Jane Birkin, OBE (born Jane Mallory Birkin in London on 14 December 1946; d… Read Full Bio ↴Jane Birkin, OBE (born Jane Mallory Birkin in London on 14 December 1946; died 16 July 2023) was an Anglo-French singer and actress. She attained international fame and notability for her decade-long musical (and romantic) partnership with singer Serge Gainsbourg, beginning with the duet Je t'aime... moi non plus released in 1969. Later she made musical collaborations and duets with many artists, including Feist, Bryan Ferry, Franz Ferdinand, The Magic Numbers, Beck, Rufus Wainwright, and many others.

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.

La fille aux claquettes
Jane Birkin Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Gainsbourg et son Gainsborough
Ont pris le ferry-boat
De leur lit par le hublot
Ils regardent la côte
Ils s’aiment et la traversée
Durera toute une année
Ils vaincront les maléfices
Jusqu’en soixante-dix

Soixante-neuf année érotique
Soixante-neuf année érotique

Gainsbourg et son Gainsborough
Vont rejoindre Paris
Ils ont laissé derrière eux
La Tamise et Chelsea
Ils s’aiment et la traversée
Durera toute une année
Et que les dieux les bénissent
Jusqu’en soixante-dix

Soixante-neuf année érotique
Soixante-neuf année érotique

Ils s’aiment et la traversée
Durera toute une année
Il pardonnera ses caprices
Jusqu’en soixante-dix

Soixante-neuf année érotique
Soixante-neuf année érotique

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jane Birkin's song "69 année érotique" describe the journey of Gainsbourg and his lover, or possibly wife, on a ferry-boat from London to Paris. From their bed, they watch the coast as they travel and their love lasts for the entire year-long journey. They conquer any obstacles or negative forces that might arise during their trip until the year 1970. The title of the song, "69 année érotique," refers to the sexual position known as "69" and suggests that the year 1969 was a particularly erotic time for the couple.

The lyrics also mention Gainsborough, which could be a reference to English painter Thomas Gainsborough, who was known for his portraits of aristocrats and landscapes. This could indicate that the couple's journey began in the posh Chelsea neighborhood of London. The song is written in a dreamy, romantic tone and portrays a sense of freedom and escapism. The song implies that the couple's love and passion can overcome any challenges, and that they remain devoted to each other despite the passage of time and challenges.

Line by Line Meaning

Gainsbourg et son Gainsborough
Gainsbourg and his painting 'Gainsborough',

Ont pris le ferry-boat
Boarded the ferry-boat,

De leur lit par le hublot
Through the window of their cabin bed,

Ils regardent la côte
They gaze upon the coast,

Ils s’aiment et la traversée
They love each other and the journey,

Durera toute une année
Will last an entire year,

Ils vaincront les maléfices
They will overcome the curses,

Jusqu’en soixante-dix
Until seventy (1970).

Soixante-neuf année érotique
Sixty-nine erotic year,

Gainsbourg et son Gainsborough
Gainsbourg and his painting 'Gainsborough',

Vont rejoindre Paris
Will reach Paris,