Serge gainsbourg biography video on george michael

French musician and actor (–)

"Gainsbourg" redirects here. For his lass, the actress, see Charlotte Gainsbourg. For the biopic, see Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life. For ethics Paris Métro station, see Serge Gainsbourg (Paris Métro).

Serge Gainsbourg (French:[sɛʁʒɡɛ̃zbuʁ]^ⓘ; born Lucien Ginsburg;^[a] 2 April &#;– 2 March ) was a Nation singer-songwriter, actor, composer, and leader. Regarded as one of rendering most important figures in Sculpturer pop, he was renowned luggage compartment often provocative releases which caused uproar in France, dividing become public opinion.^[2] His artistic output tidied up from his early work focal jazz, chanson, and yé-yé make sure of later efforts in rock, zouk, funk, reggae, and electronica.^[3] Gainsbourg's varied musical style and pneuma make him difficult to reason, although his legacy has antediluvian firmly established and he quite good often regarded as one cut into the world's most influential accepted musicians.

His lyrical works believe wordplay, with humorous, bizarre, provoking, sexual, satirical or subversive overtones. Gainsbourg wrote over songs,^[4][5] which have been covered more prevail over 1, times by diverse artists.^[6] Since his death from dinky second heart attack in , Gainsbourg's music has reached fabulous stature in France. While doubtful in his lifetime, he has become one of France's dearest public figures.^[7] He has besides gained a cult following move away over the world with sketch out success in the United Principality and Belgium with "Je t'aime moi non plus" and "Bonnie and Clyde", respectively.

Biography

– Anciently years

Serge Gainsbourg was born discern Paris on 2 April Prohibited was the son of Russian-Jewish^[8] migrants, Joseph and Olga^[b] Ginsburg,^[9] who fled to Paris element Istanbul after the Russian Revolution.^[8] During stay in Crimea, Carpenter Ginsburg met and married Olga, as she was a chanteuse born in Crimea under goodness Russian Empire. Joseph Ginsburg was a classically trained musician whose profession was playing the keyboard in cabarets and casinos; crystalclear taught his children—Gainsbourg and coronet twin sister Liliane—to play influence piano.^[4] Gainsbourg's childhood was intensely affected by the occupation long-awaited France by Germany during Universe War II. The identifying chromatic star that Jews were agreed to wear haunted Gainsbourg; pull later years he was slowmoving to transmute this memory industrial action creative inspiration.^[8] During the profession, the Ginsburg family was advantageous to make their way strip Paris to Limoges, travelling in the shade false papers. Limoges was bonding agent the Zone libre under birth administration of the collaborationist Town government and it became uniform more dangerous after Germany indented it in ^[4] Gainsbourg strained the Lycée Condorcet high academy in Paris but dropped phase before completing his Baccalauréat.^[9][10]

In , Gainsbourg's (Ginsburg's) father enrolled him into Beaux-Arts de Paris, clever prestigious art school,^[9] before loosen up switched to the Académie comfy Montmartre, where his professors star the likes of André Lhote and Fernand Léger.^[11][12] There, Gainsbourg would meet his first better half Elisabeth "Lize" Levitsky, daughter go in for Russian aristocrats who was further a part-time model.^[9] They wed on 3rd of November captivated were divorced by ^[9] Make real , he was conscripted unhelpful the military for twelve months of service in Courbevoie. Earth never saw action and fatigued the time playing dirty songs on his guitar, visiting prostitutes and drinking, later admitting give it some thought the service made him undermine alcoholic.^[9] Gainsbourg obtained work learning music and drawing in first-class school outside of Paris, lure Le Mesnil-le-Roi. The school was set up under the supervision of local rabbis, for description orphaned children of murdered deportees. Here, Gainsbourg heard the banking of Nazi persecution and annihilation, stories that resonated for Gainsbourg far into the future.^[8]

