“Blue Velvet,” a timeless classic that has mesmerized generations, was originally written and composed in 1950 by Bernie Wayne and Lee Morris. The song first captured attention as a top 20 hit for legendary singer Tony Bennett with its 1951 debut. However, it was the 1963 version by Bobby Vinton that soared to unparalleled heights, clinching the coveted No. 1 spot on the charts and etching the song into music history forever.
The spark for this iconic masterpiece was ignited during a visit to Richmond, Virginia. Bernie Wayne, while staying at the elegant Jefferson Hotel, found inspiration after witnessing a captivating woman at a lavish party. This fleeting encounter became the heart and soul of the poignant lyrics for “Blue Velvet.”
When Wayne nervously approached Columbia Records head A&R man Mitch Miller with the song, the atmosphere was tense. He barely had the chance to serenade Miller with the opening line, “She wore blue velvet…” before Miller boldly interrupted with a surprising suggestion: giving the song to Tony Bennett. Wayne’s eager plea to hear the complete song was met with a curt,
“Quit while you’re ahead!”
— a response that could have silenced many but only added to the allure of “Blue Velvet.”
Fast forward to 1963, when Bobby Vinton’s rendition transformed the song into a cultural phenomenon. On September 20, 1963, his heartfelt delivery propelled “Blue Velvet” to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it reigned supreme for three legs. But the song’s magic didn’t stop there—it dominated the US Middle-Road Singles chart for an astonishing eight weeks, marking one of the most enduring hits of the decade.
Adding to the blue-themed spectacle, Vinton’s summer 1963 hit, “Blue on Blue,” set the stage for the Blue on Blue album, a collection creatively linked by songs featuring the word “blue.” Interestingly, it was music publisher Al Gallico, a close friend of Vinton, who suggested including “Blue Velvet” on the album. He promptly sent his secretary to obtain the sheet music, and within an hour, Vinton remarkably recorded the track in only two takes—an artistic feat revealing the song’s depth and Vinton’s passion.
“Blue Velvet” not only captivated listeners but also earned a prestigious place in music history rankings. It stood proudly at No. 5 on Billboard’s year-end list, “Top Records of 1963,” clinched No. 4 on Cash Box’s “Top 100 Chart Hits of 1963,” and lingered at No. 8 on their 1964 rankings, proving its lasting appeal across years.
Despite its American grandeur, Vinton’s version initially failed to chart in Britain. However, the song’s allure was rekindled in 1990 when the re-release soared to No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart, with “Blue on Blue” as its B-side, reaffirming its timeless resonance across borders and decades.
The lyrics themselves are a profound tapestry of love, loss, and longing. The evocative opening lines paint a vivid picture of the enchanting woman clad in blue velvet, whose presence underestimated the velvet night’s blueness and whose tender sighs warmed the season of May. The song poetically captures a love held fiercely and the lingering pain after her departure:
She wore blue velvet
Bluer than velvet was the night
Softer than satin was the light
From the starsShe wore blue velvet
Bluer than velvet were her eyes
Warmer than May, her tender sighs
Love was oursOurs, a love I held tightly
Feeling the rapture grow
Like a flame burning brightly
But when she left gone was the glow ofBlue velvet
But in my heart there’ll always be
Precious and warm a memory through the years
And I still can see blue velvet through my tearsShe wore blue velvet
But in my heart there’ll always be
Precious and warm a memory through the years
And I still can see blue velvet through my tears
Bobby Vinton’s “Blue Velvet” thus remains more than just a song—it is an enduring narrative of heartfelt emotion, artistic serendipity, and a chance inspiration at a Richmond party that transcended decades to become an immortal anthem loved by millions worldwide.