Alphabet (song)

"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

7" Single^[4]

A. "Alphabet" – 4:00

B. "Queen of China-Town" – 4:15

References

↑ "The Original Queen Of Reinvention". Ponystep. ponystep.com. Retrieved 2013-08-29.
↑ "TOMORROW 1977 France". amandalear_singoli.tripod.com. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
↑ "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.
↑ "ALPHABET 1977 Holland". amandalear_singoli.tripod.com. Retrieved 2 May 2011.

Amanda Lear

Discography Filmography

Studio albums	I Am a Photograph Sweet Revenge Never Trust a Pretty Face Diamonds for Breakfast Incognito Tam-Tam Secret Passion Uomini più uomini Tant qu'il y aura des hommes Cadavrexquis Alter Ego Back in Your Arms Heart Tendance With Love Brief Encounters I Don't Like Disco My Happiness

EP	A L Brand New Love Affair

Compilations	Ieri, oggi Poet Amanda Lear Super 20 Forever Glam! Sings Evergreens The Sphinx – Das Beste aus den Jahren 1976–1983

Singles	"La Bagarre" "Blood and Honey" "Tomorrow" "Blue Tango" "Alphabet" "Queen of Chinatown" "Follow Me" "Run Baby Run" "Enigma (Give a Bit of Mmh to Me)" "The Sphinx" "Fashion Pack" "Lili Marleen" "Fabulous (Lover, Love Me)" "Diamonds" "When" "Solomon Gundie" "Egal" "Hollywood Is Just a Dream When You're Seventeen" "Red Tape" "Fever" "Incredibilmente donna" "Love Your Body" "No Regrets" "Assassino" "Ritmo Salsa" "No Credit Card" "Women" "Wild Thing" "Tomorrow (Voulez-vous un rendez-vous)" "Métamorphose" "Do You Remember Me?" "I'll Miss You" "From Here to Eternity" "Love Boat" "I Just Wanna Dance Again" "Beats of Love" "Paris by Night" "Copacabana" "Someone Else's Eyes" "I'm Coming Up" "Chinese Walk" "La Bete et la Belle"

Other works	My Life with Dalí Live in Concert 1979

Chamber music, Orchestral works and Transcriptions by Johann Sebastian Bach

Solo	Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, BWV 1001–1006 (Partita No. 1, No. 2, No. 3) Cello Suites, BWV 1007–1012 Partita for Solo Flute, BWV 1013

Ensemble	Six Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord, BWV 1014–1019 Sonatas for viola da gamba and harpsichord, BWV 1027–1029 Flute Sonatas: in B minor, BWV 1030, in E♭ major, BWV 1031 (doubtful), in A major, BWV 1032, in C major, BWV 1033 (doubtful), in E minor, BWV 1034, in E major, BWV 1035 Sonata for two flutes and continuo, BWV 1039 Canonic Trio Sonata, BWV 1040

Concertos	Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041 Violin Concerto in E major, BWV 1042 Concerto for Two Violins, BWV 1043 Triple Concerto, BWV 1044 Sinfonia for violin and orchestra, BWV 1045 Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046–1051 Keyboard concertos, BWV 1052–1065

Suites	Orchestral Suites, BWV 1066–1069 Orchestral Suite in G minor, BWV 1070 (doubtful)

Various	Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach The Musical Offering, BWV 1079 The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080 (discography)

Adaptations	Air on the G String "Alphabet" "Ave Maria" Bach-Busoni Editions "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring "Lady Lynda" "They"

Albums	Bach's Greatest Hits Back to Bach Jazz Sebastian Bach Switched-On Bach Switched-On Bach II

List of compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach List of fugal works by Johann Sebastian Bach

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