"Black Velvet"

[Arnold]

Continuing what will most likely become a trend:

Sabrina Carpenter's Black Velvet


As the video caption states, this is a great tribute song to Elvis Presley and it was written specifically for that purpose. Even so, the song has an earthy flavor that I might normally consider inappropriate for a young performer and so I played the video with some trepidation.

I was sold solid not many seconds into the song. Sabrina simply nails this song and in all the right ways. My amazement at Sabrina's abilities has been increasing with each new video she releases but this one blew the roof off.

It simply can't be done better than Sabrina does it. She manages to capture the flavor of the original song and yet she gives it her own unique styling. I really have to smile as she croons into "slow Southern style" -- well, it's going to leave them crying in the aisles. It simply can't be done better than this.

Whoever did your makeup for this video, Sabrina, keep them. It was perfect, too. The costume was superb. Your stage presence has to be seen to be believed, too. You are the very definition of "performer".

I know you indicated you had more videos coming and I was looking forward to them, certain you would simply impress me even more. But I wasn't expecting this level. You have gone above and beyond.

Thank you for the beautiful music and the gripping performances. There is no question you are a star, Sabrina.

Arnold

[Ivan]

That's an amazing performance, Sabrina!
I'd say that it's one of your best covers.... but all your covers are the best, heh))
This song and your voice and expression sends shivers down my spine.... it's just like.... kinda... huh, I can't express what I feel! (I wish I knew English better xD)

Great song, Sabrina! Look forward to hearing new covers from you!

Ivan

[Arnold]

Mar 9, 2010 16:14:05 GMT -5 Ivan said:

That's an amazing performance, Sabrina!
I'd say that it's one of your best covers.... but all your covers are the best, heh))
This song and your voice and expression sends shivers down my spine.... it's just like.... kinda... huh, I can't express what I feel! (I wish I knew English better xD)

Great song, Sabrina! Look forward to hearing new covers from you!

Ivan

Ivan,

You say it well, don't worry. Sabrina's "Black Velvet" sent shivers
down my spine, too. And I didn't even like the song all that much
before. I love it now.

We're witnessing something very special emerging in Sabrina.

Arnold

[Caitlin]

Sabrina did an awesome job like always! She looked so beautliful too!

[Arnold]

Mar 10, 2010 17:28:25 GMT -5 Caitlin said:

Sabrina did an awesome job like always! She looked so beautliful too!

Caitlin,

This is a top 40 hit by Sabrina, without a doubt. It is "awesome" and she is very beautiful (appears to be a family trait since her sisters are also beautiful).

I still shake my head in astonishment when I listen to this video.

Now THIS is entertainment!

Arnold

[Sabrina]

Hey thanks so so much everyone for your amazing comments your gunna leave me in the aisles he he. oh and btw i did my own makeup since i dance i also wear makeup so i kinda had to learn myself when mums not around LOL

[Arnold]

** Begin important note

I write below that Sabrina owns this song now. I was, of course,
joking. Alanna Myles very graciously left the following comment at
Sabrina's YouTube channel. Not only is Ms Myles a supreme talent,
she is also a very nice person. No better praise exists than that
bestowed by a star of Alanna's magnitude.

It took me at least 25 years to learn how to master vocals this
believable! Even better when the voice of this angel sings the right
song for it to soar. Black Velvet is difficult because it is by not being
sexy that it in fact is. Everyone always tries so hard to emulate
what comes naturally to me instead of doing what comes naturally
to them.

You will one day find all the right songs for your beautiful voice to
sing.

I wish you much luck and joy as you follow your dream; doing what
you were born to do. May you be surrounded by those
who care for your well being and personal happiness and not their
own. I look forward to watching your star shine on all of us.

Alannah Myles

=@=

** End important note

This song, as noted at the post, was written as a tribute to Elvis
Presley, a giant even today in the music business, by David
Tyson and Christopher Ward (both musicians from Canada) and
was made into a hit by Alannah Myles in 1989 (also Canadian).
Country singer Robin Lee made the song into a country hit,
reaching 12th on the Country Top Singles charts in 1990.



Sabrina credits her Dad for producing the videos and he deserves
a round of applause for the excellent audio and video quality.
Sabrina's videos are a step above the average YouTube video and
are professional level as far as I'm concerned.

Now, for the song.

The stuttering guitar opens the song very much like the "Black
Velvet" of old but there's Sabrina, beautifully made-up and
dressed, with a strange, very grown-up look in her eyes. She
begins to sing and we find out why.



Mississippi in the middle of a dry spell
Jimmy Rogers on the Victrola up high
Mama's dancin' with baby on her shoulder
The sun is settin' like molasses in the sky
The boy could sing, knew how to move, everything
Always wanting more, he'd leave you longing for

I was a little stunned. "What?" I thought to myself. That was
incredibly good. Forget Alannah Myles, Sabrina just stole the song.
The way Sabrina croons "BAB-AYY" reminds one of her youth and is
so endearing.

Elvis was very close to his mother which Tyson and Ward capture in
their lyrics with "baby on her shoulder" (and one other place
mentioned below). Elvis was born into the Memphis music scene
which was a mix of country, rhythm and blues and so many
other emerging genres.

Sabrina's build up to the chorus is so Memphis smooth:


Black velvet and that little boy's smile
Black velvet with that slow southern style
A new religion that'll bring ya to your knees
Black velvet if you please

I came out of my chair at "slow southern style" ... I did not know
Sabrina was Southern! I have it on good authority that she's not
but she sure could fool me on that point.

Was this the high point? No, it was ONE of the many high points in
this video. I was hooked until the very last note and even beyond,
until the very last scene because there's Sabrina smiling knowingly
and she has good cause. You're never done with a Sabrina video
until it finally cuts off (thanks to Dad's fantastic production). One
time while I was listening I laughed a little and thought, as
Sabrina smiled at us, "Show off!" (I'm kidding of course).


Up in Memphis the music's like a heatwave
White lightening, bound to drive you wild
Mama's baby's in the heart of every school girl
"Love me tender" leaves 'em cryin' in the aisle
The way he moved, it was a sin, so sweet and true
Always wanting more, he'd leave you longing for

Early in his career, Elvis was sometimes called "Mama's baby"
because of his close relationship with his mother and I think
because of his looks. Elvis' natural hair color was brown and he
used a tint concoction called "Black Velvet" to get that shiny black
sheen (he wasn't the only one, many pop music stars of that
era did the same). As for "white lightning", it will take your breath
away then proceed to drive you wild. I don't recommend it as a
beverage but it is good for stripping paint.

Elvis shared some things with Michael Jackson -- both had troubled
private lives and died too young. Sabrina so sweetly captures the
sadness of the loss. I felt every pang of it.

Every word of every song that he sang was for you
In a flash he was gone, it happened so soon, what could you do?

I, for one, do not judge them for whatever troubles they may have
experienced. Without doubt, both left incredible music legacies that
will remain with us forever. Now a new star is rising to join them
and her name is Sabrina Carpenter. Let us make her promise she
will avoid the pitfalls that Elvis and Michael were unable to avoid.

Sabrina has made so many great videos but this one will remain
one of my favorites from her.

To Sabrina, and Dad ... Bravo! Simply Bravo!

And ... Encore!

Arnold

[Gracie]

loved this video!! brina looked beautiful

[Caitlin]

she's realy pretty in this.

[Gracie]

she is beautiful in all her vids