Quasimodo, Frollo, Phoebus, Esméralda
Belle (“Beauty”), the Song
In the musical play “Notre Dame de Paris,” “Belle” is one of 50+ musical numbers that range from operatic to rock, many of them accompanied by gymnastics and acrobatic dancing of various types. The word "Belle" was the original inspiration for Canadian lyricist and producer Luc Plamondon to undertake writing and producing the play that was based on Victor Hugo's 1831 novel of the same name. He heard the word "Belle" in the 1956 film version of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” when Quasimodo says it in thanks to Esméralda for offering him water on his torture rack. “Belle” is not a character, but an adjective attributed to a beautiful young dancer, Esméralda. In the novel, she is presumed ethnic Romani but was not.
The French version of the song topped the French charts at #1 for 18 weeks in 1998 and remained a record 60 weeks in the Top 50. It became the third best-selling single in French history while the English version did not chart in England.
Patrick Fiori (Phoebus), Garou (Quasimodo), Daniel Lavoie (Frollo)
The song’s theme arises in Hugo’s chapter called "Trois coeurs d'homme faits différemment" (“Three men's hearts made differently”) (Book 8, Chapter VI). Esméralda’s beauty entrances three men in different ways that reflect their own preoccupations: the hunchback bellringer Quasimodo (actor: Garou), the cathedral Archdeacan Frollo (Daniel Lavoie), and Captain of the Guard Phoebus (Patrick Fiori). In the song, performed as a round, each of them expresses the nature of their heart’s appreciation for Esméralda which ranges from selfless devotion (Quasimodo) to obsessive lust (Frollo) and superficial pre-marital promiscuity (Phoebus). Each of the men states his case before they join in the final chorus. Esméralda does not perform in the song.
The song is structured in 4 parts, one for each of the men and a final joint chorus where they combine their separate but congruent aspirations. Each of them has 3 verses to make his case. The 3 voices are neatly arranged in order of ascending vocal range from Garou to Frollo to Phoebus, concluding with the harmony of their joint chorus. In each part, the first 2 stanzas have 4 lines each. The shorter third stanza in each part begins with an invocation of another party’s intervention to support their designs on Esméralda.
Quasimodo asks Lucifer to help run his fingers through her hair. Frollo (the priest) asks Notre Dame (Our Lady) to help open the door to Esméralda’s “garden.” As for Phoebus, he simply informs his fiancée Fleur-de-Lys that he’s going to “pluck Esmeralda’s love flower.” In the final joint chorus, the three parties combine in soliciting Lucifer’s support, a symbolic affirmation of his primacy in earthly matters. Rhyming occurs throughout in different combinations.
The lyrics and translation below may be scrolled while listening to the video clip. The left column is the original French lyrics, the middle column is my translation, and the third column is Will Jennings' English language "adaptation." Recall that "adaptations" are generally less tied to the original than are translations.
The lyrics and translation below may be scrolled while listening to the video clip. The left column is the original French lyrics, the middle column is my translation, and the third column is Will Jennings' English language "adaptation." Recall that "adaptations" are generally less tied to the original than are translations.
