Belle

Paige O'Hara, Richard White, Chorus

About Belle

"Belle" is a song written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman for Walt Disney Pictures' 30th animated feature film Beauty and the Beast (1991). Originally recorded by American actress and singer Paige O'Hara and American actor Richard White, "Belle", a mid-tempo French and classical music-inspired song, incorporates both Broadway and musical theatre elements. The film's first song and opening number, "Belle" appears during Beauty and the Beast as a large scale operetta-style production number that introduces the film's heroine Belle, considered a book-loving nonconformist by the townspeople of the village, who has grown weary of the provincial life in which she is supposed to live, and Gaston, the film's narcissistic villain who wishes to desire her hand in marriage despite Belle's repeated rejections. "Belle" has been universally acclaimed by film and music critics. Musically, the song has been compared to various musical numbers from the musical films West Side Story (1961) and The Sound of Music (1965), as well as the Broadway musicals Fiddler on the Roof and She Loves Me. At the 64th Academy Awards in 1992, "Belle" was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, but ultimately lost to the film's title song. The song was similarly featured in the Broadway musical based on the film, originally performed by American actress and singer Susan Egan. 


Year:
2011
5:05
1,797 
#1

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Little town
It's a quiet village
Every day
Like the one before
Little town
Full of little people
Waking up to say

Bonjour bonjour
Bonjour bonjour bonjour

There goes the baker with his tray, like always
The same old bread and rolls to sell
Every morning just the same
Since the morning that we came
To this poor provincial town
Good morning, Belle
Good morning, monsieur Jean
Have you lost something again?

Well, I believe I have
Problem is, I've, I can't remember what
Oh well, I'm sure it'll come to me
Where you off to?

To return this book to Pere Robert, it's about to lovers in fair Verona
Sound boring

Look there she goes, that girl is strange, no question
Dazed and distracted, can't you tell?

Never part of any crowd
'Cause her head's up on some cloud
No denying she's a funny girl that Belle

Bonjour, good day
How is your family?
Bonjour, good day
How is your wife?
I need six eggs
That's too expensive!
There must be more than this provincial life!

Ah, If it isn't the only bookworm in town!
So, where did you run off to this week?

Two cities in Northern Italy
I didn't want to come back
Have you got any new places to go?

I'm afraid not
But you may re-read any of the old ones that you'd like
Your library makes our small corner of the world feel big

Bon voyage

Look there she goes, that girl is so peculiar
I wonder if she's feeling well
With a dreamy, far-off look
And her nose stuck in a book
What a puzzle to the rest of us is Belle

Oh, isn't this amazing?
It's my favorite part because you'll see
Here's where she meets Prince Charming
But she won't discover that it's him 'til chapter three!

Now it's no wonder that her name means Beauty
Her looks have got no parallel

But behind that fair facade
I'm afraid she's rather odd
Very different from the rest of us

She's nothing like the rest of us
Yes, different from the rest of us is Belle!

Look at her, LeFou
My future wife
Belle is the most beautiful girl in the village
That's makes her the best

But she's so well-read
And you're so athletically-inclined

Yes, ever since the war, I felt like I've been missing something
She's the only girl that ever given me that sense of

Mmm je ne sais quoi?

I don't know what that means

Right from the moment when I met her, saw her
I said she's gorgeous and I fell
Here in town there's only she
Who is beautiful as me
So I'm making plans to woo and marry Belle

Look there he goes
Isn't he dreamy?
Monsieur Gaston
Oh, he's so cute!
Be still my heart
I'm hardly breathing
He's such a tall, dark, strong and handsome brute!

Bonjour, pardon
Good day, mais oui!
You call this bacon, what lovely flowers
Some cheese, ten yards, one pound,  excuse me I'll get the knife
Please let me through!
This bread, those fish, it's stale, they smell!
Madame's mistaken Well, maybe so

There must be more than this provincial life!

Just watch, I'm going to make Belle my wife!

Look there she goes the girl is strange, but special
A most peculiar mademoiselle!

It's a pity and a sin
She doesn't quite fit in

'Cause she really is a funny girl
A beauty but a funny girl
She really is a funny girl
That Belle

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Written by: ALAN MENKEN, HOWARD ASHMAN

Lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Song Origin
"Belle" is one of the primary songs from Disney's classic 1991 film "Beauty and the Beast."
Artists Involvement
The song is performed by Paige O'Hara, the voice of Belle, with Richard White who voices Gaston.
Musicals Creators
"Belle" is a product of the fantastic collaboration of Alan Menken, who wrote the music, and Howard Ashman, who wrote the lyrics.
Character Development
The song is useful in showcasing the personality of Belle, her longing for more than just her provincial life, and Gaston's interest in her.
Awards and Achievements
The soundtrack of "Beauty and the Beast", which includes "Belle", won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television in 1992.
Cinematic Impact
The sequence that accompanies "Belle" displays the quiet, provincial town where Belle lives and is considered groundbreaking in its use of the multiplane camera technique, making it visually dynamic.
Cultural Impact
"Belle" is an iconic Disney song, often featured in Disney music compilations. It is also performed live in Disneyland parks during "Beauty and the Beast" themed performances.
Broadway Appearance
The song was retained for the Broadway adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast", further adding to its popularity.
Reprised Version
The song has a shorter reprised version wherein Belle voices out her longing for adventure, which becomes a key theme for her character development in the movie.
Live-Action Performance
Emma Watson performed the song in the 2017 live-action movie adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast". While the song's essence remained the same, it featured new orchestration to suit the film's reimagined setting.
Song's Duration
The full version of "Belle" is around 5 minutes and 9 seconds long, making it one of the longest songs in the movie.
Critical Acclaim
Music critics have praised "Belle" for its lyrical brilliance, catchy melody, and how it sets the tone for the whole movie.
Inspiration
The song "Belle" is inspired by traditional musical theatre, drawing parallels to the opening number in "The Sound of Music" where the central character Maria walks through the hills while singing about her life.
Role in Storytelling
More than a song, "Belle" acts as a storytelling device, introducing major characters, their motivations, and the central setup of the narrative in "Beauty and the Beast".
Influence in Animation
"Belle" showcased the storytelling potential of songs in animation films, influencing numerous animated films directed at children and adults alike in the following years.

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