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.
Valse de Melody
Jane Birkin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Et le bonheur aussi
L'amour s'égare
Au long de la vie
Le soleil est rare
Et le bonheur aussi
Mais tout bouge
Les murs d'enceinte
Du labyrinthe
S'entrouvent sur
L'infini
Le soleil est rare
Et le bonheur aussi
Mais tout bouge
Au bras de Melody
Les murs d'enceinte
Du labyrinthe
S'entrouvent sur
L'infini
The lyrics to Jane Birkin's song "Valse De Melody" speak of the rarity of both happiness and sunshine in life, with love often veering off course as we navigate life's labyrinthine path. Despite these challenges, everything still moves forward, guided by Melody's comforting embrace. The walls that once enclosed this maze-like existence suddenly open up to reveal infinity, transcending the limitations and restrictions that previously defined our existence.
This song serves as a melancholic reflection on the ephemeral nature of happiness and the struggles we face in life. The use of the waltz, a traditional dance which originated in 16th Century Europe, creates a juxtaposition between the classical and contemporary, suggesting that these themes of love, loss, and the fleeting nature of happiness are timeless and universal.
Line by Line Meaning
Le soleil est rare
The sun is scarce.
Et le bonheur aussi
And happiness as well.
L'amour s'égare
Love gets lost.
Au long de la vie
Along the way of life.
Mais tout bouge
But everything moves.
Au bras de Melody
In the arms of Melody.
Les murs d'enceinte
The enclosing walls.
Du labyrinthe
Of the maze.
S'entrouvent sur
Open onto.
L'infini
The infinite.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Serge Gainsbourg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Либертина: французская музыка
I love this version more than original. So beautiful 💞
Shane Bordoli
such a great album, full of emotion
BigPurpleMUMster
thank you for sharing such a beautiful song
mistyblues07
Magistral ! Best Music regards to Serge Gainsbourg, Jane Birkin et ses Amis musiciens...
Bernard
quelle sensibilité, au bout des doigts du violon... on reste suspendu à cette mélodie triste, sans fin...
florence bonnin
magnifique et je l ai vu sur scène jane généreus et complice e avec son public
merci
Romain Pesant
Grande dame je vous aime
Emre Koray Tikin
Deli gibi özlüyorum, yeniyetmeler gibi adını kumlara ve buğulu camlara yazıyorum, aşkım, canım, bebeğim güzel sevgilim
Mona Zidany
@BigPurpleMUMster :)
florence bonnin
je l ai vue pardon !!!!!!!!!!!!!!