Serge Gainsbourg (April 2, 1928 – March 2, 1991) was a French poet-songwrit… Read Full Bio ↴Serge Gainsbourg (April 2, 1928 – March 2, 1991) was a French poet-songwriter, singer, actor, novelist, painter and director. Gainsbourg's varied style and individuality made him difficult to categorize. Although famous in France for many years, he did not achieve his first No. 1 album until 1979, when he released Aux Armes et caetera more than twenty years after his music career had begun. But since the 1980s, his legacy has been firmly established.
He was born Lucien Ginzburg in Paris, France, the son of Jewish Russian parents who fled to France after the 1917 Bolshevik uprising. His childhood was profoundly affected by the occupation of France by Nazi Germany, during which he and his family, as Jews, were forced to wear the yellow star and eventually flee from Paris. He had a daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg, with English singer and actress Jane Birkin; and a son, Lulu, with his last partner, Bambou (Caroline Von Paulus, who is related to Friedrich Paulus). Before he was 30 years old, Lucien Ginsburg was a disillusioned painter but earned his living as a piano player in bars. Daughter Charlotte would later become an actress and singer.
His early songs were influenced by Boris Vian and were largely in the vein of "old-fashioned" chanson. Very early, however, Gainsbourg began to move beyond this and experiment with a succession of different musical styles: jazz early on, English pop in the 60's, reggae in the 70's, even hip-hop in the 80's.
Success began to arrive when, in 1965, his song "Poupée de cire, poupée de son" was the Luxembourg entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. Performed by French teen singer France Gall, it won the grand prize. (The song was covered in English as "A Lonely Singing Doll" by British teen idol Twinkle.) He arranged other Gall songs and LPs that were characteristic of the late 1960s psychedelic styles, among them Gall's '1968' album. Another of Serge's songs "Boum Bada Boum" was entered in by Monaco in the 1967 contest, sung by Minouche Barelli; It came 5th.
In 1969, he released what would become his most famous song in the English-speaking world, "Je t'aime... moi non plus", which featured simulated sounds of female orgasm. The song appeared that year on an LP, "Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg". Originally recorded with Brigitte Bardot, it was released with future girlfriend Birkin when Bardot backed out. While Gainsbourg declared it the "ultimate love song," it was considered too "hot"; the song was censored in various countries, and in France, even the toned-down version was suppressed. Even the Vatican made a public statement citing the song as offensive. Its notoriety led it to reaching no. 1 in the UK singles chart. A long-standing rumor maintains that Gainsbourg and Birkin were actually having sex during the recording session (asked about it in an interview, Gainsbourg answered that if this was true, the song would have lasted longer than 4 minutes).
The seventies
His most influential work came near the start of the seventies with Histoire de Melody Nelson, released in 1971. This concept album, produced and arranged by Jean-Claude Vannier, tells the story of a Lolita-esque affair, with Gainsbourg as the narrator and Jane Birkin as the eponymous English heroine. It features prominent string arrangements and even a massed choir at its tragic climax. At the time, sales were poor, but the album has proven influential with artists such as Air, David Holmes and Beck.
In 1975, he released the album Rock Around the Bunker, a rock album written entirely on the subject of the Nazis. Gainsbourg used black humour, as he and his family suffered during World War II. While a child in Paris, Gainsbourg himself had worn the Yellow badge as the mark of a Jew.
The next year saw the release of another major work, L'Homme à la Tête de Chou (Cabbage-Head Man), featuring the new character Marilou and sumptuous orchestral themes.
In Jamaica in 1978 he recorded "Aux Armes et cetera," a reggae version of the French national anthem "La Marseillaise", with Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar and Rita Marley. This song earned him death threats from right-wing veterans of the Algerian War of Independence who were opposed to certain lyrics. Shortly afterwards, Gainsbourg bought the original manuscript of La Marseillaise. He was able to reply to his critics that his version was, in fact, closer to the original as the manuscript clearly shows the words "Aux armes et cætera..." for the chorus.
The next year saw him in the new look of Gainsbarre, officially introduced in the song "Ecce Homo."
