The song "Black Velvet" is about Elvis

General Discussion FSM Ready Room
1

I never knew this, but the song Black Velvet was written about Elvis. Christopher Ward, co-songwriter of the song, was on a bus in Memphis in 1987 with Elvis fans going to the 10th anniversary vigil at Graceland. One woman was talking about her collection of Elvis portraits that were painted on black velvet. She said that her favorite painting was of Elvis with a little boy’s smile. As a side, Elvis used a hair dye call Black Velvet.

It is interesting where songwriters get their inspiration from.

Here is the song:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=song+black+velvet&view=detail&mid=797D7ABB4F4CEED61220797D7ABB4F4CEED61220&FORM=VIRE0&ru=%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dsong%2Bblack%2Bvelvet%26cvid%3Dfceaf7c956334b65a7b5707efa240103%26aqs%3Dedge..69i57j69i64.6407j0j1%26pglt%3D2083%26FORM%3DANSPA1%26PC%3DDCTE

The song is full of references to Elvis. Here are the lryics:

https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/alannahmyles/blackvelvet.html

2

Now if we just knew who that Carly Simon song is about

3

Anticipation? You’re So Vain? Nobody Does It Better?

That last one is Roger Moore. Not Sean Connery, Roger Moore. Mysterious. Like, I wonder where the whiskey went… [:P]

I thought Black Velvet was just a mood piece, about a woman and a hot sultry night in Memphis.

4

Or the play on words of that song title by Queens of the Stone Age…You’re So Vague.

“You’re so vague, that you probably think this song ain’t about you.”

Knew about the Alannah Myles song…its packed full of Elvis references.

5

You’re So Vain. It’s been rumored it’s Warren Beatty. However, I don’t think Carly ever told us.

6

There was a contest several years ago, where the winner got the Initials of the person Carly was singing about ( She personally whispered the initials to the winner)

Those initials were …

M J

( not Michale Jackson )

Pretty sure she meant, Mick Jagger.

7

What a great song. Alannah Myles has some great pipes. I figured that out (EDIT: the Elvis thing) years ago just listening to the lyrics. Iiiiif you please.

8

I was just thinking how great it would be if “You’re So Vain” was about “Jesse”

9

Warren apparently gets the second verse; MJ…and perhaps others…probably get equal billing:

https://entertainment.ie/music/carly-simon-finally-confirms-who-inspired-youre-so-vain-or-at-least-part-of-it-260877/

10

Alannah’s voice is “white hot.” Hot, hot, hot. The entire song is hot. Slow, sultery, swing rythm. Synth fretless bass. Yikes!