Birkin was born to David Birkin and Judy Campbell, an actress in Noel Coward musicals. Her great aunt was Freda Dudley Ward, a mistress of Edward VIII while he was Prince of Wales.
Birkin emerged in the swinging '60s in London, starring as one of the models in the controversial film Blowup in 1966.
In 1968, Birkin went to France to audition for the lead female role in Slogan. Though she did not speak French, she got the role.
In 1969, she and Serge Gainsbourg released the song "Je t'aime... moi non plus" ("I love you... me neither"), written by Gainsbourg and featuring both of them singing, which caused a scandal for its sexual explicitness. Arguably due in part to the publicity it got from being banned by radio stations in Italy, Sweden, Spain, and the UK, it was a commercial success all over Europe. The song's fame is a result of its salacious lyrics (sung in French) against a background of female moaning and groaning, culminating in an orgasm at the song's conclusion (which some claim to be the result of Jane and Serge actually engaging in sex during the recording of the song).
Birkin took a short break from her acting career in 1971-72, but returned as Brigitte Bardot's lover in Don Juan (or if Don Juan were a woman) in 1973.
In 1975, she appeared in Gainsbourg's first film, also titled Je t'aime... moi non plus, which created quite a stir for its frank examination of sexual ambiguity. For this performance she was nominated for a Best Actress César Award.
Birkin has starred in the Agatha Christie films Death on the Nile and Evil Under the Sun, and recorded several albums, including Baby Alone in Babylone, Amours des Feintes, Lolita Go Home and Rendez-vous. She has obtained in the category Female Artist of the year in France the Victoires de la Musique award in 1992 .
She starred in two films by Jacques Doillon — as Anne in La fille prodigue (1981) and as Alma in La pirate (1984, nominated for a César Award). This work led to an invitation from Patrice Chéreau to star on stage in La Fausse suivante by Marivaux at Nanterre. After this, she also began to appear frequently on stage in plays and concerts (in France, Japan, the UK and then the US).
Jacques Rivette collaborated with her for Love on the Ground (1983) and La belle noiseuse (1991, Nominated Césars best supporting actress). Additionally, she appeared in Merchant Ivory's A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries (1998, also used her song "Di Doo Dah") and Merci Docteur Rey (2002), while Le Divorce's end title song featured her singing "L'Anamour", composed by Serge Gainsbourg.
In 2006, she played Elektra, directed by Philippe Calvario in France.
Jane Birkin's humanitarian interests led her to work with Amnesty International, on immigrant welfare and AIDS issues. Birkin has also visited Bosnia, Rwanda. and Palestinian Territories, often working with children. She has been awarded an OBE for her services to acting, as well as the Ordre National du Mérite in France.
She made musical collaborations and duets with artists such as Feist, Beth Gibbons from Portishead, Bryan Ferry, Brian Molko from Placebo, Franz Ferdinand, Manu Chao, Brett Anderson from Suede, Mickey (3d), Françoise Hardy, Cali, The Divine Comedy, The Magic Numbers, Paolo Conte, Beck, Rufus Wainwright, Yann Tiersen, Alain Souchon, Les Negresses Vertes, Johnny Marr from The Smiths, Zazie, MC Solaar, Yosui Inoue, Étienne Daho, Alain Chamfort, Jimmy Rowles, Goran Bregović, Sonny Landreth, The Soundtrack of Our Lives and many others.
Birkin recorded the song "Beauty" on French producer Hector Zazou's 2003 album Strong Currents.
She is noted as being the inspiration for fashion house Hermès' popular Birkin Bag after the actress was seen struggling with several bags while boarding an aeroplane.
Her image features on the cover art of Have You Fed the Fish? by singer-songwriter Badly Drawn Boy (which features her daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg on backing vocals).
Despite decades of residence in France and the ability to speak French fluently, Birkin still retains a strong English accent and makes grammatical mistakes when speaking French.
Personal Life :
She was married from 1965 until 1968 to John Barry, an English composer who wrote the musical score to the James Bond movies. Their daughter, the photographer Kate Barry, was born in 1968.
Muse of Gainsbourg :
She had a very passionate and creative relationship with her mentor Serge Gainsbourg — they met on the set of Slogan and married in 1968. They separated in 1980. Their daughter is actress Charlotte Gainsbourg.
In 1982 she gave birth to her third daughter, Lou Doillon, from her relationship with the director Jacques Doillon.
