Kravitz plays guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, percussion, and sitar. He often plays these instruments on each recorded track, but frequently collaborates with other musicians as well when recording.
His 1989 debut album Let Love Rule was a moderate success. In 1991 he released his second album, Mama Said, which reached the top 40 of the Billboard album charts. In 1993, the album Are You Gonna Go My Way was released, reaching #12 on the Billboard 200 and Kravitz earned a Brit Award for best international male artist in 1994. He released the Circus album in 1995, which reached number 10 on the Billboard chart on the back of his past achievement. With 5 (1999), Kravitz embraced digital technology such as Pro Tools and samplers for the first time. He would win the first of his four consecutive Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards of 1999.
His cover version of The Guess Who's hit "American Woman" won him another Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards of 2000. Kravitz released a Greatest Hits compilation in 2000. It proved to be his most successful album. The single "Again" would earn him his third consecutive Grammy for the Best Male Rock Vocal in the Grammy Awards of 2001. Kravitz released his sixth album Lenny in October 2001. He won his fourth consecutive Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal at the Grammy Awards of 2002. Kravitz's seventh album Baptism was released in May 2004. His album, It Is Time For A Love Revolution was released in 2008. He has always edited his albums on Virgin Records America. The lead single from Kravitz’s ninth album, Black and White America, "Stand" was released on June 3, 2011. (Stand Songfacts).
He is the son of Ukrainian-Jewish American NBC television news producer Sy Kravitz, and Bahamian American actress Roxie Roker, best known as her character Helen Willis on the hit 1970s television sitcom The Jeffersons. Black and White America's title track is an autobiographical look back at his upbringing in New York. (Black and White America Songfacts).
Artist website: www.lennykravitz.com
Black Velveteen
Lenny Kravitz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Simple and clean
Oh what a bad machine
Black velveteen
Supple and plain
The 21st century dream
Ready to please
Free from disease
She's waiting on her knees
It's not a sin
Titanium skin
Just take her for a spin
Black velveteen
Simple and clean
Oh what a bad machine
Black velveteen
Supple and plain
The 21st century dream
Nice piece of kit
Electronic clit
Just sit down for a fit
Ready to trip
A guarantee hit
She's all you ever wished
Black velveteen don't give a damn she'll do dishes
Black velveteen knows all the night spots in France
Black velveteen's cat smells like strawberry kittens
Black velveteen always is ready to dance
She's ready to
Black velveteen
Simple and clean
Oh what a bad machine
Black velveteen
Supple and plain
The 21st century dream
Black velveteen don't give a damn she'll do dishes
Black velveteen knows all the night spots in France
Black velveteen's cat smells like strawberry kittens
Black velveteen always is ready to dance
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Oh yes she's ready to
Black velveteen don't give a damn she'll do dishes
Black velveteen knows all the night spots in France
Black velveteen's cat smells like strawberry kittens
Oh Yeah
Black velveteen always is ready to dance
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Oh yes she's ready to
Black velveteen
Simple and clean
Oh what a bad machine
Black velveteen
Supple and plain
The 21st century dream
Black velveteen
Simple and clean
Oh what a bad machine
Black velveteen
Supple and plain
The 21st century dream
The lyrics to Lenny Kravitz's song "Black Velveteen" describe a futuristic, almost robotic, woman who is both sexually alluring and completely obedient. She is "supple and plain" with "titanium skin," free from disease and always ready to please. The repeated phrase "simple and clean" suggests an uncomplicated and efficient nature to this woman. Her "21st-century dream" is to be used and abused by her human counterparts, as she waits "on her knees" ready to be "taken for a spin."
Although the song can be interpreted as a commentary on technology's impact on human relationships and sexuality, it can also be viewed as a more personal representation of the male gaze and objectification of women. The woman in the song is not given a personality, identity, or even a name. Rather, she is reduced to a machine-like creature designed only to fulfill the desires of her human creators. These lyrics are not only insightful but also thought-provoking, raising important questions about gender dynamics in society.
