Paris Watch Livin' la vida Serge By Kiki Yoshida	フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする
ゲンズブールの人生 映画監督であり、作曲家でもあった故セルジュ・ゲンズブール。没後10周年を迎えた先月、トリビュートアルバムが発売され、曲もチャート入りするなど、最近再び話題を呼んでいます。彼が眠る墓には酒ビンや花が供えられ、メッセージが寄せられています。先日墓を訪ねた筆者が、生前のゲンズブールを紹介します。

Serge Gainsbourg is hot again. Last month was the 10th anniversary of his death. The media featured and paid homage to him. Magazines printed photos, stories and interviews with his family and friends. Special CDs went on sale and even made the charts. Radio stations are broadcasting his music in heavy rotation.

The Serge Gainsbourg boxed set "Gainsbourg Forever" was released in February. The set consists of 18 CDs and costs 1,990F (¥33,830). It's a limited edition with only 3,200 sets (2,000 are sold in France). When I listen to his music, I have to admit that he's got talent.

One peaceful Saturday morning I visited his grave in Cimetiere du Montparnasse, which is the second largest cemetery in the capital. Gainsbourg died on March 2, 1991, at the age of 63. He was buried five days later in the Jewish part of the cemetery.

I easily found his gravestone, as it was covered with flowers. There were visitors one after another. The word "Deja dix ans" (Already 10 years) was written on a ribbon tied around a tree behind the gravestone. Some bottles of liquor that Serge liked had been placed around the grave. I saw some messages written in Japanese as well.

I thought of Jane Birkin, his love of many years. Recently, she said on TV that she still couldn't watch recorded images of Serge. "It's so strange to see someone move (in images), who doesn't move anymore in reality." Even if you don't know Serge Gainsbourg, you must have heard the name Gainsbourg more than once, for his daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg is now one of the most successful young French actresses.

Gainsbourg showed his talent in various fields, as an actor, singer, poet, filmmaker, pianist, composer, photographer, painter. He was the son of Jewish immigrants from Russia. His first name was Lucien, but later changed it to Serge, which sounds more French.

As a composer, he wrote many hits for other artists. "La Javanaise," written for Juliette Greco in 1963, is one such masterpiece. France Gall won the Grand Prix de l'Eurovision 1965 with "Poupee De Cire, Poupee De Son." There is even a Japanese version of this song. In 1967 he wrote "Initials B.B." for Brigitte Bardot. Serge composed several songs for Bardot, including the duet "Bonnie and Clyde."

In 1968, he found the love of his life, Jane Birkin, an English actress. There relationship is now legendary. "Je T'amie ... Moi Non Plus" sung by the two, was an international success, but its lyrics and Birkin's heavy breathing created mayhem. It was banned in Sweden, Spain, Brazil and Britain. However, despite the denunciations, it sold millions of copies. In January of this year, the song placed 88th in the "100 Greatest Singles" listed by the U.K. Internet newspaper Guardian Unlimited (No. 1 was John Lennon's "Imagine"). By the way, Jane's French sounds charming with her native-English accent.

Serge has also written songs for Catherine Deneuve and Isabelle Adjani. It seems that all beautiful French women have sung Gainsbourg songs. He was sure that he could bring out their allure, and they knew it too.

Toward the end of his life, as a result of alcohol abuse and smoking, his health deteriorated. Around this time, Gainsbourg started a life with a model named Bambou, who became the last woman in his life. She gave birth to Lucien (the same name as Serge's real name) on Jan. 5, 1986. They called him Lulu. Serge lived through a severe operation in 1989, but was weakened from it. However, even while convalescing, he was active and composed songs for Vanessa Paradis.

In his day, he was scandalous. "For me provocation is oxygen," Serge once said. Never appearing in a public place without cigarettes and alcohol, his words and deeds were that of the provocateur. A number of episodes are often recounted, such as having burned a 500-franc (¥8,500) note on TV and spitting nasty words at Whitney Houston on a live TV show. He also appeared half-naked with his teenage daughter (Charlotte) and sang a duet entitled "Lemon Incest" with her, using a melody of Chopin. Charlotte said that everything was just a game to him.

Now he's gone and 10 years have passed. People have discovered his talent after a decade of being absent. It's clear that he made an impact on French music. Many young French artists admit that he influenced them. To me, his music represents France in the '60s, '70s and '80s. Even today, his music still resonates with the city of Paris. He will continue seducing the next generation, as he is the greatest provocateur-cum-artist ever.

As a tribute to him, Charlotte Gainsbourg wants to make her father's house (rue de Verneuil) into a museum. She is now working hard on the project with her brother Lulu. If he was still alive, he would be celebrating his 73rd birthday on April 2.

Shukan ST: April 6, 2001

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