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1.48pm
31 March 2008
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Written by: Lennon-McCartney
Recorded: 3 November 1965
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith
Released: 3 December 1965 (UK), 6 December 1965 (US)
Paul McCartney: vocals, acoustic guitar, bass
John Lennon: backing vocals, acoustic guitar
George Harrison: backing vocals, lead guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar
Ringo Starr: drums
Available on:
Rubber Soul
One of Rubber Soul ‘s most memorable songs, Michelle …
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12.46pm
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15 February 2015
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@AppleScruffJunior, what be your judgement of Paul’s French language skills (or lack thereof)?
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1.05pm
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18 March 2013
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Silly Girl said
@AppleScruffJunior, what be your judgement of Paul’s French language skills (or lack thereof)?
Paul’s pronunciation (I think) is fine, I could understand him when I first heard Michelle and thought “ooh French cool”. There’s also a small clip of him speaking French at a concert, he’s understandable but speaks really basic and repeats himself after every word as if he is uncertain about what he is actually saying, which he could well be.
He probably has a very basic knowledge of French and he learned the proper pronunciation phonetically for the Michelle chorus (which is a massive song in France, they love it).
His German as well is alright, he just suffers from the “if I speak fast, I’ll sound more fluent”- doesn’t work that way pal, that and Germans speak quite slowly anyways compared to the French for example.
George’s German was better, although he does seem to be reading off a sheet in this video and he has an adorable way of saying “besonders”- ‘especially’. It’s because of him that my default German sing-song is ‘Am Sonntag will mein Suesser mit mir segeln geh’n?’- ‘On Sunday will my sweetie go sailing with me?’- and every German knows it, so it’s good fun.
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1.09pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline Not that your asking me, i failed French, but your post reminded me.
For so long I thought Paul always sang it wrong until the last “ensemble” where it is more emphasised and I always liked that – a highlight of the song if you will. Then I heard recently that its that bit which Paul screws up and the other times are correct. 
Is that correct? I really did fail French.
As for the song itself, the vocal harmonies are beautiful; right the way thru ‘Rubber Soul ‘ the wordless harmonies are gorgeous wherever they appear (some kind soul isolated them from ‘Rock Band’). Also John was right to suggest putting the strain on “i love you”, “I need to” and “I want you”, not only does it improve the song but it ups the longing that comes across more clearly in Paul’s delivery (if that makes sense).
“Michelle ” has always been one of those songs that I go in moods for; when I am in that place I can play it endlessly otherwise I never seek it out.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
1.17pm
22 September 2014
Offline de haute qualité commentaire 
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1.29pm
Members
18 March 2013
Offline georgiewood said
de haute qualité commentaire
Oh merci, je rougis 
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INTROVERTS UNITE! Separately....in your own homes!
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1.31pm
28 March 2014
Offline Their French is good. I’m Bilingual!
BEATLES Music gives me Eargasms!
3.06pm
3 August 2012
Offline I wouldn’t say their use of French in this song is particularly good because Paul asked a friend to translate it for him. He had just learnt how to say it from them.
But anyway, it’s a good song. I prefer the rockier songs on Rubber Soul though but that just me.
Times I find it hard to say / With useless words getting in my way
9.18am
28 March 2014
Offline pepperland said
I wouldn’t say their use of French in this song is particularly good because Paul asked a friend to translate it for him. He had just learnt how to say it from them.
Regardless of who they asked, their pronunciation of French is done very well in the song. I can’t speak for the 2 German songs they did, as I don’t speak German. (Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand & Sie Liebt Dich ) 
BEATLES Music gives me Eargasms!
3.30pm
5 December 2016
Offline Do you know Napoleon Coste Etude Opus. 38 Nº 1?
He was a composician guitarplayer french died in 1.888,the introduction is ….. well : I PREFER YOU LISTEN
2.53pm
14 June 2016
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5.30am
26 April 2017
Offline I used to discover a talented people from different places who make a cover versions of my favourite Beatles songs. “Michelle ” is one of them. But when a heard this guy singing this song, I was really impressed. Maybe he did it even better? What do you think?
