Belle (song)

"Belle" is a song written by lyricist Howard Ashman and composer Alan Menken for Walt Disney Pictures' 30th animated feature film, Beauty and the Beast. Originally recorded by actress Paige O'Hara and actor Richard White, "Belle" is a French and classical-inspired song that incorporates musical elements from both the Broadway and musical theater genres.
==Summary==
The film's first song, "Belle" is a large-scale operetta-style musical number that introduces the film's book-loving heroine Belle, a non-conforming young woman who has grown weary of the provincial village life that she is being forced to live, and Gaston, who desires her hand in marriage. The reprise mentions how she not only wants to give up her village life but also not accept Gaston's hand in marriage.
==Other Versions==
The song also appears in the Disney+ original series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. In the episode "Typecasting", the students of East High perform the song to audition for the school's production of Beauty and the Beast. The song is a mash-up of the original tune and its reprise.
Paige O'Hara and Richard White starred in a musical theater style performance of the song at the 1992 Academy Awards.
==Lyrics==
<tabber>
|-| First Lyrics (1991 version)=
Belle: Little town, it's a quiet village
Every day like the one before
Little town, full of little people
Waking up to say
Man 1: Bonjour!
Man 2: Bonjour!
Woman 1: Bonjour!
Man 3: Bonjour!
Man 4: Bonjour!
Belle: 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
Baker: "Good morning, Belle!"
Belle: "Morning, monsieur."
Baker: "Where are you off to?"
Belle: "The bookshop. I just finished the most wonderful story about a beanstalk and an ogre and..."
Baker: "That's nice. Marie! The baguettes! Hurry up!"
Townsfolk: Look there she goes, that girl is strange, no question
Dazed and distracted, can't you tell?
Woman: Never part of any crowd
Barber: Cause her head's up on some cloud
Townsfolk: No denying she's a funny girl that Belle
Man 1: Bonjour!
Woman 1: Good day!
Man 1: How is your fam'ly?
Woman 2: Bonjour!
Man 2: Good day!
Woman 2: How is your wife?
Woman 3: I need six eggs!
Man 3: That's too expensive!
Belle: There must be more than this provincial life!
Bookshop Clerk: "Ah, Belle."
Belle: "Good morning. I've come to return the book I borrowed."
Bookshop Clerk: "Finished already?"
Belle: "Oh, I couldn't put it down. Have you got anything new?"
Bookshop Clerk: "Ha-Ha. Not since yesterday."
Belle: "That's alright. I'll borrow... This one!"
Bookshop Clerk: "That one? But you've read it twice!"
Belle: "Well, it's my favorite! Far off places, daring swordfights, magic spells, a prince in disguise."
Bookshop Clerk: "If you like it all that much, it's yours."
Belle: "But, sir..."
Bookstore Clerk: "I insist."
Belle: "Well, thank you! Thank you very much!"
Townsfolk: 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
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!
Woman: Now it's no wonder that her name means "beauty"
Her looks have got no parallel
Shopkeeper: But behind that fair façade
I'm afraid she's rather odd
Very diff'rent from the rest of us
Townsfolk: She's nothing like the rest of us
Yes, diff'rent from the rest of us is Belle!
LeFou: "Wow! You didn't miss a shot, Gaston! You're the greatest hunter in the whole world!"
Gaston: "I know."
LeFou: "No beast alive stands a chance against you. Ha-Ha-Ha! And no girl, for that matter."
Gaston: "It's true, LeFou. And I've got my sights set on that one."
LeFou: "Humph! The inventor's daughter?!"
Gaston: "She's the one! The lucky girl I'm going to marry."
LeFou: "But, she's..."
Gaston: "The most beautiful girl in town."
LeFou: "I know, but..."
Gaston: "That makes her the best! And don't I deserve the best?"
LeFou: "Well, of course! I mean, you do! But, I mean..."
Gaston: 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
Bimbettes: 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!
Man 1: Bonjour!
Man 2: Good day!
Woman 1: You call this bacon?
Man 4: Some cheese, one pound.
Cheese merchant: I'll get the knife.
Woman 4: This bread – it's stale!
Baker: Madame's mistaken.
Belle: There must be more than this provincial life!
Gaston: Just watch, I'm going to make Belle my wife!
Gaston: Pardon!
Man 3: Mais oui!
Woman 2: What lovely grapes!
Woman 3: Ten yards!
Gaston: 'Scuse me! Please let me through!
Man 5: Those fish, they smell!
Townsfolk: Well, maybe so!
Good morning!
Oh, good morning!
Townsfolk: Look there she goes
The girl is strange, but special
A most peculiar mad'moiselle!
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!
Man 1: Bonjour!
Woman 1: Bonjour!
Man 2: Bonjour!
Woman 2: Bonjour!
Man 3: Bonjour!
Man 4: Bonjour!
|-|Reprise Lyrics (1991 version)=
Belle: Is he gone?
