He was born Lucien Ginzburg in Paris, France, the son of Jewish Russian parents who fled to France after the 1917 Bolshevik uprising. His childhood was profoundly affected by the occupation of France by Nazi Germany, during which he and his family, as Jews, were forced to wear the yellow star and eventually flee from Paris. He had a daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg, with English singer and actress Jane Birkin; and a son, Lulu, with his last partner, Bambou (Caroline Von Paulus, who is related to Friedrich Paulus). Before he was 30 years old, Lucien Ginsburg was a disillusioned painter but earned his living as a piano player in bars. Daughter Charlotte would later become an actress and singer.
His early songs were influenced by Boris Vian and were largely in the vein of "old-fashioned" chanson. Very early, however, Gainsbourg began to move beyond this and experiment with a succession of different musical styles: jazz early on, English pop in the 60's, reggae in the 70's, even hip-hop in the 80's.
Success began to arrive when, in 1965, his song "Poupée de cire, poupée de son" was the Luxembourg entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. Performed by French teen singer France Gall, it won the grand prize. (The song was covered in English as "A Lonely Singing Doll" by British teen idol Twinkle.) He arranged other Gall songs and LPs that were characteristic of the late 1960s psychedelic styles, among them Gall's '1968' album. Another of Serge's songs "Boum Bada Boum" was entered in by Monaco in the 1967 contest, sung by Minouche Barelli; It came 5th.
In 1969, he released what would become his most famous song in the English-speaking world, "Je t'aime... moi non plus", which featured simulated sounds of female orgasm. The song appeared that year on an LP, "Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg". Originally recorded with Brigitte Bardot, it was released with future girlfriend Birkin when Bardot backed out. While Gainsbourg declared it the "ultimate love song," it was considered too "hot"; the song was censored in various countries, and in France, even the toned-down version was suppressed. Even the Vatican made a public statement citing the song as offensive. Its notoriety led it to reaching no. 1 in the UK singles chart. A long-standing rumor maintains that Gainsbourg and Birkin were actually having sex during the recording session (asked about it in an interview, Gainsbourg answered that if this was true, the song would have lasted longer than 4 minutes).
The seventies
His most influential work came near the start of the seventies with Histoire de Melody Nelson, released in 1971. This concept album, produced and arranged by Jean-Claude Vannier, tells the story of a Lolita-esque affair, with Gainsbourg as the narrator and Jane Birkin as the eponymous English heroine. It features prominent string arrangements and even a massed choir at its tragic climax. At the time, sales were poor, but the album has proven influential with artists such as Air, David Holmes and Beck.
In 1975, he released the album Rock Around the Bunker, a rock album written entirely on the subject of the Nazis. Gainsbourg used black humour, as he and his family suffered during World War II. While a child in Paris, Gainsbourg himself had worn the Yellow badge as the mark of a Jew.
The next year saw the release of another major work, L'Homme à la Tête de Chou (Cabbage-Head Man), featuring the new character Marilou and sumptuous orchestral themes.
In Jamaica in 1978 he recorded "Aux Armes et cetera," a reggae version of the French national anthem "La Marseillaise", with Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar and Rita Marley. This song earned him death threats from right-wing veterans of the Algerian War of Independence who were opposed to certain lyrics. Shortly afterwards, Gainsbourg bought the original manuscript of La Marseillaise. He was able to reply to his critics that his version was, in fact, closer to the original as the manuscript clearly shows the words "Aux armes et cætera..." for the chorus.
The next year saw him in the new look of Gainsbarre, officially introduced in the song "Ecce Homo."
Final years
In the 1980's, approaching the end of his life, Gainsbourg became a regular figure on French TV. His appearances seemed devoted to his controversial sense of humour and provocation. He would frequently show up drunk and unshaven on stage. Perhaps his most famous incident came when, on Michel Drucker's live Saturday evening show with the American singer Whitney Houston, he exclaimed, "I want to fuck her."
During this period he released Love On The Beat and his last studio album, You're Under Arrest, (which saw him adapt his style to the hip-hop genre), as well as two live recordings. His third and last Eurovision Song Contest entry came in 1990 with the French entry "White and Black Blues", sung by Joëlle Ursull. It came second in a tie with Ireland. His songs became increasingly eccentric in this period, ranging from the anti-drug "Les Enfants de la Chance" to the duet with his daughter Charlotte called "Lemon Incest (Un zeste de citron)." The title of the latter demonstrates Gainsbourg's love of puns (another example is "Bowie, Beau oui comme Bowie").
Discography :
1958 : Du Chant À La Une !
1959 : Serge Gainsbourg N°2
1961 : L'étonnant Serge Gainsbourg
1962 : Serge Gainsbourg N° 4
1963 : Gainsbourg Confidentiel
1964 : Gainsbourg Percussions
1968 : Initials B.B.
