Suzanne
Leonard Cohen – Suzanne
Leonard Cohen wrote the poem «Suzanne» in 1966. The poem later became a song first performed by Judy Collins and the author himself and many other artists afterwards. The lyrics were inspired by Cohen's platonic but intense relationship with a dancer named Suzanne Verdal.
Michelle
The Beatles – Michelle
French chorus for this magnificent, slightly bluesy, ballad written in 1965 by Paul McCartney and John Lennon with the contribution of Jane Vaughan, friend of the band and a French teacher at that time. The title won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1967. «Michelle, ma belle», these are words that go very well together...
Roxanne
The Police - Roxanne
Sting stayed in a shabby hotel near the Nashville club where his band plays on a Parisian tour in 1977. The view from his hotel room on a street filled with prostitutes and a poster of the play Cyrano de Bergerac inspired him to write the song. The red light refers to the red lantern lit at the time of the Middle Ages to signal that a prostitution establishment was open.
Jolene
Dolly Parton - Jolene
It's the eternal refrain of jealousy. Jolene is a young beauty who makes a married man's heart spin. The wife then implores Jolene to leave her man behind. There were several rumors around the origin of the song but, on stage, Dolly Parton used to tell that she had done everything to keep her husband.
Angela
The Rolling Stones - Angie
One of the best-selling ballads in the United States in 1973. The group interpreted it on almost every concert from the 80s. Lyrics with a double meaning that evoke the breakup of love but which also refer to the difficult heroin addiction of Keith Richards at the time. The latter indicates that he chose the name of his daughter Angela, born a year earlier.
Barbara Ann
The Beach Boys - Barbara Ann
Written by Fred Fassert and first recorded by the Regents. The Beach Boys recorded their famous version in 1965 for their album Beach Boys' Party! Why not trying to take your chance, come on and take my hand!
Lucy
The Beatles - Lucy in the sky with Diamonds
Lennon's son, Julian, had made a drawing of Lucy O'Donnell, a schoolmate from nursery school, naming it Lucy in the sky with diamonds. Lennon, finding the title «beautiful», got immediately inspired for the writing of the song.
Caroline
Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline
Different versions of the story behind the title. Either Neil Diamond's then-wife Marsha, but the name had not enough syllables for fitting the melody; or the photo of Caroline, John F. Kennedy's daughter, on a horse.
Gloria
Laura Branigan – Gloria
Love song first written and composed in Italian by Umberto Tozzi and Giancarlo Bigazzi. Jonathan King translated it to English and Laura Branigan interpreted it in 1982. The song reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100.
Layla
Eric Clapton – Leyla
Inspired by the Story of Layla and Majnun by the 12th-century Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi. Clapton was moved by the story of this young man who loses his mind while falling in love with a beautiful young girl.
We are sorry for Veronica, Ondine, Helen, Eloise, Felicia, Tracy, Ursula, Mrs Robinson and all the other beautiful names that have also been sung along the time, but we couldn't list them all!
Daniel, Fernando, Julio, Johnny, Bobby, don't be jealous, we'll speak about you very soon...