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French
Quasimodo (Garou) Verse 1 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 Verse 2 J'ai posé mes yeux sous sa robe de gitane A 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 Verse 3 O Lucifer! Oh! Laisse-moi rien qu'une fois Glisser mes doigts dans les Cheveux d'Esméralda Archdeacon Frollo (Daniel Lavoie) Verse 1 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 Verse 2 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 Verse 3 O Notre-Dame! Oh! laisse-moi rien qu'une fois Pousser la porte du jardin d'Esméralda Captain Phoebus (Patrick Fiori) Verse 1 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 Verse 2 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 Verse 3 O Fleur-de-Lys Je ne suis pas homme de foi J'irai cueillir la fleur d'amour d'Esméralda Quasimodo, Frollo et Phoebus Chorus J'ai posé mes yeux sous sa robe de gitane A 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 Outro O Lucifer! Oh! laisse-moi rien qu'une fois Glisser mes doigts dans les cheveux d'Esméralda Esméralda |
Translation (Pendergast)
Quasimodo (Garou) Verse 1 Beautiful It's a word one could say invented for her When she dances and reveals her body, Like a bird that spreads its wings to fly away Then I feel Hell open beneath my feet Verse 2 I gazed under her Gypsy dress What's the point of praying to Our Lady Who is it who will throw the first stone at her That one doesn't deserve to be on Earth Verse 3 O, Lucifer! Oh, let me just one time Slide my fingers through Esmeralda's hair Archdeacon Frollo (Marc Lavoine) Verse 1 Beautiful Is it the Devil that inhabits her To turn my eyes away from Eternal God Who put this carnal desire in me To prevent me from looking Towards Heaven Verse 2 She carries in her original sin Does wanting her make me a criminal? She who we took for a prostitute, a nobody Suddenly seems to carry the cross of the human race Verse 3 O, Our Lady! Oh, let me just one time Open the door to Esmeralda's garden Captain Phoebus (Patrick Fiori) Verse 1 Beautiful Despite her big black eyes that bewitch you Would the girl be still a virgin? When her moves make me see mountains and marvels Under her skirt with colors of the rainbow Verse 2 My beloved, let me be unfaithful to you Before having led you to the alter What man would turn his gaze from her Under pain of turning into a statue of salt Verse 3 O, Fleur-de-Lys I'm not a man of faith I'm going to pluck Esmeralda's flower of love Quasimodo, Frollo et Phoebus Chorus I gazed under her Gypsy dress What's the point of praying to Our Lady? Who is it who will throw the first stone at her? That one doesn't deserve to be on Earth Outro O, Lucifer! Oh! let me just one time Slide my fingers through Esmeralda's hair Esmeralda |
Jennings Adaptation
Quasimodo (Garou) Verse 1 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 hell to pay Verse 2 She dances naked in my soul and sleep won't come And it's no use to pray these 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 Verse 3 Oh, Lucifer Please let me go beyond God's law And run my fingers through her hair, Esmeralda Archdeacon Frollo (Marc Lavoine) Verse 1 Belle, there's a demon inside her who came from hell And he turned my eyes from god and oh, I fell She put this heat inside me I'm ashamed to tell Without my God inside I'm just a burning shell Verse 2 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 does she bear the cross of all our human sin? Verse 3 Oh, Notre Dame Please let me go beyond God's law Open the door of love inside Esmeralda Captain Phoebus (Patrick Fiori) Verse 1 Belle, even though her eyes seem to lead us to hell She may be more pure, more pure than words can tell But when she dances feelings come no man can quell Beneath her rainbow colored dress there burns the well Verse 2 My promised one, please let me one time be untrue Before in front of god and man I marry you Who would be the man who'd turn from her to save his soul? To be with her I'd let the devil take me whole Verse 3 Oh Fleur-de-Lys, I am a man who knows no law I go to open up the rose, Esmeralda Quasimodo, Frollo et Phoebus Chorus She dances naked in my soul and sleep won't come And it's no use to pray these 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 Outro Oh, Lucifer please let me go beyond God's law And run my fingers through her hair, Esmeralda Esmeralda |
London and Will Jennings' Adaptation
The London version of the play launched in 2000 was performed in English using Will Jennings’ lyrical adaptation. The London production retained 3 principal original cast members from the French tour including: Garou as Quasimodo, Daniel Lavoie as Frollo, and Bruno Pelletier as Gringoire. Tina Arena took over as Esmeralda, and Steve Balsamo as Phoebus. In London, Garou, Lavoie and Balsamo joined in singing "Belle" with Balsamo replacing Fiori as Phoebus.
The song’s title in London became “Belle (is the only word)” instead of just “Belle.” That phrase is in the first line of Jennings' adapted lyrics and he likely wanted to differentiate from Beauty and the Beast. Additionally, "Belle" is a visual word that simplifies the world's perception of her while understating the complexity of her inner self. On the whole, Will Jennings’ adaptation of this song is true to the original version in terms of structure, rhyming and meaning. The London show received modest reviews and closed in October 2001.