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.
Love Is
Alannah Myles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Impossible to hold
Straight and narrow
Like a burning fuse
In a long cold dawn
By the side of the road
A hopeless case
A perfect thing
Love is (love is)
What you want it to be
Love is (love is)
Heaven to the lonely
Show me
What you want me to do
Cause love is
What I got for you
I close my eyes
Search the stars
Call for help
Wake up cold
You're in my system
Under my skin
Raw emotion
Please don't go
Love is (love is)
What you want it to be
Love is (love is)
Heaven to the lonely
Show me
What you want me to do
Cause love is
What I got for you
Can't live on promises
Won't sleep at night
Don't understand the things you say
Till I read them in your eyes
Got to run on instinct
Got to go by feel
Got to trust my senses
Know it is for real
Can't live on promises
Won't sleep at night
Don't understand the things you say
Till I read them in your eyes
Got to run on instinct
Got to go by feel
Got to trust my senses
Love is (love is)
What you want it to be
Love is (love is)
Heaven to the lonely
Show me
What you want me to do
Cause love is
What I got for you
Love is (love is)
Love is (love is)
Show me
The song "Love Is" by Alannah Myles speaks about the complexities and challenges of love, but highlights its beauty as well. The opening lines, "Hard to get, impossible to hold, straight and narrow like a burning fuse" describe how love can be difficult to attain and maintain, yet it is still sought after by many. The phrase "In a long cold dawn by the side of the road, a hopeless case, a perfect thing" speaks to the idea that love can appear at unexpected times and places, and while it may feel hopeless, it can still be a perfect thing.
The chorus repeats the idea that love is what you want it to be, and that it serves as a heaven for the lonely. This suggests that love is a subjective experience, and its defining qualities are determined by those who experience it. The bridge section of the song speaks to the raw emotion associated with love, and how it can consume a person's thoughts and feelings. The line "please don't go" emphasizes the fear of losing that intense emotion and connection.
The repeated lines "Can't live on promises, won't sleep at night, don't understand the things you say till I read them in your eyes" highlights the importance of communication and understanding in a relationship. The song suggests that sometimes, intuition and instinct are more reliable than words, and that ultimately, trust and reliance on one's senses are necessary for a successful and fulfilling love.
Overall, the song "Love Is" presents a realistic and honest portrayal of love, acknowledging its difficulties and complexities, while highlighting its power and beauty in people's lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Hard to get
It's difficult to find
Impossible to hold
It cannot be owned or possessed
Straight and narrow
It's difficult to follow and requires discipline
Like a burning fuse
It can be unpredictable and explosive
In a long cold dawn
It can often feel difficult and lonely
By the side of the road
It can come unexpectedly
A hopeless case
It can seem impossible or unlikely to succeed
A perfect thing
It can be beautiful and ideal
Love is (love is)
What you want it to be
Love is a flexible and individual experience that can be whatever you desire it to be
Love is (love is)
Heaven to the lonely
Love can provide comfort and happiness to someone who is alone
Show me
What you want me to do
Cause love is
What I got for you
Tell me how you want me to love you because that is what I have to give
I close my eyes
Search the stars
Call for help
Wake up cold
You're in my system
Under my skin
Raw emotion
Please don't go
Love is an intense, overwhelming force that can consume a person and leave them feeling vulnerable and afraid to lose it
Can't live on promises
Won't sleep at night
Don't understand the things you say
Till I read them in your eyes
Got to run on instinct
Got to go by feel
Got to trust my senses
Know it is for real
Love cannot be sustained on words alone and requires trust and intuition to truly believe and understand
Love is (love is)
What you want it to be
Love is (love is)
Heaven to the lonely
Show me
What you want me to do
Cause love is
What I got for you
Love is a personal and powerful thing that can bring happiness and connection to someone who needs it
Love is (love is)
Love is (love is)
Show me
Love is complex and multi-faceted but can be demonstrated through actions and deeds
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHRISTOPHER WARD, DAVID TYSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@greg1563
The voice, the face, the body, the charisma... Alannah had it ALL.
@amberworr5612
So true..
@mrs.columbo1803
Nope
@missfixitCanada
She still does. Something's get better with time
@pn1831
And got tricked by her manager..
@roxanajames-hernandez6166
I love her! What happened to her?
@nopcshere6097
This lady is SOOOOO underrated. Great talent!
@mysticmoon2967
That's exactly what I just said to myself. 100% ❤
@AppAlaysha
Shes badass with that raspy voice. Gives me chills. Love her!❤
@petermeissnitzer662
Exactly incredible voice.