Final years
In the 1980's, approaching the end of his life, Gainsbourg became a regular figure on French TV. His appearances seemed devoted to his controversial sense of humour and provocation. He would frequently show up drunk and unshaven on stage. Perhaps his most famous incident came when, on Michel Drucker's live Saturday evening show with the American singer Whitney Houston, he exclaimed, "I want to fuck her."
During this period he released Love On The Beat and his last studio album, You're Under Arrest, (which saw him adapt his style to the hip-hop genre), as well as two live recordings. His third and last Eurovision Song Contest entry came in 1990 with the French entry "White and Black Blues", sung by Joëlle Ursull. It came second in a tie with Ireland. His songs became increasingly eccentric in this period, ranging from the anti-drug "Les Enfants de la Chance" to the duet with his daughter Charlotte called "Lemon Incest (Un zeste de citron)." The title of the latter demonstrates Gainsbourg's love of puns (another example is "Bowie, Beau oui comme Bowie").
Discography :
1958 : Du Chant À La Une !
1959 : Serge Gainsbourg N°2
1961 : L'étonnant Serge Gainsbourg
1962 : Serge Gainsbourg N° 4
1963 : Gainsbourg Confidentiel
1964 : Gainsbourg Percussions
1968 : Initials B.B.
1968 : Bonnie And Clyde ( with Brigitte Bardot )
1969 : Jane Birkin-Serge Gainsbourg
1971 : Histoire de Melody Nelson ( with Jane Birkin )
1973 : Vu de l'extérieur
1975 : Rock around the bunker
1976 : L'Homme à tête de chou
1979 : Aux armes et cætera
1981 : Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles
1984 : Love on the Beat
1987 : You're Under Arrest
He was born Lucien Ginzburg in Paris, France, the son of Jewish Russian parents who fled to France after the 1917 Bolshevik uprising. His childhood was profoundly affected by the occupation of France by Nazi Germany, during which he and his family, as Jews, were forced to wear the yellow star and eventually flee from Paris. He had a daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg, with English singer and actress Jane Birkin; and a son, Lulu, with his last partner, Bambou (Caroline Von Paulus, who is related to Friedrich Paulus). Before he was 30 years old, Lucien Ginsburg was a disillusioned painter but earned his living as a piano player in bars. Daughter Charlotte would later become an actress and singer.
His early songs were influenced by Boris Vian and were largely in the vein of "old-fashioned" chanson. Very early, however, Gainsbourg began to move beyond this and experiment with a succession of different musical styles: jazz early on, English pop in the 60's, reggae in the 70's, even hip-hop in the 80's.
Success began to arrive when, in 1965, his song "Poupée de cire, poupée de son" was the Luxembourg entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. Performed by French teen singer France Gall, it won the grand prize. (The song was covered in English as "A Lonely Singing Doll" by British teen idol Twinkle.) He arranged other Gall songs and LPs that were characteristic of the late 1960s psychedelic styles, among them Gall's '1968' album. Another of Serge's songs "Boum Bada Boum" was entered in by Monaco in the 1967 contest, sung by Minouche Barelli; It came 5th.
In 1969, he released what would become his most famous song in the English-speaking world, "Je t'aime... moi non plus", which featured simulated sounds of female orgasm. The song appeared that year on an LP, "Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg". Originally recorded with Brigitte Bardot, it was released with future girlfriend Birkin when Bardot backed out. While Gainsbourg declared it the "ultimate love song," it was considered too "hot"; the song was censored in various countries, and in France, even the toned-down version was suppressed. Even the Vatican made a public statement citing the song as offensive. Its notoriety led it to reaching no. 1 in the UK singles chart. A long-standing rumor maintains that Gainsbourg and Birkin were actually having sex during the recording session (asked about it in an interview, Gainsbourg answered that if this was true, the song would have lasted longer than 4 minutes).
The seventies
His most influential work came near the start of the seventies with Histoire de Melody Nelson, released in 1971. This concept album, produced and arranged by Jean-Claude Vannier, tells the story of a Lolita-esque affair, with Gainsbourg as the narrator and Jane Birkin as the eponymous English heroine. It features prominent string arrangements and even a massed choir at its tragic climax. At the time, sales were poor, but the album has proven influential with artists such as Air, David Holmes and Beck.
