Belle is the fourth studio album by New Zealand singer-songwriter Bic Runga.
The album was released in New Zealand on 14 November 2011, while in Ireland the album was released earlier on 11 November 2011https://www.facebook.com/SonyMusicIreland under Sony Music Ireland.
It was her first studio album in six years and the first to feature a producer, Kody Nielson and material co-written with other songwriters. The album's title is derived from the theme song of the French television series Belle et Sébastien which Runga also covers on the album.
Singles The first single from the album is "Hello Hello". The track debuted on New Zealand radio stations in September 2011. On 8 September 2011 for a limited time only Bandit.fm allowed fans the chance to download the song for free. On 12 September 2011, "Hello Hello" was made available to purchase from digital music stores in New Zealand. "Tiny Little Piece of My Heart" and "If You Really Do" were released as follow-up singles in 2012.
Track listing "Tiny Little Piece of My Heart" (Ruban Nielson, Kody Nielson, Bic Runga) – 2:16 "Hello Hello" (Bic Runga, Dann Hume) – 3:05 "If You Really Do" (Bic Runga) – 3:55 "This Girl's Prepared for War" (Bic Runga, James Milne) – 4:29 "Everything Is Beautiful and New" (Bic Runga) – 2:59 "Good Love" (Bic Runga, Dann Hume) – 3:27 "Devil on Tambourine" (Bic Runga, Kody Nielson) – 3:21 "Belle" (Cécile Aubry, Tutti) – 1:56 "Darkness All Around Us" (Kody Nielson) – 3:14 "Music and Light" (Bic Runga) – 3:38
Personnel Personnel adapted from the album's liner notes.
Musicians
Bic Runga – lead vocals (all tracks), backing vocals (3), piano (10) Tim Arnold – guitar (3, 4), acoustic guitar (5) Jon Brion – acoustic guitar (2), floor tom (2), CS-80 (3–6, 9, 10) Claire Cowan – string arrangement (2) Natalia Mann – harp (8) Andrew McDowall – string arrangement (2) Kody Nielson – bass (1, 3, 6, 8, 9), drums (1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10), keyboards (1–7, 9), percussion (1–4, 7, 10), vocoder (1, 4), backing vocals (2, 3, 6), vocals (7, 9), celeste (10) Chris Nielson – flugelhorn (1, 5), saxophone (1), trumpet (1, 4), flute (5), bass clarinet (9) Ruban Nielson – bass (1), guitar (4, 6, 7) Sebastian Steinberg – bass (2, 4, 7, 10) Joey Waronker – drums (3)
Technical
Chris Athens – mastering (all tracks) Reuben De La Tour – engineering Justin Gerrish – mixing (4, 6, 8–10) Greg Junovich – engineering Rouble Kapoor – engineering assistance Greg Koller – engineering Kody Nielson – engineering; mixing (3, 5, 7), production (all tracks) John Paterno – engineering Bret Rausch – misc. assistance Tom Rothrock – mixing (1, 2), vocal production (all tracks) Andre Upston – engineering
Design
Serenity Anderson – makeup Nirrimi Firebrace – photography Amanda Gaskin – artwork concept and design Karen Inderbitzen-Waller – styling Gideon Keith – artwork concept and design Lucy Marr – hairstyling Avril Planqueel – styling
Weekly charts Chart (2011/12)Peakposition
Tour First leg 2011 Classic Hits Acoustic Church Tour
17 November – Whangārei Central Baptist Church 18 November – Tauranga Holy Trinity 19 November – Hamilton Chapel of Christ the King 21 November – Pukekohe Franklin Baptist Church 22 & 23 November – Auckland Holy Trinity Cathedral 25 November – Napier St John's Cathedral 26 November – Palmerston North All Saints Church 28 November – Masterton St Matthew's Anglican Church 29 & 30 November – Wellington Cathedral 2 & 3 December – Christchurch St Michael & All Angels 5 December – Timaru St Mary's Church 6 & 7 December – Dunedin Knox Church 8 December – Invercargill First Presbyterian Church
Second leg 2012 international tour dates – Ireland, UK and Australia
15 April – CORK, The Opera House, Republic of Ireland 17 April – DUBLIN, Olympia Theatre, Republic of Ireland 18 April – LONDON, O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, United Kingdom 1 May – KANGAROO GROUND, Wellers Restaurant, Australia 2 May – GEELONG, GPAC Drama Theatre, Australia 4 May – MELBOURNE, Athenaeum Theatre, Australia 5 May – BRISBANE, Powerhouse Theatre, Australia 6 May – BANGALOW, A&I Hall, Australia 8 May – CENTRAL COAST, Lizottes, Australia 9 May – NEWCASTLE, Lizottes, Australia 11 May – WOLLONGONG – IPAC, Gordon Theatre, Australia 12 May – SYDNEY, City Recital Hall, Australia 13 May – CANBERRA, Street Theatre, Australia
References
External links Bic Runga's official website New Zealand Herald's album of the year