8.06pm
9 March 2017
Offline I wonder, did George use a capo for the guitar solo. Personally, I’d guess not because it’s uncomfortable to use a capo at the 5th fret for the solo, at least for me it’s a whole lot easier just to play it without a capo.
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9.36pm
15 May 2015
Offline I don’t know; but here’s George playing Here Comes The Sun (with Paul Simon) with his capo on the 5th fret —
A ginger sling with a pineapple heart,
a coffee dessert, yes you know it's good news...
10.44pm
26 January 2017
Offline The rhythm part for Here Comes The Sun was written for a 5th fret capo. Nobody really plays solos with a capo, so i assume George didn’t here. Although for the solo on Girl there is a capo on the 8th fret.
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-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"
-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
5.22pm
9 March 2017
Offline Actually, I think the lead parts for Girl are played either without a capo or with a capo on the 1st fret because according to Beatles To A Tee, it uses the 2 high strings of an acoustic 12 string guitar, the only 2 that are in unison rather than in octaves.
If you're reading this, you are looking for something to do.
5.36pm
Reviewers
Moderators
1 May 2011
Offline AppleScruffJunior said
Silly Girl said
@AppleScruffJunior, what be your judgement of Paul’s French language skills (or lack thereof)?
Paul’s pronunciation (I think) is fine, I could understand him when I first heard Michelle and thought “ooh French cool”. There’s also a small clip of him speaking French at a concert, he’s understandable but speaks really basic and repeats himself after every word as if he is uncertain about what he is actually saying, which he could well be.
He probably has a very basic knowledge of French and he learned the proper pronunciation phonetically for the Michelle chorus (which is a massive song in France, they love it).
His German as well is alright, he just suffers from the “if I speak fast, I’ll sound more fluent”- doesn’t work that way pal, that and Germans speak quiet slowly anyways compared to the French for example.
George’s German was better, although he does seem to be reading off a sheet in this video and he has an adorable way of saying “besonders”- ‘especially’. It’s because of him that my default German sing-song is ‘Am Sonntag will mein Suesser mit mir segeln geh’n?’- ‘On Sunday will my sweetie go sailing with me?’- and every German knows it, so it’s good fun.
I love that intro above.
"I told you everything I could about me, Told you everything I could" ('Before Believing' - Emmylou Harris)
9.21am
Moderators
15 February 2015
Offline Just a polite reminder that Here Comes The Sun was written to be capo’d at the SEVENTH fret. http://www.everysoundthereis.c…..f.html?m=1
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3.39pm
31 March 2008
Offline I just received this message via the site’s contact form. I’ll summon Yoko with the Yokophone right away to check the answers.
To whom it may concern.
I would be grateful if you could forward this message to YOKO ONO.
Words (and their use, intentional or unintentional) in the English language (or French, or Italian or etc) that may come across as offensive to Muslims may make countries a target for terrorism.
An example: the Beatles song ‘Michelle ma belle’ can easily be ‘read’ and interpreted by Arab speakers as: ‘amazing vagina’. The word ?? ??? ???? (ma sha Allah, amazing) includes the name of Allah, which in the context it is found would be outrageous to religious Muslims, just as outrageous a Christian would find a swear word against Christ in an Arab song. The word ???? (mahbal) is ‘vagina’ in Arabic.
Coincidentally, and possibly not so, there are a couple of words in Arabic from which the name Beatles could have come from:
??? (ba ta l) meaning ‘champion, hero’, ???? (ba ta la) meaning ‘heroine’ and ????? (bi taa la) meaning ‘unemployment’.A couple of questions:
1) was there ever any intention by the Beatles to use these combination of words with their Arabic meaning?
2) were the Beatles aware of the fact that words used in their songs or even that the band name may may have come from Arabic and used as such to have fun?
3) were (are) the Beatles Jewish?
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3.51pm
Members
18 March 2013
Offline They seem to be onto something, Joe.
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INTROVERTS UNITE! Separately....in your own homes!
***
Make Love, Not Wardrobes!
***
"Stop throwing jelly beans at me"- George Harrison
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