BELLE, Notre Dame de Paris NEW UPDATE

[Jean Pierre]

UP DATE ... I finally did the 3rd modulation and the final chorus ..by cheating a bit (I recorded the 3rd voice a tone and a half lower and then I brought it up a tone and a half with Reaper        


Notre-Dame de Paris is a French musical, which premiered on 16 September 1998 in Paris at the Palais des Congrès. The musical is based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo. The lyricist is Luc Plamondon and the composer is Richard Cocciante, with a direction by Gilles Maheu1.

This successful musical has been performed in over twenty countries and has been adapted into eight languages (English, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Korean, Dutch, Polish and Mandarin).

The song "Belle" is interesting because the theme is taken up in modulation in three keys spaced one and a half tones apart (Dm, Fm, Abm)

I wanted to do this song for the 3rd anniversary of the funest fire that hit Notre Dame de Paris
The fire broke out on Monday 15 April 2019 (at the beginning of Holy Week)

The song with its modulations is spread over several tessituras and is sung in general by three singers bass, baritone, tenor
...unfortunately I don't have the voice to sing the third part in Abm, if any of you want to try it with the lyrics in English it would be a pleasure

[StephenM]

let me find my lovely lady and twirl her slowly around the room!  This is so lovely JP...
fantastical recording and music... your vocals though are fantastic...love it!

[TPB]

excellent brother send me the lyrics I would take a crack at it although I think it is nice just the way it is now
Tim

[Jean Pierre]

Tim

send me the lyrics I would take a crack

lyrics in french version and in english version

Belle
C'est un mot qu'on dirait inventé pour elle
Quand elle danse et qu'elle met son corps à jour, tel
Un oiseau qui étend ses ailes pour s'envoler
Alors je sens l'enfer s'ouvrir sous mes pieds
J'ai posé mes yeux sous sa robe de gitane
À quoi me sert encore de prier Notre-Dame?
Quel
Est celui qui lui jettera la première pierre?
Celui-là ne mérite pas d'être sur terre
Ô Lucifer
Oh laisse-moi rien qu'une fois
Glisser mes doigts dans les cheveux d'Esméralda
Belle
Est-ce le diable qui s'est incarné en elle
Pour détourner mes yeux du Dieu éternel?
Qui a mis dans mon être ce désir charnel
Pour m'empêcher de regarder vers le Ciel?
Elle porte en elle le péché originel
La désirer fait-il de moi un criminel?
Celle
Qu'on prenait pour une fille de joie, une fille de rien
Semble soudain porter la croix du genre humain
Ô Notre-Dame
Oh laisse-moi rien qu'une fois
Pousser la porte du jardin d'Esméralda
Belle
Malgré ses grands yeux noirs qui vous ensorcellent
La demoiselle serait-elle encore pucelle?
Quand ses mouvements me font voir monts et merveilles
Sous son jupon aux couleurs de l'arc-en-ciel
Ma dulcinée laissez-moi vous être infidèle
Avant de vous avoir mené jusqu'à l'autel
Quel
Est l'homme qui détournerait son regard d'elle
Sous peine d'être changé en statue de sel
Ô Fleur-de-Lys
Je ne suis pas homme de foi
J'irai cueillir la fleur d'amour d'Esméralda
J'ai posé mes yeux sous sa robe de gitane
À quoi me sert encore de prier Notre-Dame?
Quel
Est celui qui lui jettera la première pierre
Celui-là ne mérite pas d'être sur terre
Ô Lucifer
Oh laisse-moi rien qu'une fois
Glisser mes doigts dans les cheveux d'Esmérald

Belle, is the only word I know that suits her well
When she dances oh, the stories she can tell
A free bird trying out her wings to fly away
And when I see her move I see the hell to pay

She dances naked in my soul and sleep won't come
And it's no use to pray this prayers to Notre Dame
Tell, who'd be the first to raise his hand and throw a stone
I'd hang him high and laugh to see him die alone
Oh Lucifer, please let me go beyond god's law
And run my fingers through her hair Esmeralda

Belle, there is a demon inside her who came from hell
And he turned my eyes from god, and oh, I fell
He put this heat inside me I'm ashamed to tell
Without my god inside I'm just a burning shell

The sin of Eve she has in her I know so well
For want of her I know I'd give my soul to sell
Belle, this gypsy girl is there a soul beneath her skin
And dies she bear the cross of all our human sin
Oh Notre-Dame please let me go beyond god's law
Open the door of love inside Esmeralda

Belle, even though her eyes seem to lead us to hell
She may be more pure more pure than the words can tell
But when she dances feelings come no man can quell
Beneath her rainbow coloured dress there burns the well

