Serge Gainsbourg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Serge Gainsbourg
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Gainsbourg in 1981
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| Born |
Lucien Ginsburg
2 April 1928 Paris, France
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| Died | 2 March 1991 (aged 62) Paris, France
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| Resting place | Montparnasse Cemetery, Paris |
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| Years active | 1957–1991 |
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Elisabeth "Lize" Levitsky
(m. 1951; div. 1957)Béatrice Pancrazzi
(m. 1964; div. 1966) |
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| Children | 4, including Charlotte |
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Serge Gainsbourg (born Lucien Ginsburg; 2 April 1928 – 2 March 1991) was a famous French singer, songwriter, actor, and director. His music explored many styles, from early jazz and chanson to later rock, funk, and reggae. Gainsbourg's unique musical style makes him hard to put into one category. He is often seen as one of the most important popular musicians in the world.
Gainsbourg wrote over 550 songs. These songs have been covered by other artists more than 1,000 times. After he passed away in 1991, Gainsbourg's music became very popular in France. While some of his work caused discussion during his lifetime, he is now one of France's most loved public figures. He also gained many fans worldwide. Some of his songs, like "Je t'aime... moi non plus" and "Bonnie and Clyde", were hits in the United Kingdom and Belgium.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings (1928–1956)
Lucien Ginsburg was born in Paris, France, on 2 April 1928. His parents, Joseph and Olga Ginsburg, were Russian-Jewish immigrants. They moved to Paris after the 1917 Russian Revolution. Joseph Ginsburg was a trained musician who played piano in clubs. He taught his children, Lucien and his twin sister Liliane, to play the piano.
Lucien's childhood was greatly affected by World War II and the German occupation of France. Jewish people had to wear a yellow star, which was a difficult memory for Gainsbourg. Later, he used this memory in his creative work. During the war, his family moved from Paris to Limoges using false papers to stay safe.
In 1945, Lucien's father enrolled him in a famous art school, Beaux-Arts de Paris. He later moved to the Académie de Montmartre. There, he met Elisabeth "Lize" Levitsky, who became his first wife. They married in 1951 and divorced in 1957. In 1948, he served in the military for a year but did not see any fighting. Gainsbourg also taught music and drawing at a school for orphaned children outside Paris.
Becoming Serge Gainsbourg (1957–1963)
Gainsbourg was not happy with his painting skills. He earned money by working odd jobs and playing piano in bars. He often filled in for his father. He soon became the pianist at the Madame Arthur cabaret club.
When he joined a songwriting society, Lucien decided to change his first name to Serge. He chose Gainsbourg as his last name to honor the English painter Thomas Gainsborough. He was inspired by singer Boris Vian, whose funny songs influenced his own.
In 1957, singer Michèle Arnaud and club director Francis Claude discovered Gainsbourg's songs. The next day, Claude encouraged Gainsbourg to perform on stage. Even though he was nervous, he sang his own songs, including "Le Poinçonneur des Lilas". This song describes the boring job of a Paris Métro ticket stamper. Gainsbourg was given his own show and was later noticed by Jacques Canetti, who helped his career.
His first album, Du chant à la une !... (1958), was recorded in the summer of 1958. It did not sell well, but it won an award and received praise from Boris Vian. His next album, N° 2 (1959), also struggled.
Gainsbourg started acting in films in 1959. He had a small role in Come Dance with Me, which starred Brigitte Bardot. He continued to play "nasty characters" in other films. His first song hit came in 1960 with "L'Eau à la bouche". This was the title song from a film he scored. His third album, L'Étonnant Serge Gainsbourg (1961), included "La Chanson de Prévert", one of his best-known songs from this time.
In 1962, Gainsbourg wrote "La Javanaise" for singer Juliette Gréco. Both released versions, but Gainsbourg's is more famous today. His fourth album, Serge Gainsbourg N° 4 (1962), included Latin and rock and roll sounds. His next album, Gainsbourg Confidentiel (1963), had a simpler jazz style.
