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
Requiem Pour Un Con
Serge Gainsbourg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Le contraire m'eût étonné
Il n'est pas une boîte qu'il n'ait fréquentée
Quel noceur!
Requiem pour un twisteur
Dites-moi l'avez-vous connu à jeun?
Le contraire m'eût étonné
Quel farceur!
Requiem pour un twisteur
Dites-moi étiez-vous amoureuse de lui?
Le contraire m'eût étonné
Il n'est pas une femme qui lui ait résisté
Quel tombeur!
Requiem pour un twisteur
Requiem pour un twisteur
Requiem pour un twisteur
Dites-moi tout ça ne pouvait pas durer
Le contraire m'eût étonné
Je crois quant à moi que c'est le cœur qui a lâché
Quelle horreur!
Requiem pour un twisteur
Requiem pour un twisteur
Requiem pour un twisteur
The lyrics of Serge Gainsbourg's song Requiem pour un con are a satirical and mocking tribute to a "scélérat" or villain, whom Gainsbourg addresses as a "pauvre con" or poor idiot. The song is an intentionally provocative and insulting jibe at this person, as Gainsbourg tells him how he has composed a special requiem just for him, and urges him to learn it by heart so he can sing it even in prison. The use of the plaintive organ melody and the funeral-like tone of the song not only adds to the dark and ironic humor, but also accentuates the venomous and bitter critique of the "con."
Gainsbourg's lyrics express contempt and scorn for an individual who seems to be responsible for his own downfall, perhaps due to his own hubris, infamy or recklessness. The fact that Gainsbourg plays the role of the smug and sardonic narrator, who also appears to be enjoying himself as he composes this requiem, further emphasizes the irony and satire of the song. Despite its apparent harshness and mockery, Requiem pour un con can also be seen as a celebration of the power of music to ridicule and mock those who take themselves too seriously and to transcend the boundaries of convention and decorum.
Line by Line Meaning
Écoute les orgues
Listen to the organs playing music for you
Elles jouent pour toi
They are playing for you
Il est terrible cet air là
This melody is awesome
J'espère que tu aimes
I hope you like it
C'est assez beau non
It's beautiful, isn't it?
C'est le requiem pour un con
This is the requiem for a moron
Je l'ai composé spécialement pour toi
I've composed it especially for you
A ta mémoire de scélérat
In your memory as a villain
C'est un joli thème
It's a beautiful theme
Tu ne trouves pas
You don't think so?
Semblable à toi même
Similar to yourself
Pauvre con
Poor moron
Voici les orgues
Here are the organs
Qui remettent ça
Who are doing it again
Faut qu't'apprennes par cœur cet air là
You have to memorize this melody by heart
Que tu n'aies pas même
So that you don't have even
Une hésitation
A hesitation
Sur le requiem pour un con
On the requiem for a moron
Quoi tu me regardes
What are you looking at me for?
Tu n'apprécies pas
You don't appreciate it
Mais qu'est-ce qu'y a là dedans
But what's wrong with it?
Qui t'plaît pas
What don't you like about it?
Pour moi c'est idem
It's the same to me
Que ça t'plaise ou non
Whether you like it or not
J'te l'rejoue quand même
I'll play it for you again anyway
Pauvre con
Poor moron
Écoute les orgues
Listen to the organs playing music for you
Elles jouent pour toi
They are playing for you
Il est terrible cet air là
This melody is awesome
J'espère que tu aimes
I hope you like it
C'est assez beau non
It's beautiful, isn't it?
