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
Poupée de cire poupée de son
Serge Gainsbourg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mon cœur est gravé dans mes chansons
Poupée de cire, poupée de son
Suis-je meilleure, suis-je pire qu'une poupée de salon?
Je vois la vie en rose bonbon
Poupée de cire, poupée de son
Mes disques sont un miroir
Je suis partout à la fois
Brisée en mille éclats de voix
Autour de moi j'entends rire les poupées de chiffon
Celles qui dansent sur mes chansons
Poupée de cire, poupée de son
Elles se laissent séduire pour un oui, pour un non
L'amour n'est pas que dans les chansons
Poupée de cire, poupée de son
Mes disques sont un miroir
Dans lequel chacun peut me voir
Je suis partout à la fois
Brisée en mille éclats de voix
Seule parfois, je soupire, je me dis à quoi bon
Chanter ainsi l'amour sans raison
Sans rien connaître des garçons
Je n'suis qu'une poupée de cire, qu'une poupée de son
Sous le soleil de mes cheveux blonds
Poupée de cire, poupée de son
Mais un jour je vivrai mes chansons
Poupée de cire, poupée de son
Sans craindre la chaleur des garçons
Poupée de cire, poupée de son
The lyrics of Serge Gainsbourg's "Poupée de cire poupée de son" can be interpreted in a few different ways, but one possible interpretation is that the singer is a singer, represented as a doll or puppet made of wax and sound, whose heart is embedded in her songs. She sees life in a candy-coated pink hue, but wonders if she is any better or worse than a mere salon toy. The singer is aware that her records reflect her life and are a mirror in which anyone can see her, and that she is everywhere at once, shattered into a thousand echoing voices. She hears other dolls laughing around her, those who dance to her songs and let themselves fall for love at the slightest provocation, and thinks that love is not just in her songs. However, sometimes she asks herself why she sings of love for no reason and without knowing anything of the boys, and realizes that she is nothing more than a doll of wax and sound under the sun of her blonde hair. Despite this, she hopes that one day she will live her songs and not fear the heat of boys.
The "poupée de cire" (doll of wax) and "poupée de son" (doll of sound) are metaphors for the singer who is vulnerable and impressionable, molded by society's expectations and the recording industry. She is both artificial and authentic, capable of conveying emotions through music but also lacking in the human experiences that could enrich her songs. The pink color mentioned could symbolize innocence and naivety, but also superficiality and conformity. The other dolls laughing may represent the audience or critics who judge and dismiss the singer's creations as mere entertainment or marketing tools. The singer's hope for a future in which she can be more than just an object reflects a desire for agency and fulfillment beyond the confines of her role as a performer.
Line by Line Meaning
Je suis une poupée de cire, une poupée de son
I am a wax doll, a doll made of sound
Mon cœur est gravé dans mes chansons
My heart is engraved in my songs
Poupée de cire, poupée de son
Wax doll, doll made of sound
Suis-je meilleure, suis-je pire qu'une poupée de salon?
Am I better or worse than a living room doll?
