Black Velvet (song)

Last updated

"Black Velvet"
Alannah Myles Black Velvet Cover.jpg
Single by Alannah Myles
from the album Alannah Myles
B-side "If You Want To"
ReleasedJuly 1989 (Canada)
December 1989 (U.S) [1]
Recorded1988 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genre
Length
  • 4:47 (album version)
  • 4:02 (single version)
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) David Tyson
Alannah Myles singles chronology
"Love Is"
(1989)
"Black Velvet"
(1989)
"Still Got This Thing"
(1990)
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.

Contents

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]

Background and writing

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 E3 to E5 in the song. [9] [10]

Reception

Critical reception

Music & Media described the song as "a blues ballad featuring some straight-from-the-heart vocals from Myles and inspired guitar playing". [11]

Commercial reception

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.

Music video

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.

Track listings

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "Black Velvet"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [36] Platinum70,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria) [48] Gold25,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [49] Gold45,000
Germany (BVMI) [50] Gold250,000^
Sweden (GLF) [51] Platinum50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [52] Platinum600,000
United States (RIAA) [53] Gold500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Other versions

"Black Velvet"
Single by Robin Lee
from the album Black Velvet
ReleasedFebruary 1990
Genre Country
Length4:43 (album version)
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s) David Tyson, Christopher Ward
Producer(s) Nelson Larkin [54]
Robin Lee singles chronology
"Before You Cheat on Me Once"
(1989)
"Black Velvet"
(1990)
"How About Goodbye"
(1990)

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 performance for Robin Lee version

Chart performance for "Black Velvet" by Robin Lee
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]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alannah Myles</span> Canadian singer/songwriter (born 1958)

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alright (Janet Jackson song)</span> 1990 single by Janet Jackson

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Will Always Love You</span> 1974 single by Dolly Parton

"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.

<i>Alannah Myles</i> (album) 1989 studio album by Alannah Myles

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downtown Train</span> 1985 single by Tom Waits

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sad Eyes (Robert John song)</span> 1979 single by Robert John

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let Her Cry (song)</span> 1994 single by Hootie & the Blowfish

"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.

<i>Black Velvet</i> (Robin Lee album) 1990 studio album by Robin Lee

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Like Flames</span> 1986 single by Berlin

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugar Daddy (Thompson Twins song)</span> 1989 single by Thompson Twins

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dolly Parton singles discography</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Song Instead of a Kiss</span> 1992 single by Alannah Myles

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Is (Alannah Myles song)</span> 1989 single by Alannah Myles

"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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lover of Mine</span> 1990 single by Alannah Myles

"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.

References

  1. "Black Velvet".
  2. Friedman, Nathaniel (April 26, 2018). "U.S. Girls Isn't Selling Out—She's Just Writing Bops". GQ . Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  3. Smith, Troy L. (October 21, 2020). "Every No. 1 song of the 1990s ranked from worst to best". Cleveland.com . Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  4. Breihan, Tom (September 8, 2021). "The Number Ones: Alannah Myles' "Black Velvet"". Stereogum . Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  5. Eames, Tom (July 31, 2024). "The 100 greatest songs of the 1990s, ranked". Smooth Radio . Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  6. 1 2 "50 Best Power Ballads of All Time". Q105. February 14, 2024.
  7. "Alannah Myles – About". Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved July 17, 2012.
  8. https://www.songfacts.com/facts/alannah-myles/black-velvet [ bare URL ]
  9. Tyson, David (May 7, 2007). "Alannah Myles "Black Velvet" Guitar Tab in E Minor - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  10. Tyson, David (August 31, 2000). "Alannah Myles 'Black Velvet' Sheet Music in E Minor (transposable) - Download & Print". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  11. "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . April 7, 1990. p. 17. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  12. "Alannah Myles – Black Velvet". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  13. "Alannah Myles – Black Velvet" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  14. "Alannah Myles – Black Velvet" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  15. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6564." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  16. "Top 3 Singles in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 7, no. 25. June 23, 1990. p. 13. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  17. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 7, no. 19. May 12, 1990. p. 11. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  18. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN   951-31-2503-3.
  19. "Alannah Myles – Black Velvet" (in French). Les classement single.
  20. "Alannah Myles – Black Velvet" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  21. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Black Velvet". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  22. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 20, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  23. "Alannah Myles – Black Velvet" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  24. "Alannah Myles – Black Velvet". Top 40 Singles.
  25. "Alannah Myles – Black Velvet". VG-lista.
  26. "Alannah Myles – Black Velvet". Singles Top 100.
  27. "Alannah Myles – Black Velvet". Swiss Singles Chart.
  28. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  29. "Alannah Myles Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  30. "Alannah Myles Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  31. "Mainstream Rock: Feb 17, 1990". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2013.
  32. "Top 40/Rock: March 17, 1990" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  33. "Alannah Myles – Black Velvet". Tracklisten.
  34. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
  35. "Top Radio Hits Estonia Weekly Chart: Nov 28, 2024". TopHit . Retrieved November 30, 2024.
  36. 1 2 "1990 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA . Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  37. 1990 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at Archived December 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved July 29, 2008)
  38. "Jaaroverzichten 1990". Ultratop. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  39. 1989 Canadian Singles Chart (Retrieved February 6, 2016)
  40. "Eurochart Hot 100 of 1990" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 7, no. 51. December 22, 1990. p. 60. OCLC   29800226 . Retrieved January 15, 2020 via American Radio History.
  41. "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1990" (in German). GfK Entertainment . Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  42. "Single top 100 over 1990" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  43. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  44. "End of Year Charts 1990". Recorded Music NZ. Archived from the original on December 4, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  45. 1990 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch Archived February 1, 2014, at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved July 29, 2008)
  46. "1990 Top 100 Singles". Music Week . London, England. March 2, 1991. p. 41.
  47. "Billboard Top 100 – 1990". Archived from the original on July 6, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
  48. "Austrian single certifications – Alannah Myles – Black Velvet" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  49. "Danish single certifications – Alannah Myles – Black Velvet". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  50. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Alannah Myles; 'Black Velvet')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  51. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011.
  52. "British single certifications – Alannah Myles – Black Velvet". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  53. "American single certifications – Alannah Myles – Black Velvet". Recording Industry Association of America.
  54. Black Velvet (CD liner notes). Robin Lee. Atlantic Records. 1990. 82085-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  55. Anke - Tribute to the Great Female Vocalists Retrieved January 10, 2014
  56. "KNAC.COM - The Loudest Dot Com on the Planet!". www.knac.com.
  57. Bedford, Corey (August 1, 2021). "Sam Bailey to release new single that pays tribute to Elvis". LeicestershireLive.
  58. "Sam Bailey - Black Velvet". YouTube. SamBaileyMusicVEVO. August 5, 2021. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  59. "Black Velvet". Saga Entertainment. August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  60. "Infected Mushroom Reimagine Alannah Myles' 1989 Classic "Black Velvet" Featuring Ninet Tayeb on Monstercat". Grateful Web. August 15, 2022. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  61. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 1249." RPM . Library and Archives Canada. June 2, 1990. Retrieved August 23, 2013.