The decision to abstain from featuring Elvis Presley’s music in the film “Priscilla” has sparked discussions. “Priscilla,” directed by Sofia Coppola, delves into the life of Priscilla Presley, the former spouse of Elvis Presley, and spans a tumultuous period in their history. The film stars Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi.

Randall Poster, the music supervisor for “Priscilla,” sheds light on the challenging choice to exclude Elvis Presley’s songs from the biopic. According to a report in Variety, Poster elucidated that the initial plan had been to incorporate some of Elvis’s music, but securing the rights proved unattainable. The outcome, however, was an “out of period” soundtrack selection that was remarkably engaging. The soundtrack now includes songs that held particular significance for Priscilla herself.

“To immediately be out of period was very exciting. So much of the music that we landed on was born out of Sofia’s instincts, and some songs were particularly important to Priscilla herself that we learned about from the memoir or from Sofia’s conversations that she had with Priscilla.”

Initially, we had expected to include some of Elvis’s music, but we encountered obstacles in obtaining the rights. In retrospect, I believe it’s for the best, though it was a rather stressful period. Jacob’s portrayal is incredibly convincing, and he embodies the charisma that helps us understand why Priscilla was drawn to Elvis. However, without his music to infuse some romanticism into the film, it posed a challenge. After all, it is their legacy and business, and they likely have strong protective instincts.

It’s worth noting that “Priscilla” is being released just a year after Baz Luhrmann’s biopic spectacle, “Elvis.” In contrast to “Priscilla,” Elvis’s songs were integral to his narrative, with iconic tracks like “Hound Dog” and “Can’t Help Falling In Love” playing a central role. “Elvis” also placed a significant emphasis on the titular rock star, rather than his former wife, Priscilla, who takes the spotlight in “Priscilla.”

The absence of Elvis’s songs in “Priscilla” serves to shift the focus away from Elvis himself as a central figure. While Elvis makes appearances in the film to help us understand Priscilla’s infatuation with him, “Priscilla” strives to stay within her perspective. Achieving this without the “romanticism” of Elvis’s melodious tunes is a commendable achievement in its own right. The film employs alternative cinematic techniques to convey the idealized (albeit perilous) view through which Priscilla sees Elvis.

Ultimately, the decision to distance itself from Elvis’s music appears to have been the right one for “Priscilla.” Even if Presley’s estate had been more accommodating and allowed the use of his songs, there would have been a risk of shifting the focus away from Priscilla’s perspective and veering into recreating the Elvis Presley spectacle. This choice appears to have paid dividends, with “Priscilla” garnering positive reviews thus far.