Eurovision and Pop Hits (1963–1966)
Gainsbourg first made fun of yé-yé music, a French pop style sung by young women. But he soon became very important to it. He wrote many hit songs for artists like Brigitte Bardot, Petula Clark, and France Gall. He met Gall through a friend, and they began a successful partnership.
This partnership led to hits like "N'écoute pas les idoles" and "Laisse tomber les filles". He also wrote "Poupée de cire, poupée de son", which won the Eurovision Song Contest 1965 for Luxembourg. This song was inspired by Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 1. It featured clever wordplay, which was a common part of Gainsbourg's lyrics.
Gainsbourg married Françoise-Antoinette "Béatrice" Pancrazzi on 7 January 1964. They had two children, Natacha (born 1964) and Paul (born 1968). They divorced in February 1966.
His album Gainsbourg Percussions (1964) was inspired by African musicians Miriam Makeba and Babatunde Olatunji. This album was seen as very advanced for its time because it used world music sounds. Between 1965 and 1966, Gainsbourg wrote songs for a cartoon series called Marie-Mathematics.
Famous Collaborations and Duets (1967–1970)
In 1967, Gainsbourg wrote the story and music for the TV musical film Anna, starring Anna Karina. Another Gainsbourg song, "Boum-Badaboum", came in fifth place for Monaco at the Eurovision Song Contest 1967. That year, Gainsbourg started a relationship with Brigitte Bardot. She asked him to write a beautiful love song. That night, he wrote the duets "Je t'aime... moi non plus" and "Bonnie and Clyde" for her.
Bardot's album Brigitte Bardot Show 67 had four songs written by Gainsbourg. These included fun duets like "Comic Strip" and "Bonnie and Clyde". "Bonnie and Clyde" told the story of the famous American criminal couple. Gainsbourg's own album Initials B.B. (1968) included these duets. It mixed orchestral pop with the rock style popular in London in the 1960s.
His song "Requiem pour un con" was performed by Gainsbourg in the film Le Pacha (1968), for which he wrote the music. After Bardot left him, Gainsbourg wrote "Comment te dire adieu" for Françoise Hardy. This song is known for its unusual rhymes and became one of Hardy's most famous songs.
In mid-1968, Gainsbourg began a relationship with English singer and actress Jane Birkin. They met while filming Slogan (1969). Gainsbourg also wrote the music for the film and sang a duet with Birkin on the title song. Their relationship lasted over ten years. In July 1971, they had a daughter, Charlotte, who became an actress and singer.
After filming Slogan, Gainsbourg asked Birkin to re-record "Je t'aime... moi non plus" with him. When it was released in February 1969, the song became very popular. It was temporarily banned from radio in some countries, including France, and caused a lot of discussion. The song was part of their joint album Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg.
Concept Albums and New Sounds (1971–1977)
After the success of "Je t'aime... moi non plus", Gainsbourg wanted to try something different. In 1971, he released the concept album Histoire de Melody Nelson. This album tells a story about a man and a young woman. The album features Gainsbourg's unique half-spoken, half-sung vocals, along with funk-inspired music and beautiful string arrangements. Even though it didn't sell many copies at first, it is now seen as one of his most important works. A TV special with Gainsbourg and Birkin was also made for the album.
Gainsbourg had a heart attack in May 1973. His next album, Vu de l'extérieur (1973), was not a concept album. It did not connect well with critics or listeners. That year, Gainsbourg also wrote all the songs for Birkin's first solo album, Di doo dah. He continued to write for her until he passed away.
In 1975, Gainsbourg released Rock Around the Bunker. This album had an upbeat 1950s rock and roll style. It explored themes of Nazi Germany and World War II, drawing from his experiences as a Jewish child in occupied France. The next year, he released another concept album, L'Homme à tête de chou (The Cabbage Head Man). This album was his first time exploring reggae music, a style he would use again for his next two albums.
In 1976, Gainsbourg directed his first film, Je t'aime moi non plus. It was an unusual drama starring Birkin. The film received good reviews from French critics.
Reggae Period (1978–1981)
In 1978, Gainsbourg decided to record a reggae album. He went to Kingston, Jamaica, in September to record Aux armes et cætera (1979). He worked with famous Jamaican musicians like Sly and Robbie and The I-Threes, who were backing singers for Bob Marley and the Wailers. This made him one of the first white musicians to record a reggae album in Jamaica.
