Album: Histoire de Melody Nelson
Artist: Serge Gainsbourg
Born: Paris, France
Released: March 1971
Genre: Baroque
Influenced: De La Soul, Pulp, Air, Stereolab, Beck, Beirut
Serge Gainsbourg spent his whole life writing about and for women, so it's fitting that his best album explores a doomed love affair. For many in the Anglophone world, it's hard to appreciate how revered Gainsbourg the cynical chain-smoking Parisian was in his home country, elevated to the status of national poet by the time of his death in the early 90s. He was a hard-drinking, hard-smoking philanderer who had his first heart attack at just 45, but was also by all accounts a loving family man who doted on his daughters. Despite his lack of good looks ("cabbage head", as he christened himself), he managed to attract some of the most beautiful women of the era, not least Brigitte Bardot, to whom he dedicated several songs: "Initials B.B.", "Je T'Aime ... Moi Non Plus" and "Bonnie & Clyde". The latter, released as a single in 1968, is one of the coolest pop songs ever recorded (see video below). With his new lover, Jane Birkin, he re-recorded "Je T'Aime" in 1969 and scored the most controversial UK No.1 hit single of all time. Birkin would also be the inspiration for Melody Nelson.
For the prudish, a tale of a lecherous old man falling in love with a teenage girl may be distasteful, but it's worth overcoming any reservations to concentrate on the quality of the poetry and music. Just like it'd be a shame to let prudishness get in the way of reading one of the finest novels in the English language, Lolita. Below are links to (passable) English translations of all seven songs, which are worth consulting while watching the 30min film that Gainsbourg and Birkin made for the album (see video below):
1. Melody
2. Ballade de Melody Nelson
3. Valse de Melody
4. Ah! Melody
5. L'Hôtel Particulier
6. En Melody
7. Cargo Culte
For me, the two standout tracks are opener Melody and L'Hôtel Particulier, both of which benefit from the distinctive baroque string and funk guitar arrangements. Decadence, that potent mix of high art and sordid reality for which Gainsbourg and his hometown of Paris are famous, is especially on display in L'Hôtel Particulier. For those who speak French, the language is full of sexual suggestion and rich imagery. The way he says Sunderland during En Melody, like it's some exotic remote locale, is also one of the most sublime moments in pop. Gainsbourg was a genius, but a very troubled one.
Serge Gainsbourg spent his whole life writing about and for women, so it's fitting that his best album explores a doomed love affair. For many in the Anglophone world, it's hard to appreciate how revered Gainsbourg the cynical chain-smoking Parisian was in his home country, elevated to the status of national poet by the time of his death in the early 90s. He was a hard-drinking, hard-smoking philanderer who had his first heart attack at just 45, but was also by all accounts a loving family man who doted on his daughters. Despite his lack of good looks ("cabbage head", as he christened himself), he managed to attract some of the most beautiful women of the era, not least Brigitte Bardot, to whom he dedicated several songs: "Initials B.B.", "Je T'Aime ... Moi Non Plus" and "Bonnie & Clyde". The latter, released as a single in 1968, is one of the coolest pop songs ever recorded (see video below). With his new lover, Jane Birkin, he re-recorded "Je T'Aime" in 1969 and scored the most controversial UK No.1 hit single of all time. Birkin would also be the inspiration for Melody Nelson.
For the prudish, a tale of a lecherous old man falling in love with a teenage girl may be distasteful, but it's worth overcoming any reservations to concentrate on the quality of the poetry and music. Just like it'd be a shame to let prudishness get in the way of reading one of the finest novels in the English language, Lolita. Below are links to (passable) English translations of all seven songs, which are worth consulting while watching the 30min film that Gainsbourg and Birkin made for the album (see video below):
1. Melody
2. Ballade de Melody Nelson
3. Valse de Melody
4. Ah! Melody
5. L'Hôtel Particulier
6. En Melody
7. Cargo Culte
For me, the two standout tracks are opener Melody and L'Hôtel Particulier, both of which benefit from the distinctive baroque string and funk guitar arrangements. Decadence, that potent mix of high art and sordid reality for which Gainsbourg and his hometown of Paris are famous, is especially on display in L'Hôtel Particulier. For those who speak French, the language is full of sexual suggestion and rich imagery. The way he says Sunderland during En Melody, like it's some exotic remote locale, is also one of the most sublime moments in pop. Gainsbourg was a genius, but a very troubled one.
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