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{{refimprove|date=May 2011}}
{{Infobox single
{{Infobox single
| Name = Alphabet
| Name = Alphabet
Line 6: Line 5:
| Artist = [[Amanda Lear]]
| Artist = [[Amanda Lear]]
| from Album = [[I Am a Photograph]]
| from Album = [[I Am a Photograph]]
| A-side =
| B-side = "[[Queen of Chinatown]]"
| B-side = "[[Queen of Chinatown]]"
| Released = 1977
| Released = 1977
| Format = 7"
| Format = 7"
| Recorded =
| Recorded =
| Genre = [[Euro Disco]]
| Genre = [[Euro ]]
| Length = 4:00
| Length = 4:00
| Label = [[Ariola Records]]
| Label = [[Ariola Records]]
| Writer = [[Johann Sebastian Bach]], Charly Ricanek, [[Anthony Monn]], [[Amanda Lear]]
| Writer = [[Johann Sebastian Bach]], Charly Ricanek, [[Anthony Monn]], [[Amanda Lear]]
| Producer = [[Anthony Monn]]
| Producer = Anthony Monn
| Director =
| Director =
| Certification =
| Certification =
Line 23: Line 21:
| Misc =
| Misc =
}}
}}
⚫
"'''Alphabet'''" is a song by French singer [[Amanda Lear]] released in 1977 by [[Ariola Records]].

⚫
"'''Alphabet'''" is a song by French singer [[Amanda Lear]] released in 1977 by [[Ariola Records]].


==Song information==
==Song information==
The song's full title, that appears in ''[[I Am a Photograph]]'' track listing, is "Alphabet (Prelude in C by J. S. Bach)". It is also known as "My Alphabet" as under such title it appeared on "[[Queen of Chinatown]]" single and chosen pressings of ''I Am a Photograph''. It sees Amanda reciting the self-penned lyrics about her personal associations to each letter of the [[alphabet]]. The lyrics are set to the melody of [[Johann Sebastian Bach]]'s [[Prelude in C minor, BWV 999]], arranged in a [[disco]] fashion by [[Anthony Monn]] and Charly Ricanek. French and Italian language versions of the song were also recorded, entitled "Mon alphabet" and "Alfabeto", respectively. "Mon alphabet" was the B-side of "[[Tomorrow (Amanda Lear song)|Tomorrow]]", released in France earlier that year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://amandalear_singoli.tripod.com/006_tomorrow_77.htm |title=TOMORROW 1977 France |work=amandalear_singoli.tripod.com |accessdate=1 May 2011}}</ref>
[[]] , by [[ ]] and [[]] the melody [[Johann Sebastian Bach]]'s [[Prelude in C minor, BWV 999]] by [[ ]] and of the , " was the .<ref>{{cite web |url=http://.com/ |title= |work=.com |accessdate=}}</ref>


The song wears a subtitle "Prelude in C by J. S. Bach" in the track listing of its parent album, and was also known as "My Alphabet" when released as the B-side on the single "[[Queen of Chinatown]]". French- and Italian-language versions of the song were also recorded, entitled "Mon alphabet" and "Alfabeto", respectively. "Mon alphabet" was the B-side on the single "[[Tomorrow (Amanda Lear song)|Tomorrow]]", released in France earlier that year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://amandalear_singoli.tripod.com/006_tomorrow_77.htm |title=TOMORROW 1977 France |work=amandalear_singoli.tripod.com |accessdate=1 May 2011}}</ref>
⚫
"Alphabet", as well as the previous single, "[[Blue Tango#Amanda Lear version|Blue Tango]]", was released only in the Netherlands. "Queen of Chinatown" made the B-side, however, it became Lear's next single the same year. "Alphabet" was not a commercial success and didn't chart.

⚫
"Alphabet", the previous single, "[[Blue Tango#Amanda Lear version|Blue Tango]]", was released only in the Netherlands. "Queen of Chinatown" made the B-side, however, it Lear's next single the same year. "Alphabet" was not a commercial success and chart.


