Serge Gainsbourg
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Gainsbourg died on [[March 2]], [[1991]] of a heart attack and was buried in [[Cimetière du Montparnasse|Montparnasse Cemetery]], in [[Paris]]. His funeral brought Paris to a standstill, and French President [[François Mitterrand]] said of him, "He was our [[Baudelaire]], our [[Apollinaire]]... He elevated the song to the level of art." His home at the well-known address 5bis rue de Verneuil is still covered in graffiti and poems. | Gainsbourg died on [[March 2]], [[1991]] of a heart attack and was buried in [[Cimetière du Montparnasse|Montparnasse Cemetery]], in [[Paris]]. His funeral brought Paris to a standstill, and French President [[François Mitterrand]] said of him, "He was our [[Baudelaire]], our [[Apollinaire]]... He elevated the song to the level of art." His home at the well-known address 5bis rue de Verneuil is still covered in graffiti and poems. | ||
- | Since his death, Gainsbourg's music has reached legendary stature in France. His lyrical brilliance in French has left an extraordinary legacy. His music, always progressive, covered many styles: jazz, ballads, mambo, lounge, reggae, pop (including adult contemporary pop, kitsch pop, [[Yé-yé|yé-yé pop]], '80s pop, pop-art pop, prog pop, space-age pop, psychedelic pop, and erotic pop), disco, [[calypso]], Africana, [[bossa nova]], and [[rock and roll]]. He has gained a following in the English-speaking world with many non-mainstream artists finding his arrangements highly influential. | + | Since his death, Gainsbourg's music has reached legendary stature in France. His lyrical brilliance in French has left an extraordinary legacy. His music, always progressive, covered many styles: [[jazz]], [[ballad]]s, [[mambo]], [[lounge music|lounge]], [[reggae]], [[pop music|pop]], [[Yé-yé|yé-yé pop]], [[space-age pop]], [[disco]], [[calypso]], [[Africana]], [[bossa nova]], and [[rock and roll]]. He has gained a following in the English-speaking world with many [[non-mainstream]] artists finding his arrangements highly influential. |
- | He is also considered to be one of the first music pop artists of the late 1960s. While artists such as [[Andy Warhol]] and [[Roy Lichtenstein]] explored modern iconographic consumer culture through painting, Gainsbourg explored similar territory in music with songs such as "Comic Strip," "Ford Mustang," "Qui est In Qui est Out," and "Teenie Weenie Boppie." | + | He is also considered to be one of the first music [[pop art]]ists of the late 1960s. While artists such as [[Andy Warhol]] and [[Roy Lichtenstein]] explored modern iconographic consumer culture through painting, Gainsbourg explored similar territory in music with songs such as "Comic Strip," "Ford Mustang," "Qui est In Qui est Out," and "Teenie Weenie Boppie." |
One of the most frequent interpreters of Gainsbourg's songs was British singer [[Petula Clark]], whose success in France was propelled by her recordings of his tunes. In 2003, she wrote and recorded ''La Chanson de Gainsbourg'' as a tribute to the composer of some of her biggest hits. | One of the most frequent interpreters of Gainsbourg's songs was British singer [[Petula Clark]], whose success in France was propelled by her recordings of his tunes. In 2003, she wrote and recorded ''La Chanson de Gainsbourg'' as a tribute to the composer of some of her biggest hits. | ||
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His lyrics are collected in the volume ''Dernières nouvelles des étoiles.'' | His lyrics are collected in the volume ''Dernières nouvelles des étoiles.'' | ||
- | In 2005, the album [[Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited]] was released by Virgin Records. The album consisted of specially-recorded English-language cover versions of Gainsbourg's songs, recorded by artists as diverse as [[Franz Ferdinand (band) | Franz Ferdinand]], [[Portishead (band) | Portishead]], [[Placebo (band) | Placebo]], and [[Michael Stipe]]. | + | In 2005, the album [[Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited]] was released by Virgin Records. The album consisted of specially-recorded English-language cover versions of Gainsbourg's songs. |
==Noted songs== | ==Noted songs== |
Revision as of 21:00, 5 February 2008
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Serge Gainsbourg (April 2, 1928 – March 2, 1991) was a French poet, singer-songwriter, actor and director. Gainsbourg's varied style and individuality made him difficult to categorize. Although famous in France for many years, he did not achieve his first No. 1 album until 1979, when he released Aux Armes et caetera more than twenty years after his music career had begun. But since the 1980s, his legacy has been firmly established.