In 1975, he released the album Rock Around the Bunker, a rock album written entirely on the subject of the Nazis. Gainsbourg used black humour, as he and his family suffered during World War II. While a child in Paris, Gainsbourg himself had worn the Yellow badge as the mark of a Jew.
The next year saw the release of another major work, L'Homme à la Tête de Chou (Cabbage-Head Man), featuring the new character Marilou and sumptuous orchestral themes.
In Jamaica in 1978 he recorded "Aux Armes et cetera," a reggae version of the French national anthem "La Marseillaise", with Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar and Rita Marley. This song earned him death threats from right-wing veterans of the Algerian War of Independence who were opposed to certain lyrics. Shortly afterwards, Gainsbourg bought the original manuscript of La Marseillaise. He was able to reply to his critics that his version was, in fact, closer to the original as the manuscript clearly shows the words "Aux armes et cætera..." for the chorus.
The next year saw him in the new look of Gainsbarre, officially introduced in the song "Ecce Homo."
Final years
In the 1980's, approaching the end of his life, Gainsbourg became a regular figure on French TV. His appearances seemed devoted to his controversial sense of humour and provocation. He would frequently show up drunk and unshaven on stage. Perhaps his most famous incident came when, on Michel Drucker's live Saturday evening show with the American singer Whitney Houston, he exclaimed, "I want to fuck her."
During this period he released Love On The Beat and his last studio album, You're Under Arrest, (which saw him adapt his style to the hip-hop genre), as well as two live recordings. His third and last Eurovision Song Contest entry came in 1990 with the French entry "White and Black Blues", sung by Joëlle Ursull. It came second in a tie with Ireland. His songs became increasingly eccentric in this period, ranging from the anti-drug "Les Enfants de la Chance" to the duet with his daughter Charlotte called "Lemon Incest (Un zeste de citron)." The title of the latter demonstrates Gainsbourg's love of puns (another example is "Bowie, Beau oui comme Bowie").
Discography :
1958 : Du Chant À La Une !
1959 : Serge Gainsbourg N°2
1961 : L'étonnant Serge Gainsbourg
1962 : Serge Gainsbourg N° 4
1963 : Gainsbourg Confidentiel
1964 : Gainsbourg Percussions
1968 : Initials B.B.
1968 : Bonnie And Clyde ( with Brigitte Bardot )
1969 : Jane Birkin-Serge Gainsbourg
1971 : Histoire de Melody Nelson ( with Jane Birkin )
1973 : Vu de l'extérieur
1975 : Rock around the bunker
1976 : L'Homme à tête de chou
1979 : Aux armes et cætera
1981 : Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles
1984 : Love on the Beat
1987 : You're Under Arrest
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Serge Gainsbourg Lyrics
69 année érotique Gainsbourg et son Gainsborough Ont pris le ferry-boat De leu…
Adieu Créature Adieu, créature J'm'en vais dans la nature Et ne m'en veui…
Aéroplanes Marilou se fait des aéroplanes En repliant des dépliants d'a…
Ah ! Melody Ah, Melody Tu m'en auras fait faire Des conneries Hue, hue …
Aux Armes Et Caetera Allons enfant de la patrie Le jour de gloire est arrivé Cont…
Aux Enfants De La Chance Aux enfants de la chance Qui n'ont jamais connu les transes …
Bad News From The Stars Bad news from the star, bad news from the star,…
Baille Baille Samantha Baille baille Samantha, Je suis à cran, tu es accroc, Samant…
