Introduction
illa Black and Phil Everly joined forces on her BBC variety series Cilla in 1974 to perform “Let It Be Me,” a pop standard originally written in French as “Je t’appartiens” by Gilbert Bécaud and Pierre Delanoë in 1955. Their duet blends Cilla’s warm, expressive tone with Phil’s signature Everly Brothers‐style harmonies, transforming a 1960 Everly Brothers top-ten hit into an intimate television moment that still charms listeners today.
If you’ve ever felt the hairs on your arms stand up when two voices lock in perfect harmony, then Cilla Black’s 1974 duet with Phil Everly is your kind of magic. On an episode of her BBC series Cilla, she invited Phil—fresh from his Everly Brothers fame—to join her on “Let It Be Me,” a song built on vulnerability and hopeful devotion.
Originally released in France as “Je t’appartiens” by Gilbert Bécaud in 1955, the English lyrics were adapted by Manny Curtis and Pierre Delanoë, and the Everly Brothers turned it into a pop hit in December 1959, reaching number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. That version featured Archie Bleyer’s production, Howard Collins and Barry Galbraith on guitars, and the Everly Brothers’ trademark close harmonies, laying the groundwork for every cover that followed.
By the time Cilla Black launched her eponymous BBC show in January 1968, she’d become one of Britain’s most beloved entertainers. In a 1974 episode (Series 7), Cilla welcomed Phil Everly among a star-studded guest list that included Tom Jones, Donovan, and the Shadows. When they sang “Let It Be Me” together, Cilla’s rich alto and Phil’s husky tenor wove around each other in a tender call-and-response, giving new life to lyrics about clinging to love in uncertain times.
Unlike a studio patch-up, this live television performance pulses with genuine connection. You can see Cilla’s eyes light up as Phil drops down into his lower register, and you hear the audience gasp at every seamless modulation. The stripped-back arrangement—just piano, guitar, and two voices—underscores the song’s message: love is simplest and strongest when you let someone truly be you.