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.
The Simple Story
Jane Birkin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whilst I watched for a sign from him
When all the while was clear as day
That I should go and he should stay
I took his love like it was mine
I squeezed the truth until it lied
It took some time for cracks to show
The simple story that you told me
Is a little different than you showed me
The simple story, unfurling slowly
Is if you lay down with a dream
You'll wake up lonely
The fog will cast a certain shade
So what you see is how what's made
It's mark will show you what to do
When hope pretends it's made you new
(Love lied)
(Love lied)
(But I'm the reason)
(Love died)
The simple story
(Love lied)
That you told me
(Love lied)
Is a little different than what you showed me
(Love died)
The sky wraps 'round the mountaintops
The watch unwinds until it stops
Some things will always be the way they are
And that is how they'll stay
The simple story
(Love lied)
That you told me
(Love lied)
Is a little different than what you showed me
(Love died)
The simple story
(Love lied)
Unfurling slowly
(Love lied)
Is if you lay down with a dream
You'll wake up lonely
(Love died)
The lyrics of "The Simple Story" by Jane Birkin tells a story of a love affair gone wrong. The singer seems to be in a state of confusion regarding the lover's feelings. She is waiting for a sign, but deep down she knows that she should leave while he should stay. She has taken his love to be her own and hidden the truth behind lies until the cracks start to show. They both question the relationship - should they stay or part ways?
The chorus states the simple story, that love can lie, and the truth unfolds slowly, and if you chase a dream, you'll wake up lonely. The metaphorical meaning here is that we often let our fantasies run away with us, but they often lead to disappointment when we awake from them. The singer has discovered that reality doesn't always match up to our grandiose romantic notions, and love can often be deceitful. The song ends with an acknowledgment that some things will always be the way they are, and we have to accept them.
Line by Line Meaning
The little thoughts came rushing in
My mind was filled with doubts and concerns
Whilst I watched for a sign from him
I waited for some indication or action from him
When all the while was clear as day
The answer was actually very obvious
That I should go and he should stay
The best course of action was for me to leave and for him to stay
I took his love like it was mine
I accepted his love as my own
I squeezed the truth until it lied
I twisted the truth to fit my own narrative
It took some time for cracks to show
Eventually, the flaws and problems began to reveal themselves
Should I stay or should he go?
I was uncertain about what to do next
The simple story that you told me
The straightforward explanation you gave me
Is a little different than you showed me
The reality I experienced was not exactly as you described
The simple story, unfurling slowly
The true story gradually emerged
Is if you lay down with a dream
If you fall in love with a fantasy
You'll wake up lonely
You will end up feeling alone and disappointed
The fog will cast a certain shade
Sometimes the unclear situation can lead to confusion
So what you see is how what's made
What we perceive is influenced by our experiences and expectations
It's mark will show you what to do
The situation itself will help guide you toward the right decision
When hope pretends it's made you new
When we hope that someone or something will change us for the better
(Love lied)
Love deceived me
(But I'm the reason)
But I played a part in that deception
(Love died)
Love ended
The sky wraps 'round the mountaintops
The beauty and majesty of nature can provide perspective
The watch unwinds until it stops
Time always moves forward, and eventually comes to an end
Some things will always be the way they are
Certain aspects of life are unchangeable
And that is how they'll stay
And we must accept them as they are
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Jason Beck, Leslie Feist
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-xs9pe2vh7y
Красиво и волшебно. Нежный захват мозга.
@xFacebook2012
The Best Single - Me faz lembrar de coisas boas e de como a " Vida é Simples "
@ginnitagb
I love it!!!!
@G.Chandr
Thank You!
@arborethom9611
i love it
@theogoldberg8919
Gracias Jésus Lopez por compartir
@sarahl9398
I'm listening today after hearing news of Jane Birkin's passing 🥀
@jtarantula3390
She passed? So sad
@theogoldberg8919
2nd album fave after canary
@user-1t959
C'est très joli, la chanson nous emmène plus haut, dans le ciel... profonde mélodie onirique ❤️