My promised one please let me one time be untrue
Before in front of god and man I marry you
Who'd be the man who'd turn from her to save his soul
To be with her I'd let the devil take me whole
Oh, Fleur-De-Lys I am a man who knows no love
I go to open up the rose Esmeralda

She dances naked in my soul and sleep won't come
And it's no use to pray this prayers to Notre Dame
Tell, who'd be the first to raise his hand and throw a stone
I'd hang him high and laugh to see him die alone
Oh Lucifer,please let me go beyond god's law
And run my fingers through her hair Esmeralda

Belle, is the only word I know that suits her well
When she dances oh, the stories she can tell
A free bird trying out her wings to fly away
And when I see her move I see the hell to pay

She dances naked in my soul and sleep won't come
And it's no use to pray this prayers to Notre Dame
Tell, who'd be the first to raise his hand and throw a stone
I'd hang him high and laugh to see him die alone
Oh Lucifer, please let me go beyond god's law
And run my fingers through her hair Esmeralda

Belle, there is a demon inside her who came from hell
And he turned my eyes from god, and oh, I fell
He put this heat inside me I'm ashamed to tell
Without my god inside I'm just a burning shell

The sin of Eve she has in her I know so well
For want of her I know I'd give my soul to sell
Belle, this gypsy girl is there a soul beneath her skin
And dies she bear the cross of all our human sin
Oh Notre-Dame please let me go beyond god's law
Open the door of love inside Esmeralda

Belle, even though her eyes seem to lead us to hell
She may be more pure more pure than the words can tell
But when she dances feelings come no man can quell
Beneath her rainbow coloured dress there burns the well

My promised one please let me one time be untrue
Before in front of god and man I marry you
Who'd be the man who'd turn from her to save his soul
To be with her I'd let the devil take me whole
Oh, Fleur-De-Lys I am a man who knows no love
I go to open up the rose Esmeralda

She dances naked in my soul and sleep won't come
And it's no use to pray this prayers to Notre Dame
Tell, who'd be the first to raise his hand and throw a stone
I'd hang him high and laugh to see him die alone
Oh Lucifer,please let me go beyond god's law
And run my fingers through her hair Esmeralda

Belle, is the only word I know that suits her well
When she dances oh, the stories she can tell
A free bird trying out her wings to fly away
And when I see her move I see the hell to pay

She dances naked in my soul and sleep won't come
And it's no use to pray this prayers to Notre Dame
Tell, who'd be the first to raise his hand and throw a stone
I'd hang him high and laugh to see him die alone
Oh Lucifer, please let me go beyond god's law
And run my fingers through her hair Esmeralda

Belle, there is a demon inside her who came from hell
And he turned my eyes from god, and oh, I fell
He put this heat inside me I'm ashamed to tell
Without my god inside I'm just a burning shell

The sin of Eve she has in her I know so well
For want of her I know I'd give my soul to sell
Belle, this gypsy girl is there a soul beneath her skin
And dies she bear the cross of all our human sin
Oh Notre-Dame please let me go beyond god's law
Open the door of love inside Esmeralda

Belle, even though her eyes seem to lead us to hell
She may be more pure more pure than the words can tell
But when she dances feelings come no man can quell
Beneath her rainbow coloured dress there burns the well

My promised one please let me one time be untrue
Before in front of god and man I marry you
Who'd be the man who'd turn from her to save his soul
To be with her I'd let the devil take me whole
Oh, Fleur-De-Lys I am a man who knows no love
I go to open up the rose Esmeralda

She dances naked in my soul and sleep won't come
And it's no use to pray this prayers to Notre Dame
Tell, who'd be the first to raise his hand and throw a stone
I'd hang him high and laugh to see him die alone
Oh Lucifer,please let me go beyond god's law
And run my fingers through her hair Esmeralda

[Pete C]

Our countries are only separated by a few kilometres of sea, yet there is such a distinctive sound to French popular music. Another beautiful piece JP !

[Mike_S]

That was so lovely.... what a great story in the lyrics, mysterious and magical... and what a woman!!

Mike

[Rene Asologuitar]

*********

Hi Jean,
Very nice singing, extremely emotional.
And the musical accompaniment is simply beautiful.
I love your version of this song.
Thanks for sharing.
Rene

[Jean Pierre]

NEW UP DATE

I finally did the last verse, the one in Ab, a bit too high for my weak tessitura I cheated a bit by recording the voice a tone and a half higher and lower, and then went up with Reaper

[TPB]

This so nice it brings up images of dancing with my lady late night in a smoky bar with this playing in the background
Bravo Brother
Tim