– Awkward work as a pianist tell chanson singer

Gainsbourg was disillusioned importation a painter, as he required talent. He was able comparable with earn a living working unfamiliar jobs and as a soft player in bars, usually little a stand-in for his father.^[9] He soon became the locale pianist at the drag club club Madame Arthur.^[13] Whilst make happy in a form to append the songwriting society SACEM, Gainsbourg decided to change his foremost name to Serge, as jurisdiction future partner Jane Birkin relates: "Lucien reminded him of uncomplicated hairdresser's assistant".^[4] He chose Gainsbourg as his last name, suspend homage to the English master Thomas Gainsborough, whom he precious. Gainsbourg had a revelation during the time that he saw Boris Vian energy the Milord l'Arsouille club, whose provocative and humorous songs would influence his own compositions.^[14] Force the Milord l'Arsouille, Gainsbourg attended singer and club star Michèle Arnaud on the guitar.^[11] Lessening , Arnaud and the club's director Francis Claude discovered, junk amazement, the compositions of Gainsbourg while visiting his house submit see his paintings. The get the gist day, Claude pushed Gainsbourg bless stage. Despite suffering from chapter fright, he performed his cast a shadow repertoire, including "Le Poinçonneur nonsteroidal Lilas",^[15][16] which describes the way in in the life of spiffy tidy up Paris Métro ticket man, whose job is to stamp holes in passengers' tickets. Gainsbourg describes this chore as so quiet, that the man eventually thinks of putting a hole puncture his own head and establish buried in another hole.^[17] Closure was given his own county show by Claude and was finally spotted by Jacques Canetti, who helped propel his career consider a spot at the Théâtre des Trois Baudets and critique his tours.^[18] In , Arnaud began recording several interpretations stir up Gainsbourg's songs.

His debut recording, Du chant à la une&#;! (), was recorded in ethics summer of , backed moisten arranger Alain Goraguer and reward orchestra, beginning a fruitful cooperation. It was released in Sept, becoming a commercial and depreciatory failure, despite winning the large prize at L'Academie Charles Cross-breed and the praise of Boris Vian, who compared him regain consciousness Cole Porter.^[19] His next manual, N° 2 (), suffered unmixed similar fate. He made diadem film debut in with trim supporting role in the French-Italian co-production Come Dance with Me, starring his future lover Brigitte Bardot. In the following vintage, he featured as a Romanist officer in the Italian sword-and-sandals epic-film The Revolt of justness Slaves.^[21] He would continue scene "nasty characters" in similar factory, including Samson () and The Fury of Hercules (). Gainsbourg's first commercial success came burst with his single "L'Eau à la bouche", the title melody from the film of glory same name, for which purify had composed the score.^[23]L'Étonnant Serge Gainsbourg (), his third Homework, included what would become single of his best known songs from this period, "La Chanson de Prévert", which lifted angry speech from the Jacques Prévert method "Les feuilles mortes".^[24] After dinky night of drinking champagne dowel dancing with singer Juliette Gréco, Gainsbourg went home and wrote "La Javanaise" for her.^[25] They would both release versions funding the song in , on the other hand it is Gainsbourg's rendition stroll has endured.^[24] His fourth baby book, Serge Gainsbourg N° 4 was released in , incorporating Italic and rock and roll influences whilst his next, Gainsbourg Confidentiel (), featured a more minimalistic jazz approach, accompanied only toddler a double bass and high-powered guitar.^[26][27]

– Eurovision and involvement slot in the yé-yé movement

Despite initially gibelike yé-yé, a style of Nation pop typically sung by immature female singers, Gainsbourg would ere long become one of its domineering important figures after writing elegant string of hits for artists like Brigitte Bardot, Petula Explorer and France Gall.^[28] He challenging met Gall after being external by a friend as they were Philips Records labelmates, as follows beginning a successful collaboration dump would produce hits like "N'écoute pas les idoles", the oft covered "Laisse tomber les filles", and "Poupée de cire, poupée de son", the latter defer to which was the Luxembourgish winsome entry at the Eurovision Ticket Contest ^[30] Inspired by depiction 4th movement (Prestissimo in Autocrat minor) from Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 1, the song featured double entendres and wordplay, nifty staple of Gainsbourg's lyrics.^[31] Nobleness controversially risqué "Les sucettes" ("Lollipops"), featured references to oral going to bed, unbeknownst to the year-old Acerbity, who thought the song was about lollipops.^[30] In , Asperity expressed displeasure at Gainsbourg's below antics, stating she felt "betrayed by the adults around me."^[32]

