Serge Gainsbourg

Serge Gainsbourg was a French singer-songwriter, actor, composer, and director who was regarded as one of the most important figures in French pop music. He was renowned for his often provocative and scandalous releases which caused uproar in France, dividing public opinion. His artistic output ranged from his early work in jazz, chanson, and yé-yé to later efforts in rock, zouk, funk, reggae, and electronica. His lyrical works incorporated wordplay, with humorous, bizarre, provocative, sexual, satirical or subversive overtones. He wrote over 550 songs, which have been covered more than 1,000 times by diverse artists. Since his death from a second heart attack in 1991, Gainsbourg's music has reached legendary stature in France. While controversial in his lifetime, he has become one of France's best-loved public figures. He has also gained a cult following all over the world with chart success in the United Kingdom and Belgium with "Je t'aime... moi non plus" and "Bonnie and Clyde", respectively. Gainsbourg was born Lucien Ginsburg in Paris on 2 April 1928. He was the son of Jewish emigrants of Turkish, Russian and Ukrainian origin, Joseph and Olga Ginsburg, who fled to Paris via Istanbul after the 1917 Russian Revolution. Joseph Ginsburg was a classically trained musician whose profession was playing the piano in cabarets and casinos; he taught his children—Gainsbourg and his twin sister Liliane—to play the piano. Gainsbourg's childhood was profoundly affected by the occupation of France by Germany during World War II. The identifying yellow star that Jews were required to wear haunted Gainsbourg; in later years he was able to transmute this memory into creative inspiration. During the occupation, the Jewish Ginsburg family was able to make their way from Paris to Limoges, travelling under false papers. Limoges was in the Zone libre under the administration of the collaborationist Vichy government and still a perilous refuge for Jews, and it became even more dangerous after Germany occupied it in 1942. Gainsbourg attended the Lycée Condorcet high school in Paris but dropped out before completing his Baccalauréat. Gainsbourg began his musical career as a jazz pianist and singer under the name Julien Grix. He also worked as a painter and a drawing teacher. In 1957, he changed his name to Serge Gainsbourg and released his first album Du chant à la une !... He soon became known for his witty and provocative lyrics that often explored themes of sex, love, death, drugs, politics and religion. He collaborated with many famous singers such as Juliette Gréco, Brigitte Bardot, France Gall, Françoise Hardy and Jane Birkin. He also composed music for films and television shows. He experimented with various musical genres and styles throughout his career, incorporating influences from rock, reggae, funk, disco and electronica. Some of his most famous songs include "Le poinçonneur des Lilas", "La Javanaise", "Histoire de Melody Nelson", "Aux armes et cætera", "Lemon Incest" and "Requiem pour un con". Gainsbourg's personal life was also marked by controversy and scandal. He had several marriages and affairs with famous women, most notably Jane Birkin, with whom he had a daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg, who became a successful actress and singer. He was notorious for his heavy drinking and smoking habits, as well as his outrageous behaviour in public. He often made provocative statements and gestures that shocked and offended many people. He also faced accusations of racism, misogyny, incest and pedophilia for some of his songs and actions. He was a target of criticism and censorship from various groups, including the Catholic Church, the French government and the media. He was also admired and respected by many fans and artists who saw him as a genius and a rebel. Gainsbourg died of a second heart attack on 2 March 1991 at his home in Paris. He was buried at the Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris, where his grave is often visited by fans who leave flowers, messages and objects. His house at 5 bis Rue de Verneuil has become a shrine covered with posters, photographs and graffiti tributes. In 2022, his daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg opened the doors of the house as Maison Gainsbourg, the first cultural institution dedicated to the artist. A new metro station on the edge of Paris was also named after him in honor of his song "Le poinçonneur des Lilas". Gainsbourg's legacy and influence have been firmly established and he is often regarded as one of the world's most influential popular musicians. His songs have been covered by artists such as Nick Cave, Daft Punk, Massive Attack, De La Soul, Beck, Portishead, Placebo and Lana Del Rey. He has also inspired many biographies, documentaries, films and books about his life and work.