How Elvis Made This Song Better | Alannah Myles - Black Velvet | Vocal Coach Reacts Analysis

[@Machomannorway]

Elvis is everywhere, he changed everything, a cultural phenomenon, never to be repeated.

[@rhphotocdn]

Fantastic CANADIAN Artist. Loved her and this song! Such a great voice, so powerful!

[@stamasd8500]

Brings me back to high school days. Danced to it many times with my sweetheart. Maybe I should ask her to dance again - she's in the next room. :)

[@ronhall5395]

Do it!

[@DaveSVT-rn4of]

I have always loved this song. A beautiful female, with an amazing raspy voice, and wearing chaps is all it takes for me.

[@theplanetruth]

this song is a WHOLELOTTASEXY. As a highschooler I ran out and bought this album. From what I remember, it wasn't too bad. but this song!!

[@vaughnnewman8903]

Always loved this song- stands up to time pretty well.

[@jeffdetmer4681]

Great job Beth as always. Truth be told, while this was ultimately about Elvis' music. The song was actually inspired by the craze in his most popular years of people hanging Elvis portraits painted on black velvet canvasses. It was a huge craze among his fans, and a hugely profitable business. People were practically making shrines to him in their homes. Thus the line about "a new religion". Wonder what those black velvet Elvis paintings go for today??? Love your informative reactions. Please stay safe and well ...... and adorable.

[@justmoose6534]

I remember you'd see somebody selling paintings in the parking area of almost every gas station. Most of them were Elvis on Black Velvet or Dogs playing Poker.

[@keetonplace]

Yes.

[@pubbiehive]

Love this song, her voice is really velvet smooth.

[@firedoc5]

Smooth and sultry, just like velvet.

[@keetonplace]

Just like Elvis.

[@BillyReplies]

A few weeks ago I heard this song on our public radio station, and no joke, I thought to myself, this would be a good one for Beth Roars to critique and review. This song is sensual, sultry, and sexy. If you've ever been to the American south during the summer, her voice truly captures the mood of the heat and humidity in the air. I call it "swampy" here in Texas. Great explanation of the meaning of the song, but I never considered this to be a "country" song really, but I do recall it being played on a variety of stations growing up, so it did have that "crossover" appeal- just like Elvis. I've always thought a good comparison and companion song of this would be Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game". Great video breakdown. Well done!

[@carolmartin4413]

Remember this song...sweet! Our Canadian neighbors sure know how to belt out a tune, don't they! 🖐 🇺🇸

[@FionaEm]

Classic song. Reminds me of my university years here in Australia 😊 Because I am that old 😅

[@rickwelch8464]

Anyone who was young when this came out had a massive crush on her. I feel like people slept on the bass line in this one. Perfection.

[@vlcccapt]

Alannah is Canadian! Just one of many great singers we have produced! Some others are: Anne Murray, Luba, Shania Twain, Joni Mitchell, Darby Mills, etc

[@coinneachmaclellan3121]

K.D. LANG!

[@peterdoe2617]

Pls add Brittney Slayes. Ref: Unleash The Archers / the awakening. Star One / fate of man. Greetings from the far north of Germany!

[@ThursdayNext67]

Thx for mentioning Darby Mills. Too many people have never even heard of her.

[@jopay142]

Amanda Marshall... if it hadn't been for a greedy music industry, she would have gone so much farther than she had. Even Elton John was ecstatic about her.

[@christianm7220]

I drove to Canada to buy a Luba CD because I could not get it in the USA. I am from Detroit, so it wasn't that far, It was definitely worth it!

[@mjarmstrong8143]

This song was the jam back in the day!!

[@joewiley62]

Back in the day there used to be corner sales of pictures and jewelery.... they always had pictures on black velvet and a lot of Elvis on them..... Hense Black Velvet.......

[@sekara9866]

So much bass - lovely

[@johngrijalva4484]

I got to see her live, when she opened for Robert Plant. She's just as good live and her band was awesome as well.

