Serge Gainsbourg: Search and Destroy

Avoid: 'Rock Around The Bunker'. Mel Brooks did it better in 'The Producers'.

Destroy - nothing I've heard is bad, but I've been told that the later stuff is a bit ropey.

destroy: oh, there's some stuff to destroy alright. but the names are all in french and thus i'm at a loss to recall them. i could sing them if you like.

As for the rest, search everything. Honestly. I have managed to get nearly everything and it's mostly wonderful, from the jazz tinged early stuff to the straight out pop! of his collaboration with Bridgette Bardot.

Love on the Beat has naughty lyrics, but then so does a lot of Serge. In terms of music, though, it struck me as particularly weak.

I'm with Nicole, pretty much destroy later stuff which I couldn't be bothered with. Search anything with a chick singer from the 60s. That's awesome stuff.

Destroy:

1. 'Lemon Incest' - many condemn it for its controversial lyrics; I condemn it for its terrifyingly awful '80s production.

2. 'Love on the Beat' - did someone actually praise this? Jesus, it's awful, a musical abortion, again over sickening '80s production. The person who keeps yelping "oww!" like they're being pimp-slapped does not improve things.

3. 'Aux Armes Et Cetera' - again, controversial for the wrong reasons. This is Serge mumbling the lyrics of the French national anthem to a reggae accompaniment. Its opponents see it as an insult to French national honour. And I'm not surprised, the reggae accompaniment is embarrassingly bad.

4. I'm beginnging to think Serge's "What I said is 'I want to fuck you'" comment to Whitney Houston is not actually big and clever and in fact typifies the talentless, bloated boor he became in later life.

Whattaguy!! :)

So what about that "Gainsbourg & Birkin" album? Worth checking out? I downloaded '69 Annee Erotique'...liked what I heard.

if you're looking to delve deeper into Gainsbourg's history, pick up the "Gainsbourg Percussions" CD/LP. a great album of what's generally referred to as "exotica", ie. jungle drums, chants, and world music style rhythms... some of his best songs. the entire album save for one track is on Mercury US's "Couleur Cafe" compilation, wheich is to his exotica/latin phase as "Comic Strip" is to his pop phase. there's also "Du Jazz Dans Le Ravin" which is the bop-style jazz compilation. the 3 Mercury comps are all incredibly solid and well put together, and do serve as great introductions to the various phases in his career. unfortunately, they didn't do a reggae one. "Aux Armes De Atcetera" is the best of his reggae period. also worth mentioning id the "I Love Serge: Electronicagainsbourg" Comp that was just recently released by Mercury France... french and UK dance/electronic acts remix some of Serge's best songs, and it's actually pretty solid... the versions of the 80's songs hold up a lot better than the originals, and the mixes of the "classic" songs hold up well also. it may not be immediately satisfying, but it's enjoyable even for someone who's not familiar w/ his entire catalogue. sorry for such a long post, but as i said, he's one of my favorites, and i thought i'd pay my respects. happy hunting!

Histoire de Melody Nelson has a twin: "L'homme à tête de choux". alo very good but can not be compared to the master piece "Histoire de Melody Nelson".

he made jazz in the beginning: if you are interested listen one of this two very good albums "du jazz dans le ravin" or "Gainsbourg confidentiel"

pop music: he made a pop album around 66 "Initial BB" dedicated to Brigitte Bardot. 2 or 3 incredible songs, the rest is not that interesting.

african music: "Gainsbourg Percussions" is without any doubt one of his best albums, as original as melody nelson, he made there african songs with a lot of rythm and chors;

reggae: "Aux Armes" was made with the wailers (1981). They said after that it was the best reggae album they ever made. I agree with them. listen Lola Rastaquouère.

He made a lot of different things I did not mention. But I believe these are the most interesting albums he made.

I have a request for you please. I am looking for anything that has been written about Histoire de Melody Nelson. If you have anything, can you please contact me?

I must disagree, Rock Around The Bunker is a very enjoyable record.

It's not quite so provocative if like me you can't understand the lyrics.

This is a Gainsbourg thread, right?

Search: his soundtrack from the '70 flick Cannabis. Theme is classic dinosaur rock.

dig those funky riffs though. And those girl backing vocals.

"Aux Armes Et Cetera", "Melody Nelson" are also absolutely genius.

i was just in france and i saw a couple of new double cds of his reggae stuff. i didn't know what they were so i didn't buy them. instead i bought the single disc Aux Armes and am thoroughly unimpressed. maybe the dub stuff would have been cooler? unless it's recent dubs. could maybe suck.

