One Final Serenade: Songs of Billy Joel
From Glass Houses (1980)
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Billy and the band perform "C'etait Toi" and "Don't Ask My Why" on the French TV program, Le Rendez-Vous du Dimanche, on April 2, 1980. In between songs, the host of the program joins Billy at the piano and sings "Honesty."
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I know there is no one
That can save me from myself You were the only one Billy tries his hand at French in "C'etait Toi," a melancholy European-style ballad that was probably inspired in part by The Beatles' "Michelle" which also has lyrics in French. It's not a language he speaks fluently, but this is a solid effort. The song seems slightly out of place on Glass Houses, but it is very affecting and moody, one feels like he is in a smoky European cafe reminiscing about a lost love. Billy has stated that he wanted to write a song reminiscent of "Honesty" from 52nd Street which was a number one hit in France. He performed both "Honesty" (see YouTube link) and "C'etait Toi" (see above) on French television in 1978 and 1980, respectively. In his typical self-deprecating manner, Billy has said that when he sang the song on tour in Paris, however, fans were not sure what language he was singing in, believing it was Polish? He later jokingly commented that this is one lyric that he'd like to pull back and retract. See article. As a Songwriter Hall of Fame member, Billy is allowed such an indulgence, and many fans sincerely enjoy the song even with Billy's imperfect French. 
Cafe Terrace at Night by Vincent Van Gogh.
Vincent Van Gogh's "Cafe Terrace at Night."
Billy discusses “C’etait Toi” on SiriusXM.
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Here I am again
In this smoky place With my brandy eyes I'm talking to myself You were the one You were the one Here I go again Looking for your face And I realize That I should look for someone else But you were the one You were the one I'm looking for comfort That I can take From someone else But after all I know there is no one That can save me from myself You were the only one Me revoici Dans ce bar enfume Avec mes yeux ivres Je me parle a moi-meme C'etait toi C'etait toi Me revoici Cherchant ton visage Et je realise Que je devrais en chercher une autre C'etait toi You were the one Je recherche l'affection Qu'une autre pourrait me donner Mais apres tout Je sais qu'il n'y a personne Personne qui puisse me sauver Tu etais la seule I'm looking for comfort That I can take From someone else But after all I know there is no one That can save me, save me from myself You were the only one Vertical Divider
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In his typical self-deprecating and humorous nature, Billy discusses "C'etait Toi" and how it did not do well in France. "Oh I think they thought you were singing in Polish."
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