1968 : Bonnie And Clyde ( with Brigitte Bardot )
1969 : Jane Birkin-Serge Gainsbourg
1971 : Histoire de Melody Nelson ( with Jane Birkin )
1973 : Vu de l'extérieur
1975 : Rock around the bunker
1976 : L'Homme à tête de chou
1979 : Aux armes et cætera
1981 : Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles
1984 : Love on the Beat
1987 : You're Under Arrest
Initials BB
Serge Gainsbourg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
À me morfondre
Dans quelque pub anglais
Du cœur de Londres
Parcourant l'Amour Monstre de Pauwels
Me vint une vision
Dans l'eau de Seltz
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
Tandis que des médailles
D'impérator
Font briller à sa taille
Le bronze et l'or
Le platine lui grave
D'un cercle froid
La marque des esclaves
À chaque doigt
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
Jusques en haut des cuisses
Elle est bottée
Et c'est comme un calice
À sa beauté
Elle ne porte rien
D'autre qu'un peu
D'essence de Guerlain
Dans les cheveux
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
À chaque mouvement
On entendait
Les clochettes d'argent
De ses poignets
Agitant ses grelots
Elle avança
Et prononça ce mot
"Alméria"
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
"Initials BB" is a song by French singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg that was released in 1968. The song tells the story of an encounter with a mysterious and alluring woman named BB in a pub in the heart of London. The singer is reading "L'Amour Monstre" by French writer Louis Pauwels when he sees a vision of BB in the bubbly water of his Selzer water glass. He then goes on to describe her in great detail, mentioning how she wears nothing but a hint of Guerlain perfume in her hair, boots that go up to her thighs and bells on her wrists that jingle as she walks. BB is also adorned with various medals that symbolize her power and control over men.
The song creates a sense of mystery and intrigue around BB, as she seems to be a dominant and powerful woman who is in control of her sexuality. The line "La marque des esclaves à chaque doigt" (The mark of slaves on each finger) suggests that BB has conquered many men and that they are all at her beck and call. The song also creates a sense of exoticism and adventure that is associated with the idea of a Frenchman exploring London and discovering this alluring woman.
Overall, the song reflects Gainsbourg's fascination with women and his love of provocative and sensual lyrics. The initials "BB" are believed to stand for Brigitte Bardot, who Gainsbourg had a famous romantic and creative relationship with in the 1960s. However, Gainsbourg later claimed that BB actually stood for "British Bombshell."
Line by Line Meaning
Une nuit que j'étais
One night when I was
À me morfondre
sulking
Dans quelque pub anglais
in some English pub
Du cœur de Londres
in the heart of London
Parcourant l'Amour Monstre de Pauwels
reading 'L'Amour Monstre' by Pauwels
Me vint une vision
I had a vision
Dans l'eau de Seltz
in Seltz water
Tandis que des médailles
while medals
D'impérator
of an emperor
Font briller à sa taille
shine at his waist
Le bronze et l'or
bronze and gold
Le platine lui grave
platinum engraves
D'un cercle froid
with a cold circle
La marque des esclaves
the mark of slaves
À chaque doigt
on every finger
Jusques en haut des cuisses
up to her thighs
Elle est bottée
she's wearing boots
Et c'est comme un calice
and it's like a chalice
À sa beauté
to her beauty
Elle ne porte rien
she's not wearing anything
D'autre qu'un peu
except a little
D'essence de Guerlain
Guerlain perfume
Dans les cheveux
in her hair
À chaque mouvement
with each movement
On entendait
one could hear
Les clochettes d'argent
the silver bells
De ses poignets
on her wrists
Agitant ses grelots
jingling her bells
Elle avança
she advanced
Et prononça ce mot
and said this word
"Alméria"
"Almeria"
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
Referring to Brigitte Bardot's initials, B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
Referring to Brigitte Bardot's initials, B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
Referring to Brigitte Bardot's initials, B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
Referring to Brigitte Bardot's initials, B.B
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Serge Gainsbourg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Yves Leroux
Paroles de Initials Bb
Une nuit que j'étais
A me morfondre
Dans quelque pub anglais
Du coeur de Londres
Parcourant l'Amour Mons-
Tre de Pauwels
Me vint une vision
Dans l'eau de Seltz
B Initials
B Initals
B Initials
B.B.
Tandis que des médailles
D'impérator
Font briller à sa taille
Le bronze et l'or
Le platine lui grave
D'un cercle froid
La marque des esclaves
A chaque doigt
B Initials
B Initals
B Initials
B.B.
Jusques en haut des cuisses
Elle est bottée
Et c'est comme un calice
A sa beauté
Elle ne porte rien
D'autre qu'un peu
D'essence de Guerlain
Dans les cheveux
B Initials
B Initals
B Initials
B.B.