Johnny Halliday is actually Belgian.

they sound pretty good!
it's a live album and it's
titled 'arabesque'

Saw this in the shop today so worth checking out then?

About the dubs, I think they're old dubs. Someone I know (and into dub) said they were really good. There's also some DJ-mixes on it (patchy, was the word). I'm thinking of buying the vinyl dubversion, although the 20-page cd booklet is supposed to be great.

Why annoying?

My next question is, why in Hell haven't I been listening to this guy for the last twenty years?

I believe I saw the new Jane Birkin album in Tower Records the other day.

But why limit yourself??? Get the other two Mercury compilations ('Couleur Cafe' and 'Du Jazz Dans de Ravin')which are nearly as good!!!

and the recent 'Initials S.G.' is one of the best single disc retrospectives of any artist ever! And the cover photo is amazing.

I heard a cover version of this song playing as background music on a TV program recently. Musically much better than the original, but with completely outrageous OTT female, erm, 'vocal'. Can anyone tell me who the artist might be? Definitely 90s/00s from the production - very minimal & electronic. It's not the Intoxicated Man version, and I doubt it's the Vive le Fete cover, which is the first one google turns up.

p.s. the more I listen, the more I'm convinced that France's contribution to rock'n'roll-influenced music is second only to Britain's. Gainsbourg, Hardy, Dutronc, Polnareff, Air... ah!

!!!!

does anyone have that deluxe reissue of aux armes w/the dub lp?

sorry spencer i don't know the answer to your question

I heard the deluxe issue of Aux Armes in a listening booth once, the sound was given a noticable facelift. It also sounds like they might have added some dubby effects on some songs.

Monsieur s'il vous plait
J'vais etre retard au lycee

Faites comme les copains
Prenez le Metropolitain

Monsieur j'vous en prie
J'n'arrive pas a avoir un taxi

Bon allez montez
Prenons le chemin des ecoliers
Vous prendrez bien une petite tasse d'anxiete
Avant de vous rendre au lycee

Ou m'emmenez-vous?
Etre vous donc devenu fou?

Un petit tour au bois
Si vous n'avez pa peur de moi

Mais vous vous trompez
Je ne suis pas celle que vous croyez

C'est ce qu'on verra
Si cela ne vous derange pas
Vous prendrez bien une petite tasse d'anxiete
Avant de vous rendre au lycee

Merci je ferai
Le reste du chemin a pied

Tout a fait d'accord
Ca vous fera un peu de sport

J'ai trois heures de cours
Apres quoi je suis de retour

Alors comme ca vous pensez
Que je vous attendrai la

Vous prendrez bien une petite tasse d'anxiete
Avant de vous rendre au lycee

but surely you love the '80s production? Or the way the squealing woman in the background sounds not like she is in ecstasy but as though someone is stepping on her foot?

Anyway, I thought they were the squeals of someone biting the pillow.

how many of serge's songs borrow classical melodies anyway?

(i approve of this obv)

01. Le poinçonneur des Lilas
02. Du jazz dans le ravin
03. L'anthracite
04. Mambo miam-miam
05. L'eau à la bouche
06. Cha cha cha du loup
07. Ce grand méchant vous
08. Intoxicated Man
09. New York USA
10. La javanaise
11. Pauvre Lola
12. Laisse tomber les filles (France Gall)
13. Poupée de cire , poupée de son (France Gall)
14. Qui est In qui est Out
15. Dents de lait, dents du loup (duo Gainsbourg/France Gall)
16. Les Sucettes (duo Gainsbourg/France Gall)
17. Marilu
18. Sous le soleil exactement
19. Comic Strip
20. Hold-up
21. Bonnie and Clyde (duo Gainsbourg/Brigitte Bardot)
22. Requiem pour un c…
23. Initials B.B.
24. Ford Mustang
25. Je t'aime moi non plus (duo Gainsbourg/Jane Birkin)
26. L'anamour
27. Comment te dire adieu (Françoise Hardy)
28. 69 année érotique (duo Gainsbourg/Jane Birkin)
29. Ballade de Melody Nelson
30. Je suis venu te dire que je m'en vais

(79:20, My absolute faves, mostly chronological AFAIK. Only covers '57-'73. Includes songs by Gall and Hardy that do not feature Gainsbourg singing. Also, features rare Gainsbourg/Gall duet versions of "Les sucettes" and the otherwise unavailable "Dents de lait, dents du loup" which is one of my favorite songs ever)

JOHN (talking): Over the banister leans a face, tenderly sweet...and...and....

ESTHER (singing): beguiling...