Je vois la vie en rose bonbon
I see life in candy pink
Mes disques sont un miroir
My discs are a mirror
Dans lequel chacun peut me voir
In which anyone can see me
Je suis partout à la fois
I am everywhere at once
Brisée en mille éclats de voix
Broken into a thousand shards of voice
Autour de moi j'entends rire les poupées de chiffon
Around me I hear the rag dolls laughing
Celles qui dansent sur mes chansons
Those who dance to my songs
Elles se laissent séduire pour un oui, pour un non
They let themselves be seduced for yes or no
L'amour n'est pas que dans les chansons
Love is not only in songs
Seule parfois, je soupire, je me dis à quoi bon
Alone sometimes, I sigh, asking what's the point
Chanter ainsi l'amour sans raison
Singing love without reason
Sans rien connaître des garçons
Without knowing anything about boys
Je n'suis qu'une poupée de cire, qu'une poupée de son
I am just a wax doll, just a doll made of sound
Sous le soleil de mes cheveux blonds
Under the sun of my blonde hair
Mais un jour je vivrai mes chansons
But one day I will live my songs
Sans craindre la chaleur des garçons
Without fearing the heat of boys
Poupée de cire, poupée de son
Wax doll, doll made of sound
Lyrics © SIDONIE
Written by: Serge Gainsbourg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@drvitafauto6648
You love good music !👍
You should try :
-Skip The Use (Ghost, nameless world, The Story of God and Men)
-Téléphone (Ça c'est vraiment toi, La Bombe Humaine, Argent trop cher, Cendrillon, New York avec toi, Hygiaphone)
-Dyonisos (Song for a jedi)
-Shaka Ponk (Story of my life, My name is Stain)
-Daniel Balavoine (Quand on arrive en ville, Le chanteur, Mon fils ma bataille)
-Noir Désir (L'homme pressé, Tostaky)
-BB Brunes (Coups et blessures, En ce qui me consterne, Bye Bye, Dis-moi)
-Elsa (T'en va pas)
-Étienne Daho (Tombé pour la France)
-Marc Lavoine (Les yeux revolver)
@tomduthoit1902
Je suis une poupée de cire
Une poupée de son
Mon cœur est gravé dans mes chansons
Poupée de cire, poupée de son
Suis-je meilleure, suis-je pire
Qu'une poupée de salon?
Je vois la vie en rose bonbon
Poupée de cire, poupée de son
Mes disques sont un miroir
Dans lequel chacun peut me voir
Je suis partout à la fois
Brisée en mille éclats de voix
Autour de moi j'entends rire
Les poupées de chiffon
Celles qui dansent sur mes chansons
Poupée de cire, poupée de son
Elles se laissent séduire
Pour un oui, pour un non
L'amour n'est pas que dans les chansons
Poupée de cire, poupée de son
Mes disques sont un miroir
Dans lequel chacun peut me voir
Je suis partout à la fois
Brisée en mille éclats de voix
Seule parfois, je soupire
Je me dis à quoi bon…
@sonny1234thebig
I don’t even speak French. I’m not even French. But I love old French music and I listen to it everyday! France Gall, Marie Laforêt, Francoise Hardy, Joe Dassin are some of my favorites! I love them!
@gwangbokmin5932
You have a great taste of music! I sincerely recommend you to listen some 60's italian musics as well! Mina, Bobby Solo, Sergio Endrigo, Ornella Vanoni, etc. I'm 80% sure you'll love them too!
@drvitafauto6648
You love good music !👍
You should try :
-Skip The Use (Ghost, nameless world, The Story of God and Men)
-Téléphone (Ça c'est vraiment toi, La Bombe Humaine, Argent trop cher, Cendrillon, New York avec toi, Hygiaphone)
-Dyonisos (Song for a jedi)
-Shaka Ponk (Story of my life, My name is Stain)
-Daniel Balavoine (Quand on arrive en ville, Le chanteur, Mon fils ma bataille)
-Noir Désir (L'homme pressé, Tostaky)
-BB Brunes (Coups et blessures, En ce qui me consterne, Bye Bye, Dis-moi)
-Elsa (T'en va pas)
-Étienne Daho (Tombé pour la France)
-Marc Lavoine (Les yeux revolver)
@underworld-dreamdavid5376
Kiss from france bro!
@royaltampaxburger5912
@Dr VITAFAUTO T'as oublié Michel Polnareff.
@drvitafauto6648
@Royal Tampax Burger effectivement
@mayss3728
j’ai 16 ans et j’écoute france gall régulièrement cette femme est vraiment une légende elle a marquée le temps !
@nrvscreed2091
elle est mort
@romainmeyer5520
C'est Gainsbourg l'auteur
@matop7773
Vous battez pas. C Michel berger interprété par france gall. De la poésie!-nostalgie pardon g pas vu le titre OUI c Gainsbourg!!!