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.
Song Instead of a Kiss
Alannah Myles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For all of you who ache, who long for nights like this
Song instead of a touch, darlin' this is a song instead of a touch
To all of you who wait so long and need so much
It is for those who like to cling, it is to those, to those I sing
Here is a song instead of a clutch, instead of a moon
It is for those who like to cling, it is to those, to those I sing
Here is a song instead of a clutch, instead of a moon
Instead of a soothing touch in the afternoon
The song "Song Instead of a Kiss" by Alannah Myles is a beautiful and poetic representation of love and longing. The repetition of the title phrase "song instead of a kiss" emphasizes the idea that music can be just as intimate and meaningful as physical touch or affection. Myles offers this song "for all of you who ache, who long for nights like this" and "to all of you who wait so long and need so much," acknowledging the universal human desire for connection and closeness.
The lyrics also highlight the power of music to comfort and ease emotional pain. Myles sings that this song is "for those who like to cling" and "to those I sing, here is a song instead of a clutch, instead of a moon, instead of a soothing touch in the afternoon." The metaphors of a clutch and a moon suggest that the song is a substitute for both physical proximity and the mystical pull of the night sky. The last line, "instead of a soothing touch in the afternoon," implies that the song is a source of solace and relief in the heat of the day, when one might feel most vulnerable and exposed.
Overall, "Song Instead of a Kiss" is a beautiful ode to the power of music to heal, to connect, and to express deep feelings of love and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
Song instead of a kiss, baby this is a song instead of a kiss
This song is meant to replace a physical kiss with its emotional power and connection.
For all of you who ache, who long for nights like this
This song is for anyone who yearns for a romantic connection or intimacy.
Song instead of a touch, darlin' this is a song instead of a touch
This song is meant to replace a physical touch with its emotive and spiritual impact.
To all of you who wait so long and need so much
This song is for those who crave affection and have been longing for it for a long time.
It is for those who like to cling, it is to those, to those I sing
This song is dedicated to those who need to hold onto someone or something for comfort and reassurance.
Here is a song instead of a clutch, instead of a moon
This song is meant to replace the need to hold or possess, or the desire for a romantic rendezvous or an idyllic scenery.
Instead of a soothing touch in the afternoon
This song is intended to provide solace and comfort during a time of day when it is often needed the most.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ALANNAH MARY MYLES, NANCY SIMMONDS, ROBERT PRIEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
EELL99
Song instead of a kiss, baby this is a song instead of a kiss
For all of you who ache, who long for nights like this
Song instead of a touch, darlin' this is a song instead of a touch
To all of you who wait so long and need so much
It is for those who like to cling, it is to those, to those I sing
Here is a song instead of a clutch, instead of a moon
Instead of a soothing touch in the afternoon
It is for those who like to cling, it is to those, to those I sing
Here is a song instead of a clutch, instead of a moon
Instead of a soothing touch in the afternoon
J North
Absolutely devastatingly awesome track. The video is unforgettable. I can listen to this song a hundred times never tiring of it.
Grybop
Beautiful, underrated song, gets better with age.
Tom Sawyer
awfull sound quality !
Erik Abee
This reminds me of living in a (kind of) rural area, when I was younger. I opened my roofwindow short after midnight, and listened to this song, and gazed at the stars and the backgarden.
It was not always a good time for me, by then. But those nights comforted me. I often wish I was back in my bedroom in my former parents house... just for a part of the night there.
Ian van Zyl
That's the ting with music, Erik. It can capture the moment... and years later, it can still transport us in our minds to those earlier times. I do that constantly. That is why I listen to so much music from the 80s and 90s.
Nelson queeseso
This is one of the best songs of the 90 'that I think has been and continues to be underrated. And my God! That ending is a stab in the middle of the chest without a knife.
Ivyman
There's nothing else that keeps and preserves the emotions better than such music. The pain and despair in this performance is so profound that it breaks my heart even now, when I listen to it, even though it's been years since I actually felt such emotions.
Brilliant performance.
One of the most emotional songs EVER.
Jaap de V.
A moving experience....
Theresa Shea
Perfect COVID-19 song. Of all the famous beauties, she is the woman that brings out my envy. Great stage presence, great voice, and allowed one hit. She must have said “no” to the wrong person.
Зак Заков
Великолепная и одна из немногих певиц , которых я люблю, не устаю ее слушать и каждый раз от ее исполнения поражаюсь и нахожусь в состоянии шока!!!