There are many rumors about who the Beatles’ love ballad Michelle is dedicated to, and even Paul McCartney’s explanation could not dispel them all.
- Some say that we are talking about a little French girl that the Beatles saw in Liverpool.
- Others claim that Michelle was the name of a Beatles fan who died in a stampede at their concert.
- Naturally, many fans are sure that this was the name of the secret lover of one of the band members.
However, we have no reason not to trust McCartney, who went into some detail about how Michelle was written. Therefore, we will stick to this version.
The history of creation and the meaning of the song Michelle – The Beatles
In the late fifties, Paul McCartney was fond of French culture and often attended parties with Austin Mitchell, Lennon’s teacher at Liverpool Art College. There he once heard a very colorful guy singing something funny in French. It is not known why McCartney remembered him so much, but Paul soon wrote a parody song, in which instead of real words there were sounds imitating French speech.
He entertained his friends with it for several years, until in 1965 John Lennon invited him to bring the song to mind and include it on the Rubber Soul album. They agreed that it was necessary to preserve the French mood, for which they invited Ivan Vaughan, a language teacher, to work on the text. It was his wife who suggested calling the composition by the female name Michelle and came up with the rhyme “ma belle” (“my beauty”) for him.
So any speculation about Michelle’s subtext is most likely unfounded. The name Michelle was chosen purely for its euphony. The words “I love you, I love you, I love you” suggested adding Lennon. He borrowed them from Nina Simone’s I Put a Spell on You.
The phrase in French is a translation of the line “These are words that go together well” (“These words go together so well”).
In 1967, Michelle received a Grammy for Song of the Year.
Clip Michelle The Beatles
Let’s watch an impromptu video clip for the song Michelle by the legendary rock band The Beatles.
Questions and answers about Michelle
- Who is The Beatles song Michelle about?
Contrary to popular belief, the heroine of the song did not have a prototype in real life. This is the fruit of the authors’ imagination. The name Michelle was suggested by the wife of a French teacher who helped the band members work on the lyrics of the song.
Interesting Facts
- McCartney still has the Zenith guitar on which he composed Michelle’s melody.
- Paul once said that Michelle’s tune was written in the style of Chet Atkins.
- American singer Michelle Branch was named after Michelle’s song.
Michelle – The Beatles Lyrics
Michelle, ma belle
These are words that go together well
My Michelle
Michelle, ma belle
Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble
Tres bien ensemble
I love you, I love you, I love you
That’s all I want to say
Until I find a way
I will say the only words I know that you’ll understand
Michelle, ma belle
Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble
Tres bien ensemble
I need to, I need to, I need to
I need to make you see
Oh what do you mean to me
Until I do, I’m hoping you will know what I mean
I love you…
I want you, I want you, I want you
I think you know by now
I’ll get to you somehow
Until I do, I’m telling you so you’ll understand
Michelle, ma belle
Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble
Tres bien ensemble
And I will say the only words I know that you’ll understand
My Michelle
Michelle – The Beatles Lyrics
Michelle, ma belle
These words fit so well
My Michelle
Michelle, ma belle
Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble
Tres bien ensemble
I love you, I love you, I love you
That’s all I want to say
Until I find other words
I’ll repeat the only ones that I know you’ll understand
Michelle, ma belle
Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble
Tres bien ensemble
I need, I need, I need
I need to make you understand
Oh what do you mean to me
Until I succeed, I hope you understand what I mean
I love you…
I want you, I want you, I want you
I think you already know it
You will still be mine
Until then, I’ll talk to you so that you understand
Michelle, ma belle
Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble
Tres bien ensemble
I’ll speak the only words that I know you’ll understand
My Michelle
