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"Black Velvet" | ||||
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Single by Alannah Myles | ||||
from the album Alannah Myles | ||||
B-side | "If You Want To" | |||
Released | July 1989 (Canada) December 1989 (U.S) [1] | |||
Recorded | 1988 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | Atlantic | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | David Tyson | |||
Alannah Myles singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Black Velvet" on YouTube |
"Black Velvet" is a song written by Canadian songwriters Christopher Ward and David Tyson, and recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Alannah Myles. It was released as one of four singles from Myles' 1989 eponymous album from Atlantic Records. It became a number-one hit for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1990 and reached number one on the Album Rock Tracks chart, as well as number ten in her native Canada and number two on the UK Singles Chart. The power ballad [6] also reached number one in Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland and was a major success in several other countries. It contains blues verses with a rock chorus.
Myles won the 1991 Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for the song and the 1990 Juno Award for Single of the Year. Since its release, the song has received substantial airplay, receiving a "Millionaire Award" from ASCAP in 2005 for more than four million radio plays. [7]
The song is a paean to Elvis Presley. His voice was distinctive for the time and could be described as "black velvet". Co-writer Christopher Ward, who was Myles' then-boyfriend, was inspired on a bus full of Elvis fans riding to Memphis attending the 10th anniversary vigil at Graceland, in 1987. Upon his return to Canada, he brought his idea to Myles and producer David Tyson, who wrote the chords for the bridge. The song was one of three in a demo Myles presented to Atlantic Records, which eventually got her signed to the label. [8]
Atlantic Records also gave the song to country artist Robin Lee to record. In the United States, Myles' version was released in December 1989, while Lee's version was released two months later in February 1990. This led to Myles being promoted by Atlantic on the pop and rock radio stations, and Lee on the country radio stations.[ citation needed ]
Myles released a new version of the song on a digitally released Elvis tribute EP in August 2007 to commemorate the 30 years since his death. It was later included on her 2008 Black Velvet CD.
The song is performed in the key of E♭ minor, with a swinging tempo of 92 beats per minute in 4
4 time. Myles' lead vocals span from E♭3 to E♭5 in the song. [9] [10]
Music & Media described the song as "a blues ballad featuring some straight-from-the-heart vocals from Myles and inspired guitar playing". [11]
As the second single of Myles' debut album, it was first released in her native Canada in July 1989. It peaked at number 10 in September of that year, becoming the first of four top-10 hits for Myles in her homeland. Worldwide, it was released as Myles' debut single. It was released in the United States in December 1989 and worldwide in early 1990, becoming a top-10 hit in most countries where it was released. It peaked at number one in four countries: Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States and received gold and platinum discs in several countries. This would go on to be her biggest hit in the US, leading to her being seen as a one-hit wonder there.
The music video, directed by Doug Freel, was partially shot on Myles' family ranch in Buckhorn, Ontario. Myles is seen singing on a cabin porch with her guitarist, Kurt Schefter (Raving Mojos), intercut with scenes from Myles in concert with her band. The concert scene was filmed in Kingston, Ontario, in a bar called Stages.
CD maxi
7" single
| 12" maxi
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Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [36] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [48] | Gold | 25,000* |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [49] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI) [50] | Gold | 250,000^ |
Sweden (GLF) [51] | Platinum | 50,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [52] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [53] | Gold | 500,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
"Black Velvet" | ||||
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Single by Robin Lee | ||||
from the album Black Velvet | ||||
Released | February 1990 | |||
Genre | Country | |||
Length | 4:43 (album version) | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
Songwriter(s) | David Tyson, Christopher Ward | |||
Producer(s) | Nelson Larkin [54] | |||
Robin Lee singles chronology | ||||
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Country music artist Robin Lee, also signed to Atlantic at the time, covered "Black Velvet" in 1990 on her third studio album, also titled Black Velvet . Lee's version peaked at No. 12 on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) chart.
Idols South Africa winner Anke Pietrangeli covered the song on her album Tribute to the Great Female Vocalists in 2009. [55]
In 2015, Canadian heavy metal band Kobra and the Lotus recorded the song for their first EP, entitled Words of the Prophets . [56]
In 2021, X Factor winner Sam Bailey recorded the song as her rock debut. The song was released through independent record label Saga Entertainment on August 6, 2021. The song peaked at number one on the Amazon best sellers chart. [57] [58] [59]
In 2022, Infected Mushroom released a cover of the song featuring Ninet Tayeb. It was released through record label Monstercat and is featured on Infected Mushroom's IM25 album. [60]
Chart (1990) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Country Tracks ( RPM ) [61] | 21 |
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) | 12 |
The song was featured in Grand Theft Auto V as a song on "Los Santos Rock Radio." [6]
Alannah Myles is a Canadian singer-songwriter who has won both a Grammy and a Juno Award for the song "Black Velvet". The song was a top-ten hit in Canada; it was also a number one hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1990.