Ballade de Melody Nelson Ça, c'est l'histoire De Melody Nelson Qu'à part moi-même, pe…
Bana Basadi Balalo Bana basadi balalo, Dialecte bantou Bana basadi balalo, Troi…
Black And White Une négresse Qui buvait du lait Ah! Se disait-elle Si je le …
Black trombone Black trombone Monotone Le trombone C'est joli Tourbillo…
Bloody Jack Le cœur de Bloody Jack Ne bat qu'un coup sur quatre Mais…
Bonnie and Clyde Vous avez lu l'histoire De Jesse James Comment il vécut Comm…
Brigade Des Stups À la brigade des stups J'suis tombé sur des cops Ils ont…
Cargo Culte Je sais moi, des sorciers qui invoquent les jets Dans la…
Ce grand méchant vous Promenons-nous dans le moi Pendant que le vous n'y est pas C…
Ce Mortel Ennui Ce mortel ennui Qui me vient Quand je suis avec toi Ce mo…
Ces Petits Riens Mieux vaut n'penser à rien Que n'pas penser du tout Rien c'e…
Chanson De Maglia Vous êtes bien belle et je suis bien laid À vous…
Charleston des déménageurs de piano C'est nous les démenageurs de pianos Des Steinway, des Pley…
Chez Max Coiffeur Pour Hommes Chez Max, coiffeur pour homme, Ou un jour j'entrais comme …
Coco And Co Écoute Le gars qui jazzote T'entends Ah, comme il saxote Il …
Comic Strip Viens petite fille, dans mon comic strip Viens faire des bul…
Couleur Café J'aime ta couleur café Tes cheveux café Ta gorge café J'aime…
Daisy Temple Oh Daisy Temple Tu aimes les boubous Tu aimes ta nounou T…
Des Laids Des Laids Quand on m'dit que j'suis moche J'me marre doucement pour n…
Des vents des pets des poums Déjà deux heures que j'fais l'pet d'vant sa porte comme…
Dispatch Box Je prends mon baise-en-ville J'me tire à Delta Ville Avec …
Docteur Jekyll et Monsieur Hyde (Hello, Docteur Jekyll) Non, je ne suis pas le Docteur Jekyl…
Douze Belles Dans La Peau Un, deux, trois, quart, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix,…
Du Jazz Dans Le Ravin Écoute, c'est toi qui conduis ou moi? C'est moi, bon alors…
Eau et gaz à tous les étages Ma petite quйquette Sort de ma braguette Je pisse et je pиte…
Ecce Homo Ecce homo, ecce homo Ecce homo, ecce homo homo homo Ecce h…
En Melody Melody voulut revoir le ciel de Sunderland Elle prit le 707…
En Relisant Ta Lettre En relisant ta lettre, je m'aperçois que l'orthographe et to…
Evguenie Sokolov Mets ton masque à gaz Sokolov que tes fermentations anaérob…
Five Easy Pisseuses De mes cinq petites pisseuses j'ai préféré la six Ouais pou…
Flash Forward Un soir qu'à l'improviste, je toque Je frappe à ma porte…
Ford Mustang On se fait des "langues" en "Ford Mustang" Et "bang", on…
Glass Securit Tequila aquavit Un glass securit Pour prendre ton clit À …
Gloomy Sunday Gloomy Sunday Sombre dimanche Les bras tout chargés de fleu…
Harley David Son Of A Bitch Harley David son of a bitch Eh dis donc David fils…
Hmm Hmm Hmm Hmm, hmm, hmm, j'ai des doutes j'ai des affreux Hmm, hmm,…
I'm The Boy I'm the boy That can enjoy Invisibility I'm the boy Le garço…
Indifférente Comme le chien de monsieur Jean de Nivelle Tu ne viens…
Initials B.B. Une nuit que j'étais À me morfondre Dans quelque pub anglais…
Intoxicated man Je bois À trop forte dose Je vois Des éléphants roses Des ar…
Javanaise Remake J'avoue J'en ai Bavé Pas vous Love Avant D'avoir Eu vent De …
Je suis venu te dire que je m'en vais Je suis venu te dire que je m'en vais Et tes…
Jeunes Femmes Et Vieux Messieurs Toi qui a un pied dans la tombe, Fais gaffe ou…
Joanna Joanna est aussi grosse qu'un éléphant C'est la plus grosse …
