Top performers weigh in on Vegas’ unofficial top chart song

We always think of Elvis’ “Viva Las Vegas” as our city’s theme song, but two prominent performers say Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” and Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk” are their informal chart-toppers on the Strip, lately.

I’m not just saying this because I heard tourists randomly singing Journey a cappella on the casino floor of the Bellagio Thursday night, as usual.

On today’s “Doug Elfman Show,” these Journey and Bruno songs were confirmed as tops by Strip performers Lisa Marie (of “Pin Up,” not Elvis’ daughter) and Paul Johnson (of “Rock of Ages”).

Lisa Marie and Johnson (a couple in real life who have performed in many venues over the years) say the song that has gone over biggest in the course of their careers here is “Don’t Stop Believin’” — “hands-down.”

“I have never heard so many people consistently just go crazy when the first note goes down,” Johnson said.

So, if a producer wanted to put together a show list of the most popular songs now in Vegas, these performers said that set list could include:

“Don’t Stop Believin’,” Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk,” Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Shining Star,” the Commodores’ “Brick House,” Elvis’ “Viva Las Vegas,” Frank Sinatra’s “Luck Be A Lady” and Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On A Prayer.”

“People in Vegas, they want fast, and loud, and now,” he said. “Big booty hoes,” she added, quoting the lyrics from 2 Chainz’ “Birthday Song.”

Lisa Marie and Johnson are two of the co-stars of the AnimalFoundation.com’s “Best in Show” at Orleans Arena, where, on April 26, some 50 shelter dogs will parade their loveliness and then be adopted by the crowd. It’s my favorite family event of the year.

By the way, the most unusual thing a super fan has ever given Lisa Marie is a red, battery-operated sculpture of light-up boobs.

She also said two dudes once had a “full-on brawl” in the middle of her show, throwing chairs at each other. And Johnson said there has been an intermission tussle at “Rock of Ages.”

But don’t be scared. These were rare scuffles.

“You see some crazy stuff, and you’ve gotta keep going. There was a guy who barfed on our stage. All over everyone’s shoes, and on their stage,” she said and joked: “Vegas audiences are a little bit different than the New York sophisticated crowd.”

Listen to the whole interview by searching “Doug Elfman Show” on iTunes, Android podcast apps such as Podcast Addict, and online at DougElfman.com.

Contact Doug Elfman at delfman@reviewjournal.com. He blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman. Follow @VegasAnonymous on Twitter.