"Alright" is a song by American singer-songwriter Janet Jackson from her fourth studio album, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989). Written by Jackson and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, the song was released on March 4, 1990, by A&M Records as the fourth single from Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814. In the United Kingdom, it was issued as the album's fifth single in June 1990.
"I Will Always Love You" is a song written and originally recorded in 1973 by American singer-songwriter Dolly Parton. Written as a farewell to her business partner and mentor Porter Wagoner, expressing Parton's decision to pursue a solo career, the country single was released in 1974. The song was a commercial success for Parton, twice reaching the top spot of the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart: first in June 1974, then again in October 1982, with a re-recording for The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas soundtrack.
"Wind Beneath My Wings" is a song written in 1982 by Jeff Silbar and Larry Henley.
Alannah Myles is the debut album by Canadian singer Alannah Myles, released on March 28, 1989. It includes the worldwide hit single "Black Velvet". The album was a big seller worldwide, and reached number one for two weeks in her native Canada, number 5 on the Billboard 200 in the US and number 3 in the UK Albums Chart. The album cover comes from a photoshoot by Canadian photographer Deborah Samuel.
"Downtown Train" is a song by Tom Waits released on his album Rain Dogs in 1985. The promo video for the song was directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino, it features boxer Jake LaMotta and Neith Hunter.
"Sad Eyes" is a song written and recorded by Robert John, and released in April 1979. It debuted May 19 on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching the top of the chart the week of October 6. It was produced by George Tobin in association with Mike Piccirillo.
"Let Her Cry" is a song by American rock band Hootie & the Blowfish. It was released in December 1994 as the second single from their debut album, Cracked Rear View (1994), and became a top-10 hit in Australia, Canada, Iceland, and the United States. The song received the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1996.
Robin Lee is an American country music artist. She recorded in the 1980s and 1990s as Robin Lee for Evergreen and Atlantic Records, charting at number 12 on Hot Country Songs in 1990 with "Black Velvet". After charting her last single in 1994, she began working as a songwriter for other artists.
"He'll Have to Go" is an American country and pop hit recorded on October 15, 1959, by Jim Reeves. The song, released in the fall of 1959, went on to become a hit in both genres early in 1960.
Black Velvet is a studio album by American country music artist Robin Lee, released in 1990. The album's title track is a cover of Alannah Myles' Number One single from 1989. Lee's cover peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
"Like Flames" is a song by American band Berlin, released in 1986 as the second single from their fourth studio album, Count Three & Pray (1986).
David Michael Tyson is a Canadian rock music producer and songwriter. He is best known for co-writing Alannah Myles' 1990 number one hit single "Black Velvet" and producing her debut album. He also co-wrote three hit songs from Amanda Marshall's self-titled 1995 debut album.
"Sugar Daddy" is a song by British pop group Thompson Twins, which was released in 1989 as the lead single from their seventh studio album Big Trash. The song was written and produced by Tom Bailey and Alannah Currie. "Sugar Daddy" reached number 28 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 97 in the UK Singles Chart.
The singles discography of American country singer-songwriter Dolly Parton includes over 200 singles and touches on eight decades. Parton has released 198 singles as a lead artist, 49 as a featured artist, six promotional single and 68 music videos. Parton also released 21 singles with Porter Wagoner from 1968 to 1980, bringing her total number of singles to 243.
"Let It Ride" is a 1974 single by Bachman-Turner Overdrive, written by Randy Bachman and Fred Turner, with the latter providing lead vocals. It was first recorded for the 1973 album Bachman–Turner Overdrive II. The single peaked at No. 23 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on April 27, 1974, and spent two weeks at No. 14 on the Cash Box Top 100. In Canada, the song reached No. 3.
"Song Instead of a Kiss" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Alannah Myles, released as the first single from her second album, Rockinghorse (1992). The power ballad became her first and only number-one single in Canada, topping the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart for four weeks and ending 1992 as Canada's third-most-successful single. It also became a top-20 hit in Finland but charted weakly in other countries.
"Love Is" is the debut single by Canadian singer/songwriter Alannah Myles, released in Canada in 1989. In the rest of the world, it was released as the follow-up to her worldwide hit "Black Velvet" in 1990.
"Lover of Mine" is a song performed by Canadian singer Alannah Myles, released as the fourth single from her debut self-titled album. It was the most successful single from the album in Myles' home country, reaching number two on the RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart. Myles recorded a new version of the song as a duet with Swedish artist Liny Wood, who had also covered the song on her own in 2012. The duet was released as a bonus track on the digital version of her 2014 album 85 BPM.
This is the discography of Canadian singer-songwriter Alannah Myles.
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