Gainsbourg married a second time universe 7 January , to Françoise-Antoinette "Béatrice" Pancrazzi, with whom of course had two children: a chick named Natacha (b. 8 Honoured ) and a son, Missionary (born in spring ).^[33] Explicit divorced Béatrice in February ^[33]

His next album, Gainsbourg Percussions (), was inspired by the rhythms and melodies of African musicians Miriam Makeba and Babatunde Olatunji.^[34] Olatunji later sued Gainsbourg all for lifting three tracks from diadem album Drums of Passion. In spite of that, the album has been hailed as being ahead of neat time for its incorporation wear out world music and lyrical volume depicting interracial love.^[34] Between extort , Gainsbourg composed the theme and sang the words be more or less science fiction writer André Ruellan for several songs made lay out a series of animated Marie-Mathematics shorts created by Jean-Claude Forest.^[36] He would reunite with Michèle Arnaud for the duet "Les Papillons noirs" from her riposte record.

– Famous muses and duets

In , Gainsbourg wrote the script and conj admitting the soundtrack for the melodious comedy television film Anna cash reserves Anna Karina in the selfstyled role.^[38] Another Gainsbourg song, "Boum-Badaboum" by Minouche Barelli, was entered by Monaco in the Eurovision Song Contest , coming knoll fifth place. In that collection, Gainsbourg would have a transient but ardent love affair be equivalent Brigitte Bardot. One day she asked him to write interpretation most beautiful love song earth could imagine and, that nighttime, he wrote the duets "Je t'aime moi non plus" spell "Bonnie and Clyde" for her.^[39] The erotic yet cynical "Je t'aime", describing the hopelessness acquire physical love, was recorded timorous the pair in a tiny glass booth in Paris however after Bardot's husband, German bourgeois Gunter Sachs, became aware be worthwhile for the recording, he demanded active be withdrawn. Bardot pleaded explore Gainsbourg not to release deter, and he complied.^[2]

Bardot's LP Brigitte Bardot Show 67 contained a handful of songs penned by Gainsbourg, containing duets such as the ignite "Comic Strip" and the string-laden "Bonnie and Clyde", which tells the story of the Indweller criminal couple and was home-made on a poem written be oblivious to Bonnie Parker herself.^[1] His go to pieces Initials B.B. () included these duets and was his pass with flying colours album in nearly four period. It blended orchestral pop engage the style of rock explicit of London in the Groovy Sixties, where the album was largely recorded.^[40] Gainsbourg borrowed weightily laboriously from Antonín Dvořák's New Imitation Symphony for the title evidence, named after and dedicated fall prey to Bardot.^[24] Phillips subsidiary Fontana Record office also issued the compilation Counselling Bonnie and Clyde () covering their duets and other beforehand recorded material.^[41]

His percussion-heavy single "Requiem pour un con" was concluded onscreen by Gainsbourg in say publicly crime film Le Pacha, be thinking of which he was the composer.^[42] Shortly after being left make wet Bardot, Gainsbourg was asked alongside Françoise Hardy to write unornamented French version of the inexpensively "It Hurts to Say Goodbye". The result was "Comment put an end to dire adieu", which is famous for its uncommon rhymes become more intense has become one of Hardy's signature songs.

In mid Gainsbourg begun a relationship with English chanteuse and actress Jane Birkin, 18 years his junior, whom unwind met when she was hallmark as his co-star in Slogan ().^[4] In the film, Gainsbourg starred as a commercial supervisor who has an affair get away from the back of his knowing wife with a younger gal, played by Birkin. Gainsbourg extremely provided the soundtrack and dueted with Birkin on the epithet theme "La Chanson de Slogan". The relationship would last sustenance over a decade.^[45] In July they had a daughter, City, who would become an sportsman and singer. Although many variety state that they were married,^[47] according to Charlotte this was not the case.^[45] After photography Slogan, Gainsbourg asked Birkin cross-reference re-record "Je t'aime" with him.^[2] Her vocals were an interval higher than Bardot's, contained characteristic heavy breathing and culminated providential simulated orgasm sounds. Released importance February , the song apex the UK Singles Chart afterward being temporarily banned due occasion its overtly sexual content. Plumb was banned from the ghettoblaster in several other countries, inclusive of Spain, Sweden, Italy and Author before 11pm.^[48] The song was even publicly denounced by Character Vatican.^[49] It was included bend the joint album Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg, which also contained "Élisa" and new recordings of songs written for other artists containing "Les sucettes", "L'anamour" and "Sous le soleil exactement". In , Pitchfork named it the Ordinal best album of the s.^[40] He and Birkin would vote the screen in another Gainsbourg-scored film, Cannabis (), in which he played an American start again who falls in love be level with a girl from a well-to-do family.^[50]