Can you imagine? He asked me to marry him!
Me! The wife of that boorish, brainless...
Madame Gaston!
Can't you just see it?
Madame Gaston!
His little wife
No, sir!
Not me!
I guarantee it
I want much more than this provincial life!
I want adventure in the great wide somewhere
I want it more than I can tell
And for once it might be grand
To have someone understand
I want so much more than they've got planned
|-|First Lyrics (2017 version)=
Belle: Little town, it's a quiet village
Every day like the one before
Little town, full of little people
Waking up to say
Townsfolk: Bonjour!
Bonjour!
Bonjour!
Bonjour!
Bonjour!
Belle: 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
Monsieur Jean: Good morning, Belle!
Belle: Good morning, Monsieur Jean. Have you lost something again?
Monsieur Jean: Well, I believe I have. Problem is, I... can’t remember what. Oh well, I’m sure it’ll come to me. Where are you off to?
Belle: To return this book to Pére Robert. It’s about two lovers in fair Verona.
Monsieur Jean: Sounds boring.
Schoolboys: Look, there she goes, that girl is strange, no question
Headmaster: Dazed and distracted, can’t you tell?
Washerwomen: Never part of any crowd
Cos her head’s up on some cloud
Young girls: No denying she’s a funny girl, that Belle
Man: Bonjour, good day!
How is your fam'ly?
Woman: Bonjour, good day!
How is your wife?
Clothilde: I need six eggs!
That's too expensive!
Belle: There must be more than this provincial life
Pére Robert: Ah, if it isn't the only bookworm in town! Where did you run off to this week?
Belle: Two cities in Northern Italy. I didn't want to come back. Have you got any new places to go?
Pére Robert: I'm afraid not... But you may reread any of the old ones if you'd like.
Belle: Your library makes our small corner of the world feel big.
Pére Robert: Bon voyage!
Townsfolk: 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
Belle: Ohhh, 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 till Chapter Three!
Woman: Now, it's no wonder that her name means 'beauty'
Her looks have got no parallel!
Village Lasses: But behind that fair façade
I’m afraid she's rather odd
Woman: Very diff'rent from the rest of us
Village Lasses: She's nothing like the rest of us
Townsfolk: Yes, diff'rent from the rest of us is Belle!
Gaston: Look at her, LeFou. My future wife. Belle is the most beautiful girl in the village. That makes her the best.
LeFou: But she's so...well-read. And you're so...athletically-inclined.
(...)
Gaston: Yes... But ever since the war, I've felt like I've been missing something. And she’s the only girl that gives me that sense of-
LeFou: Mmm... je ne sais quoi?
Gaston: 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
Village Lasses: 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!
Woman 1: Bonjour!
Gaston: Pardon!
Belle: Good day!
Woman 2: Mais oui!
Woman 3: You call this bacon?
Woman 4: What lovely flowers!
Man 1: Some cheese-
Woman 5: Ten yards!
Man 1: One pound
Gaston: 'Scuse me!
Cheese merchant: I'll get the knife
Gaston: Please let me through!
Woman 6: This bread-
Woman 7: These fish-
Woman 6: It's stale!
Woman 7: They smell!
Baker: Madame's mistaken
Woman 6: Well, maybe so!
Belle: There must be more than this provincial life! (Townsfolk: Good morning!)
Gaston: Just watch, I'm going to make Belle my wife! (Townsfolk: Oh, good morning!)
Townsfolk: Look, there she goes, that girl is strange but special
A most peculiar mad'moiselle!
It's a pity and a sin
She doesn't quite fit in
Cos she really is a funny girl
A beauty, but a funny girl
She really is a funny girl
That Belle!
|-|Reprise (2017 version)=
Belle: Can you imagine?
Me! The wife of that boorish, brainless...
Madame Gaston!
Can't you just see it?
Madame Gaston!
His little wife
Ugh! No, sir!
Not me!
I guarantee it
I want much more than this provincial life!
I want adventure in the great wide somewhere
I want it more than I can tell
And for once it might be grand
To have someone understand
I want so much more than they've got planned
|-|High School Musical: The Musical: The Series version=
Carlos:
Little town, it's a quiet village
Every day like the one before
Kourtney:
Little town, full of little people
Wakin' up to say
E.J.: Bonjour!
Gina:: Bonjour!
Big Red: Bonjour!
Seb: Bonjour!
Ashlyn: Bonjour!
Ricky:
There goes the baker with his tray, like always
The same old bread and rolls to sell
Seb:
Every morning just the same
Since the morning that we came
To this poor provincial town
E.J.:
Good morning, Belle!
Ashlyn:
Bonjour, good day
How is your family?
Gina:
Bonjour, good day
How is your wife?
Steph:
I need six eggs
That's too expensive!
