by André Depienne

Serge was born in Paris in 1928, of Jewish descen- dants. His parents escaped during the Russian revolution, and went to Paris through Istanbul. But it was not before 1954 where Serge wrote his first songs. Soon he was discovered by the great “Boris Vian”, and in 1958 he changed his name from Lucien Ginsburg into Serge Gains- bourg. Still the same year he signed a contract with “Phillips” and released his first album “Du Chant à la une”. In 1965 he wrote the song “Pou- pée de cire, poupée de son” for France Gall and she won the “Grand Prix Eurovision de la chan- son” for Luxembourg. 3 years later he met his big love, the actress Jane Birkin in London. In 1969 they recorded the scandal-song “Je t’aime moi non plus”, and had a top hit in the British charts. On July 21st 1971 their daughter Char- lotte was born. From this particular moment until 1987, Serge Gainsbourg recorded one success album after the other, with songs like „Histoire de Melody Nelson“, „L’homme à la tête de chou“, „Aux armes et caetera“, „Love on the beat“and „You’re under arrest“. On March 3rd 1991 he paid for his brisk pace of life, as his ex-girlfriend “Bambou” found his dead body in his home in Paris at around 11 pm. He died at the age of 62 due to heart failure. He leaves a son and a daughter, and also an excellent dis- cography, finding still a considerable interest nowadays. During his long career he wrote as well for other artists, mostly female such as Bri- gitte Bardot, Juliette Gréco, Catherine Deneuve and Jane Birkin.