Les Bicyclettes de Belsize (song)

"Les Bicyclettes de Belsize" is a song written and composed by Les Reed and Barry Mason. Used as the theme song of the 1968 eponymous musical film, it was sung by Anthony May in the movie. As a 45-rpm single, it was a big hit that year, in parallel English and French versions, for Engelbert Humperdinck and Mireille Mathieu, respectively. The French version premiered on Mathieu's 1968 Columbia album Les Bicyclettes de Belsize;[1] the English version premiered as a single in 1968, and was then included on Humperdinck's 1969 album Engelbert.[2]

"Les Bicyclettes de Belsize"
Single by Engelbert Humperdinck
B-side"Three Little Words (I Love You)"
Released1968
LabelDecca
Songwriter(s)Reed, Mason
Producer(s)Peter Sullivan

Notwithstanding the song's French title, it and the rest of the 30-minute film were written in English. The British short subject is a nominal parody of the French feature film Les Parapluies de Cherbourg, to the extent that one can even sing the words "les parapluies de Cherbourg" to the same music. Though it was produced in 1968, the film was released theatrically in 1969, prompting some to think it was inspired by the song.[3]

Background

The song was written and composed, as stated above, by Les Reed and Barry Mason.[4]
In November 1968, Billboard reported that Humperdinck's recording of the single had dropped from #9 to #12. In Belgium it entered the charts at #7. In Singapore it reached #2.[5]

Notable releases
  • Engelbert Humperdinck – "Les Bicyclettes de Belsize" / "Three Little Words (I Love You)" - Decca F.12834 - 1968[6]
  • Mireille Mathieu - Les Bicyclettes De Belsize/- 1968
  • Nada - "Las bicicletas de Belsize" / Sony - 1969
  • Alfredo – "Las bicicletas de Belsize" / Philips - 1969
  • Waldo de los Rios – "Les Bicyclettes de Belsize" / Instrumental
  • Nada Trio - "Les Bicyclettes de Belsize" / Olis music 1998
  • Marco T – "Las Bicicletas de Belsize" / Tulsan producciones - 2016

Charts
Chart (1968–69) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[7] 2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[8] 4
West Germany (Official German Charts)[9] 26
Ireland (IRMA)[10] 3
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 18
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[12] 5
US Billboard Hot 100[13] 31
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[14] 3
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References
  1. "Mireille Mathieu". Discogs. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  2. "Engelbert Humperdinck - Engelbert". Discogs. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  3. "Les bicyclettes de Belsize (1968)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  4. Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series Page 53 1969 Current Registrations
  5. Billboard, November 16, 1968 Page 71 Billboard Hits of the World Belgium, Britain, Singapore
  6. Discogs Engelbert Humperdinck – Les Bicyclettes De Belsize / Three Little Words (I Love You)
  7. "Ultratop.be – Engelbert – Les Bicyclettes de Belsize" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  8. "Ultratop.be – Engelbert – Les Bicyclettes de Belsize" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  9. "Offiziellecharts.de – Engelbert – Les Bicyclettes de Belsize". GfK Entertainment Charts. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON Engelbert"
  10. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Engelbert Humperdinck". Irish Singles Chart.
  11. "Dutchcharts.nl – Engelbert – Les Bicyclettes de Belsize" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  12. "Engelbert Humperdinck: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  13. "Engelbert Humperdinck Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  14. "Engelbert Humperdinck Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
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