Black Velvet (song)

"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 in January 1990 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 charts 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 song 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 power ballad has received substantial airplay, receiving a "Millionaire Award" from ASCAP in 2005 for more than four million radio plays.
Background and writing.
The song is a paean to Elvis Presley — whose portrait was often painted on black velvet, and who used a hair dye named 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 Alannah 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.
Atlantic Records, much to the disappointment of Myles for whom the song had been written, 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. Lee even filmed a videoclip of the song very similar to Myles' video.
Myles released a new version of the song on a digitally released Elvis tribute EP to commemorate the 30 years since his death in August 2007. 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 time. Myles' lead vocals span from E3 to E5 in the song.
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.
Reception.
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-ten 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-ten 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.
Critical reception.
"Music & Media" described the song as "a blues ballad featuring some straight-from-the-heart vocals from Miles and inspired guitar playing."
Other versions.
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 U.S. "Billboard" Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) chart.
Canadian-American singer-songwriter and actress Alexz Johnson performs an acapella cover of "Black Velvet" in the 2004 film "Selling Innocence". It is her character Angel DeSousa's swan song in a talent contest just before she is murdered.
"Idols South Africa" winner Anke Pietrangeli covered the song on her album "Tribute to the Great Female Vocalists" in 2009.
"Black Velvet" has also been recorded by (as "Hey tu" Italian), featuring Soluna Samay, (as "Rocksterren" Dutch), Vicky Rosti (as "Yön helmaan" Finnish), Jackie Thomas, and Sandi Thom.
"Black Velvet" was also roughed up and recorded by Canadian Rock artist Kami and released on her single "Death Toll Rising" on January 2013. And also by the group The Lost Fingers "Lost in the 80s" 2008.
In 2015, Canadian heavy metal band Kobra and the Lotus recorded the song for their first EP entitled "Words of the Prophets".