C'est le requiem pour un con
This is the requiem for a moron
Je l'ai composé spécialement pour toi
I've composed it especially for you
A ta mémoire de scélérat
In your memory as a villain
Sur ta figure blême
On your pale face
Aux murs des prisons
On the walls of prisons
J'inscrirai moi-même : "Pauvre con"
I'll write it myself: "Poor moron"
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Serge Gainsbourg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jeanchristophe1525
Paroles
Écoute les orgues
Elles jouent pour toi
Il est terrible cet air là
J'espère que tu aimes
C'est assez beau non
C'est le requiem pour un con
Je l'ai composé spécialement pour toi
A ta mémoire de scélérat
C'est un joli thème
Tu ne trouves pas
Semblable à toi même
Pauvre con
Voici les orgues
Qui remettent ça
Faut qu't'apprennes par cœur cet air là
Que tu n'aies pas même
Une hésitation
Sur le requiem pour un con
Quoi tu me regardes
Tu n'apprécies pas
Mais qu'est-ce qu'y a là dedans
Qui t'plaît pas
Pour moi c'est idem
Que ça t'plaise ou non
J'te l'rejoue quand même
Pauvre con
Écoute les orgues
Elles jouent pour toi
Il est terrible cet air là
J'espère que tu aimes
C'est assez beau non
C'est le requiem pour un con
Je l'ai composé spécialement pour toi
A ta mémoire de scélérat
Sur ta figure blême
Aux murs des prisons
J'inscrirai moi-même : "Pauvre con"
@odilebams
Paroles :
Écoute les orgues
Elles jouent pour toi
Il est terrible cet air là
J'espère que tu aimes
C'est assez beau non
C'est le requiem pour un con
Je l'ai composé spécialement pour toi
A ta mémoire de scélérat
C'est un joli thème
Tu ne trouves pas
Semblable à toi même
Pauvre con
Voici les orgues
Qui remettent ça
Faut qu't'apprennes par cœur cet air là
Que tu n'aies pas même
Une hésitation
Sur le requiem pour un con
Quoi tu me regardes
Tu n'apprécies pas
Mais qu'est-ce qu'y a là dedans
Qui t'plaît pas
Pour moi c'est idem
Que ça t'plaise ou non
J'te l'rejoue quand même
Pauvre con
Écoute les orgues
Elles jouent pour toi
Il est terrible cet air là
J'espère que tu aimes
C'est assez beau non
C'est le requiem pour un con
Je l'ai composé spécialement pour toi
A ta mémoire de scélérat
Sur ta figure blême
Aux murs des prisons
J'inscrirai moi-même : "Pauvre con"
@janiquevaillot8554
Un véritable génie ! Gainsbourg était intelligent, créatif, instinctif et il est irremplaçable. Mes respects 🖤👍👏🏻👏🏻 Gainsbourg
@SandrinePoujol
Un pur GENIE un Talent à l état pur IRREMPLACABLE 50 ans après 💖
@gravelevel3084
One of the coolest pieces of music ever recorded by anyone.
@michellicko821
Intro percussion restera gravée pour l'éternité !
Merci Serge Gainsbourg ❤️
@benoitcatteau5292
LE MAESTRO MONSIEUR GAINSBOURG 🤝👍👍👍❤
@henryksokol4543
Rien a foutre des élections regardes plutaut hukraine
@vincentschneider5493
@@henryksokol4543euhh tu t'es trompé de cigarette...
@stephane546
@@vincentschneider5493❤
Super merci pour la suite 49 3 dictature dictature
@jeanchristophe1525
Paroles
Écoute les orgues
Elles jouent pour toi
Il est terrible cet air là
J'espère que tu aimes
C'est assez beau non
C'est le requiem pour un con
Je l'ai composé spécialement pour toi
A ta mémoire de scélérat
C'est un joli thème
Tu ne trouves pas
Semblable à toi même
Pauvre con
Voici les orgues
Qui remettent ça
Faut qu't'apprennes par cœur cet air là
Que tu n'aies pas même
Une hésitation
Sur le requiem pour un con
Quoi tu me regardes
Tu n'apprécies pas
Mais qu'est-ce qu'y a là dedans
Qui t'plaît pas
Pour moi c'est idem
Que ça t'plaise ou non
J'te l'rejoue quand même
Pauvre con
Écoute les orgues
Elles jouent pour toi
Il est terrible cet air là
J'espère que tu aimes
C'est assez beau non
C'est le requiem pour un con
Je l'ai composé spécialement pour toi
A ta mémoire de scélérat
Sur ta figure blême
Aux murs des prisons
J'inscrirai moi-même : "Pauvre con"
@brisaluna6643
MUCHAS GRACIAS JEAN ABRAZOS DESDE MEXICO.