"Beauty and the Beast" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks. It is the final track on her second album The Wild Heart, released in 1983. It was later released in a live version from Nicks 1986 Rock a Little tour as a B-side to the UK single "Whole Lotta Trouble" in October 1989. It also appears on two compilations: Timespace – The Best of Stevie Nicks, released in 1991, and the boxset, Enchanted, released in 1998.[1] A new studio version appears on her album, The Soundstage Sessions, released in 2009.
| "Beauty and the Beast" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Stevie Nicks | |
| from the album The Wild Heart | |
| A-side | "Whole Lotta Trouble (released in 1989)" |
| Released | 1983 |
| Recorded | 1983 |
| Genre | Soft rock |
| Length | 6:02 |
| Label | Modern |
| Songwriter(s) | Stevie Nicks |
| Producer(s) | Jimmy Iovine |
Inspiration and interpretations
editThe song receives its titles and initial inspiration from French filmmaker Jean Cocteau's 1946 film Beauty and the Beast, one of Stevie Nicks' favorite classic films.[2] Nicks explains the importance of the song to her, both during live performances and in various interviews, as one that encompasses her whole life and represents how everyone is either a beauty or a beast, usually both[3][4][5] On its re-release in Timespace – The Best of Stevie Nicks (1991), she dedicates the song to Vincent and Catherine, of the late 80's television show, "Beauty and the Beast."[3]
Studio session
edit"Beauty and the Beast" was recorded during a single three-hour session in Gordon Perry's recording studio. It is recorded with a full string orchestra and grand piano. During the recording session, Stevie Nicks and her back-up vocalists wore long black gowns and served champagne to the visiting musicians.[6]
Personnel (1983 studio version)
editMain performers
- Stevie Nicks – vocals
- Roy Bittan – piano
- Sharon Celani – backup vocals
- Lori Perry – backup vocals
String section
- Paul Buckmaster – arranger & conductor
- Bianco – harp
- Jesse Levine – viola
- Julien Barber – viola
- Theodore Israel – viola
- Harry Zaratzian – viola
- Jesse Levy – cello
- Frederick Zlotkin – cello
- Seymour Barab – cello
- Jon Abramowitz – cello
- Marvin Morgenstern – violin
- Herbert Sorkin – violin
- John Pintavalle – violin
- Max Ellen – violin
- Regis Eandiorio – violin
- Harry Glickman – violin
- Peter Dimitriades – violin
- Paul Winter – violin
- Matthew Raimondi – violin
- Harry Cykman – violin
- Raymond Kunicki – violin
- Lewis Eley – violin
- Ruth Waterman – violin
- Paul Gershman – violin
Personnel (2009 studio version)
editMain performers
- Stevie Nicks – vocals, producer
- Sharon Celani – backup vocals
- Lori Nicks – backup vocals
- Jana Anderson – backup vocals
String section
- Eric Roth – conductor
- Janice MacDonald – flute
- Deb Stevenson – oboe
- Greg Flint – horn
- Christine Worthing – horn
- Guillaume Combet – violin
- Jennifer Cappelli – violin
- Carmen Llop-Kassinger – violin
- Christine Keiko Abe – violin
- Carol Cook – viola
- Jocelyn Davis-Beck – cello
- Eddie Bayers – drums
- Michael Rhodes – bass
- Joe Thomas – keyboards
Live performance
editDuring her 2006 and 2007 tours, Stevie Nicks performed "Beauty and the Beast" as her encore. For this number, she changed into a black dress and styled her hair into an up-do to resemble Belle from the 1946 film. Footage from the film played in the background as well while she performed. Due to issues obtain copyrights for the 1946 film, a performance of the song was cut from the final edit of her 2009 Live in Chicago DVD. Instead, a new studio version recorded in Nashville in January 2008 appears on the accompanying album, The Soundstage Sessions.
External links
edit- Stevie Nicks on Beauty and the Beast Quotes by Nicks about the song, gathered from interviews throughout the years.
- Beauty and the Beast at The Nicks Fix Lyrics and information about the song.
References
edit- ^ Beauty and the Beast at The Nicks Fix
- ^ Derringer, Lix (March 1982). Time interview with Stevie Nicks
- ^ a b Nicks, Stevie (1991). Timespace Liner Notes.
- ^ Nicks, Stevie (1983). Wild Heart Press Notes
- ^ Derringer, Liz (March 1982). Time interview with Stevie Nicks
- ^ Nicks, Stevie (1983). Wild Heart Press Notes.