Juif Et Dieu Et si Dieu était juif, ça t'inquièterait petite ? Sais tu q…
Kiss Me Hardy Kiss me Hardy Kiss me my love Kiss me Hardy Kiss me my…
L'Alcool Mes illusions donnent sur la cour Des horizons j'en ai pas…
L'amour a la papa L'amour à la papa Dis moi, dis moi Dis moi ça ne…
L'Anamour Aucun Boeing sur mon transit Aucun bateau sous mon transat J…
L'Anthracite Les pensées que je médite Sont plus noires que l'anthracite …
L'hippopodame C'est un rubin, c'est une hippopodame, Avec un d comme dans…
L'Homme A Tête De Chou Au cinquante-six, sept, huit, peu importe De la rue X, si…
L'Homme à tête de chou Je suis l'homme à la tête de chou Moitié légume moitié…
La Chanson De Prévert "Oh je voudrais tant que tu te souviennes" Cette chanson éta…
La Femme Des Uns Sous Le Corps Des Autres La femme des uns Sous l'corps des autres A de soupirs De …
La Nostalgie Camarade Qu'est-ce qui t'as pris bordel de casser la cabane De ce…
La Nuit D'Octobre Honte à toi qui la première m'a appris la trahison Et…
La Poupée Qui Fait C'est une petite poupée qui fait pipi caca Une petite poupé…
La Recette De L'Amour Fou Dans un boudoir introduisez un coeur bien tendre Sur canapé …
là-bas c'est naturel Là-bas c'est naturel Là-bas Au Ke- nya Pour tous les natu…
Le Canari Est Sur Le Balcon Tourne-toi Non Contre moi Non, pas comme ça Et danse La…
Le Claqueur De Doigts Juke-box Juke-box J' suis claqueur de doigts devant les juk…
Le poinçonneur des Lilas J'suis l'poinçonneur des Lilas Le gars qu'on croise et qu'on…
Le rock de Nerval Allons mon Andalouse Puisque la nuit jalouse Étend son omb…
Le Sonnet D'Arvers Ma vie a son secret, mon âme a son mystère Un…
Les Femmes C'Est Du Chinois Les femmes c'est du chinois Le comprenez-vous? Moi pas. …
Les goémons Algues brunes ou rouges Dessous la vague bougent Les goémons…
Les Locataires J'ai des locataires J'ai des chambres à la journée P'tit d…
Les Oubliettes Les regrets fillettes Du pauvre poète Se valsent musette …
Les Sambassadeurs Les sambassadeurs sont venus en dansant Armés de tubas jusq…
Les Sucettes Annie aime les sucettes Les sucettes à l'anis Les sucettes à…
Lola Rastaquouère Comment oses-tu me parler d'amour toi hein Toi qui n'as pas…
Love On The Beat D'abord je veux avec ma langue Natale deviner tes pensées Ma…
Lunatic Asylum Marilou Marilou Le petit lapin de playboy, Ronge mon crâne…
Ma Lou Marilou Oh, ma Lou Oh, ma Lou Oh, MariLou Petite gueuse Shampouineu…
Machins Choses Avec machine Moi machin On se dit des choses Des machins Oh …
Mambo Miam Miam J'ai dans l'œsophage Un anthropophage Qui avait dans l'idée …
Marabout Y’ en a Marabout Y’ en a marre Marabout Bout d’ ficelle C’es…
Marilou Reggae Quand Marilou danse reggae, Ouvrir braguette et prodiguer, …
Marilou Reggae Dub Quand Marilou danse reggae Ouvrir braguette et prodiguer Sal…
Marilou sous la neige Marilou repose sous la neige Et je me dis et je…
Marilu Marilu, Marilu Dis-moi Marilu Veux-tu Marilu Répondre à cett…
Melody Les ailes de la Rolls effleuraient des pylônes Quand m'étant…
Meurtre à l'extincteur Pour eteindre le feu au cul de Marilou, Un soir n'en…
Mickey Maousse J'ai un Mickey Maousse Un gourdin dans sa housse Et quand tu…
Mon légionnaire Il avait de grands yeux très clairs Où parfois passaient des…
Negusa Nagast L'homme a créé des dieux l'inverse tu rigoles croire c'est …
New York USA J'ai vu New York New York U.S.A. J'ai vu New York New York…
No Comment (Ooh-ooh-ooh), si j'ai quoi? Affirmatif Et quoi d'autre? ((…