*farts*

I just got the French 2x DVD set mentioned above and it's tanfastic. Had this on shitty 3rd Gen VHS for a few years and now it's so great to watch Serge shave on TV in full digital crispness.

My other favorite Serge single from the reggae period is "My Lady Heroine" - which is a groovy doo wop/rock number that would've fit well on "Rock Around The Bunker".

http://bedazzled.blogs.com/bedazzled/serge_gainsbourg/

BANG!

ZING!

Francoise Hardy - La Question (great)
Magma - Mekanik Destrucksdfsdkomandod (whatever you know what i'm talking abotu - bananas!)

AND:

Serge Gainsbourg - Le Zenith de Gainsbourg

HOLY SHIT THIS ALBUM SUCKS! Almost in a funny Lou Reed "Take No Prisoners Live" way but not quite...it's like from 89 and the band sounds like a Phil Collins touring band from the period.....All the songs, arrangements are butchered (at least based on the vers. of Bonnie and Clyde the only other song by him I've heard in its original version)....

The first song, "You're Under Arrest" features these old-school style rappers going "You're under arrest, cuz YOUR THE BEST...Slippidy slam a bo bim bam GAINSBOURG!" over and over and over and over for like 5 minutes....

It's pretty boring overall, but the song "Harley David Son of a Bitch" has the most bonkers DRUM SOLO! At first it's all super noise gate/hybrid electronic 80s kit stuff...boom boom crackity CRACK! type stuff...but then the drummer starts using a drum pad to trigger women orgasm sounds and working that into the solo (kinda like Me So Horny type deal)...Gainsbourg is kind of muttering (what sound to my non-French speaking ears) as lewd comments..."That's what SHE said" kinda stuff...the crowd is reacting to what he's saying...

Anyway, I though Le Zenith de Gainsbourg was French for "The Best of Gainsbourg" and it was "Nice Price" so I figured it must be like the standard cheapie greatest hits, good intro to his work, blah blah....I should'a got the one with the young chick and the teddy bear I guess....

Anyone else heard this?

haha, dude, you passed on Melody Nelson, probably his greatest album

i listened to Jane & Serge "Je t'aime" earlier tonight. the versions of the songs on that are way more boring than the ones that are also on Anna

I know I know....I read up on Allmusic when I got back....part of it was a $$ thing...that was like 21 Euro and the one I got was on sale (rightly so!) for 6.99...you get what you pay for i guess.

I've never bored of "Bonnie and Clyde."

exactly the reason why i bought it, too, Matt. Played it only once... Man did I feel stupid. Should've listened in the store first. The only thing I recall hearing is the mumbling and that drumsolo! :-)

wow...I'd like to see that! this sounds like it would be hilarious in video form

I'm now saying "Slippedy slam a bo bim bam GAINSBOURG!" at work a lot and annoying people.

Why do many of his songs have (Serge Gainsbourg/Serge Gainsbourg) as the writer?

And are there english translations of his lyrics anywhere?

He has a little-known evil twin.

And are there english translations of his lyrics anywhere?

You might want to try Mick Harvey's English-language Gainsbourg cover albums, Intoxicated Man and Pink Elephants. Not quite as revelatory as, say, Scott Walker's English Jacques Brel covers, maybe due to Gainsbourg's higher profile and the fact that he's equally known as a performer, not just a songwriter, but still worth listening to.

It's excellent - I was really fascinated, watching him turn from scared, trembling poet to cultural terrorist. The early footage before he started chainsmoking is really nice. And there's lots of interviews too. He struck me as a really miserable guy.

The new best of is great, 5 CDs for 45 bucks:

http://www.dustygroove.com/prip/5/2/411225i.htm

why can't i find one fucking thing on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/103-9998384-3712658?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=serge+gainsbourg&x=0&y=0

oh i was searching books... oops

thanks!

No probs :D

jesus

Got this last weekn and its very good. It's got some familiar stuff, still nice to have all these tracks together.
http://www.insound.com/Serge_Gainsbourg_Les_Annees_Psychedeliques_1966-1971_2xLP/productmain/p/INS41720/

OK, now that you've had a week with it, how accurate is this Aquarius review?