[@timcarder2170]

*"Black Velvet",* is also a the name of a *Canadian Rye Whiskey.*

[@WeDanceWestie]

Whisky

[@timcarder2170]

@WeDanceWestie 😄😄😄😆😆😆😆😅😅😅😂😂🤣🤣🤣

[@stevesnow315]

Song is blues from the rip. The video doesn't have to be in color to know that Cadillac is pink. You Feel every note. I love this song. Thank you Beth.🤘😎❤

[@markdrum2392]

It also has a nice interplay with references to the Canadian whiskey named Black Velvet. In the song it sounds that she is ordering a Black Velvet.

[@vickit.1797]

this song is about Elvis have you listened to the lyrics

[@WeDanceWestie]

Whisky

[@josephwhite4489]

I absolutely love Alannah Myles... I was in my 2nd year of university when this song came out and it was EVERYWHERE...BUTTTT, I hate the fact that, when folks think of her, they immediately go to this tune...Lover of Mine and Song Instead of a Kiss were, IMO, equally as good if not better...and Stlll Got This This Thing was always one of my personal favorites. To be fair, ALL the female Canadian artists from the 80s/90s were absolute Badasses...yet, I can't believe NOBODY ever reacts to Sass Jordan , Lee Aaron, Amanda Marshall, Bif Naked, Sarah Harmer, Luba, Holly McNarland, Serena Ryder, Chrissy Steele, Margo Timmins, etc, etc....I can't imagine going through my youth never having access to all their great offerings...I hope this generation someday discovers their amazing body of work.

[@adamparker9765]

Yes those songs were never really given the credit they deserved because they were always over shaddowed by this song . Oh well those who bought the record were rewarded with more than just one song from her. Do you know if she released anything else ? I don't recall if she ever did .

[@josephwhite4489]

@@adamparker9765 Besides compilations and EPs she released the following...Alannah Myles [1989, Debut album], Rockinghorse [1992], A-lan-nah [1995], Arival [1997], Black Velvet [2008], 85 BPM [2014]....her last charting single , to my recollection, was 'Can't Stand The Rain' [2014]. Most folks don't even realize that 'Black Velvet' was not her 1st single,, it was actually 'Love Is', another absolute BANGER. Some would even argue that she was a one hit wonder....lol,,,,Lover of Mine and Song Instead of a Kiss both went #1 here in Canada... they didn't chart in the US, but, despite, musings to the contrary, other countries count too. For many years, she has suffered from Ankylosing Spondylitis...I would suspect that played a large part in hampering her career.

[@Cyssane]

Yes exactly, I'm in complete agreement! We Canadians were spoiled in the 80s and 90s with some truly fantastic and talented female singers that you never hear about anymore, which is really a shame. You named some of my favourites, and they all deserve to be remembered, featured, enjoyed, and appreciated for the powerhouses they were (and often still are).

[@joselembo4661]

I loved this song at first hearing and still love It to these days. You are totally right, her singing is amazingly sexy. Greetings from Brazil 🤗

[@charlesdoca7145]

I always loved this song

[@arturnienartowicz7213]

the whole album is terrific: "lover of mine" "hurry make love" are must-hear slows; "still got this sing" is a kicker, and kickstart my heart is like a wild cat ready to pounce - powerful in restraint; "love is" and "rock this joint" are great too; "just one kiss" is my favorite for its more timid stanzas and a high energy chorus. It's all round great rocking album and a great display of control rasp and lyrical singinging, 35 years later the album is still in entirety in my mp3 player, (the only of three rock albums whose drumming I know by heart).

[@robertfindley921]

Having seen true Elvis fanatics in the South, it is like a religion. I went over a friend's house back in the 80s and his mother had it decorated like a shrine to him. Every room, every wall, every surface. Scary.

[@DavidB-2268]

Another Elvis connection is in the title itself. Though not as common now, Elvis paintings on black velvet canvases were common in the eighties.

[@merleroberts1921]

Another totally awesome take on a very great song!!

[@manfredkomrowski5981]

I've always thought of this as a blues number.

[@WeDanceWestie]

Absolutely, it's a classic West Coast Swing.

[@colossalgambit70]

Love Alannah's debut album, such a great album, so many great songs on it

[@keetonplace]

Trust me, it wasn't about money. It was all about spiritual with Elvis.