A chaque mouvement
On entendait
Les clochettes d'argent
De ses poignets
Agitant ses grelots
Elle avança
Et prononça ce mot :
Alméria !
marina parlani
Mon enfance
Cannes Saint Tropez
Le riva
La plage
Coincoin
Le fauteuil pliant de ma grand mère
La voile
Les cantiques de Gainsbarre
Le vent
BB et la foule
Les algues sur le sable, les bains glacés
La Ford taunus de Papa
Merci pour ces images
magdy el shafee
Lyrics E/F
One night that I was
Une nuit que j'étais
To mope
À me morfondre
In some English pub
Dans quelque pub anglais
From the heart of London
Du cœur de Londres
Traveling through the Pauwels Monster Love
Parcourant l'Amour Monstre de Pauwels
A vision came to me
Me vint une vision
In seltzer water
Dans l'eau de Seltz
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
While medals
Tandis que des médailles
Imperator
D'impérator
Make it shine at her waist
Font briller à sa taille
Bronze and gold
Le bronze et l'or
Platinum burns him
Le platine lui grave
From a cold circle
D'un cercle froid
The mark of slaves
La marque des esclaves
On every finger
À chaque doigt
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
Up to the top of the thighs
Jusques en haut des cuisses
She is in boots
Elle est bottée
And it's like a chalice
Et c'est comme un calice
To its beauty
À sa beauté
She wears nothing
Elle ne porte rien
Other than a little
D'autre qu'un peu
Guerlain essence
D'essence de Guerlain
In the hair
Dans les cheveux
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
With every movement
À chaque mouvement
We heard
On entendait
The silver bells
Les clochettes d'argent
From his wrists
De ses poignets
Waving his bells
Agitant ses grelots
She advanced
Elle avança
And said that word
Et prononça ce mot
"Almeria"
"Alméria"
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
........................
Initials B.B.
Serge Gainsbourg Source: LyricFind
Vanessa Costa
Une nuit que j'étais
À me morfondre
Dans quelque pub anglais
Du cœur de Londres
Parcourant l'Amour Monstre de Pauwels
Me vint une vision
Dans l'eau de Seltz
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
Tandis que des médailles
D'impérator
Font briller à sa taille
Le bronze et l'or
Le platine lui grave
D'un cercle froid
La marque des esclaves
À chaque doigt
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
Jusques en haut des cuisses
Elle est bottée
Et c'est comme un calice
À sa beauté
Elle ne porte rien
D'autre qu'un peu
D'essence de Guerlain
Dans les cheveux
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
À chaque mouvement
On entendait
Les clochettes d'argent
De ses poignets
Agitant ses grelots
Elle avança
Et prononça ce mot
"Alméria"
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
Emmanuel C.
Quand elle était très jeune, mon épouse se demandait pourquoi son père disait que BB était
la beauté absolue.
Quand elle revoit des images ou photos d'elle aujourd'hui, elle le comprend.
Le titre , c'est, à mon avis, le meilleur de gainsbourg, a bénéficié d'une production extraordinaire (le
travail d'Arthur Greensdale (l'arrangeur) est "à tomber"".
Serge Gainsbourg ne travaillait qu'avec des pointures (Alain Gorager, Michel Colombier, jc vannier).
masto Chabou
Elle n'est pas seulement belle. Elle a une élégance naturelle incroyable. Elle avait un caractère faussement ingénu mais des idées bien affirmées. Franchement, à côté de toutes ces femmes refaites et siliconées d'aujourd'hui, y a pas photo, elle surpasse tout le monde. Elle a ce je ne sais quoi de simplicité et de sophistication française que tout le monde nous envie.
Dominique newton62
Des idées bien affirmées pour les ANIMAUX et pour eux je rejoins notre BB mais pas pour ses idées d'extrême droite !
Mushroom Service
@Dominique newton62 Vous êtes un vendu c'est pour ça :)
Nicolas L.
Elle fut une très belle femme autour de 20 et 40 ans, à la fois rebelle, sexy et sauvage. Puis dans les années 70, je trouve qu'elle s'est affadie. Je l'ai croisée de près quand elle avait 50 ans et je ne l'ai pas reconnue sur le coup. C'est sa voix qui m'a fait réagir. Elle avait un très beau corps mais de tête, elle n'était plus terrible. En vieillissant, elle ne s'est pas arrangée. Avec l'âge, on a vu le vrai visage de l'enfant terrible du cinéma des années 60, c'est à dire une femme têtue et parfois grossière dans ses déclarations. Son combat pour les animaux sauve le personnage. Elle fut l'égale de Marilyn Monroe et l'histoire retiendra à la fois, la sublime BB des années 60 et la vieille Bardot avec un caractère de cochon.
curieux curieuse
@Nicolas L. n'empêche aux moins elle à étés belle dans sa vie voir très belle. certain ne l'ont jamais étés donc quant ils vieillissent rien ne change chez eux vus qu'ils ont toujours étés moche, vive BB
Corinne H
La plus belle femme du monde et la plus inoubliable. Icône irremplaçable, très intelligente contrairement à ce que certains pensent. Sublissime, tout en elle respire la liberté. Gainsbourg par cette chanson continue son histoire d'amour avec elle.
MARISOL MARISOL
Tres d'acord aveces vous, BRIGITTE BARDOT la milleur icone de L'Europe la femme plus belle du cinema.
Laurence Bienaimé
Ce qui est fou,c'est que très peu de gens ont vu ses films,et malgré ça,elle est une icône.
Quelle femme en France peut se vanter d'être une icône comme Bardot ?
Claude LEGET
@Laurence Bienaimé Peut-être, mais pas sûr, Élisabeth BORNE.
Valérie Thernisien
Excellent pour la Bornette mais une autre peut rivaliser, je veux parler de Bri Bri alias Birgit ...😂