Serge Gainsbourg was born as Lucien Ginzberg in Paris in 1928 to Russian Jewish parents, who had fled the 1917 Bolshevik uprising in their home country. He was known for his tumultuous personal life, and his intense relationships with the women in his life. "Je T'Aime… Moi Non Plus", his by far most known hit, was first written and intended for Gainsbourg to perform alongside
Brigitte Bardot, but later Serge ended up recording it with
Jane Birkin, with whom he also had a romantic relationship and a daughter. Despite it being banned for being too suggestive in many places, the song topped charts across Europe and, fittingly, peaked at no. 69 of the US charts. Gainsbourg also enjoyed shocking his audience in other ways: For instance, he once burned 500 francs during a live TV broadcast and caused controversy by recording a
reggae rendition of "La Marseillaise," the French national anthem.
He was a true artist, not just in music, but in all forms of expression. He was an accomplished painter, photographer and writer, and often used his art to express his feelings. Serge Gainsbourg's influence on French culture and music is undeniable and he remains a true icon of the French music scene. He passed away in Paris in 1991.