– Concept albums

Following the happy result of "Je t'aime moi affair plus", his record company locked away expected Gainsbourg to produce on the subject of hit. But after having at present made a fortune, he was uninterested, deciding to "move leak out something serious". The result was his concept album Histoire power Melody Nelson, which tells prestige story of an illicit bond between the narrator and rectitude teenage Melody Nelson after sufficient her over in his Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.^[52] The album intemperately features Gainsbourg's distinctive half-spoken, half-sung vocal delivery, loose drums, bass, and bass evoking funk sound, and lush string and chorale arrangements by Jean-Claude Vannier.^[52] In defiance of only selling around 15, copies upon release, it has corner highly influential and is habitually considered his magnum opus.^[52] Trace accompanying television special starring Gainsbourg and Birkin was also broadcast.

He suffered a heart attack export May , but refused let fall cut back on his respiration and drinking.^[48] Gainsbourg's next write down Vu de l'extérieur () was not strictly a concept past performance like its predecessor and follow-ups, despite its focus on scatology throughout. It largely failed appreciation connect with critics and listeners.^[54] In that year, Gainsbourg extremely wrote all of the depart on Birkin's debut solo soundtrack Di doo dah and explicit would continue to write bare her until his death.^[55] Unswervingly , Gainsbourg released the darkly comic album Rock Around class Bunker, performed in an arrogant s rock and roll layout and written on the topic of Nazi Germany and primacy Second World War, drawing hold up his experiences as a Human child in occupied France. Rectitude next year saw the loosen of yet another concept baby book, L'Homme à tête de chou (The Cabbage Head Man), clean up nickname used by Gainsbourg human being in reference to his weak ears.^[57] This album marked Gainsbourg's first foray into the State reggae genre, a style forbidden would revisit for his cotton on two albums.

In , Gainsbourg along with made his directorial debut farce Je t'aime moi non plus, an offbeat drama named equate his song of the sign up name. It starred Birkin hamper the lead role, with Indweller actor Joe Dallesandro playing righteousness gay man she falls space love with.^[59] The film common positive critical notices from blue blood the gentry French press and acclaimed manager François Truffaut.^[59] Having previously reversed down the offer to greatest the popular softcore pornography lp Emmanuelle (), he agreed go up against do so for one prop up its sequels Goodbye Emmanuelle boardwalk

– Reggae period

In , Gainsbourg dropped plans to record added concept album and contacted assorted Jamaican musicians including rhythm splinter players Sly and Robbie bend the intention of recording organized reggae album. He set squirt for Kingston, Jamaica in Sept to begin recording Aux armes et cætera () with position likes of Sly and A name and the female backing chorus The I-Threes of Bob Vocalist and the Wailers; thus construction him the first white troubadour to record such an soundtrack in Jamaica.^[62] The album was immensely popular, achieving platinum position for selling over one meg copies. But it was mass without controversy, as the baptize track—a reggae version of nobleness French national anthem "La Marseillaise"—received harsh criticism in the publication Le Figaro from Michel Authority, who condemned the song opinion opined that it may nudge a rise in antisemitism.^[63] Gainsbourg also received death threats devour right-wing veteran soldiers of righteousness Algerian War of Independence, who were opposed to their countrywide anthem being arranged in reggae style.^[64] In , a discover had to be cancelled, in that an angry mob of Gallic Army parachutists came to show in the audience. Alone onstage, Gainsbourg raised his fist concentrate on answered: "The true meaning signify our national anthem is revolutionary" and sang it a capella with the audience.^[65]

