Michelle Blanchard Ardillo

Where did your name come from?

Michelle, ma belle
These are words that go together well (ooh)
My Michelle

Yeah, I haven’t heard that one, lol. For a while I heard this every time I was introduced to someone whether at work or a social activity. As the old saying goes, if I only had a dollar for every time I heard that one, well, I could probably fly first class to France!

When my mom was pregnant with me, her first born, back in the mid-50s, naturally she didn’t know if I was going to be a girl or boy. So, one day she was chatting with my father about what to name the baby. I’m sure there was a discussion about what to name me had I been a boy, but I don’t recall ever hearing that.

As I recall, the conversation went something like this. My dad offered up that he had a name chosen already, a name he had always loved. My mom, curious about this, said, “What is it?” My dad, with a big smile on his face, said, “Candy Denise!” My mom was duly appalled by this and said, “Absolutely not!”

Now, I have no idea where my dad came up with Candy Denise as a name for his first born, and subsequently, his one and only daughter. When I’ve told this story in the past, someone always says it sounds like the name of a professional “dancer,” and not a ballet dancer, if you know what I mean.

My mother then informed my father that she had the perfect name for me if I was a girl, something French to go with my dad’s French last name, Blanchard. She said she thought they should name me Michelle, and for a middle name, Ann, after my mom’s sister, Ann Patricia.

And, that, my friends, is that. My dad didn’t object and my mom won the day! Thank goodness! I love my name, always have.

It is somewhat flattering when people tell me I must have been named for the Beatles song, Paul McCartney’s love song with lyrics in French and English. However, I was born before the British Invasion, the cultural phenomenon that started with the Beatles performance on the Ed Sullivan Show on Sunday, February 9, 1964, something I watched lying on the floor of our living room in front of the giant console television set. I can remember it like it was yesterday!

Michelle, ma belle
These are words that go together well (ooh)
My Michelle

Michelle, ma belle
Sont des mots qui vont très bien ensemble
Très bien ensemble

I love you, I love you, I love you
(Ooh, ooh) that’s all I want to say
(Ooh) until I find a way
I will say the only words I know that you’ll understand

Michelle, ma belle
Sont des mots qui vont très bien ensemble
Très bien ensemble

I need to, I need to, I need to
I need to make you see (ooh)
Oh, what you mean to me (ooh, ooh)
Until I do, I’m hoping you will know what I mean
I love you (ooh, ooh)

I want you, I want you, I want you (ooh, ooh)
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 des mots qui vont très bien ensemble
Très bien ensemble

And I will say the only words I know that you’ll understand
My Michelle (hmm)

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Paul Mccartney / John Lennon

Michelle lyrics © Sony/atv Tunes Llc, Mpl Communications Inc.