==Music video==
==Music video==
A [[music video]] was produced for German TV show ''[[Musikladen]]'', using the [[chroma key]] technique. It shows Amanda Lear performing the song with respective letters of the alphabet appearing in the background. The music video was released on a 3-DVD box set ''Das beste aus dem Musikladen Vol. 1'' in 2012, together with ten other videos that Lear made for ''Musikladen''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amazon.de/Various-Artists-beste-Musikladen-Vol/dp/B0099NUW9I |title=Various Artists - Das beste aus dem Musikladen, Vol. 1 3 DVDs: Amazon.de: Roger Whittaker, The Manhattans, The Jacksons, Diverse: Filme & TV |work=[[Amazon.com|Amazon.de]] |publisher=www.amazon.de |language=German |accessdate=2013-08-24}}</ref>
Song's music video, made for German show ''[[Musikladen]]'', saw Amanda Lear singing the track with the letters of alphabet appearing in the background. It was made on [[chroma key]] technique.


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
*'''7" Single (1977)'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://amandalear_singoli.tripod.com/010_alphabet_77.htm |title=ALPHABET 1977 Holland |work=amandalear_singoli.tripod.com |accessdate=2 May 2011}}</ref>
*'''7" Single'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://amandalear_singoli.tripod.com/010_alphabet_77.htm |title=ALPHABET 1977 Holland |work=amandalear_singoli.tripod.com |accessdate=2 May 2011}}</ref>
:A. "Alphabet" - 4:00
:A. "Alphabet" 4:00
:B. "[[Queen of China-Town]]" - 4:15
:B. "[[Queen of China-Town]]" 4:15


==References==
==References==
Line 43: Line 42:


{{Amanda Lear}}
{{Amanda Lear}}
{{Amanda Lear songs}}


[[Category:1977 singles]]
[[Category:1977 singles]]
[[Category:Amanda Lear songs]]
[[Category:Amanda Lear songs]]
[[Category:Popular songs based on classical works]]
[[Category:Popular songs based on classical works]]
⚫
[[Category:Songs written by Anthony Monn]]
[[Category:Songs written by Amanda Lear]]
[[Category:Songs written by Amanda Lear]]
⚫
[[Category:Songs written by Anthony Monn]]

Revision as of 11:25, 29 August 2013

"Alphabet"
Song
B-side"Queen of Chinatown"

"Alphabet" is a song by French singer Amanda Lear, released as a single from her debut album I Am a Photograph in 1977 by Ariola Records.

Song information

"Alphabet" is a mid-tempo disco song, arranged by Charly Ricanek and Anthony Monn, and is largely based on the melody from Johann Sebastian Bach's Prelude in C minor, BWV 999. Autobiographical lyrics were written by Amanda Lear and include her personal associations to each letter of the alphabet, recited over the music. It a 2013 interview, Lear stated that "Alphabet" was "the first song to be completely just spoken onto classical music".[1]

The song wears a subtitle "Prelude in C by J. S. Bach" in the track listing of its parent album, and was also known as "My Alphabet" when released as the B-side on the single "Queen of Chinatown". French- and Italian-language versions of the song were also recorded, entitled "Mon alphabet" and "Alfabeto", respectively. "Mon alphabet" was the B-side on the single "Tomorrow", released in France earlier that year.[2]

"Alphabet", just like the previous single, "Blue Tango", at that time was released only in the Netherlands. "Queen of Chinatown" made the B-side, however, it would become Lear's next single the same year. "Alphabet" was not a commercial success and did not chart.

Music video

A music video was produced for German TV show Musikladen, using the chroma key technique. It shows Amanda Lear performing the song with respective letters of the alphabet appearing in the background. The music video was released on a 3-DVD box set Das beste aus dem Musikladen Vol. 1 in 2012, together with ten other videos that Lear made for Musikladen.[3]

Track listing

A. "Alphabet" – 4:00
B. "Queen of China-Town" – 4:15

References

  1. ^ "The Original Queen Of Reinvention". Ponystep. ponystep.com. Retrieved 2013-08-29.
  2. ^ "TOMORROW 1977 France". amandalear_singoli.tripod.com. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  3. ^ "Various Artists - Das beste aus dem Musikladen, Vol. 1 3 DVDs: Amazon.de: Roger Whittaker, The Manhattans, The Jacksons, Diverse: Filme & TV". Amazon.de (in German). www.amazon.de. Retrieved 2013-08-24.
  4. ^ "ALPHABET 1977 Holland". amandalear_singoli.tripod.com. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
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