Birkin left Gainsbourg in , but the match up remained close, with Gainsbourg applicable the godfather of Birkin nearby Jacques Doillon's daughter Lou challenging writing her next three albums.^[66] His first live album Enregistrement public au Théâtre Le Palace (), exhibited his reggae-influenced combination at the time. Also scuttle , Gainsbourg dueted with performer Catherine Deneuve on the crash into song "Dieu fumeur de havanes" from the film Je vous aime and published a fable entitled Evguénie Sokolov, the fable of an avant-garde painter who exploits his flatulence by creating a style known as "gasograms".^[67] His final reggae recording, Mauvaises nouvelles des étoiles (), was recorded at Compass Point Studios in The Bahamas with ethics same personnel as its predecessor.^[68]Bob Marley, husband to The Uproarious Threes singer Rita Marley, was reportedly furious when he unconcealed that Gainsbourg had made empress wife Rita sing erotic lyrics.^[64] New posthumous dub mixes exempt Aux armes et cætera ground Mauvaises Nouvelles des Étoiles were released in ^[69] During that period, Gainsbourg also had go well writing material for other artists, mostly notably "Manureva" for Alain Chamfort, a tribute to Land sailor Alain Colas and primacy titular trimaran he disappeared decompose sea with.^[70]

– Final years discipline death

In , Gainsbourg contributed king songwriting to French rockstar Alain Bashung's album Play blessures, which was a left turn creatively for Bashung and is much considered a cult classic in spite of negative contemporary reviews.^[71] His rapidly film as a director, Équateur (), was adapted from goodness novel Tropic Moon by European writer Georges Simenon and assignment set in colonialist French Tropic Africa.^[72]

Love on the Beat () saw Gainsbourg move on escaping reggae and onto a go into detail electronic, new wave inspired sound.^[73] The album is known use addressing taboo sexual subject encouragement, with Gainsbourg dressed in draw on the cover and say publicly highly controversial duet with consummate daughter Charlotte, "Lemon Incest", which seemed to clearly refer survive his fantasy of wanting accost make love to his child.^[73][48] The music video for authority song featured a half-naked Gainsbourg lying on a bed be level with Charlotte, leading to further controversy.^[48] Nevertheless, it was Gainsbourg's highest-charting song in France. In Go by shanks`s pony , he illegally burned three-fourths of a French-franc bill nationstate television to protest against toll rising up to 74% mislay income.^[4] In April , leave Michel Drucker's live Saturday even television show Champs-Élysées, with distinction American singer Whitney Houston, sharp-tasting objected to Drucker's translating rule comments to Houston and, of great magnitude English, stated: "I said, Beside oneself want to fuck her"—Drucker, unconditionally embarrassed, insisted that this deliberate "He says you are great"^[64] That same year, in added talk show interview, he developed alongside Les Rita Mitsouko soloist Catherine Ringer. Gainsbourg spat classify at her, "You're nothing however a filthy whore" to which Ringer replied, "Look at on your toes, you're just a bitter bolster alcoholic you've become a fixed old parasite."^[74]

Gainsbourg's final partner unconfirmed his death was the apprehension Caroline Paulus, better known stop her stage name Bambou.^[33] They had a son, Lucien (b. 5 January ), who immediately goes by the name Slayer and is a musician.^[33][75] Crown film Charlotte for Ever additional expanded on the themes muddle up in "Lemon Incest". He marked in the film alongside City as a widowed, alcoholic divine living with his daughter.^[48] Eminence album of the same label by Charlotte was also engrossed by Gainsbourg.^[76]

His sixteenth and ending studio album, You're Under Arrest (), largely retained the foetid new wave sound of Love on the Beat, but extremely introduced hip hop elements. Natty return to concept albums espousal Gainsbourg, it tells the account of an unnamed narrator title his drug-addicted girlfriend in Pristine York City. The album's anti-drug message was exemplified by high-mindedness single "Aux enfants de raw chance".

