A veteran of the New York stage, Paige made her Broadway debut playing Ellie May Chipley in the 1983 Broadway revival of Showboat starring Donald O'Connor. She was also featured as Ellie in the Houston Grand Opera's 1989 production allowing her to make her international debut when the production opened the Cairo Opera House in Egypt. In 1989, Ms. O'Hara went on to sing the role of Ellie on what has come to be considered the definitive Grammy-nominated recording of the musical with Jerry Hadley, Frederica Von Stade and Teresa Stratus, conducted by John McGlinn on the Angel EMI label.
Ms. O'Hara starred as Fantine in the award-winning Les Miserables on Broadway, and performed the title role in the The Mystery of Edwin Drood both on Broadway and in the national tour with the late George Rose, Clive Revill and Jean Stapleton. Also on national tour, she co-starred as Ado Annie in the classic Oklahoma! directed by William Hammerstein.
On the International front she has travelled to Australia to star as Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and most recently toured Japan as Special Guest with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. In London she has starred as Venus in the BBC's recorded broadcast of the live presentation of Kurt Weill's One Touch of Venus and is featured prominently on the recordings of Mack and Mabel in Concert, also recorded live in London with an all-star cast including Tommy Tune, Georgia Brown and George Hearn. Paige costarred with Maureen McGovern in Gershwin's Of Thee I Sing / Let 'Em Eat Cake, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas, which was also Grammy nominated. Her recording of Jerome Kern's Sitting Pretty was released on the New World label, and a new and complete version of South Pacific opposite Justino Diaz was released in 1997.
Still in the recording world, Ms. O'Hara saw her debut solo recording released just a few years ago in Europe and the U.S. Entitled Loving You: Paige O'Hara Sings Jerry Herman the CD features such classic Herman tunes as "La Cage Aux Folles", "Loving You" from the film Mame (a duet with husband Michael Piontek) and "It Only Takes A Moment" from Hello Dolly. Paige's latest solo recording, a collection of lullabies entitled Dream With Me includes her singing the title song from "Beauty and the Beast" for the first time, and a duet of "When You Wish Upon A Star" with Jodi Benson best know as Ariel in The Little Mermaid.
On the American stage Ms. O'Hara has also starred in the concert stagings of Sitting Pretty, The Cat and the Fiddle, Oh Boy, and Oh Lady! Lady!, all at Carnegie Hall as well as One Touch of Venus at Town Hall. She is a veteran of regional theater including the title role in Evita, starring in Paint Your Wagon opposite Jose Ferrer and achieved great critical acclaim as murderess Winnie Ruth Judd in the drama Tiger Lady.
Belle
Paige O'Hara Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, 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, ugh
No sir, not me, I guarantee it
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
The song Belle from the Disney movie "Beauty and the Beast" was composed by Alan Menken and its lyrics by Howard Ashman. It starts with Belle describing the small village that she lives in, where life is predictable, everyone knows each other, and mornings begin with greetings of "Bonjour". The lyrics then introduce the various characters of the village, such as the baker and the bookshop owner, and their interactions with Belle. Throughout the song, Belle is portrayed as different from everyone else because of her love for books and her disregard for typical societal norms. Meanwhile, Gaston, the village's vain and self-centered man, is set up as the antithesis of Belle, as he ensures that he is the center of every conversation and wants to marry Belle simply because she is beautiful, whereas no one else is quite like her.
