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.
Lost Song
Jane Birkin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
De nos amours éperdues, notre émotion s'est perdue
Lost song à la longue
Les mots semblent superflus entre le flux, le reflux
Mensonges par omission, on se tait, on s'est tu
On sait ce qu'il s'est su, on s'adore et puis l'on
Se déchire, s'entretue, dans mon sens, entres-tu?
Lost song dans la jongle
De nos amours éperdues, notre émotion s'est perdue
Lost song, toi, tu jongles
Avec des mots inconnus de moi, je n'ai pas assez lu
Dans tes yeux, tes mensonges, d'autres filles en vue
Je le savais, je me suis tue, les bagarres, arrêtons
Je suis on ne peut plus fragile, le sais-tu?
Lost song dans la jongle
De nos amours éperdues, notre émotion s'est perdue
Lost song au majong
De l'amour, je n'ai pas su, sur toi, avoir le dessus
Des erreurs, mettons, je reconnais, je me suis vue
A l'avance battue, c'est l'horreur mais ton
Arrogance me tue, tu me dis "vous" après "tu"
The song "Lost Song" by Jane Birkin expresses the idea of two people who have lost the emotion they once shared in their love. The lyrics suggest that despite their love for one another, their relationship has become strained and they are no longer able to communicate effectively. The title "Lost Song" implies that the emotion and passion they once had has disappeared and the song is a reflection on what has caused it to vanish.
The lyrics also suggest that there have been lies and omissions in their relationship, leading to secrets kept and fights that have resulted in their relationship unraveling. The lines "dans la jongle" and "au majong" suggest that their relationship has become a game or a battle, with each person trying to outdo the other. The use of language is also significant, with words and phrases that the singer does not understand, implying a lack of communication and understanding between the two.
Overall, the song expresses a feeling of sadness and regret for what has been lost in the relationship, and a yearning for the emotion and passion that once existed between them.
Line by Line Meaning
Lost song dans la jongle
Our love has been lost in the chaos
De nos amours éperdues, notre émotion s'est perdue
Our intense love has faded away
Lost song à la longue
Our love has been lost over time
Les mots semblent superflus entre le flux, le reflux
Words seem pointless amidst the ebb and flow
Mensonges par omission, on se tait, on s'est tu
We lie by omission and stay silent
On sait ce qu'il s'est su, on s'adore et puis l'on Se déchire, s'entretue, dans mon sens, entres-tu?
We know what happened, we love each other but also hurt each other, are you on the same page?
Lost song, toi, tu jongles Avec des mots inconnus de moi, je n'ai pas assez lu
You juggle with unfamiliar words, I haven't read enough
Dans tes yeux, tes mensonges, d'autres filles en vue Je le savais, je me suis tue, les bagarres, arrêtons Je suis on ne peut plus fragile, le sais-tu?
I see other girls in your eyes, I knew but kept quiet, let's stop fighting. Do you know how fragile I am?
Lost song au majong De l'amour, je n'ai pas su, sur toi, avoir le dessus
Love is a puzzle I can't solve, I couldn't win you over
Des erreurs, mettons, je reconnais, je me suis vue A l'avance battue, c'est l'horreur mais ton Arrogance me tue, tu me dis "vous" après "tu"
I admit my mistakes, I knew I was defeated from the start. It's terrible, but your arrogance kills me. You switch from 'tu' to 'vous'.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: A. GORAGUER, SERGE GAINSBOURG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind