The Singer
Alannah Myles, Canadian singer. Her biggest hit is Black Velvet, she won a Grammy for Best Female Rock Performance and a Juno Award for it. She had it all (voice and looks) to be a successful artist. Even though she had a couple of other hits, the singer did not receive a lot of money, due to bad negotiations with her record company at that time, Atlantic Records, so she was always struggling to make ends meet. She also had some major health problems, a car accident, and a fall from a horse, which added to an autoimmune disease that left her with several pains and unable to perform for many years. After years of painful physical therapy, she’s trying to recover her musical career.
The Album
Alannah Myles is the debut album by this singer. It was released on March 28, 1989. The album was a big success, and it included the song Black Velvet, which was a big 80s hit.
Band Members
- Alannah Myles – vocals
- Kurt Schefter – guitar
- David Tyson – bass
- Jørn Andersen – drums
The Song
It was written in 1987 by Christopher Ward, composer, and Myles‘s boyfriend at that time, while he was on a bus full of Elvis fanatics going to Elvis‘s house, Graceland in Memphis for another anniversary of the king’s death.
The song starts with an acoustic guitar that provides a country vibe. Sick bass line throughout the whole song, simple but powerful drums with Alannah‘s raspy and sultry voice. It’s a blues song, with a sweet guitar solo.
The song is called Black Velvet because, in the 70s, Elvis‘s paintings that were made in black velvet were super popular. Also, because Elvis was blond, he used to dye his hair black and the name of that hair dye was called black velvet.
In the song, Jimmie Rodgers is mentioned. An American blues guitar player and singer from Memphis who also inspired Elvis’s music.
The lyrics are about Elvis‘s life, and the impact on people back then, and that still has (even to this day), especially among teenagers. He was a man who came to change the entire world of music. And started a new religion (rock and roll, with his loyal fans, similar to religious worshipers). A movement that was holy and at the same time represented sin (for parents, religion, and society in general). This charming boy with his deep voice and outrageous dances bewitched millions of girls around the world.
A new religion, but after all it was just rock & roll. A genre that started from blues, then Chuck Berry and Elvis popularized it for the masses.
Elvis had a smooth voice, and had such a great impact on music and culture, despite the fact that he died so young. This song is one of the many tributes to him, a big hit, and it was worthy of remembering it.
Lyrics
Mississippi in the middle of a dry spell
Jimmy Rogers on the Victrola up high
Mama’s dancin’ with baby on her shoulder
The sun is settin’ like molasses in the sky
The boy could sing, knew how to move, everything
Always wanting more, he’d leave you longing for
Black velvet and that little boy’s smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that’ll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please
Up in Memphis the music’s like a heatwave
White lightning, bound to drive you wild
Mama’s baby’s in the heart of every school girl
“Love me tender” leaves ’em cryin’ in the aisle
The way he moved, it was a sin, so sweet and true
Always wanting more, he’d leave you longing for
Black velvet and that little boy’s smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that’ll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please
Every word of every song that he sang was for you
In a flash he was gone, it happened so soon, what could you do?
Black velvet and that little boy’s smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that’ll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please
Black velvet and that little boy’s smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that’ll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please
If you please, if you please, if you please