Line by Line Meaning
Little town
This village is small and insignificant
It's a quiet village
The village is peaceful and uneventful
Every day
Each day is the same as the one before
Like the one before
Nothing ever changes
Little town
This village is insignificant
Full of little people
Inhabited by ordinary and unremarkable individuals
Waking up to say
Starting their day by greeting each other
Bonjour
Good day
Bonjour Bonjour Bonjour
Repeatedly saying hello to everyone
There goes the baker with his tray, like always
The baker is carrying his usual assortment of bread and rolls
The same old bread and rolls to sell
He sells the usual baked goods
Every morning just the same
This routine happens every day without variation
Since the morning that we came
Since the day we arrived in this village
To this poor provincial town
To this insignificant and dull town
Good Morning, Belle
Greeting Belle in the morning
'Morning, Monsieur
Responding to a man named Monsieur in the morning
Where are you off to
Where are you going
The bookshop. I just finished the most wonderful story
I am going to the bookshop after reading a fantastic story
about a beanstalk and an ogre and a
It was about a beanstalk, an ogre, and
That's nice. Marie, the baguettes hurry up
The artist responds politely and then calls someone named Marie to quickly get the baguettes
Look there she goes that girl is strange, no question
Observing Belle, noticing her unusual behavior
Dazed and distracted, can't you tell
Belle appears lost in thought, easily noticeable
Never part of any crowd
Belle doesn't fit in with others
'Cause her head's up on some cloud
Her thoughts are elsewhere
No denying she's a funny girl that Belle
It's clear that Belle is an eccentric and amusing girl
Good day
Greetings
How is your family
Asking about the well-being of one's family
Good day
Greetings
How is your wife
Inquiring about the health and happiness of one's wife
I need six eggs
Requesting to purchase six eggs
That's too expensive
Expressing dissatisfaction with the price
There must be more than this provincial life
Yearning for a life beyond the mundane and predictable village
Good Morning. I've come to return the book I borrowed
Belle greets someone and returns a borrowed book
Finished already
Surprised that Belle finished the book so quickly
Oh, I couldn't put it down. Have you got anything new
Expressing how much Belle enjoyed the book and inquiring about new ones
Ha Ha! Not since yesterday
The person laughs and informs Belle that new books are not available so soon
That's all right. I'll borrow, this one
Accepting the lack of new books and deciding to borrow a familiar one
That one? But you've read it twice
Someone questions Belle's choice as she has already read the book twice
Well, it's my favorite! Far off places, daring sword fights
Belle defends her choice, mentioning her love for the book's themes like distant locations and exciting battles
magic spells, a prince in disguise
Belle lists additional elements she enjoys, such as enchantments and hidden princes
If you like it all that much, it's yours
The person grants Belle permission to keep the book if she loves it so much
But sir
Belle responds with an objection
I insist
The person strongly insists on Belle keeping the book
Well, thank you. Thank you very much
Belle expresses gratitude for the act of kindness
Look there she goes that girl is so peculiar
Observing Belle once again and noting her peculiarity
I wonder if she's feeling well
Questioning Belle's emotional or physical state
With a dreamy far-off look
Describing Belle's gaze as distant and dreamlike
And her nose stuck in a book
Noticing that Belle is engrossed in reading
What a puzzle to the rest of us is Belle
Belle's behavior and interests confuse and intrigue others
Oh, isn't this amazing?
Expressing wonder and excitement
It's my favorite part because you'll see
Referring to a favorite part of a story and eagerly explaining why it's so special
Here's where she meets Prince Charming
Describing a crucial moment in a story when the artist encounters the romantic interest
But she won't discover that it's him 'til chapter three
Revealing that the character won't realize the true identity of Prince Charming until later in the story
Now it's no wonder that her name means "beauty"
Highlighting the connection between Belle's name and her appearance
Her looks have got no parallel
Emphasizing that Belle's beauty is unmatched
But behind that fair facade
However, beneath her attractive exterior
I'm afraid she's rather odd
There is a concern that Belle has unusual and unconventional qualities
Very diff'rent from the rest of us
Belle stands out and is unlike the majority
She's nothing like the rest of us
Belle is completely distinct from everyone else
Yes, diff'rent from the rest of us is Belle
Indeed, Belle is unique and doesn't conform to societal norms
Wow! You didn't miss a shot, Gaston, You're the greatest
Praising Gaston's hunting skills and considering him the best
hunter in the whole world!
Acknowledging Gaston as the top hunter globally
I know.
Gaston confidently agrees
No beast alive stands a chance against you. Ha ha ha and
Asserting that no animal can rival Gaston's hunting abilities and laughing
no girl, for that matter.