[@douglasvega8738]

Those were my first years in Canada, listening to this song on my way to work almost every morning, never put much attention to the lyrics, thanks for explaining it , it makes so much sense now!

[@silverlobo2135]

Greetings Beth To begin with, the style of this song is considered mostly Southern Rock. Famous artists in this genre are Charlie Daniels Band, The Marshall Tucker band, The Allman Brothers, Stevie Ray Vaugh Band, Molly Hatchet, Alabama, Whiskey Falls, Stillwater, CCR, and (Top Dog) Lynyrd Skynyrd. Hence, it is both country and rock. Don't know if you noticed, this song has the framework / musical outline of Elvis songs "Love Me Tender" and "Blue Suede Shoes". The slow rhythm with the strong guitar influence with a good balance of bass or synth. It is called "Black Velvet" because it is "customary" / "traditional" to associate velvet paintings with Elvis's portraits. In order for a longer held note or slide to be perceived as "sexy" / "sultry", it must be at a lower "warm" octave as it is interpreted psychologically as hoarseness or grittiness of arousal. Thus, it sounds more seductive. Most people knew this song was about Elvis from the get-go because Alannah stated it was her tribute to Elvis in a promo interview for this song. Glad you got around to analyzing it and enjoying its subtlety and Southern Rock flavor.

[@bobedwards7657]

No,it's just a good old Canadian rock ballad

[@silverlobo2135]

@@bobedwards7657 check the notes and compare them to "Love Me Tender". there are sections that are almost identical. That is NOT my opinion, it was on some music review that I read when it first came out by an Elvis music "expert". I am just adding it to my overall comment.

[@bobedwards7657]

@@silverlobo2135 nothing to do with southern rock,the verses are based in blues and the chorus is rock foundation.Black Velvet is referring to Elvis' voice ,not posters,Alannah's then boyfriend Christopher Ward wrote the song with another man.David Tyson(producer).

[@Cyssane]

Alannah Myles is a fantastic singer. She didn't just do these kind of breathy vocals, she also had several hard rock songs where she really belted it out! Unfortunately she never really got much airplay in the US except for this song (probably because it was about Elvis). It's kind of frustrating because she has an amazing voice and had a lot of other hits here in Canada.

[@jenniferloomis5052]

Love this song

[@indiegrpie]

Saw her live twice, on tour for first & second albums in Philadelphia. Some of my favorite show.

[@Jeff-y7t]

Saw her open for Robert plant in 1990

[@justitia257]

Beautiful song

[@edgarcia4794]

"Black Velvet" was also one of the hair dyes in the mix that Elvis used to use.

[@ChurchOfTheHolyMho]

I've never even considered this as a country song... I don't recall it being played on country radio in the day - only on pop radio / tv. This is a blues song in my mind.

[@rodl.miller3353]

I'm very happy that you acknowledged Robin Lee. I wasn't sure if you would've found out about her version. I believe she had another hit called Love Letters. I saw her in a Mall back in the mid 1980's. There was an artist named Tiffany that was too young to perform in bars, so she performed in shopping malls where most of the people her age hung out. When her cover of "I think we're alone now" charted, she moved up to Arena and Stadiums. Some straggling artists followed in her footsteps, Robin Lee being one. Just thought I'd give you a little bit of interesting information. Have a fantastic day, and best wishes for a successful album 🙏👍🎤🎶❤️

[@thevicdunnband]

I like the pop up side notes. first reactor to do that and I watch a lot. I hope to see more Ren from you, but this was fantastic. and side note. I noticed you did Hi ren and Angle From Montgomery back to back. These are the 2 songs that changed my life. Angle From Montgomery was the first song I sang in public and started my singer/songwriter path in life and Hi Ren saved me from the darkest time in my life so that you on a cosmic scale having those back to back for me to watch. More Ren please and I love the pop ups.

