Ballerina Girl | |
Type: | single |
Artist: | Lionel Richie |
Album: | Dancing on the Ceiling |
B-Side: | Deep River Woman |
Released: | November 1986 |
Recorded: | Winter 1985 |
Genre: | Soul |
Length: | 3:36 |
Label: | Motown |
Producer: | Lionel Richie James Anthony Carmichael |
Prev Title: | Love Will Conquer All |
Prev Year: | 1986 |
Next Title: | Se La |
Next Year: | 1987 |
"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.
In the music video, Richie plays the song on a piano in a ballet school, while young ballet students dance.[6]
7" Single
Peak position | |
Australia (Kent Music Report)[7] | 43 |
---|---|
South Africa (Springbok SA Top 20) | 24 |
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[8] | 79 | |
---|---|---|
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100 Singles)[9] | 90 | |
US Top Pop Singles (Billboard)[10] | 95 |
. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 492.
. Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-2001. Joel Whitburn . 2002 . Record Research . 204.
. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 252.