Serge Gainsbourg (born Lucien Ginsburg; 1928 –1991) was a
French singer, songwriter, pianist, film composer, poet, painter, screenwriter,
writer, actor, and director.
Regarded as one of the most important figures in French
popular music, he was renowned for his often provocative and scandalous
releases, as well as his diverse artistic output, which embodied genres ranging
from jazz, mambo, world, chanson, pop and yé-yé, to rock and roll, progressive
rock, reggae, electronic, disco, new wave, and funk. Gainsbourg's varied
musical style and individuality make him difficult to categorize although his
legacy has been firmly established and he is often regarded as one of the
world's most influential popular musicians.
His lyrical work incorporated a vast amount of clever word
play to hoodwink the listener, often for humorous, provocative, satirical or
subversive reasons. Through the course of his career, Gainsbourg wrote over 550
songs, which have been covered more than a thousand times by a wide range of
artists.
Since his death, Gainsbourg's music has reached legendary
stature in France. He has also gained a cult following in the English-speaking
world, with numerous artists influenced by his arrangements.
Interestingly, not only himself, but also former partners Brigitte
Bardot and Jane Birkin are avid boineras.
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