[@laurencehastings7473]

Black Velvet . A mixture of Guinness and Champagne, for those that can afford it but we always settled for Guinness and cider instead. There wasn't much Champagne around in Geordieland when I was young. I love the fact that you are actually listening to songs from various eras. Not just a sound bite of 20 seconds but the whole song. There is so much out there for you to enjoy, a fact that is sadly neglected by society today. My grandparents had only live music when they were young, my parents had live music and radio, yes there were records available but they were expensive and so were record players. I had radio, records, cassettes and later CD's . Your generation has access to everything in every concievable form without having to actually buy a physical musical recording medium, unless of course you really want to. This makes it so much easier and of course less expensive. I did a paper round as a teenager just to be able to afford to buy LP's some of which had only a few tracks on them worth listening to. I'm not moaning, just saying how fortunate you are and hope that you appreciate it.

[@timcarder2170]

Chris Ward was also one of the original Video Jockeys (VJs) for the Canadian music channel *"Much Music".* (Think of it as the Canuck version of MTV)😊

[@EchoesDaBear]

Great reaction Beth! LOVE me some Alannah Myles - no particular bias being a Canadian, living about 100km from her birthplace of Toronto! Such a sultry, bluesy & beautiful voice! This song was played constantly on rock radio in '89. I would love for you to react to another Myles track: Song Instead Of A Kiss. Wonderful ballad - less bluesy. Shows her range perfectly! Cheers from Canada, eh!

[@antivanti]

It's about Elvis and how he was so sexy he basically turned into a religion :P Elvis' voice was described as being like black velvet. But I also heard somewhere that Christopher Ward noted that Elvis fans really liked paintings of Elvis made on black velvet and that they were kind of like religious icon paintings

[@apparition13]

This is her biggest hit by far, but I actually like the next album a bit more, and the standout song for me on that one is "Last Time I Saw William". I'd be curious to hear what you think of it.

[@vaughncollar8014]

An American figure skater used this song in her long skate. A very daring performance, she almost blatantly sexualized the routine. And this song was perfect for it.

[@roywall8169]

So sultry!

[@toddashton9696]

Beth thanks for sharing some very interesting facts about this song. I learned a few things.

[@largemansteve60]

Grand reaction, Beth. Now you've made me wonder how the bass would sound if a 12-string electric bass were used.

[@arturnienartowicz7213]

PS. To anyone who hasn't heard Beth's album yet - it's beautiful. It's not everyone's music, but it is great. And the physical album is beautifully issued. Please, buy: - Beth and the music deserve it.

[@BethRoars]

Thanks so much!

[@arturnienartowicz7213]

@@BethRoars 🙂🙂🙂

[@ChuckDrennen]

The title of the song refers to paintings that were popular in the 60s and 70s that were painted on Black velvet canvases. They seem to be only two subjects they would paint Elvis Presley or bullfighters..

[@lyahandarissa]

Love this song!

[@douggregoryHOTMotorsports]

Enjoying the pop-up video style of showing factoids and tidbits. Great tune 20-somethings ate up in the early 90s. And she was as hot as a sultry summer day in the deep south.

[@BethRoars]

Thanks! I've been adding it to all recent ones since I keep on finding fun facts that I forget to mention in the video!

[@MSmith-Photography]

Christopher Ward was also a VJ on MuchMusic, Canada's version of MTV.

[@warrengee-f9l]

I bought this CD in 1989 😁this was on our Toronto rock stations

[@Lancer4323]

Music as a religion, Yes I think in ways there are uncanny parallels for the listener and the performer, And that it can be a spiritual uplifting experience..❤

[@oscararzate7956]

Me gustó el vídeo estuvo entretenido pero me gustó más la belleza de la coach. ❤👏👏🍀🍀 Bien

[@adamparker9765]

There were quite a lot of great songs on this record , surely its not the only record she ever had . Such a pity she never got back to the heights of Black Velvet because she has a great voice and lots of sass.

[@ameyer1970]

Of course the title “Black Velvet” refers to all of the paintings of Elvis on black velvet

[@johnnylightning203]

NOT. You obviously don't get the song.

[@marcleitman9778]

I consider this to be blues-rock, with a touch of Southern influence.

[@thumpyloudfoot864]

As a humble Canadian adolescent in the mid 90s, this song was when I discovered.... Strippers were real 😎....

[@RodParadise69]

This song always makes me feel like smoking a cigarette after I've listened to it ❤️

[@safariloverinnc5156]

I have heard some refer to "a new religion that'll bring you to your knees" as referring to birth of rock n roll......

