Serge Gainsbourg  

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-'''Serge Gainsbourg''' ([[April 2]], [[1928]] – [[March 2]], [[1991]]) was a [[France|French]] [[poet]], [[singer-songwriter]], [[actor]] and [[Film director|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.+'''Serge Gainsbourg''' ([[April 2]], [[1928]] – [[March 2]], [[1991]]) was a [[French poet]], [[singer-songwriter]], [[actor]] and [[Film director|director]], best-known internationally for his song "[[Je t'aime... moi non plus]]".
 + 
 +Gainsbourg's varied style and individuality made him [[Sui generis|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. Since the 1980s, his [[legacy]] has been firmly established. His music, always progressive and often inspired by [[music of the African diaspora]], covered many styles: [[jazz]], [[ballad]]s, [[mambo]], [[lounge music|lounge]], [[reggae]], [[pop music|pop]], [[Yé-yé|yé-yé pop]], [[space age pop]], [[disco]], [[calypso]], [[Music of the African diaspora|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 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]]."
 + 
===Film work=== ===Film work===
During his career, he wrote the soundtracks for more than 40 films. In [[1996 in music|1996]], he received a [[César Award for Best Music Written for a Film]] for [[Élisa]], along with [[Zbigniew Preisner]] and [[Michel Colombier]]. During his career, he wrote the soundtracks for more than 40 films. In [[1996 in music|1996]], he received a [[César Award for Best Music Written for a Film]] for [[Élisa]], along with [[Zbigniew Preisner]] and [[Michel Colombier]].
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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]], [[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. +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 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." 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."
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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. 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== ==Discography==
 +===Albums===
* 1958: ''[[Du chant à la une]]'' * 1958: ''[[Du chant à la une]]''
-* 1959: ''Disque N°2'' +* 1959: ''[[N° 2]]''
-* 1961: ''L'étonnant Serge Gainsbourg'' +* 1961: ''[[L'Étonnant Serge Gainsbourg]]''
-* 1962: ''Disque N°4'' +* 1962: ''[[N° 4]]''
-* 1963: ''Gainsbourg Confidentiel'' +* 1963: ''Confidentiel''
-* 1964: ''Gainsbourg Percussions'' +* 1964: ''[[Gainsbourg Percussions]]''
-* 1967: ''Anna'' +* 1967: ''[[Anna (1967 film)|Anna]]''
-* 1967: ''Gainsbourg & [[Brigitte Bardot]]: Bonnie & Clyde'' +* 1968: ''Serge Gainsbourg [[Brigitte Bardot]]: [[Bonnie and Clyde (album)|Bonnie & Clyde]]'' (compilation)
-* 1968: ''Gainsbourg & [[Brigitte Bardot]]: Initials B.B.'' +* 1968: ''[[Initials B.B.]]'' (compilation)
-* 1968: ''Ce Sacré Grand-Père''+* 1969: ''[[Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg]]''
-* 1969: ''[[Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg]]'' +* 1970: ''[[Cannabis (film score)|Cannabis]]'' (instrumental)
-* 1970: ''Cannabis''+* 1971: ''[[Histoire de Melody Nelson]]''
-* 1971: ''[[Histoire de Melody Nelson]]'' +* 1973: ''[[Vu de l'extérieur]]''
-* 1974: ''Vu de l'extérieur'' +* 1975: ''[[Rock around the bunker]]''
-* 1975: ''[[Rock Around the Bunker]]'' +* 1976: ''Je t'aime... moi non plus – Ballade de Johnny-Jane'' (instrumental)
-* 1976: ''L'homme à tête de chou'' +* 1976: ''[[L'Homme à la tête de chou]]''
-* 1979: ''[[Aux armes et cætera]]'' +* 1977: ''Madame Claude''
-* 1980: ''Enregistrement public au Théâtre Le Palace'' +* 1977: ''Goodbye Emmanuelle'' (instrumental)
-* 1981: ''Mauvaises nouvelles des étoiles'' +* 1979: ''[[Aux armes et cætera (album)|Aux armes et cætera]]''
-* 1984: ''[[Love On The Beat]]'' +* 1980: ''Je vous aime'' <small>(only 3 pieces sung by Gainsbourg)</small>
-* 1985: ''Serge Gainsbourg live (Casino de Paris)'' +* 1980: ''Enregistrement public au Théâtre Le Palace'' (live)