Orang Outang J'aime ma poupée orang-outang Orang-outang Orang-outang Je l…
Overseas Telegram Je voudrais que ce télégramme Soit le plus beau télégramme D…
Pamela popo J'connais dans une boîte de soho Une nommée Pamela Popo Une …
Panpan cucul Quand je m'trimballe Une p'tit' poupée dans ma tape-cul C'es…
Par hasard et pas rasé Par hasard et pas rasé J'rapplique chez elle Et sur qui j'to…
Pas Long Feu Cette fois je crois que nous sommes complètement ça y…
Pauvre Lola Faut savoir s'étendre Sans se répandre Pauvre Lola Faut savo…
Personne J'ai peur de ne prendre intérêt à rien du tout Mais…
Premiers Symptômes J'ai ressenti les premières atteintes du mal, Sous les sarc…
Quand Tu T'Y Mets C' que tu peux être belle Quand tu t'y mets Tu t'y…
Qui Est "In" Qui Est "Out" Qui est "in" Qui est "out" Qui est "in" Qui est "out" Jusqu…
Relax Baby Be Cool Le clan le clan la cagoule, relax baby be cool, Autour…
Ronsard 58 Tant qu't'auras ma belle de chouettes avantages T'auras des…
Sensuelle et sans suite Une histoire sensuelle et sans suite Ça fait crac ça fait…
Shotgun Je te lime jusqu'au sang Mais je sens que jamais tu…
Shu ba du ba loo ba J’ai acheté pour Anna Un gadget fantastique Un animal en pel…
Shush Shush Charlotte Te souviens-tu, ma petite Charlotte Toi à quatre pattes com…
Sorry Angel sorry angel sorry so sorry angel sorry so c'est moi qui t'a…
Sous le soleil exactement Un point précis Sous le tropique Du Capricorne Ou du Cancer …
Strike Strike, strike, strike Strike, strike, strike Strike, stri…
Suck Baby Suck Suck baby suck With the CD of Chuck Berry Chuck Tu peux a…
Tatoué Jérémie Parce qu'il avait cette fille dans la peau Et pour ne…
Titicaca Je sais pas ce qu'il y a de vrai là-d'd'encre On…
Toi Mourir Toi moi donner cuvette tabac savonnette miroir et papier c…
Torrey Canyon Je suis né dans les chantiers japonais En vérité, j'appartie…
Transit à Marilou Un jour comme un autre ou je restais seule avec…
Valse de Melody Le soleil est rare Et le bonheur aussi L'amour s'égare au lo…
Variations Sur Marilou Dans son regard absent et son iris absinthe, Tandis que Mar…
Vieille Canaille J's'rai content quand tu s'ras mort Vieille Canaille J's'r…
and many more tracks by Serge Gainsbourg.
Elian
on Ford Mustang
We're swapping spits / We're snorting lines [double entendre] (On s' fait des "lines")
In a Ford Mustang
And then, "Bang"
We're banging in [triple entendre]
To the plane trees / And then, "Bang," we're getting high ("embrasser les platanes = planer" [ French] (=to get high)
"Mus" to the left
"Tang" to the right
And to the left, to the right
A windshield wiper
A pack of Kool
A badge with the inscription
"Keep Cool"
A bar of
Chocolate
A Coca-Cola
We're swapping spits / We're snorting lines
In a Ford Mustang
And then, "Bang"
We're banging in
To the plane trees
"Mus" to the left
"Tang" to the right
And to the left, to the right
A bottle
Of make-up fluid
A flashgun
A Browning (automatic pistol)
A phonograph
A volume
Of Edgar A. Poe
And a plain brass ZIPPO
We're swapping spits / We're snorting lines
In a Ford Mustang
And then, "Bang"
We're banging in
To the plane trees
"Mus" to the left
"Tang" to the right
And to the left, to the right
An edition
Of Superman
A nut from
Paco
Rabanne
A pic of
Marilyn
A tube of aspirin
We're swapping spits / We're snorting lines
In a Ford Mustang
And then, "Bang"
We're banging in
To the plane trees
"Mus" to the left
"Tang" to the right
And to the left, to the right