Di doo dah
Jane Birkin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
o di doo di doo dah
mélancolique et désabusée
di doo di doo di dah
o di doo di doo dah
j'ai je n'sais quoi d'un garçon manqué
di doo di doo di dah
o di doo di doo dah
di doo di doo di dah
o di doo di doo dah
je griffe ceux qui essaient de m'embrasser
les autres filles se posent pas de questions
elles courent les rues et les dancings et les garçons
pas si cons
di doo di doo di dah
o di doo di doo dah
difficile de m'imaginer
en chantant
di doo di doo di dah
o di doo di doo dah
Qu'un de ces quatre ça va m'arriver
di doo di doo di dah
o di doo di doo dah
mélancolique et désabusée
di doo di doo di dah
o di doo di doo dah
j'ai je n'sais quoi d'un garçon manqué
di doo di doo di dah
o di doo di doo dah
je suis l'portrait d'mon père tout craché
il chantait
di doo di doo di dah
o di doo di doo dah
quand il m'accompagnait au lycée
les autres filles ont de beaux nichons
et moi moi je reste aussi aussi plate qu'un garçon
que c'est con
di doo di doo di dah
o di doo di doo dah
difficile de m'imaginer
en chantant
di doo di doo di dah
o di doo di doo dah
Qu'un de ces quatre ça va m'arriver
The lyrics to Jane Birkin's song "Di doo dah" express a sense of melancholy and disillusionment with societal expectations of femininity. Birkin describes herself as "garçon manqué," a tomboy who has never played with dolls, and who scratches those who try to kiss her. She contrasts herself with other girls, who she describes as not questioning societal norms as they run around chasing boys. Birkin's frustration with her androgynous appearance is also evident, as she laments her lack of feminine curves, and expresses difficulty imagining herself as a singer who is desired by men.
Through these lyrics, Birkin challenges gender norms and expresses a sense of detachment from society's expectations of her as a woman. She embraces her unique qualities and resists conforming to traditional ideals of femininity. The song's playful melody and repetitive "di doo dah" chorus add to the quirky, non-conforming tone of the song.
Overall, "Di doo dah" is a reflection of the artist's personal experiences and feelings about gender roles, set to a catchy tune that encourages listeners to embrace their individuality and challenge societal norms.
Line by Line Meaning
Di doo di doo di dah
Jane Birkin creates a sound that is both pleasing and encouraging.
o di doo di doo dah
This line emphasizes the positivity and excitement in the music.
mélancolique et désabusée
Jane Birkin's tone is that of nostalgia and sadness.
j'ai je n'sais quoi d'un garçon manqué
Jane Birkin is describing herself, revealing that she has qualities that are typically associated with being a boyish girl.
je n'ai jamais joué à la poupée
As a child, Jane Birkin didn't play with dolls like most girls did.
je griffe ceux qui essaient de m'embrasser
Birkin is expressing that she is not attracted to men who attempt to court her.
les autres filles se posent pas de questions
Most girls don't question things as much as she does.
elles courent les rues et les dancings et les garçons
Other girls seem to spend their time chasing after boys and going out, which Birkin does not find appealing.
pas si cons
Despite these differences, Birkin doesn't think other girls are stupid for doing what they do.
difficile de m'imaginer en chantant
It is challenging for Birkin to picture herself pursuing a career in music.
Qu'un de ces quatre ça va m'arriver
Despite the uncertainty, Birkin is open to the possibility of music coming into her life one day.
je suis l'portrait d'mon père tout craché
Birkin looks and behaves very much like her father.
il chantait
Her father was a singer as well.
quand il m'accompagnait au lycée
He would sing while accompanying Birkin to school.
les autres filles ont de beaux nichons
Other girls have developed fully, both in terms of their body and their lifestyle.
et moi moi je reste aussi aussi plate qu'un garçon
Birkin hasn't developed as much as other girls her age and still looks somewhat boyish.
que c'est con
Despite her dissatisfaction, Birkin doesn't hold it against herself.
