The Music's Over

Serge Gainsbourg (Born Lucien Ginzberg)
April 2, 1921 – March 2, 1991

With Jane Birkin

Born and raised in Paris, Serge Gainsbourg was an esoteric singer-songwriter, actor and director.  He is considered one of France’s most influential artists,  and although he  never really rose above cult status in the U.S. and other parts of the world, his songs have been covered by Belinda Carlisle, Okkervil River, Arcade Fire, Dionne Warwick, Placebo, Jarvis Cocker and more.  In some cases, the lyrics were translated into English.  His music is difficult to catagorize, in that he tended to jump from style to style, often dabbling in jazz, pop, reggae and electronica.  Perhaps his most famous song, “Je t’aime…moi non plus,” was first recorded by Brigitte Bardot, but then re-recorded by his soon-to-be girlfriend, Jane Birken.  It’s melody revolved around the simulated sounds of a female orgasm.  Even though (or more likely due to) many counries deaming it to “hot” for airlplay, and the vatican calling it offensive, the single reached number 1 on the UK charts in 1969.  Gainsbourg continued recording well into the ’80s, but he, along with his music, were becoming more and more eccentric.   One of his last records was the attention-grabbing  song,  “Incest de Citron,” or “Lemon Incest,” a duet with daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg.   Serge Gainsbourg died of a heart attack on March 2, 1991.

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