Words & Music:
Bill Giant
Bernie Baum
Florence Kaye
Don't ever take tour eyes off me
Not even for a minute
'cause like a panther I might pounce
And that will be the limit
I can be sneaky, fast as a snake
I strike like a cobra, make no mistake
And baby you'll be trapped, quick as a wink
It's animal instinct
Don't think that I won't pin you down
No matter how you plead it
I'm like a lion who's been caged
And you are gonna meet it
Watch out I'll warn ya', sharp as a hawk
I'm wild as a tiger, I prowl and I stalk
'cause when a man feels thirst, he takes a drink
It's animal instinct
You better not be caught off guard
This wolf is on the search now
A leopard just can't change it's spots
And I'm about to lurch now
I roar like the jungle, I fight tooth and nail
I just gotta get you, you'll fall without fail
I'm ready for the kill, I'm right on the brink
It's animal instinct
It's animal instinct, animal instinct
Recordingdate: 1965/02/26, first released on: Harum Scarum (album)
Musicians
Musicians who contributed to the first recording of Animal Instinct:
(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(drums)
(piano)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(congas)
(tambourine)
(flute)
(oboe)
Availability
Find available albums with Animal Instinct.
I always liked this song. The LP & movie gets a bad rap but this bonus song rocks and may have been a hit if released as a single at the time. Possible remix material.
I also liked this song much,altough the mix on the harem holiday lp isn't that good. I've always liked most of the harum scarum songs,they are total different of what he done.
One of Elvis' all time worst songs, from one (of two) of Elvis' worst LP's, "Harum Scarum" (the other one being "Paradise, Hawaiian Style". Bad lyrics, horrible arrangement/music and a very disinterested Elvis make for a one star song all the way. Some people point to "Petunia, The Gardner's Daughter", "Old MacDonald", "Beach Shack" or "Do The Clam" as the nadir of Elvis' recording career, but at least they have scenes in movies where they fit. This fine "gem" wasn't even good enough to be in the movie "Harum Scarum" (could you imagine Elvis having to sing this to one of the ladies in the movie???). Take away the passable title tune (for the non-US release) "Harem Holiday", the fair "Go East, Young Man" and the very good "So Close, Yet So Far" and this album has nothing but one and two star songs. Even the ballads ("Kismet" and "Mirage") from this movie and album, which normally are the best songs on his later soundtrack LP's, are not the least bit interesting.
From the Harem Holiday album as it was known in the UK. A bad bad soundtrack and Elvis' voice on this tells of the humiliation of having to sing numbers such as this. Not even worth a star
Perhaps not a classic but I have heard worse songs on soundtrack albums.
Love the drums and flute accents in this song. Should have found a place for this song in the movie and dropped "Go East, Young Man." "Animal Instinct" rules!
Now here's an Elvis recording crying out for a decend remix. Not bad as it was back in '65 but this has left room for improvement with todays high tech remixing.
I really like this song, it's different from everything he have ever done... maybe not a classic, but it's cool (I like the intro of "Scratch My Back" too). I love how it sounds on "Double Features," but on the FTD the mix is just AWFUL!
One of those Elvis songs with a unique sound (Charro is another one). I love the whole performance including "the drums and flute accents", as written below. Elvis's voice is perfect on this and in fact on the whole album he sings like a bird. I love the absence of the Nashville echo, too. The film is grim and can only be viewed as a Christmas pantomime - but the album, with its mysterious Eastern feel, is one of my favourites.
I always thought this one was a good candidate for possible remix. Sometimes those movie songs were just bizarre enough to achieve a weird timelessness. Because the songs sound nothing like a typical 1960s song (or any specific era, really), it never sounds dated. And Elvis always excelled at songs where he is being a little aggressive---like in "Trouble" or "Let Yourself Go"
I always liked this song. It's "aggressive, sexy, fun and mysterious" with a very unique sound. I put it in the league of "Edge of Reality" and "Charro". All wonderful songs.
Worst of it's kind.Just money for ol' Parker.Poor Elvis had to sing this **** ! - 5 stars.
I always thought this song was very sexual. It could be remix material.
An entertaining performance and think it appealed somewhat to Elvis given his karate hobby, feeling like an animal, to be more precisely a tiger! Three stars from me.
The lyrics quoted above are way off the mark !
Fits perfectly well for the movie scene. Something different!
Sorry but where does the translation of these lyrics come from? Japanese sleeve notes perhaps.
Can someone with a good knowledge of English write down the right lyrics of all Elvis songs please. I read in The Elvis film encyclopedia from Eric Braun that this song can only be found on the Harum Scarum soundtrack. Maybe an indication of the quality of the song.
Not bad! Although once again the quality is impaired by the bad recording.
Yes it is different and nice to play every now and then. I personally prefer 3 or 4 others to this from the album, and feel more could have been made of it with a better recording sound and arrangement, but I still think it is worth 3 stars.
I was probably too harsh with my criticisms of this song with my first review. Upon giving a couple of plays, it is not one of his worst soundtracks songs. Lyrically, it is not great, but then again neither is "Hound Dog". It did have some potential, but I really feel Elvis' effort on this soundtrack (along with PHS and most of KC) is lacking. If Elvis had been presented with this song two or three years earlier or even two years later), I think he would have done a lot more with it. He never commits to this song and in the end it is at best a two star track. He elevated less than stellar songs such as "She's A Machine" and "Long Legged Girl" with his performances. Here he just seems to be going through the motions.
This is such a fun song and it's such a shame that it wasn't included in the movie "Harum Scarum". I like the entire "Harum Scarum" soundtrack album and I like the middle eastern flavor of it too.
I love Elvis' "Animal Instinct"! Could have been a big hit.
I actually purchased this soundtrack album, "Harum Scarum", when it was originally released of which this tune was included. In my opinion, there were other songs a step or two above. This song is so forced and I don't think Mr. Presley was really into this drivel. 1-star and that's being generous. This album was pretty bad to be blunt.
Animal Instinct and Wisdom Of The Ages, the two so called bonus songs, were the better part of the album. Fate would have it that when released in the Double Feature series, it was remixed for the better. Along with Frankie And Johnny. Both appeared in that series as better listening experiences. As for Animal Instinct, I like it! Try to track down the Double Feature CD, it's worth it!