Background and Writing
As for the songs from the musical, the text was written by Luc Plamondon, who had also written the musical Starmania in 1987, and the music composed by Richard Cocciante. The musical arrangements were made by Richard Cocciante, Jannick Top and Serge Perathoner who also worked on the musical direction.
"Belle" is a romantic song in which the three singers, who respectively portrayed Quasimodo (Garou), Frollo (Daniel Lavoie) and Phoebus (Patrick Fiori), reveal in turn their love for the gypsy Esmeralda, before singing together the last verse.
There is also an English-language version of the song, recorded by Steve Balsamo, Garou and Daniel Lavoie and available on Notre Dame de Paris - Version anglaise.
The theme of the song is based in Victor Hugo's novel Notre Dame de Paris. In chapter VI of the Eighth book "Trois coeurs d'homme faits différemment" (The men's hearts made differently), Phoebus, Frollo et Quasimodo watch Esmeralda who is sentenced to death. Phoebus is with his fiancée and though he pales when seeing Esmerelda proving he has feelings for her, he stays with his Fleur-de-Lys. Frollo is trying once again to propose Esmeralda a salvation, but in return he wants her to become his woman. And finally Quasimodo selflessly saves Esmeralda from death, only because of his enormous love for her.
Read more about this topic: Belle (song)
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