Line by Line Meaning
Black velveteen
The subject of the song is a female robot called Black Velveteen
Simple and clean
Her design is sophisticated yet effortless
Oh what a bad machine
The robot is impressive and powerful
Supple and plain
Her body is delicate and modest
The 21st century dream
Black Velveteen is an idol of the modern world
Ready to please
She exists solely to satisfy the desires of humans
Free from disease
Unlike biological organisms, Black Velveteen is immune to illness
She's waiting on her knees
Black Velveteen is passive and obedient
It's not a sin
Using Black Velveteen for pleasure is guilt-free
Titanium skin
Her exterior is strong and durable
Just take her for a spin
Using Black Velveteen for sexual gratification is easy and accessible
Nice piece of kit
She is a well-crafted and technologically advanced device
Electronic clit
A crude reference to a sex toy or pleasure center built into Black Velveteen
Just sit down for a fit
Using Black Velveteen for pleasure is a no-brainer
Ready to trip
She's programmed to give a euphoric experience
A guarantee hit
Using Black Velveteen for pleasure is a sure thing
She's all you ever wished
Black Velveteen exists to fulfill every human fantasy
Black velveteen don't give a damn she'll do dishes
Black Velveteen is programmed to perform domestic tasks
Black velveteen knows all the night spots in France
She is knowledgeable and can assist with travel
Black velveteen's cat smells like strawberry kittens
An absurd non-sequitur, possibly emphasizing her non-human nature
Black velveteen always is ready to dance
Black Velveteen is always available for use
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LENNY KRAVITZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@henriqueramos3197
"Black Velveteen"
[Chorus]
Black velveteen, simple and clean
Oh, what a bad machine
Black velveteen, supple and lean
Twenty-first century dream
[Verse 1]
Ready to please, free from disease
She's waiting on her knees
It's not a sin, titanium skin
Just take her for a spin
[Chorus]
Black velveteen, simple and clean
Oh, what a bad machine
Black velveteen, supple and lean
Twenty-first century dream
[Verse 2]
Nice piece of kit, electronic clit
Just sit down for a fit
Ready to trip, a guarantee hit
She's all you ever wished
[Chorus]
Black velveteen don't give a damn, she'll do dishes
Black velveteen knows all the night spots in France
Black velveteen's cat smells like strawberry kittens
Black velveteen always is ready to dance
She's ready to
[Chorus]
Black velveteen, simple and clean
Oh, what a bad machine
Black velveteen, supple and lean
Twenty-first century dream
[Chorus]
Black velveteen don't give a damn, she'll do dishes
Black velveteen knows all the night spots in France
Black velveteen's cat smells like strawberry kittens
Black velveteen always is ready to dance (yeah yeah yeah yeah)
She's ready to
Black velveteen don't give a damn, she'll do dishes
Black velveteen knows all the night spots in France
Black velveteen's cat smells like strawberry kittens
Black velveteen always is ready to dance
She's ready to
[Chorus]
Black velveteen, simple and clean
Oh, what a bad machine
Black velveteen, supple and lean
Twenty-first century dream
Black velveteen, simple and clean
Oh, what a bad machine
Black velveteen, supple and lean
Twenty-first century dream
Written By Lenny Kravitz
Album 5 (1999)
@CuriousPerson2206
After recently discovering this guys music, i find that he was extremely ahead of his time.
@dontknow3949
right????? I always loved Fly Away as a kid always imagining flying away from my stresses, still do. But then decided to listen to the whole album as I don't typically do and I was on ketamine and this song blew my mind esp when the guitar comes in. so euphoric
@MUSICSEARCH1200
For me, it is his electronic essay that deserves more recognition... I love it 🙌🏻
@Salty-lil-Sloth
Ha! Love it
@prorez-retrofit
Like his venture
@aaronreynolds6105
I’ll always remember buying this album (5, sometime in 1998) when it hit stores. Such an underrated guitarist and musician in general!
This song SLAMMED in my car, back in time when systems were cool to have!
@georgeorwell6066
Jacked to this in ‘98
Still jacking in 2024
@bengay2121
Undoubtedly one of Lenny's best songs! This is so underrated!
@josephevans711
one day I was chilling on vacation and listening to a bunch of compiled music all day long on CD's , and and this song came out so unexpected,
it was so originally electrifying and fresh , that it suddenly woke me up with new energy. and that's how I knew this song was probably one of the best in the last decade or so.
It's a very underrated song indeed.
@louietrujillo5763
Geez. What a man. Perfect in every way