The album was very popular, selling over one million copies. However, it also caused discussion. The title track was a reggae version of the French national anthem, "La Marseillaise". Some people did not like this and Gainsbourg even received threats. In 1979, a show had to be canceled because of angry protesters. Gainsbourg stood alone on stage and sang the anthem without music, saying its true meaning was about revolution.
Birkin left Gainsbourg in 1980, but they remained close friends. Gainsbourg became the godfather of Birkin's daughter, Lou, and wrote her next three albums. His first live album, Enregistrement public au Théâtre Le Palace (1980), showed his reggae style. Also in 1980, Gainsbourg sang a duet with actress Catherine Deneuve on the hit song "Dieu fumeur de havanes". His final reggae album, Mauvaises nouvelles des étoiles (1981), was recorded in The Bahamas with the same musicians. Gainsbourg also wrote popular songs for other artists, like "Manureva" for Alain Chamfort.
Final Years and Passing (1982–1991)
In 1982, Gainsbourg wrote songs for French rockstar Alain Bashung's album Play blessures. This album was a new direction for Bashung and is now seen as a cult classic. Gainsbourg's second film as a director, Équateur (1983), was based on a novel and set in colonial French Equatorial Africa.
Love on the Beat (1984) showed Gainsbourg moving from reggae to a more electronic, new wave sound.
Gainsbourg's last partner was the model Caroline Paulus, known as Bambou. They had a son, Lucien (born 1986), who is now a musician known as Lulu.
His sixteenth and final studio album, You're Under Arrest (1987), kept the funky new wave sound. It also added elements of hip hop.
In his later years, Gainsbourg's health declined. He had liver surgery in April 1989. In July 1990, he moved to a private apartment in Vézelay for six months. He continued to write for other artists, including the lyrics for "White and Black Blues" by Joëlle Ursull. This song was the French entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 1990 and came in second place. He also wrote all the lyrics for singer Vanessa Paradis's album Variations sur le même t'aime (1990). His last album of original songs was Birkin's Amours des feintes in 1990.
Serge Gainsbourg passed away from a heart attack at his home on 2 March 1991, at age 62. He was buried in the Jewish section of the Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris.
Legacy and Influence
Since his death, Gainsbourg's music has become legendary in France. Many French artists, like the bands Air, Stereolab, and BB Brunes, have said he influenced them. Singers like Benjamin Biolay and Thomas Fersen also look up to him.
He also gained fans in English-speaking countries. Artists like Jarvis Cocker of Pulp, Beck, Michael Stipe of R.E.M., and Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys have cited him as an influence. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds guitarist Mick Harvey has recorded four albums of Gainsbourg's songs sung in English. Gainsbourg's music has also been used by several hip hop artists, including Nas and Wu-Tang Clan.
The house in Paris where Gainsbourg lived from 1969 to 1991 is now a famous place. The outside walls are covered in graffiti dedicated to him. In 2008, Paris's Cité de la Musique held an exhibition called Gainsbourg 2008.
Gainsbourg is also seen as an unexpected fashion icon. He was known for his sharp suits, white shoes, and military shirts.
Comic artist Joann Sfar wrote and directed a film about Gainsbourg's life called Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque) (2010). The film won three César Awards, including Best Actor for Eric Elmosnino, who played Gainsbourg as an adult.
Discography
Studio albums
- Du chant à la une !... (1958)
- N° 2 (1959)
- L'Étonnant Serge Gainsbourg (1961)
- Serge Gainsbourg N° 4 (1962)
- Gainsbourg Confidentiel (1964)
- Gainsbourg Percussions (1964)
- Initials B.B. (1968)
- Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg (1969)
- Histoire de Melody Nelson (1971)
- Vu de l'extérieur (1973)
- Rock Around the Bunker (1975)
- L'Homme à tête de chou (1976)
- Aux armes et cætera (1979)
- Mauvaises nouvelles des étoiles (1981)
- Love on the Beat (1984)
- You're Under Arrest (1987)
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