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The Belle of St. Mark
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Wikipedia article
"'The Belle of St. Mark'" is a song recorded by singer/percussionist Sheila E. The song was released in November 1984 in the United States and in the Netherlands, and in February 1985 in other markets. It peaked at No. 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1984, and No. 68 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles Charts in January 1985. It reached the top 10 in the Netherlands and New Zealand as well as the top 20 in Australia, the UK and Ireland, and was an 'NME' "Single of the Week".Parsons, Tony (1985) "Single of the Week", 'NME', February 2, 1985, p. 14
Background
The song's lyrics tell of an androgynous "frail but passionate creature", referred to as "he" throughout, but called the feminine "Belle". (Androgyny was a prevalent theme in the music of Sheila E.'s mentor, Prince, and common in pop music of the period.) The song implies the Belle is French (viz. the lyrics, "His Paris hair, it blows in the warm Parisian air / That blows whenever his Paris hair is there") but St. Mark is commonly known as a location in Venice, Italy, although it is referencing the St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral (Minneapolis) which the writer of the song at the time (Prince) lived near the church and grew fond of their bells, and the same bells are featured in the beginning of the song.
Track listing
7" vinyl
'Side one'#"The Belle of St. Mark" 3:38
'Side two'
#"Too Sexy" 5:03
12" vinyl
'Side one'#"The Belle of St. Mark" (dance remix) 7:43
'Side two'
#"Too Sexy" 5:05
Chart performance
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!align="left"|Chart (19841985)
!align="center"|Peak
position
|-
|align="left" |Australia (Kent Music Report)
|align="center" |16
|-
|-
|align="left"|IrelandIrish Recorded Music Associationa. [http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement "The Irish Charts"]. IRMA. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
|align="center"|18
|-
|align="left"|NetherlandsMegaCharts (November 3, 1990). [http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Sheila+E.&titel=The+Belle+Of+St.+Mark&cat=s "Dutch Singles Chart"]. Dutch Charts. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
|align="center"|8
|-
|align="left"|New ZealandMegaCharts (April 7, 1990). [https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Sheila+E.&titel=The+Belle+Of+St.+Mark&cat=s "New Zealand Singles Chart"]. New Zealand Charts. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
|align="center"|5
|-
|align="left"|UKRoberts, David (2006). 'British Hit Singles & Albums' (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 175. .
|align="center"|18
|-
|align="left"|U.S. 'Billboard' Hot 100
|align="center"|34
|-
|align="left"|U.S. Hot Black Singles
|align="center"|68
|-
|}
References
Category:1984 singles
Category:1985 singles
Category:Sheila E. songs
Category:Songs written by Prince (musician)
Category:Song recordings produced by Prince (musician)
Category:1984 songs
Category:Warner Records singles
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