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.
Quoi
Jane Birkin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
D'notre amour fou n'resterait que des cendres
Moi
J'aim'rais qu'la terr' s'arrête pour descendre
Toi
Tu m'dis que tu n'vaux pas la cord' pour te pendre
C't à laisser ou à prendre
Joie et douleur c'est ce que l'amour engendre
Soit dit en passant j'ai beaucoup à apprendre
Si j'ai bien su te comprendre
Amour cruel
Comme un duel
Dos à dos et sans merci
Tu as le choix des armes
Ou celui des larmes
Penses-y
Penses-y
Et conçois que c'est à la mort à la vie
Quoi
D'notre amour fou n'resterait que des cendres
Moi, j'aim'rais qu'la terr' s'arrête pour descendre
Toi, tu préfères mourir que de te rendre
Va donc savoir, va comprendre
Amour cruel, comme en duel
Dos à dos et sans merci
Tu as le choix des armes
Ou celui des larmes
Penses-y
Penses-y
Et conçois que c'est à la mort, à la vie
Toi, tu préfères mourir que de te rendre
Va savoir, va comprendre
Quoi
D'notre amour fou n'resterait que des cendres
Moi, j'aim'rais qu'la terr' s'arrête pour descendre
Toi
Tu m'dis qu tu n'vaux pas la cord'pour te pendre
C't à laisser ou à prendre
The lyrics to Jane Birkin's song Quoi explore the tumultuous nature of love and its consequences. The first verse addresses the fear of the flames of their love being reduced to ashes, while the second verse speaks to the idea of love as a cruel battle with no mercy, where one must choose between the weapons of war or tears. The final verse focuses on the idea of surrendering in love, with one person willing to die rather than give up control, while the other seeks understanding and the possibility of growth.
The chorus repeats the fear of their love turning to nothing, with the desperate hope that the earth stops spinning just to hold onto what they have. The repeated line "Penses-y" or "Think about it" is a clear message to both parties to consider the true consequences of their actions and decisions.
Overall, the lyrics of Quoi paint a vivid picture of the complicated dance of love, with all its joy and pain, life and death, and power struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Quoi
What
D'notre amour fou n'resterait que des cendres
Our crazy love would only turn to ashes
Moi
Me
J'aim'rais qu'la terr' s'arrête pour descendre
I would like the world to stop and come down
Toi
You
Tu m'dis que tu n'vaux pas la cord' pour te pendre
You tell me that you don't deserve the rope to hang yourself
C't à laisser ou à prendre
It's either to take it or leave it
Joie et douleur c'est ce que l'amour engendre
Joy and pain is what love brings
Sois au moins conscient que mon cœur peut se fendre
Be aware that my heart can break
Soit dit en passant j'ai beaucoup à apprendre
By the way, I have a lot to learn
Si j'ai bien su te comprendre
If I have understood you well
Amour cruel
Cruel love
Comme un duel
Like a duel
Dos à dos et sans merci
Back to back and mercilessly
Tu as le choix des armes
You have the choice of weapons
Ou celui des larmes
Or that of tears
Penses-y
Think about it
Et conçois que c'est à la mort à la vie
And realize that it's from death to life
Toi, tu préfères mourir que de te rendre
You prefer to die than to surrender
Va donc savoir, va comprendre
So who knows, who can understand
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Guido De Angelis, Maurizio De Angelis, Cesare De Natale, Serge Gainsbourg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anti-life & Birth is Anti-suffering & Death
What
Quoi
Of our crazy love would only remain ashes
D'notre amour fou n'resterait que des cendres
Me
Moi
I would like the earth to stop to go down
J'aim'rais qu'la terr' s'arrête pour descendre
You
Toi
You tell me that you're not worth the rope to hang yourself
Tu m'dis que tu n'vaux pas la cord' pour te pendre
It's take it or leave it
C't à laisser ou à prendre
Joy and pain is what love begets
Joie et douleur c'est ce que l'amour engendre
At least be aware that my heart may break
Sois au moins conscient que mon cœur peut se fendre
By the way I have a lot to learn
Soit dit en passant j'ai beaucoup à apprendre
If I knew how to understand you
Si j'ai bien su te comprendre
cruel love
Amour cruel
Like a duel
Comme un duel
Back to back and merciless
Dos à dos et sans merci
You have the choice of weapons
Tu as le choix des armes
Or that of tears
Ou celui des larmes
think about it
Penses-y
think about it
Penses-y
And realize that it's to death to life
Et conçois que c'est à la mort à la vie
What
Quoi
Of our crazy love would only remain ashes
D'notre amour fou n'resterait que des cendres
Me, I would like the earth to stop to go down
Moi, j'aim'rais qu'la terr' s'arrête pour descendre
You, you would rather die than surrender
Toi, tu préfères mourir que de te rendre
Will know, will understand
Va donc savoir, va comprendre
Cruel love, as in a duel
Amour cruel, comme en duel
Back to back and merciless
Dos à dos et sans merci
You have the choice of weapons
Tu as le choix des armes
Or that of tears
Ou celui des larmes
think about it
Penses-y
think about it
Penses-y
And realize that it's to death, to life
Et conçois que c'est à la mort, à la vie
You, you would rather die than surrender
Toi, tu préfères mourir que de te rendre
Go know, go understand
Va savoir, va comprendre
What
Quoi
Of our crazy love would only remain ashes
D'notre amour fou n'resterait que des cendres
Me, I would like the earth to stop to go down
Moi, j'aim'rais qu'la terr' s'arrête pour descendre
You
Toi
You tell me that you are not worth the rope to hang yourself
Tu m'dis qu tu n'vaux pas la cord'pour te pendre
It's take it or leave it
C't à laisser ou à prendre
tany maille
J'ai toujours autant envie de verser ma larme en l'écoutant ....elle me prend aux tripes j'adore ♥️♥️
Janusz Dzieciol
Za moich czasuw to była najpiękniejszym osobom ❤ w europie❤
Bruno Crovi
Une merveille signée Gainsbourg pour sa belle muse,Jane.La mélodie est sublime,les paroles sont d'un pur délice romantique.Tout son génie est condensé dans cette chanson.
Tina Castro
C'est vrai, j'aime ce comentario, quel talent Gainsbourg
Anna-Maria
Rodzaj śpiewania ,który tworzy niepowtarzalny klimat ..
Hélène FORTIER
Une superbe chanson et magnifique interprétation de
Jane B!
serge Moroy
On a le coeur au bord des larmes en écoutant cette sublime mélodie !
daniel girardin
Sublime chanson et qu'elle voix avec tellement d'émotion.J'adore...!
Cedsnip
Magnifique interprétation, elle me donne à chaque fois le frisson, merci Jane🙏
leon zitrone
Moi aussi 'pene 'quoi