"" () is a song by French singer France Gall from her tenth studio album Paris, France. Written and produced by Michel Berger, it was released as the album's lead single in June 1980 by Atlantic Records. The single was a major commercial success. It reached number one on the French singles chart and became one of Gall's best-selling releases, with over 800,000 copies sold.
The song is structured around a pop-rock arrangement with a strong rhythmic drive and a prominent piano line. Its lyrics celebrate individuality and nonconformity through the portrait of a musician who plays the piano standing up â a gesture which, to the singer, symbolises his freedom, authenticity and resistance to social norms.
Although the lyrics never explicitly name the pianist, the song was widely understood as a tribute to British singer and pianist Elton John, possibly referencing his 1979 concerts in the Soviet Union. This theory was supported by claims that John allegedly agreed to collaborate with Gall on the 1981 duets "" and "" because he felt flattered at being the subject of her recent hit. Michel Berger and France Gall later dismissed this interpretation, explaining in interviews that the song's true inspiration had been American rock pianist Jerry Lee Lewis, whose fiery, unconventional performance style had left a strong impression on Berger.
7-inch single