As a young girl, Myles competed as an equestrian in Canada's prestigious Royal Winter Fair later studying to be a graphic artist, actor, stunt model, make up artist and wardrobe stylist to pay for her true calling, music. Myles changed her surname from Byles at the age of 19, after deciding to pursue a career in entertainment. Between appearing in TV ads, modelling and local gigs which, due to her multi-tasking confused Canadian labels who continually rejected signing her as a recording artist, she financed two songs from her 1989 debut album with match financing from FACTOR and Much Music's Christopher Ward who wrote songs (Black Velvet), executive produced and helped manage her music career signed to Atlantic Records with worldwide international success.
Myles' first self titled album (1989) produced four Top 40 hits, “Love Is”, “Lover of Mine”, and “Still Got This Thing”, as well as the international classic hit, “Black Velvet”, won her a 1991 Grammy award for best female rock vocalist along with four Juno Awards, and a Diamond award for sales in excess of one million in Canada - the only debut artist to retain this status.
In 1991 America's ASCAP awarded the song, Black Velvet with a 'Millionaire Award' for the highest radio airplay in the world and again in 2005 for over five million radio plays of “Black Velvet”. Canada's SOCAN awarded the songs, “Black Velvet” and “Lover Of Mine” each with an award for over one hundred thousand plays in Canada in 2005 with her classically orchestrated ballad, international number one hit, “Song Instead Of A Kiss” to follow.
Her follow-up album; Rockinghorse (1992) received a Grammy nomination for best female rock vocalist and three Juno Awards. After sale of over eight million records on three albums Alannah concluded her alliance with Atlantic Records and signed with Miles Copeland's Ark 21 Records to release her fourth record, A Rival (1997) which produced the top 40 hit, 'Bad 4 You'. WMG released The Very Best Of Alannah Myles (1999) containing hits from four albums and newly recorded songs.
After a lengthy songwriting hiatus, Myles released her fifth studio album in 2009 containing 11 new studio recordings along with several new versions of her classic worldwide hit title track, 'Black Velvet'. Executive produced with co-producer Mike Borkosky from Toronto and Veronica Ferraro from Paris, France, world renown producer Terry Brown mixed one her finest audio CD recordings to date showcasing the same sultry rock blues we've grown accustomed to from Alannah.
After terminating a six-year lease with Canadian indie label Linus Entertainment in August 2013, Myles's "Black Velvet" album was retitled "85bpm", repackaged for her 25th Anniversary with new images photographed by fellow Canadian Deborah Samuel. A newly recorded song written by Anne Peebles, produced by Michael Borkosky, "Can't Stand the Rain" was added to "85bpm", featuring a solo played by Canadian guitarist Jeff Healey, re-released on Myles's independently owned label, Fascinate inc. The last track, Trouble, was written in Nashville and recorded in Toronto with a jug band.
Black Velvet
Alannah Myles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Jimmy Rodgers 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
Black velvet if you please
Up in Memphis the music's like a heat wave
White Lightnin' 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 and 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 in 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 in 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
Mmhmm
Mmhmm
The song "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles is a tribute to Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, who is often referred to as "the boy" in the lyrics. The song paints a vivid picture of the South in the '50s, with Mississippi in the middle of a dry spell and Jimmy Rodgers playing on the Victrola. The opening lines set the stage for the rest of the song, describing a scene in a small southern town where everyone is dancing to the sweet sound of Elvis's crooning voice.
As the song progresses, the lyrics speak to the power of Elvis's music and the effect it had on people. He was a symbol of a new way of life and a new way of thinking, and his music was like a new religion that brought people to their knees. The way he moved was a sin, so sweet and true, and his voice was like black velvet, smooth and sultry. The lyrics suggest that Elvis's music was transformative, and that listening to him was like experiencing a revelation.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "black velvet and that little boy's smile," which is a reference to Elvis's good looks and charm. The line "always wanting more, he'd leave you longing for" speaks to Elvis's effect on his fans, who were always hungry for more of his music and his presence. The song also alludes to the tragedy of Elvis's death, suggesting that he was gone too soon, and that his music had a profound impact on the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Mississippi in the middle of a dry spell
The hot, dry weather in Mississippi has caused quite a dull time for some townspeople.
Jimmy Rodgers on the Victrola up high
Jimmy Rodgers' music is playing very loudly.
Mama's dancin' with baby on her shoulder
A mother is dancing with her baby on her shoulder.
The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
The sun is slowly setting, taking a long time to disappear from the sky.
The boy could sing, knew how to move everything
The boy had a beautiful voice, and knew how to dance.
Always wanting more, he'd leave you longing for
He was never satisfied with what he had, always desiring more.
Black velvet and that little boy's smile
His beautiful voice and charming smile were captivating, like black velvet.
Black velvet with that slow southern style
The southern-style music was slow and beautiful, like black velvet.
A new religion that'll bring ya to your knees
His beautiful voice and songs had such a profound impact on people as if it was like a new religion.
Black velvet if you please
The beauty and charisma of the boy singing was pleasing, like black velvet.
Up in Memphis the music's like a heat wave
The music in Memphis is so hot, it feels like a heat wave.
White Lightnin' bound to drive you wild
White Lightnin' is a type of whiskey that can make people go wild.
Mama's baby's in the heart of every school girl
All the schoolgirls adore this boy.
"Love Me Tender" leaves 'em cryin' in the aisle
The song 'Love Me Tender' is so beautiful and sad that it makes people cry in the audience.
The way he moved, it was a sin, so sweet and true
The boy's smooth and captivating movements were so charming they felt sinful yet sweet and honest.
Every word of every song that he sang was for you
The boy sang with such emotion it felt like every word was directed solely to the listener.
In a flash he was gone, it happened so soon
The boy disappeared quickly, as his time in the limelight was short-lived.
What could you do?
The listener was powerless and left in awe by the boy's captivating performances.
If you please
The phrase is used to emphasize how pleasing the boy's performance was.
Mmhmm
An expression indicating agreement or satisfaction with the situation.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Anthem Entertainment, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Christopher Ward, David Tyson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@arthurstastny3274
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
@ceciliafleming8283
Whose still listening because majority of today's music is trash!?! 🥰
@Toy_treasure_yorkies_
Still listening ❤
@jimmysmith4645
@@Toy_treasure_yorkies_❤❤❤
@BeautifulSoul5782
I'm listening in 2024 💃🏽🎶❤️
@jsm530
Indeed. Need more women like this
@TheSuperbird43
Still ""ROCKIN" Along!!! Long Live this Music!!!! "ROCK ON People"!!!!
@toplaycool21
This song is an underrated masterpiece. The drum beat, the voice, everything just works. We do not get music like this anymore.
@1Mhoram9
You might like Sina Drums cover of this song with Victoria on vocals. Then check out the cover of Barracuda.
@clinttheboss2117
Too afraid to take risks. Thats why every song sounds the same...cause the algorithm says thats what works.
@pricklypear7516
How, exactly, is it "underrated"? Two weeks as Billboard's #1 hit, a Grammy for Myles, a Juno Award for single of the year, a Millionaire Award for extensive airtime. . . It's a great song and was recognized as such. That's NOT "underrated."