"I was working in the early 2000s with Wieden & Kennedy, an exclusive, high-brow ad agency based in Amsterdam, and they were literally on the same street where my studio was. We knew each other really well, had worked together and, at a certain point, somebody knocks on my door, walks inside, and says, "Tom, I've got something, but we don't know what to do with the music." He plays me this world championship soccer commercial for NIKE directed by Terry Gilliam, a five-minute movie where you see all the star soccer players play games with one another in the belly of a ship. The commercial was called, "The Secret Tournament" , they were looking for music and had tried a few different things, like Elvis' A Little Less Conversation,' and I said, 'Oh, I know that song.'" But they said, " Problem is that it's too short and we need five minutes." I said, "I can make this work. Give me a couple of days or a week and I'll come back to you." He said, "You don't have a couple of days or a week, I need this in five hours." And I said, "Well, just give me five hours (laughs)." So he left, and at that point in time, I was producing the first record of a UK-based DJ by the name of Sasha, the biggest thing on the planet. So he came in and he said, "What are you doing?" I said, "I've gotta spend four or five hours on this Elvis thing." So he said, "I'm gonna go get a massage and get some food, I'll be back in five hours and we can continue working." So he goes to get a massage, comes back at 8:00 pm. And when I played it for him, he smiled and looked at me and said, "This is a number one hit." I said, "Ah, you're kidding, this is just for a commercial," but he said, "No. You don't understand what I'm saying: this is a number one hit." Famous last words! So I sent it out to NIKE, and they loved it, and they started talking to the Elvis estate. They were talking with the lawyer of the Elvis estate, and he says, "We just played the track for Priscilla Presley, and she really loved it. Tell me, who is the producer on this track?" And then the guy on the NIKE side says, "His name is Junkie XL." And it goes quiet. After half a minute, he says, "You have to be kidding me, right?" So we shortened it to JXL and it went into the commercial, which ran worldwide and did really well. And then the track started having a life of its own and eventually, we decided to release it as a single. So I spent a little bit more time on it to produce it as a proper release, and that's the track most people know today, yes, the one that became a number one hit in many countries."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Actors from MississippiAmerican country singersSinger-songwriters from the United StatesGuitarists from the United StatesGospel singers
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Elvis Presley
film actor, singer, composer
1935 – 1977 · United States
(8 January 1935 – 16 August 1977) was an American singer, musician, and actor. Popularly known by his first name as "Elvis," as "The King of Rock and Roll" or simply as "The King," he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century.
2020 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Elvis Presley →
Related Quotes
"Warhol was fascinated by popular and celebrity culture, and Elvis undeniably represented the ultimate subject for the…"
"Jimi is a huge Elvis fan, so we always start off by listening to 'Elvis’ Christmas Album'"
"With his blue eyes he should photograph well with black hair."
"My dad's head went into a fantasy, this idea of everything being better in America. Of course for his generation, tha…"
"Elvis was the blueprnt, he and ice cream blew my mind"
"He really enjoyed doing the sessions and worked harder than he had done in years.."
"We all know, of course, that Elvis was a philanthropist and humanitarian. The stories of his generosity are legendary…"
"Believe me, Benny just had this incredible electricity about him. He was the Elvis Presley of Cleveland."
"The voice is so melodious, and – of course, by accident, this glorious voice and musical sensibility was combined wit…"
"If Rock and Roll were a religion, Elvis was its most prolific disciple, responsible for more converts than anyone bef…"