Introduction:
“Queenie Wahine’s Papaya” is a song performed by Elvis Presley in the 1966 film Paradise, Hawaiian Style. The film marked Elvis’s return to Hawaii, a favored location showcased in his earlier movies like Blue Hawaii and Girls! Girls! Girls!. In Paradise, Hawaiian Style, Elvis portrays Rick Richards, a helicopter pilot who starts a charter service in the Hawaiian Islands. The movie blends adventure, romance, and musical interludes, capturing the scenic beauty and cultural essence of Hawaii.
The song was penned by the songwriting trio of Bill Giant, Bernie Baum, and Florence Kaye, who frequently collaborated with Elvis during the 1960s, contributing to numerous film soundtracks. Their compositions often mirrored the thematic elements of Elvis’s movies, and “Queenie Wahine’s Papaya” is no exception. The song’s playful lyrics and upbeat melody align with the lighthearted and tropical ambiance of the film.
Recording sessions for the Paradise, Hawaiian Style soundtrack took place in July and August of 1965 at Radio Recorders in Hollywood, California. The sessions featured a blend of Elvis’s regular musicians and specialized instrumentalists to capture the Hawaiian sound. Notably, the steel guitar, integral to the song’s island flavor, was played by Bernal Lewis. The soundtrack aimed to evoke the Hawaiian spirit, complementing the film’s setting and narrative.
Upon its release, “Queenie Wahine’s Papaya” was featured both in the film and on the accompanying soundtrack album. The song is performed in a scene that showcases Elvis’s character engaging with local culture, adding to the film’s charm. While the film and its soundtrack did not achieve the same level of acclaim as some of Elvis’s earlier works, they contributed to the mid-1960s portrayal of Hawaii in American cinema.
Over the years, “Queenie Wahine’s Papaya” has been noted for its whimsical nature, reflecting the era’s cinematic trends of incorporating exotic locales and cultures into mainstream entertainment. The song remains a testament to Elvis Presley’s versatility as a performer, capable of adapting to various musical styles and film genres. Today, it stands as a nostalgic piece, evoking the mid-1960s fascination with Hawaiian themes in popular culture.