Ballerina Girl
| "Ballerina Girl" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Lionel Richie | ||||
| from the album Dancing on the Ceiling | ||||
| B-side | "Deep River Woman" | |||
| Released | November 1986 | |||
| Recorded | Winter 1985 | |||
| Genre | Soul | |||
| Length | 3:36 | |||
| Label | Motown | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Lionel Richie | |||
| Producer(s) | Lionel Richie James Anthony Carmichael | |||
| Lionel Richie singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Audio | ||||
| "Ballerina Girl" on YouTube | ||||
"Ballerina Girl" is a song written and recorded by Lionel Richie, from his 1986 album Dancing on the Ceiling. The song was written for Lionel's daughter, Nicole.[1][2][3] In the US and Canada, the song was released as a double A-side, with "Deep River Woman" entering the charts in January 1987.
"Ballerina Girl" peaked at number five on the soul charts.[4] The song was also the last of Richie's eleven number ones on the Adult Contemporary charts, spending four weeks on top. "Ballerina Girl" peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100[5] in early 1987.
The song was covered by Steve Winwood in 1997 and Luther Vandross in 2000.[citation needed]
Music video
[edit]In the music video, Richie plays the song on a piano in a ballet school, while young ballet students dance.[6]
Track listings
[edit]7" Single
- "Ballerina Girl" - 3:36
- "Deep River Woman" - 4:35
Charts
[edit]Weekly charts
[edit]| Chart (1986–1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] | 43 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] | 22 |
| Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[9] | 1 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] | 10 |
| France (SNEP)[11] | 18 |
| Germany (GfK)[12] | 66 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[13] | 35 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[14] | 39 |
| South Africa (Springbok SA Top 20) | 24 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[15] | 17 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[16] | 7 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[17] | 1 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[18] | 5 |
Year-end charts
[edit]| Chart (1987) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19] | 79 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[20] | 90 |
| US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[21] | 95 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Lionel Richie reflects on his life, career and new album". MSNBC on NBC News. 10 May 2004. Deborah Norville Tonight - May 10, 2004.
- ^ "25 Things You Don't Know About Me: Nicole Richie". Us Weekly. September 22, 2010. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
- ^ "Paris Hilton's Birthday Message to Nicole Richie Will Make You Yearn for The Simple Life". People.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 492.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2002). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Record Research. p. 204.
- ^ "Lionel Richie - Ballerina Girl". Youtube. 17 October 2008. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 252. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Lionel Richie – Ballerina Girl" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 8025." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0781." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ "Lionel Richie – Ballerina Girl" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ "Lionel Richie – Ballerina Girl" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Lionel Richie" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ "Lionel Richie – Ballerina Girl" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ "Lionel Richie: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ "Lionel Richie Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ "Lionel Richie Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ "Lionel Richie Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles of '87". RPM. Vol. 47, no. 12. Library and Archives Canada. 26 December 1987. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ "European Charts of the Year 1987 > Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. December 26, 1987. p. 34. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- ^ "1987 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 52. December 26, 1987.
 | This 1980s single–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |