This vocal sensation’s debut album has gone gold in Canada and is being released around the world by Universal Music and its affiliates. The music of Port McNeil’s Clifton Murray, Toronto’s Victor Micallef, Ottawa’s Remigio Pereira and Vancouver’s Fraser Walters is rich and soulful with powerful anthems and the most beautiful melodies. Originally founded by Jill Ann Siemens, The Canadian Tenors’ unique repertoire is sung not only in English and French but also in Spanish and Italian reflecting their multicultural heritage and establishing the group internationally. The talented singers collaborated with world-renowned producers Quiz and Larossi in Sweden (Il Divo), Grammy Award-winner Steve Thompson (Madonna) and Juno Award winner Jeff Wolpert (Loreena McKennitt) for their self-titled debut album. The critics and audiences have agreed that this first album is a memorable hit that features a repertoire of classic songs along with romantic operatic arrangements such as their haunting and anthemic version of the well loved Adagio and the extraordinary sensation Because We Believe, composed by David Foster, Amy Skyla Foster-Gillies and Andrea Bocelli.
The Canadian Tenors have criss-crossed the globe thrilling millions of music lovers with their magical voices, their wonderful sense of humor, and their memorable music. The foursome have received rave reviews and standing ovations around the world from the Tel Aviv Opera house where they shared the stage with Andrea Bocelli to Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Coliseum with David Foster and Friends to Toronto’s Air Canada Centre where they headlined at ONE NIGHT LIVE with STING and Sheryl Crow.
From performing opening songs for President Bill Clinton, Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Shimon Peres to making musical memories at events with icons such as John Legend, Wyclef Jean and of course Canada’s musical maestro David Foster the Canadian Tenors’ reputation is that of talented singers and genuine artists with big hearts. They dazzled audiences in a cross-country tour of Holland. The Tenors also performed for thousands in London's Trafalgar Square on Canada day in 2008 andon Parliament Hill in Ottawa with Sarah McLachlan in 2009. They have thrilled the likes of HRH Prince Edward and Princess Sophia and so many others in intimate settings and locations from Tahiti to Bermuda to Vienna.
The Canadian Tenors have raised their voices to passionately support many children’s charities. They recently filmed a documentary in Africa, where their voices were united with local children’s to bring awareness of the village of Bulembu, Swaziland, a town being reborn after years of suffering. They shared the stage with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck helping children at the ONEXONE galas and performed for 10,000 cheering youth at Free The Children’s amazing “Me to We Day”.
They performed at Bryant Park’s Christmas Tree lighting in New York City on CBS Television and will star in the CBC’s Holiday Festival On Ice (singing – as their skating still needs work). They are launching a 70 city tour of the United States including dates with David Foster and releasing their second album, a Christmas Album. The Tenors have been named the Canadian Ambassadors for the 2015 Pam Am Games Toronto Bid.
Belle
The Canadian Tenors Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
A quoi me sert encore de prier Notre-Dame
Celui-là ne mérite pas d'être sur terre
O 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
O 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
O 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
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
O Lucifer! Oh! laisse-moi rien qu'une fois
Glisser mes doigts dans les cheveux d'Esméralda
Esméralda
The Canadian Tenors' "Belle" is a hauntingly beautiful song about desire and attraction. The opening lines of the song describe how the word "Belle" seems to have been invented just for her, and how when she dances and reveals her body, it feels like heaven and hell have both been opened up at once. The singer can't help but be entranced by this woman, even to the point of feeling sinful and questioning his own faith. He describes her as having the original sin within her, but also as carrying the weight of all humanity. Even though he's engaged to another woman, he can't help but be drawn to Esméralda, the subject of the song.
The second verse is even more intense, with the singer wondering if Esméralda is literally the devil incarnate. He questions whether his own desire for her is what's keeping him from focusing on his faith and on God. Even though he knows he shouldn't be attracted to her, he can't help it. The song reaches a climax when he suggests that he would be willing to betray his fiancee if it meant being able to be with Esméralda. He even suggests that he's willing to risk being turned into a statue of salt, just like in the biblical story of Lot's wife. The song ends with another plea to be with Esméralda, to see her in her own garden.
Overall, "Belle" is a complex exploration of desire, faith, and attraction. It's a beautiful song with lush orchestration, and The Canadian Tenors' vocals are breathtaking. The lyrics are multilayered, with references to biblical stories and the idea of original sin weaving through the verses. The song asks big questions about temptation and sin, and whether it's possible to resist that which is clearly not good for us.
Line by Line Meaning
Belle
She is beautiful
C'est un mot qu'on dirait inventé pour elle
She is so beautiful that the word belle was invented for her
Quand elle danse et qu'elle met son corps à jour, tel
Un oiseau qui étend ses ailes pour s'envoler
When she dances and shows off her body, she is like a bird extending its wings to fly
Alors je sens l'enfer s'ouvrir sous mes pieds
She is so beautiful that it feels like hell is opening up under my feet
J'ai posé mes yeux sous sa robe de gitane
I looked under her gypsy dress
A quoi me sert encore de prier Notre-Dame
What is the point of praying to Notre-Dame when I have seen her beauty
Quel est celui qui lui jettera la première pierre
Celui-là ne mérite pas d'être sur terre
Whoever judges her does not deserve to live on this earth
O Lucifer! Oh! Laisse-moi rien qu'une fois
Glisser mes doigts dans les cheveux d'Esméralda
Lucifer, let me touch Esmeralda's hair just one time
Est-ce le diable qui s'est incarné en elle
Pour détourner mes yeux du Dieu éternel
Is she the devil incarnate, sent to distract me from eternal God
Qui a mis dans mon être ce désir charnel
Pour m'empêcher de regarder vers le Ciel
Who put this carnal desire in me, stopping me from looking towards heaven
Elle porte en elle le péché originel
La désirer fait-il de moi un criminel
She carries the original sin, does desiring her make me a criminal
Celle
Qu'on prenait pour une fille de joie une fille de rien
Semble soudain porter la croix du genre humain
The girl who was once seen as a joyous and worthless seems to now carry the burden of all humanity
O Notre-Dame! Oh! laisse-moi rien qu'une fois
Pousser la porte du jardin d'Esméralda
Notre-Dame, let me enter Esmeralda's garden just one time
Belle Malgré ses grands yeux noirs qui vous ensorcellent
La demoiselle serait-elle encore pucelle?
Despite her enchanting black eyes, is she still a virgin?
Quand ses mouvements me font voir monts et merveilles
Sous son jupon aux couleurs de l'arc-en-ciel
When she moves, I see beauty and wonders under her rainbow-colored skirt
Ma dulcinée laissez-moi vous être infidèle
Avant de vous avoir mené jusqu'à l'autel
My sweet, let me be unfaithful to you before I take you to the altar
Quel
Est l'homme qui détournerait son regard d'elle
Sous peine d'être changé en statue de sel
Who is the man who could look away from her, risking being turned into a pillar of salt
O Fleur-de-Lys, Je ne suis pas homme de foi
J'irai cueillir la fleur d'amour d'Esméralda
Fleur-de-Lys, I am not a man of faith, I will go pick the flower of Esmeralda's love
Writer(s): Luc Plamondon, Riccardo Cocciante
Contributed by Camilla M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.