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.
Kick Start My Heart
Alannah Myles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're skin and bones and you talk so tough
You take your time, you like to make me waiting
Just when I'm ready to accelerate
You want to see me in the middle of the night
You hit the streets, you're riding every night, you want to
Kick start my heart, kick start my heart
You get me going, you got the touch
And then you tell me that I want too much
You call me angel, say I'm a child
Then you hit me with that rebel smile
You want to take me and you know I want to go
I lose control so easily, you know how to
Kick start my heart, kick start my heart
Kick start my heart, kick start my heart
Kick start my heart, kick start my heart
Kick start my heart, kick start my heart
Kick start my heart, kick start my heart
(You get me going, you got my heart, you get me going, you got the touch)
In the song Kick Start My Heart, Alannah Myles describes her relationship with a partner who is cool and a little rough around the edges. He takes his time and likes to make her wait, but just when she's ready to accelerate, he wants to see her in the middle of the night. He hits the streets every night, and he knows how to kick start her heart. He's got the touch, and he knows just how to get her going. However, he also tells her that she wants too much, and he calls her angel and a child. He hits her with that rebel smile, and she loses control so easily.
Overall, the lyrics suggest a passionate and slightly tumultuous relationship between two people who are captivated by each other's energy and excitement. The male partner is portrayed as a rebel who knows how to push Alannah's buttons and get her heart racing. However, there's also a sense of uncertainty and even danger in the lyrics, as Alannah acknowledges her loss of control and the power that her partner holds over her.
Line by Line Meaning
You're kinda cool, a little rough
You have an edginess and unique quality about you that I find intriguing.
You're skin and bones and you talk so tough
You may have a thin frame, but your confidence and demeanor make you seem strong and powerful.
You take your time, you like to make me waiting
You enjoy playing games and making me anticipate your next move.
Just when I'm ready to accelerate
Right when I'm ready to take things to the next level between us.
You want to see me in the middle of the night
You have a desire to be with me in intimate moments, even in the late hours of the night.
You hit the streets, you're riding every night, you want to
You are out and about constantly, and you have an urge to get me involved in your adventurous lifestyle.
Kick start my heart, kick start my heart
You have the power to make me feel alive and invigorated with just your presence.
You get me going, you got the touch
You have a way of stimulating and exciting me like no one else can.
And then you tell me that I want too much
But then you push me away by making me feel like my needs and desires are unreasonable.
You call me angel, say I'm a child
You use terms of endearment to make me feel innocent and vulnerable in your presence.
Then you hit me with that rebel smile
But you also have a rebellious demeanor and attitude that keeps me on my toes and always guessing.
You want to take me and you know I want to go
Ultimately, you have a desire to bring me along on your adventurous journey, and I am willing to be a part of it.
I lose control so easily, you know how to
I have a tendency to surrender all control to you, and you know exactly how to manipulate and handle me in those moments.
(You get me going, you got my heart, you get me going, you got the touch)
In summary, you have a profound impact on me, and your touch and presence have the power to get me going and ignite my passions.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NIKKI SIXX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Doug Newman
She is one of the best live artists I've ever seen and I'm an old ass man. amazing voice and all energy.
white floss
her band knows the rock scales and settings perfectly
Keith Bartholomew
Got to see her once when she opened for Peter Frampton at the State Theater in Detroit. My sister and I went right up front! She is amazing!
ICHIBAN1997
Great voice, I can buy into this thinking it'll be Mötley Crew's song but realising she has charisma and passion with every word she said in this song. New favourite song
Aivars Klavins
You are in my opinion one of few greatest singers.
Bucefalo
SHE IS one of few Greatest Singers.
Aivars Klavins
Great song.
archiveseeker
2018. Still appreciating this song :)
Артём Давыдов
Powerfully
MikuPinky
I fought it was a cover of Mötley Crüe, but no. x)Good song.