Contents |
Film work
During his career, he wrote the soundtracks for more than 40 films. In 1996, he received a César Award for Best Music Written for a Film for Élisa, along with Zbigniew Preisner and Michel Colombier.
He directed four movies: Je t'aime... moi non plus, Équateur, Charlotte For Ever and Stan The Flasher.
Death and legacy
Gainsbourg died on March 2, 1991 of a heart attack and was buried in Montparnasse Cemetery, in Paris. His funeral brought Paris to a standstill, and French President François Mitterrand said of him, "He was our Baudelaire, our Apollinaire... He elevated the song to the level of art." His home at the well-known address 5bis rue de Verneuil is still covered in graffiti and poems.
Since his death, Gainsbourg's music has reached legendary stature in France. His lyrical brilliance in French has left an extraordinary legacy. His music, always progressive, covered many styles: jazz, ballads, mambo, lounge, reggae, pop, yé-yé pop, space-age pop, disco, calypso, Africana, bossa nova, and rock and roll. He has gained a following in the English-speaking world with many non-mainstream artists finding his arrangements highly influential.
He is also considered to be one of the first music pop artists of the late 1960s. While artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein explored modern iconographic consumer culture through painting, Gainsbourg explored similar territory in music with songs such as "Comic Strip," "Ford Mustang," "Qui est In Qui est Out," and "Teenie Weenie Boppie."
One of the most frequent interpreters of Gainsbourg's songs was British singer Petula Clark, whose success in France was propelled by her recordings of his tunes. In 2003, she wrote and recorded La Chanson de Gainsbourg as a tribute to the composer of some of her biggest hits.
His lyrics are collected in the volume Dernières nouvelles des étoiles.
In 2005, the album Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited was released by Virgin Records. The album consisted of specially-recorded English-language cover versions of Gainsbourg's songs.
Noted songs
- "Aux armes et caetera"
- "Baby Pop"
- "Black Trombone"
- "Bonnie and Clyde"
- "Comment te dire adieu"
- "Couleur Café"
- "Dieu fumeur de havanes"
- "Élisa"
- "Hold Up"
- "Initials B.B."
- "Je suis venu te dire que je m'en vais"
- "Je t'aime... moi non plus"
- "La Gadoue"
- "La Javanaise"
- "Lemon Incest"
- "Les Incorruptibles"
- "Les Sucettes"
- "L'homme à Tête de Chou"
- "Lola Rastaquouère"
- "Marilou"
- "New York U.S.A."
- "Poupée de cire, poupée de son"
- "Sorry Angel"
- "Sea, Sex and Sun"
- "You're Under Arrest"
- "Mon légionnaire"
- "White and black blues" (lyrics)
Discography
- 1958: Du chant à la une
- 1959: Disque N°2
- 1961: L'étonnant Serge Gainsbourg
- 1962: Disque N°4
- 1963: Gainsbourg Confidentiel
- 1964: Gainsbourg Percussions
- 1967: Anna
- 1967: Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot: Bonnie & Clyde
- 1968: Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot: Initials B.B.
- 1968: Ce Sacré Grand-Père
- 1969: Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg
- 1970: Cannabis
- 1971: Histoire de Melody Nelson
- 1974: Vu de l'extérieur
- 1975: Rock Around the Bunker
- 1976: L'homme à tête de chou
- 1979: Aux armes et cætera
- 1980: Enregistrement public au Théâtre Le Palace
- 1981: Mauvaises nouvelles des étoiles
- 1984: Love On The Beat
- 1985: Serge Gainsbourg live (Casino de Paris)
- 1987: You're under arrest
- 1988: Le Zénith de Gainsbourg
- 1989: De Gainsbourg à Gainsbarre (Box Set)
- 2001: Gainsbourg Forever (Integral Box Set)
- 2001: Le Cinéma de Gainsbourg (Box Set)
- 2005: Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited (Tribute album)