Alannah Myles - Black Velvet -

Released in 1989, Alannah Myles’ "Black Velvet" is a sultry blues-rock anthem that sounds like a fever dream of the American South—which is ironic, considering it was written by two Canadians who were thousands of miles away from Memphis.

: To cover all bases, Atlantic Records had another artist, country singer Robin Lee , record a near-identical version simultaneously. Alannah Myles - Black Velvet

: Co-writer Christopher Ward (Myles' boyfriend at the time) was inspired after riding a tour bus full of Elvis fans to Memphis for the 10th-anniversary vigil of the King’s death in 1987. Seeing the fanatical devotion—which he described as a "new religion"—sparked the lyrics. Released in 1989, Alannah Myles’ "Black Velvet" is