[@jopay142]

Black Velvet is a great song, but to this day, I still think that "Song Instead Of A Kiss" is her ultimate performance... but this is me speaking, not the crowd 😁

[@chrisbanks6659]

You are only the 2nd person I have seen who has mentioned Song Instead Of A Kiss. I rate it above this. Almost the perfect tune. That and Our World, Our Times.

[@jopay142]

@@chrisbanks6659 usually, people will push for an artist's big hits to be reacted to, not necesseraly their best songs. That's pretty normal and I get it... but that being said, there's a ton of awesome songs, and from various artists that falls between that cracks on reaction channels. But I'm noticing that recently, reactors try less traveled path, less mainstrem songs, and that's good.

[@blindlemonpledge2556]

How about doing Iris Demint and Emmy Lou Harris performing "Our Town"?

[@roywall8169]

🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@jeremeybrown9716]

You should try Kate Hudson's version of "Voices Carry" from the Howard Stern show live performance...

[@edmonguy]

I've been a huge Alannah fan since she first released music. It's always irked me that this song became the one that she's defined by. I think it's a decent, but overall pretty average part of her catalogue. She has so many superior songs: Still Got This Thing, Bad 4 You, Love Is, Pearls of Wisdom, Sonny Say You Will, Irish Rain, Lover of Mine, Kick Start My Heart, Song Instead of a Kiss, Everything Missing, Just One Kiss, The Last Time I Saw William, Keeper of My Heart, Who Loves You?, Do You Really Wanna Know Me?, Honesty, Yellow Rose, What Am I Gonna Do With You? Every one is a banger. I've seen her live three times, and the only word for it is astounding. The power of her voice was insane and after hours of singing, her voiced was as perfect as the first note she hit. Such a shame what happened to her. I saw her out on tour after the accident and she was still wonderful, but the paralysis has caused her to hunch over in a way that she can't take big breaths and scream the way she used to. I know you don't often repeat artists on the channel, but Alannah would be one I'd 🧡🧡🧡 to see you dive into for a handful more songs. 🙏

[@SuperCookiemonser]

I remember reading in an interview that she was done by the studio, which screwed her over in the end. SHe is still amazing and I love her voice.

[@mojobag01]

Little Miss Deep Dive. Great work Beth.

[@bluebuddy46422]

Oh, I am sure that Elvis would have loved this.

[@stuartharris4062]

I loved Allanah Myles

[@psmolek7438]

I love watching your reactions and love this song. But I really think with your talent, you need to be in movies. You’re so pretty.

[@davidcreager1945]

Her voice defined sexy ! Then and still does !!!

[@ItsMe-cz1pi]

Angelina Jordan "Bad Valentine" feels like it is inspired by her. You can find it copyright free(he got permission from Toby Gad to post it) on James Thiel's channel.

[@SamCarter-stp]

Not being from the U.S., or from the time period, you would not realize that "black velvet" was not a singular reference to Elvis' voice, but also to the fad of paintings on black velvet. Not only little Mexican children with enormous eyes, but a tremendous amount of Elvis paintings were on black velvet. They were everywhere. It became a bit of a joke.

[@Rix.67]

Classic

[@fgialcgorge7392]

Reminds me of southern rock/blues. Kinda like a lot of what Chris Stapleton does.

[@musicfreak0000001]

Personally I consider this song to be a mixture of Blues and old Time rock ‘n’ roll.

[@arturnienartowicz7213]

even though she's in a higher register - to me Alanah is a lazy tiger - you hear the power in the growl, knowing that it's just a promise of the true power it wields ...

[@laurahenry1340]

Both of her parents were born in England, she is first generation Canadian

[@shawnooweldsparks4202]

hope that she is doing well .... rough patch & all

[@golyno]

Cat Stevens is also someone who needs to be disected here

[@bdmention]

Weird to me how a person with a voice like this can only muster one hit.

[@georgewallerlll496]

You should check out a band from Canada called Cobra and the Lotus, they did a cover of this song, with a more rock edge to it, and its Sexier than the original, if that's possible! The lead singer is also a Woman, and its very good!