If you have any way to listen to vinyl, you should definitely buy this, like right now! Very few items in our store require such minimal convincing that they are absolutely essential, as we've seen this flying off of our shelves as soon as we got them. What more could you want to know: Serge Gainsbourg! Psychedelic Years! Double vinyl! Totally Affordable!
Ok, Ok, some of you need some further convincing. Probably some of you have some Serge in your collections and want to know what exactly is on here, and it's good to know because it's not really that obvious. The title says "Psychedelic Years", but this isn't a greatest hits collection, and probably only a couple of songs will be familiar to casual Gainsbourg fans ("Bonnie and Clyde" and "En Melody" from Melody Nelson). The bulk of the tracks are from French films and TV soundtracks between 1966-1971 and are arranged by either Jean-Claude Vannier (Histoire de Melody Nelson) or Michel Columbier (Initials B.B.), two of Gainsbourg's greatest collaborators. Each providing smoky and stony grooves, some with sexy femme backing vocals, for such films as Cannabis, Anna, Le Pacha, Vidocq, Manon 70, Ce Sacre Grand-Pere, La Horse, Mister Feedom and Si J'etasi Un Espion. Three tracks even contain bonus beats for you record heads. There is not one bad cut on here. So don't miss out as we're not sure how long this will be available. Did we say that THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm tempted to pick it up, as I don't actually own any Serge (I just have loads of mp3s), and the 2xLP vinyl is attractive.

Aquarius reviews are rarely accurate. That being said, the replay value on these LP's ultimately has to do with your taste. If the idea of Serge in a more stoned-out cinematic mode, loads of Franco instrumental breaks, weird quirky sound collages and brilliant arrangements ala Vannier is your thing, you should pick this up immediately. Also, the price is hard to beat. I thought many of the tracks I would have already heard before, but many of these are pretty hard to find. Also, the production on many if not all the tracks is crisp, and well honed, perfectly built for vinyl imo.

stoned-out cinematic mode, loads of Franco instrumental breaks, weird quirky sound collages and brilliant arrangements ala Vannier

Sold! ;)

If I had to choose, I'd say my favorite Serge tracks are probably "Initials B.B.", "69 Annee Erotique", tracks that roughly fit your description above. Thanks for the advice.

A few questions:

Does anyone know if it's still possible to find the Annees Psychedeliques comp on cd anywhere? It looks like a really well-selected tracklisting, with a lot of stuff unavailable digitally outside of huge box sets stuffed with material I already have.

Also a couple of questions about the Melody Nelson reissue that Pitchfork's review didn't really address: Light in the Attic apparently remastered it from the original tapes; does it sound any better? And are the new liner notes (by Andy Votel if I remember correctly) any good? He seems like someone who'd have some interesting takes on the material, historical info, etc- after all, he's one of the guys responsible for the stellar Vannier release on Finders Keepers- but I have no idea if he does so here. My French copy is pretty beat up, and I'm a sucker for a nicely done reissue, but Pitchfork didn't exactly help.

Not that it was a terrible review or anything (though it may be the easiest rating ever), but it didn't really talk about the reissue aspect at all beyond "hooray, this classic album is available again."

Oh, and it's kind of sad LitA couldn't put it out with a dvd of the videos, but I wouldn't be surprised I'd there were additional rights issues there.

wrt Annees Psychedeliques: seems most of the stuff on this are soundtrack pieces, no? You could get the complete Gainsbourg in films box for pretty cheap I think.

Yeah I was a bit disappointed with Annees Psychedeliques because there were so many soundtrack instrumentals and very little groovy French perving.

this is the box I'm referring to: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cinema-Serge-Gainsbourg/dp/B00005YX6Z/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1238085766&sr=8-1

Nice, I'll have to see if I can get that at Dusty Groove or somewhere- wasn't aware there was a film-only box set.

I got the new Histoire de Melody Nelson LP in the mail today. Very high quality all around. It was a little expensive - I think it was $18 + $8 shipping (!!) - for a 27-28 minute record, but the packaging is nice, there's a nice little essay by Andy Beta, the vinyl is thick and it sounds good even on my mediocre speakers, and you get a Light in the Attic Zine which is actually pretty good!

Serge packs a lot into his half hour albums tho.

Also, it was interesting to read through the lyrics, which are presented in both French and English. I've never read a translation of his lyrics before. I always assumed his lyrics would be match his horndog voice, but a surprisingly small portion of it deals with actually doing it.

The OST of "Cannabis" is one of the best Gainsbourg/Vannier records.

We all know of Serge's influence, but who and what were his stylistic influences?

Trailer for the movie is out: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xb486m_gainsbourg-vie-heroique-trailer-hd_shortfilms

I will see this if it ever comes out in the US. That actor really looks like him!

Anyone find a trailer with subtitles, let us know!

Serge is probably saying dirty things throughout. but yeah, the actor does really look the part ... but the movie looks like pretty standard bio-pic fare.

