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
Baker:
Good morning, Belle
Belle:
Good 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 a---
Baker: That's nice. MARIE the baguettes, hurry up
Townsfolk:
Look, there she goes
The girl is strange, no question
Dazed and distracted, can't you tell?
Man: Never part of any crowd
Woman: Cause her head's up on some cloud
No denying she's a funny girl, that Belle
Man 1: Bonjour
Woman 1: Good day!
Man 1: How is your family?
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!
Man: Ah, Belle
Belle: Good morning. I've come to return the book I borrowed
Man: *chuckles* Finished already?
Belle: Oh I couldn't put it down. Have ya got anythin' new?
Man: (chuckle) Not since yesterday.
Belle: That's alright. I'll borrowww, this one
Man: That one? But you've read it twice!
Belle: Well it's my favourite: far off places,
daring sword fights, magic spells, a prince in disguise!
Man: If you like it all that much, it's yours!
Belle: But sir?!?
Man: 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
Girls: With a dreamy, far-off look
Men: And her nose stuck in a book
Townsfolk: What a puzzle to the rest of us is Belle
Belle:
Ohhhhhh....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
Shopkeeper:
But behind that fair facade
I'm afraid she's rather odd
Very different from the rest of us
Townsfolk:
She's nothing like the rest of us
Yes, different 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, haha...and
No girl for that matter
Gaston: It's true lefou, and I've got my sight set on that one
Lefou: 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 couse, I mean ya do, but I (mumbling)
Gaston (singing) : Right from the moment when I met her, saw her
I said she's gorgeous and I fell
Here in town it's only she
Who's as beautiful as me
So I'm making plans to woo and marry Belle
Silly Girls:
Look there he goes! isn't he dreamy?
Monsieur Gaston! oh,he's so cute!
Bestill my heart! I'm hardly breathing!
He's such a tall, dark, strong, and handsome brute!
Man1: Bonjour
Gaston: Pardon!
Man2: Good day
Man3: Mais oui!
Matron: You call this bacon?
Woman1: What lovely grapes!
Man4: Some cheese...
Woman2: ...Ten yards!
Man4: ...One pound..
Gaston: `Scuse me!
Cheese merchant: I'll get the knife
Gaston: Please let me through!!
Woman1: This bread...
Man5: Those fish.....
Woman1: ...It's stale
Man5: ...They smell!
Baker: Madame's mistaken!
Belle: There must be more than this provincial life!
Gaston: Just watch....I'm going to make Belle my wife!
Townsfolk:
Look there she goes....a girl who's 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!!
(random "bonjour"s)
About This Song
"Belle" is a sophisticated opening number that masterfully establishes the central tension between conformity and individuality through its portrayal of a young woman who refuses to accept the limitations of provincial life. The song uses the contrast between Belle's soaring, searching melody and the townsfolk's repetitive, mundane chatter to illustrate her intellectual isolation in a community that values sameness over curiosity. Lyrically, it's a subtle critique of small-town mentality and gender expectations, as Belle's love of reading and desire for adventure mark her as an outsider in a world where women are expected to be content with domestic routine. The musical arrangement cleverly weaves Belle's introspective verses with the bustling ensemble pieces, creating a sense of claustrophobia as the townspeople's voices literally surround and overwhelm her individual voice. Alan Menken's composition draws from both Broadway musical theater traditions and French folk influences, giving the piece an authentic provincial feel while maintaining Disney's signature emotional accessibility. The song resonated with audiences because it captured the universal experience of feeling different and misunderstood, particularly for young women who identified with Belle's intellectual ambitions and refusal to settle for conventional expectations. Its enduring popularity stems from its honest portrayal of the loneliness that comes with being ahead of your time, wrapped in an deceptively cheerful musical package that mirrors Belle's own need to maintain optimism despite her isolation.
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