[@georgewallerlll496]

May I also say that you have Gorgeous red hair! I have 3 redheads in my family, my sister, her son, and my brothers middle daughter, are all redheads!

[@alvinsmith5346]

Is there a possibility you can do Wolffe - Shoot you down. She's got an amazing voice!

[@Aurora-cv5to]

slides in music: perhaps because they feel risky, the opposite of carefully controlled? They SHOULD be controlled, but they feel like they're at the edge of flying away... right there, riding that edge...

[@richardmaloneriki1811]

Due to racism in the radio industry in the 1940s and 1950s, the "black" and "white" genres were kept separate in American radio stations. Elvis was revolutionary in bringing the conventions of black country gospel into rock and roll. The "new religion that will bring you to your knees" is Elvis's fascination with black country gospel music and the Pentecostal church. (Chuck Berry would also do the opposite, as a black man making "white" rock and roll.) Black Velvet plays around with these arbitrary genre conventions by effortlessly switching from blues to country to rock. It's got a blues bassline with country lyrical storytelling and a rock guitar solo after the chorus. Crossover music seems commonplace these days, but it's only because of musicians who broke the social norms to bring different people together

[@rubroken]

I wonder if the lyrics are saying that some people idolize their favorite band/singers so much that it's like a religious experience

[@DaveyWilliamsPantzNotRequired]

Canada had all the best singers .... Lee Aaron being the best but there is Sass Jordan Luba of course KD Lang ... Holly Woods .... the list could go on forevere in the Eighties the ladies just owned the stage !!!! Really hope you can do a Lee Aaron song !!

[@dougdanielson9145]

A lot of people believe that the song was about Black Velvet whiskey, I used to get into a lot of discussions about this I always believed it was about Elvis maybe because these discussions took place in bars has some influence

[@johnhmaloney]

I'm not at all religious (quite the contrary), so I'm hesitant to draw any parallels between music and religion. But I have passionately devoted nearly 4/5 of my life to music and it has given me a lot of the observable benefits that believers seem to get from religion, so ... maybe ... Incidentally, shortly before you mentioned the bass part (right after that walkdown at the end of the bridge) I was saying to myself that it sounds like a fretless played with a pick. I'm a little disappointed to find out that it's a synth, but it's still a great tone.

[@Educated2Extinction]

Artists like Alannah Myles and Shelby Lynne are so much better than so many of the big, popular artists.

[@anthonyadams8668]

I would love to see a reaction to Tragically Hip - New Orleans is sinking

[@chrisbanks6659]

The whole album, Rockinghorse, is a must add to your list. Not a bad tune on there. Unfortunately, she is experiencing some ill health these days, but trust me, the voice ain't changed one iota.

[@samhell2492]

Unfortunately, there's a reason she disappeared. I won't go into it. Anyway, She worked with Jeff Healey on "I Can't Stand the Rain" on a Tina Turner tribute album. Fantastic cover.

[@antivanti]

It's sad that people really only know this song. Yes the song is an absolute classic but this entire album is actually really good

[@guitaleleoeuvre]

This song is hard for me to think about. It was a favorite of our dearly beloved friend, Tracey who died a couple years ago. And, it is a song Andrea and I made a video of in memory of a sweet kitten we lost due to him being run-over by a car... kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y325Yq14oJpokM0si=A3zd_8Krww1h_wtP

[@keith6485]

Linda Ronstadt did a good version of this. My favorite though is the one done by Chrystal Bowersox during her performances on American Idol.

[@stevehegner5805]

Linda Ronstadt has been a favorite of mine for nearly 50 years. I was never aware that she did a version of this song. Where can I find it?

[@rodthebodfromcanada]

Robin Lee did a great country version that sounds very close to Allanah

[@macfilms9904]

Kinda a one-hit-wonder with this being the only song I could name of hers. This song was a guilty pleasure for me when it came out in 1989 - as I was pretty solidly into punk & post-punk (and about to dive headlong into grunge). It didn't hurt that she was a very, very attractive young woman (and the video leaned-in to that pretty hard). Normally a video with guys with hair-metal hairstyles would be a hard pass for me. I'd argue this is way more a blues song than either country or rock btw.