Yeesh NSFW on the xpost. Got some tatties in there

Was there a thread for this film? I loved it. Now out on DVD I notice.

the original "je t'aime" with bb is just phenomenal. so weird and dreamlike. a lot of that atmosphere doesn't carry over to the jane birkin version imo

are there any other gainsbourg songs in that vein, by the way? a lot of his work i've heard is more straightforward 60's lounge type stuff

L'Homme A Tete De Chou, Cannabis OST and Initials B.B. are probably your best bets.

Certainly check out the soundtracks he did in the late 60s/70s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlLcYVMKsfc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK_e26KurKY

And if you haven't heard the Melody Nelson album before, go start there.

Isn't the cheap 4 cd box set of his soundtracks available outside France?

I have a 3CD boxset "Le Cinema de Serge Gainsbourg" - is that the same one? Seems to be available in the UK anyway:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cinema-Serge-Gain-Gainsbourg/dp/B00005YX6Z/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1298824207&sr=8-3

yup

RIP. Twenty years ago, today.

I visited his grave last summer & it was hilariously covered with odd things: cigarette packs, condoms, lots of pictures of women, in addition to the usual Metro tickets with strange inscribed verses.

Is his house still covered in graffiti?

the original "je t'aime" with bb is just phenomenal. so weird and dreamlike. a lot of that atmosphere doesn't carry over to the jane birkin version imo

So true, the BB version is miles better, it's like the whole song is unfolding in slow motion, I don't know how to describe it. I prefer BB's singing to Jane Birkin's too.

xpost

It was in late December.

Just saw the 'fairytale' biopic, which was OK, given that I'm not a worshipper. US release forthcoming.

of the movie, and Charlotte:

http://mubi.com/notebook/posts/gainsbourgs

http://media.spincds.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/265x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/m/e/melody2cddvd.jpg

Two CDs and a DVD. Also, an LP set and a pricey Deluxe edition "with book"

More than that, I don't know. Except that it's due in November.

http://lucyintheweb.net/lucy/forum/images/uploads/Filou/melodynelson_deluxe_lucy_315.jpg

Oooh. I wonder what's on it.

Only info I can find (http://www.charmandising.com/francais-melody-nelson-coffret-super-deluxe-histoire-de-melody-nelson-serge-gainsbourg-p-6629.html) suggests it's alternate takes rather than new tracks.

http://www.charmandising.com/images/_PRODUCT/GAI1115_vinyle-melody-nelson-serge_gainsbourg_900.jpg

was there ever a thread about the 2010 biopic? what did you guys make of it?

Started watching it once but couldn't get into it. Maybe time to give it another try. Click through a link or two upthread to read Morbius review.

guy who played gainsbourg was pretty ok, but it had a lot of pretty dumb stuff in it.

thanks guys.

I thought the movie was a bit puzzling and sloppy at first, but it's grown on me quite a lot.

I went in expecting to like it, and ended up deciding it was pretty bad.

The thing that put me off was a sense of Magic Realism Done Gone Wrong.

^otm

huh so I guess I found one of those Melody Nelson vinyl reissues yesterday. pretty good!

Meoldy Nelson is such a perfect album

nicely timed revive, just today pre-ordered this compilation

been rocking this collab w Vannier all week, monster breakbeat in the middle and those chords at the end are v late Stereolab

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYh6mLNlC40

prior to this I think the only actual Gainsbourg track I'd heard was Bardot's "Contact". And I'd heard a bunch of people cover that Bonnie and Clyde song.

been super in to the reggae albums lately. they're so good.

some awesome banjo on la horse if i remember correctly. the cannabis soundtrack is amazingly good, too.

^also vannier arranged

The Gainsbourg cinema comp is so so good, possibly the most essential after Melody Nelson.

Though as gr8080 points out the (two? iirc) reggae albums are also essential.

Like I feel even Gainsbourg himself didn't recognise his best material.

Sly and Robbie on both of those?

yep.

there's a live album from 1980 that's great too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIcjem3knzU

I believe there is awesome version of "Harley Davidson" on that one.

Shakey you NEED L'Homme à tête de chou!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DEstQqgglk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPOYtC1n5bE

it's a reet album is that, notwithstanding excellent contribution from rabid neo-nazi with lingering stench of cat piss. Torrey Canyon is great as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnRIxW3uOj0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd-guev0FkE

new version of "Le Cinéma de Serge Gainsbourg" pretty essential.

His house is open for visitors + a museum across the road. https://www.maisongainsbourg.fr/en

Saw that elsewhere

Wonder if you’re allowed to smoke in there

You're not allowed not to smoke in there.

Lol