Contributed by Landon T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Merlina Addams
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
Mélancolique et désabusée
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
J'ai je n'sais quoi d'un garçon manqué
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
Je n'ai jamais joué à la poupée
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
Je griffe ceux qui essaient de m'embrasser
Les autres filles se posent pas de questions
Elles courent les rues et les dancings et les garçons
Pas si cons
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
Difficile de m'imaginer
En chantant
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
Qu'un de ces quatre ça va m'arriver
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
Mélancolique et désabusée
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
J'ai je n'sais quoi d'un garçon manqué
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
Je suis l'portrait d'mon père tout craché
Il chantait
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
Quand il m'accompagnait au lycée
Les autres filles ont de beaux nichons
Et moi moi je reste aussi aussi plate qu'un garçon
Que c'est con
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
Difficile de m'imaginer
En chantant
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
Qu'un de ces quatre ça va m'arriver
流浪漢パリ
À sont about the French language spoken in Quebec:
It's a beautiful language with superb words
Which carries its history through its accents
Where you can smell the music and the scent of herbs
Goat cheese and wheat bread
And from Mont-Saint-Michel to the Contrescarpe
Listening to the people of this country talk
Looks like the wind got caught in a harp
And that he kept all the harmonies
In this beautiful language with the colors of Provence
Where the flavor of things is already in the words
It is first by speaking that the party begins
And we drink words as well as water
The voices sound like the courses of rivers and streams
They respond to meanders, to the wind in the reeds
Sometimes even in the torrents that carry thunder
By polishing the stones on the banks of the streams
It's a beautiful language on the other side of the world
A bubble of France in the north of a continent
Set in a vice and yet so fruitful
Locked in ice on top of a volcano
She built bridges across the Atlantic
She left her nest for another land
And like a swallow in the spring of music
She comes back to sing us her sorrows and her hopes
Tell us that over there in this land of snow
She faced the winds blowing everywhere,
To impose his words even in the colleges
And that we still speak the language of our region
It is a beautiful language to who knows how to defend it
She offers treasures of infinite riches
The words we lacked to be able to understand each other
And the strength it takes to live in harmony
And the Île d'Orléans to the Contrescarpe
Listening to the people of this land sing
Looks like the wind got caught in a harp
And that he composed a whole symphony
And from Île d'Orléans to Contrescarpe
Listening to the people of this land sing
Looks like the wind got caught in a harp
And that he composed a whole symphony
eiji idogawa
La rue vers le paradis est encore inconnue,
Mais, je la sens avec mon intuition,
Très silencieux, assez ouvert,
Je me passe par l'espace transparent,
Là-bas, la pluie sourit et regarde le soleil,
Je prends mon temps sur la colline penchée,
Avant de l'aube, je mis un pont neuf sur la rue...
Et je m'amène jusqu'au bout du paradis,
Je n'ai pas encore trouvé la clef...
Pas mal, parce que je ne suis pas encore perdu,
Le matin tôt me renseignera sur l'histoire de la rue...
Bon, bonne nuit et le rêve doux pour vous （ ❀◕ ‿ ◕ )
laurence278
"C'est toute une époque, si légère, qui est partie avec Jane. Toutes mes sincères condoléances à Lou, Charlotte, et ses petits-enfants. J'aimais beaucoup Jane Birkin."
Merlina Addams
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
Mélancolique et désabusée
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
J'ai je n'sais quoi d'un garçon manqué
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
Je n'ai jamais joué à la poupée
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
Je griffe ceux qui essaient de m'embrasser
Les autres filles se posent pas de questions
Elles courent les rues et les dancings et les garçons
Pas si cons
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
Difficile de m'imaginer
En chantant
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
Qu'un de ces quatre ça va m'arriver
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
Mélancolique et désabusée
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
J'ai je n'sais quoi d'un garçon manqué
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
Je suis l'portrait d'mon père tout craché
Il chantait
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
Quand il m'accompagnait au lycée
Les autres filles ont de beaux nichons
Et moi moi je reste aussi aussi plate qu'un garçon
Que c'est con
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
Difficile de m'imaginer
En chantant
Di doo di doo di dah
O di doo di doo dah
Qu'un de ces quatre ça va m'arriver
Elgardo Ramirez Macedo
Súúúúper letra :v
Arturo Bustamante Macias
Muero con la letra 👌😍
Katrina Dulcinée
complexe !!!!
Sorina
gracias
Quentin Brunet
Merci 👍
Eldred D’souza
RIP Jane. Thank you for this masterpiece.
Melqui Ramos
Cena de lá casa de papel que faz agente chegar até aqui kkk passa td cena na mente escutando essa música.
Anshuman Singh Chauhan
Don't know what it means.. but this song just hits me at another level... Its like something Mysterious is in her voice.. love the melody 😍😍