Including women as incapable of challenging Gaston
It's true, LeFou. And I've got my sights set on that one
Affirming the truth and Gaston's intention to pursue a specific girl
Hmm the inventor's daughter
Identifying the girl as the daughter of an inventor
She's the one - the lucky girl I'm going to marry
Considering himself fortunate to marry the girl he desires
But she's
However, there is a complication
The most beautiful girl in town.
Recognizing the girl as the most attractive in the entire village
I know, but
Acknowledging the truth but attempting to justify his pursuit
That makes her the best. And don't I deserve the best
Arguing that her beauty makes her the ideal partner and asserting his right to have the best
Well, of course! I mean you do, but
Agreeing with Gaston's statement, although hesitantly
Right from the moment when I met her, saw her
Recalling the first moment Gaston laid eyes on the girl
I said she's gorgeous and I fell
Gaston immediately found her beautiful and was captivated
Here in town there's only she
Highlighting that the girl is the only one of her kind in the village
Who is beautiful as me
Asserting that the girl's beauty matches his own
So I'm making plans to woo and marry Belle
Deciding to pursue Belle romantically and aiming to marry her
Look there he goes
Observing the person in question
Isn't he dreamy
Expressing admiration and affection towards the person
Monsieur Gaston
Addressing the person as Monsieur Gaston
Oh he's so cute
Commenting on his attractiveness
Be still my heart
Exclaiming in excitement or infatuation
I'm hardly breathing
Feeling breathless due to overwhelming emotions
He's such a tall, dark, strong and handsome brute
Describing the person as physically imposing and attractive
Pardon
Excuse me
Good day
Greetings
Mais oui
But yes
You call this bacon
Questioning the quality of the presented bacon
What lovely grapes
Appreciating the attractiveness of the grapes
Some cheese
Requesting a portion of cheese
Ten yards
Asking for a measurement of ten yards
One pound
Requesting one pound of a certain item
'Scuse me
Excuse me
I'll get the knife
Offering to retrieve the knife for someone
Please let me through
Asking for permission to pass through
This bread
Referring to a specific loaf of bread
Those fish
Pointing to a selection of fish
It's stale
Noticing that the bread is no longer fresh
They smell
Commenting on the unpleasant odor of the fish
Madame's mistaken
Informing someone that their statement is incorrect
There must be more than this provincial life
Expressing the desire for a life beyond the monotonous and uneventful village
Just watch, I'm going to make Belle my wife
Determined to pursue Belle as a romantic partner and intending to marry her
Look there she goes a girl who's strange but special
Observing Belle once again and acknowledging her uniqueness
A most peculiar mademoiselle
Referring to Belle as a particularly unusual young woman
It's a pity and a sin
Regretting and considering it unfortunate
She doesn't quite fit in
Noting that Belle doesn't conform or belong
'Cause she really is a funny girl
Acknowledging that Belle truly has an eccentric personality
A beauty but a funny girl
Recognizing Belle's attractiveness but also her quirkiness
She really is a funny girl
Reiterating that Belle is indeed a humorous and peculiar individual
That Belle
Referring to Belle
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Howard Elliott Ashman, Alan Menken
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@t77777
It's nice to close your eyes and imagine a 55 year old Belle, greying, slightly wrinkled face, a little larger, but still happy dancing under the chandelier.
@michaelrebuyas113
Now that you've mentioned it, I can totally imagine her as an old woman, telling (singing, actually) her life and love story with Prince Adam to their grandchildren.
@rockym9981
Michael Rebuyas And then the French Revolution comes along, and peasants raid the castle and kill Belle and the Beast.
@bradleyhale5012
Laughlin Murphin you must be fun at parties.
@TherealRNOwwfpooh
Thomas Brooks Well, Belle and Adam share the same country as Quasimodo, Pheabus, Esmeralda, etc. That means, the Beast and Hunchback would probably have lots to talk about, what being considered monsters and such. XD
@Teddy-iv2sc
😂😂😂😂
@flyingsaucers6870
This is so cute it's like hearing belle when she's older
@bluesamuraixx6994
Yeah!
@Stu228
and after hundreds of packs of Marlboro cigarettes.
@nayleiimanina9894
Stu228 fuck you, she's sounds great!