the 20th century, and the other is making sure we don't forget it in the 21st.
Start by finding the If I Can Dream album on your preferred streaming service. Skip the radio edits and go for the full orchestral version. It’s the closest thing we’ll ever get to seeing these two titans on the same stage.