-* 1987: ''You're under arrest'' +* 1981: ''Mauvaises nouvelles des étoiles''
-* 1988: ''Le Zénith de Gainsbourg'' +* 1984: ''[[Love On The Beat]]''
-* 1989: ''De Gainsbourg à Gainsbarre'' (Box Set)+* 1986: ''Live (Casino de Paris)''
-* 2001: ''Gainsbourg Forever'' (Integral Box Set)+* 1986: ''Putain de film ! – B.O.F. Tenue de soirée''
-* 2001: ''Le Cinéma de Gainsbourg'' (Box Set)+* 1987: ''[[You're Under Arrest (Serge Gainsbourg album)|You're Under Arrest]]''
-* 2005: ''[[Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited]]'' (Tribute album)+* 1988: ''Le Zénith de Gainsbourg'' (live)
-{{GFDL}}+* 1994: ''[[De Gainsbourg à Gainsbarre]]'' (11 CD box set)
-[[Category:Canon]]+===Tribute albums and posthumous releases===
 +* 1997: ''[[Great Jewish Music: Serge Gainsbourg]]'' (tribute album)
 +* 1997: ''Comic Strip''
 +* 2001: ''Gainsbourg Forever'' (integral box set)
 +* 2001: ''Le Cinéma de Gainsbourg'' (box set)
 +* 2001: ''I Love Serge: Electronicagainsbourg'' (remix album)
 +* 2005: ''[[Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited]]'' (tribute album)
 +* 2008: ''Classé X'' (compilation)
 + 
 +===Singles===
 +* "[[Black Trombone]]" (1962)
 +* "[[La Javanaise]]" (1963)
 +* "[[Couleur Café]]" (1964)
 +* "New York U.S.A." (1964)
 +* "[[Les Sucettes]]" (1966)
 +* "Hold Up" (1967)
 +* "Initials B.B." (1967)
 +* "[[Bonnie and Clyde (Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot song)|Bonnie and Clyde]]" (1968) (Brigitte Bardot et Serge Gainsbourg)
 +* "[[Je t'aime... moi non plus]]" (1969) (Jane Birkin avec Serge Gainsbourg)
 +* "La Décadanse" (1971) (Jane Birkin et Serge Gainsbourg)
 +* "Je suis venu te dire que je m'en vais" (1973)
 +* "L'Homme à Tête de Chou" (1976)
 +* "Marilou" (1976)
 +* "[[Sea, Sex and Sun]]" (1978)
 +* "[[Aux armes et caetera]]" (1979)
 +* "Lola Rastaquouère" (1979)
 +* "Dieu fumeur de havanes" (1980) (Catherine Deneuve & Serge Gainsbourg)
 +* "Sorry Angel" (1984)
 +* "[[Lemon Incest]]" (1985) (Charlotte & Gainsbourg)
 +* "You're Under Arrest" (1987)
 +* "[[Mon légionnaire]]" (1987)
 +* "[[Requiem pour un con]]" (1991)
 +* "Élisa" (1995)
 +* "La Noyée"
 + 
 +;Singles written for other artists
 +* "Les Incorruptibles" (1965) – Petula Clark
 +* "[[Poupée de cire, poupée de son]]" (1965) – France Gall
 +* "Baby Pop" (1966) – France Gall
 +* "[[Comment te dire adieu? (song)|Comment te dire adieu?]]" (1968) – Françoise Hardy
 +* "Dis-lui toi que je t'aime" (1990) – Vanessa Paradis
 +* "[[White and Black Blues]]" (1990) – Joëlle Ursull (lyrics by Gainsbourg)
 +* "La Gadoue" (1995) – Jane Birkin
 +==Film adaptation==
 + 
 +A feature film titled ''[[Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque)]]'' was released in France in January 2010, which is based on the graphic novel by the writer-director of the film, Joann Sfar. Gainsbourg is portrayed by Eric Elmosnino and Kacey Mottet Klein.
 + 
 +{{GFDL}}
 +[[Category:canon]]

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Serge Gainsbourg (April 2, 1928March 2, 1991) was a French poet, singer-songwriter, actor and director, best-known internationally for his song "Je t'aime... moi non plus".

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. Since the 1980s, his legacy has been firmly established. His music, always progressive and often inspired by music of the African diaspora, 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."

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.

Discography

Albums

Tribute albums and posthumous releases

Singles

Singles written for other artists

Film adaptation

A feature film titled Gainsbourg (Vie héroïque) was released in France in January 2010, which is based on the graphic novel by the writer-director of the film, Joann Sfar. Gainsbourg is portrayed by Eric Elmosnino and Kacey Mottet Klein.




Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Serge Gainsbourg" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.

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