Big Red:
There must be more than this provincial life
Kourtney:
Look, thеre she goes, that girl is so pеculiar
I wonder if she's feeling well
Kaden:
With a dreamy, far-off look
And her nose stuck in a book
Gina:
What a puzzle to the rest of us is Belle
Ashlyn:
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
Ricky:
Right from the moment when I met her, saw her
I said she's gorgeous and I fell
E.J.
Here in town there's only she
Who is beautiful as me
Carlos:
So I'm makin' plans to woo and marry Belle
Gina:
Madame Gaston
Can't you just see it?
Kourtney:
Madame Gaston
His little wife
Ashlyn:
No sir, not me
I guarantee it
Seb:
I want much more than this provincial life!
Lily:
I want adventure in the great wide somewhere
I wanted more than I can tell
And for once it might be grand
To have someone understand
I want so much more than they've got planned
Ensemble:
Look, there she goes, that girl who's strange but special
A most peculiar mademoiselle
Girls:
It's a pity and a sin
Boys:
She doesn't quite fit in
Ensemble:
'Cause she really is a funny girl
A beauty, but a funny girl
She really is a funny girl
That Belle!
</tabber>
==Videos==
Beauty and the Beast (1991) - Belle Pt.2 ENG -ULTRA HD--2
Belle (From "Beauty and the Beast" Audio Only)
Belle (From "Beauty & The Beast" - HSMTMTS - Disney+)-2
【曲のみ】朝の風景 from Disney Mobile ／Sparkling Pop Disney【ミューパレ】
==Trivia==
*"Belle" was nominated for the at the in 1992, ultimately losing to the film's title song.
*When Belle is talking about her favorite book, there is foreshadowing to later parts of the movie, such as "daring swordfights" (like the battle between Gaston and the Beast, although ironically, blades weren't actually used during the battle until just prior to Gaston's death when he stabbed the Beast in the back), "magic spells" (in the castle and on its inhabitants), "far off places" (as the castle seems far away from the town, although the actual distance is ambiguous), and a "prince in disguise" (the Beast). When the librarian tells her "If you like it all that much, it's yours", he is not only telling her she can have the book, but it is also foreshadowing that she would go on to live the tale itself.
**In addition, the book that Belle was reading (which the sheep briefly bites a page off) is implied from her description to be Sleeping Beauty, which was later confirmed in the New Fantasyland attraction version of Belle's Cottage, which shows both the original book Belle's mom read to her as a child (explaining why it was her favorite) and the book that she acquired from the bookkeeper.
*In the first speaking portion of the song, when conversing with the Baker, her description of the book implied that the book she had finished and returned was Jack and the Beanstalk. Although Jack and the Beanstalk's earliest known publishing date was in 1807, which at first glance would conflict with the setting of the film being late 18th Century France, the story itself preceded that date significantly, with a similar story, The Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean, being included in the 1734 second edition of Round About Our Coal-Fire.
*There is a brief moment of fourth-wall breaking in the ending of the song. Shortly after the final verses of the song (where the crowd is tailing her and singing about how she's odd while exchanging "bonjours"), Belle briefly snaps back a look, and the townspeople proceed to resume to their duties as if nothing happened.
*Similar to "Under the Sea" in the Official Comic Adaptation for The Little Mermaid, the song was incorporated into dialogue in the Official Comic Adaptation for the film.
**In addition, in the fifth issue of the Beauty and the Beast comic serial published by Marvel Comics, her flashback to the village referenced the events of the opening song, or rather, the scene immediately after it.
*The woman who sings "Bonjour! // how is your wife?" originally was supposed to be a mother with her child tagging along, as well as wearing a far more conservative outfit.Disney Concepts on Tumblr
*During the village chatter scene near the end of the song, there are some anachronisms and errors in the statements: Specifically, a woman and a man requested for 10 yards and a pound of something, respectively. In the setting the film took place in, late 18th century France (implied to be the prelude to the French Revolution by Glen Keane), the actual measurements used during this time were hands and feet, with the Metric system only being established during the events of the French Revolution. In addition, the measurement terms of "yard" and "pound" belonged to the US Customary measurement system, something that isn't used in France even in the present day, let alone during the setting of the film.
*In the animated film, after the three bimbettes sing their lines, they faint. In the live-action film, a horse kicks mud up at them and LeFou tells them "It's never gonna happen, ladies."
*Archive footage of this song sequence from the original 1991 animated film would later be re-used for the opening sequence of the 1995-1996 children's TV series Sing Me a Story with Belle, albeit heavily re-dubbed with the show's theme song, the animated Belle is replaced by the live-action Belle portrayed by Lynsey McLeod, and only the parts of the original film where Belle walks to the bookshop were used.
==References==
==External links==
*
Category:Hero/Heroine songs
Category:Disney Princess songs
Category:Opening songs
Category:Beauty and the Beast songs
Category:Academy Award nominated songs
Category:Songs in video games
Category:Songs in Disney Sing Along Songs videos
Category:Area-Music
Category:Group songs
Category:Reprise
Category:High School Musical: The Musical: The Series songs
Category:Villain songs