Nécrologie pour un con - un occasionnel Serge Gainsbourg fil de discussion sur le forum pour écouter

I am listening to Serge Gainsbourg from start to finish for my thing. Come join me.

Unfortunately can't find a really solid single chronology, so am going by these compilations. Anyone have anything better, please let me know.

I know Serge is often, uh, problematic - but also know there's loads of great stuff out there people are generally unaware of, and looking forward to finding more of that.

Should mention that I don't really speak French (so sorry if the title is malformed) so will probably have to learn a bit as we go.

Here's his debut single from 1958, "Le Poinçonneur des Lilas"

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

It's about a guy who punches tickets on the metro for a living, translation of the lyrics is here - https://www.mickharvey.com/gainsbourg-lyrics-the-ticket-puncher

In a way it's standard 50s chanson stuff, but Serge already sounds bitter and angry, that's what really makes it.

On y va!

Excellent thread idea! I've been listening to him a lot recently.

This one tends to get stuck in my head despite my real-time French comprehension being almost non-existent. It helps that it's the opening track on least two discs I have. Great lyrics, not least the latter bits.

Another performance of the song, this one from a year later. He is still extremely awkward on stage.

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

Don't know who the pianist is here, but he's amazing

His stagefright in those early years was real. It took him a while to gain confidence in front of audiences - not least because he was often mocked for his looks.

Great thread idea, btw!

I like how despite this being very atypical of Gainsbourg's later works, he does still have the ticket collector dream about the girls with sweet assses in Miami.

La Recette De L'amour Fou

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiZ68YemwJU

Like a chanson version of "It's Oh So Quiet" - https://lyricstranslate.com/fr/la-recette-de-lamour-fou-recipe-crazy-love.html

love the half second shots of the dude with the washing machine at the start and at the end

I didn't know this tune, it's cool

Gainsbourg such a good actor in his live performances, those little nods

Young Serge looks a bit like middle-aged Jonathan Richman

Wait we never had that discussion before?

Early 60s Serge is the period I always come back to. Stuff like 'Requiem pour un Twister', 'Black Trombone', 'L'Eau à la Bouche', all encapsulate that noir cha-cha he did so well.

Douze belles dans la peau

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyTT-o-4Shs

https://lyricstranslate.com/fr/douze-belles-dans-la-peau-twelve-beauties-under-your-belt.html

Laundrette has used too much starch

"Ce Mortel Ennui"

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

https://lyricstranslate.com/fr/ce-mortel-ennui-deadly-boredom.html

(video is from 1961, but same recording)

https://www.amazon.fr/Serge-Gainsbourg-Dautres-nouvelles-étoiles/dp/B0007WRTEQ

This is a pretty essential set imo but I'm guessing it's all on YouTube these days.

just read a book of Jane Birkin’s diaries, not surprised to learn that dude would only bathe every few months (when forced)

xp I have those DVDs and though it may all be on youtube, it's still a great curated overview of his career

"Ronsard 58"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dODu3PU-67k

https://lyricstranslate.com/fr/ronsard-58-ronsard-58.html

Really quite a mean one! Very nice arrangement though.

"La Femme des uns Sous le Corps des Autres"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-Z6YK6-0cU

https://lyricstranslate.com/fr/serge-gainsbourg-la-femme-des-uns-sous-le-corps-des-autre-lyrics.html

Cheeky lyrics, lovely simple cool jazz backing