Black Velvet (song)

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“Black Velvet”
Single by Alannah Myles from the album Alannah Myles
B-side	"If You Want To"
Released	1989
Format	CD maxi 7" single 12" maxi
Genre	Rock
Length	4:49
Label	Atlantic
Writer(s)	David Tyson Christopher Ward
Producer	David Tyson
Alannah Myles singles chronology
"Love Is" (1989) "Black Velvet" (1989) "Still Got This Thing" (1990)

"Black Velvet" is a rock and roll song written by Canadian musicians David Tyson and Christopher Ward. First recorded by Canadian singer Alannah Myles in 1989, it became a Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 in March of 1990 and reached number one in Canada and number two in the UK Singles Chart. In 2008 the song was covered by Delta Goodrem at a Max Sessions performance and was added as a live track on her 2008 single You Will Only Break My Heart

Contents 1 Alannah Myles version 1.1 Lyrics and music 1.2 Track listings 1.3 Charts 2 Robin Lee version 2.1 Charts 3 References

[edit] Alannah Myles version

[edit] Lyrics and music

The words "black velvet" refer to either Elvis himself (as his likeness is usually painted on a black velvet canvas) or his voice. Black velvet is described as a "new religion that'll bring y'all to your knees" (changed to "bring you to your knees" in the Robin Lee version) The chorus tells of "black velvet in that little boy's smile/ Black velvet with that slow, Southern style" and the end of the first verse claims that "The boy could sing, knew how to move, everything, " and that "he'd leave you longing for [black velvet]".^{[citation needed]}

While the first verse discuss the beginning of Elvis' career - "Mama's dancing, baby on her shoulders" - the second talks about the height of his career - "Mama's baby, is in the heart of every schoolgirl; Love Me Tender leaves 'em crying in the aisles". The final verse references his death - "in a flash he was gone; it happened so soon".^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Track listings

CD maxi

1. "Black Velvet" (4:40)
2. "If You Want to" (4:11)
3. "Who Loves You" (3:36)

7" single

1. "Black Velvet" (4:02)
2. "If You Want to" (4:11)

12" maxi

1. "Black Velvet" (4:40)
2. "If You Want to" (4:11)
3. "Who Loves You" (3:36)

[edit] Charts

Chart (1989-1990)[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	1
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks	1
Austrian Singles Chart	2
Australian Singles Chart	3
French Singles Chart	24
German Singles Chart	2
Irish Singles Chart	4
Norwegian Singles Chart	1
Swedish Singles Chart	1
Swiss Singles Chart	1
UK Singles Chart	2

[edit] Robin Lee version

“Black Velvet”
Single by Robin Lee from the album Black Velvet
Released	1990
Recorded	1990
Genre	Country
Length	4:43 (album version)
Label	Atlantic
Producer	Nelson Larkin
Robin Lee singles chronology
"How About Goodbye" (1990) "Black Velvet" (1990) "Love Letter" (1990)

Country music artist Robin Lee recorded a cover of "Black Velvet" in 1990 on her third album, also titled Black Velvet. Lee's version peaked at #12 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.

[edit] Charts

Chart (1989-1990)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks	12

Preceded by "Escapade" by Janet Jackson	Billboard Hot 100 number one single (by Alannah Myles) March 24 - March 31, 1990	Succeeded by "Love Will Lead You Back" by Taylor Dayne
Preceded by "Roam" by The B-52's	ARC Weekly Top 40 number one single (by Alannah Myles) March 24 - March 31, 1990	Succeeded by "Love Will Lead You Back" by Taylor Dayne
Preceded by "Vogue" by Madonna	Norwegian number one single (by Alannah Myles) 20 - 27/1990	Succeeded by "Om" by Niklas Strömstedt
Preceded by "Vogue" by Madonna	Swedish number one single (by Alannah Myles) May 23 - June 6, 1990	Succeeded by "It Must Have Been Love" by Roxette
Preceded by "The Power" by Snap!	Swiss number one single (by Alannah Myles) June 3 - June 24, 1990	Succeeded by "Un'estate italiana" by Edoardo Bennato and Gianna Nannini

[edit] References