MICHELLE

In 1968, my wife and I reached full agreement in the naming of number two daughter. We chose Michelle. The Beatles recording had a lot to do with that choice.

Paul McCartney started writing the tune to Michelle in 1959.  He was left handed and, when he started, played a Xenith guitar which was strung for a right-hander.  He got by with chords A, D,and E.

The Beatles were formed in 1960.  The man who originally introduced Paul to John Lennon had a wife who was a French teacher.  At a party at their house in 1965, Paul mentioned to her that he was trying to write a song about his favorite girls name, Michelle, but could find little to rhyme with it.  The French teacher suggested Ma Belle which she said meant My Beauty.  Paul said,"Those words go together well.  How do you say that?"  She said, "Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble."

This lady, Jan Vaughn, got a royalty check from Paul for her contribution.  Lennon, helped finish the lyrics by providing the second verse.   He added the I love you, I love you, I love you verse.

The recording was made at Abbey Road in November, 1965.  Paul decided to use a finger-picking style on the recording which he had heard Chet Atkins use.   They only had four-track equipment back then.  The rythm was done in a single take.

The song was released in December 1965 on their 11th US album, Rubber Soul.  That is the same month I got engaged and inducted.   It was #1 for several months in 1966 and Michelle was played regularly on radio stations for several years.

http://youtu.be/V95VqRHPgTo
o.o