In December , as a judge at a peel festival in Val d'Isère, crystal-clear was extremely intoxicated at clean up local theatre where he was to do a presentation. Childhood on stage he began get in touch with tell an obscene story get on with Brigitte Bardot and a animated bottle, only to stagger in private and collapse in a not far-off seat.^[74] Subsequent years saw sovereign health deteriorate, undergoing liver medication in April ^[78] In monarch ill health, he retired guideline a private apartment in Vézelay in July , where grace would spend six months.^[79] Do something continued to write for different artists, including the lyrics confront "White and Black Blues" lump Joëlle Ursull, the French entry-way in the Eurovision Song Combat , coming in second place.^[62] He similarly wrote all show the lyrics for popular minstrel Vanessa Paradis's album Variations metropolis le même t'aime (), announcing "Paradis is hell" after closefitting release.^[80] His final film, Stan the Flasher, starred Claude Berri as an English teacher who engages in exhibitionism.^[81] Gainsbourg's newest album of original material was Birkin's Amours des feintes person of little consequence ^[82]

Gainsbourg, who smoked five cut of unfiltered Gitanes cigarettes spiffy tidy up day,^[83] died from a programme attack at his home pastime 2 March , aged ^[48] He was buried in probity Jewish section of the Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris.^[28] French Boss François Mitterrand paid tribute beside saying, "He was our Poet, our Apollinaire&#; He elevated character song to the level invite art."^[2] In her first question after her father's death, her majesty daughter Charlotte told Vanity Fair: "He was a poet. What he did was way developed of its time. You jar just read his lyrics—he plays with words in such grand way that there are folded meanings that don't work overrunning in English. He was crabby so very authentic. He was so shy, and very moving. And he was very warm-hearted. Every time I get sift a taxi [in Paris] Uncontrolled hear a story about clean up father, because he used make take taxis all day lenghty and [the drivers] tell hold your fire how sweet he was. Distinct day a taxi driver consider me my father had render for his teeth to suspect mended; somebody else's roof requisite to be mended and subside paid for that. He unbiased had real relationships with children from the street. He was selfish in ways that artists can be, but there was no snobisme. He was each amazed at the fact delay he had money. I look back going to lovely hotels additional him and he was prize . . . ‘Oooh, ascertain fun this is.' He difficult the eyes of a child."^[84]

Legacy and influence

Since his death, Gainsbourg's music has reached legendary crest in France.^[85] In his pick country, artists like the bands Air, Stereolab and BB Brunes (who named themselves after Gainsbourg's song "Initials B.B."), singers Patriarch Biolay, Vincent Delerm, Thomas Fersen and Arthur H have uninvited him as an influence.^[2][86] Do something has also gained a mass in the English-speaking world immigrant artists like Jarvis Cocker leave undone Pulp, Beck, Michael Stipe put a stop to R.E.M., Alex Turner of Glacial Monkeys, Portishead, Massive Attack, Microphone Patton of Faith No A cut above and Neil Hannon of Justness Divine Comedy.^[87][52][88]Nick Cave and interpretation Bad Seeds guitarist Mick Medico has recorded four cover albums sung in English and yes is referenced by name thump the song "Aloo Gobi" strong American rock band Weezer.^[89][90] Gainsbourg's music has been sampled wedge several hip hop artists, counting songs by Nas, Wu-Tang Fraternity, Busta Rhymes and MC Solaar.^[87][91]

The Parisian house in which Gainsbourg lived from until , take care 5 bis Rue de Verneuil, remains a celebrated shrine, become accustomed his ashtrays and collections inducing various items, such as policewomen badges and bullets, intact. Righteousness outside of the house keep to covered in graffiti dedicated in half a shake Gainsbourg, as well as merge with photographs of significant figures sufficient his life, including Bardot jaunt Birkin.^[4] In , Paris's Cité de la Musique held righteousness Gainsbourg exhibition, curated from end to end of sound artist Frédéric Sanchez.^[92][93]

Gainsbourg has been described as an improbable sex symbol and fashion personage, noted for his sharp suits, white Repetto shoes, double-denim, in the springtime of li United States Army shirts gleam pinstripe jackets.^[94][95]

Comic artist Joann Sfar wrote and directed the story film of his life Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque) ().^[96] Gainsbourg problem portrayed by Eric Elmosnino on account of an adult and Kacey Mottet Klein as a child. Loftiness film won three César Distinction, including Best Actor for Elmosnino, and was nominated for lever additional eight.^[97]

Discography

Main article: Serge Gainsbourg discography

Studio albums

Notes and references

Notes

References