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Born Lucien Ginsburg on April 2nd, 1928 in Paris, France. His parents Joseph and Olga were Russian Jews who fled Russia in 1919.
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During World War II he and his family were forced to wear the yellow star which identified them as Jewish. This had a profound impact on him.
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His father was no longer able to work as a Jewish pianist and had to relocate. The family eventually joined him in January 1944 in the Limoges region with fake papers under the name Guimbard.
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The Liberation of Paris took place on August 25th, 1944. The Ginsburg family moved back to Paris and settled in the 16th arrondissement.
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In 1948 Serge completed his military service in Courbevoie, but he was often discplined for insurrection. It is during this period that he learned to play guitar.
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Serge discontinued his studies at the L'Ecole des Beaux-Arts. In 1947 he met Elisabeth Livitsky and they married on November 3rd, 1951.
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Up until 1954 he worked primarily as a painter. But he began singing and playing guitar in small cabarets, like Chex Madame Arthur and piano bars.
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Serge engaged in multiple affairs with other women which led to his divorce from Elisabeth in 1957.
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In collaboration with Alain Goraguer he recorded "Du chant a la une!" which was not a commercial success as an album. But the song "Le Poinçonneur des Lilas" was a hit:
Le Poincenneur des Lilas -
Serge was criticized for his looks and was still not widely popular at this time. The song "La Javanaise" came out in 1962. Originaly written for Juliette Greco:
La Javanaise -
Awarded the Grand Prix du Concours Eurovision de la chanson for the song "Poupée de cire poupée de son" written for France Gall:
Poupee de cire poupee de son -
Written during the Six-Day War between Israel and Egypt, Jordan and Syria. Gainsbourg surprised the public by showing his support for Israel in such a strong way:
Le sable et le soldat -
He had a brief affair with Brigitte Bardot, French actress and singer. They recorded several songs together including "Harley Davidson" and "Bonnie and Clyde" which depicts the American criminals Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow:
Bonnie and Clyde -
On the set of the film "Slogan" he met Jane Birkin, a British actress and singer. They began a 10 year relationship and recorded "Je t'aime... moi non plus" (originally recorded with Brigitte Bardot but this version became famous):
Je t'aime...moi non plus -
Together they recorded "Histoire de Melody Nelson", produced by Jean-Claude Vannier, a concept album which takes the form of musical poetry about a Lolita-like figure. Considered to be one of his most accomplished and influential albums:
Melody Nelson -
Charlotte Gainsbourg was born July 21st, 1971. Charlotte went on to become an accomplished actress and singer:
Charlotte Gainsbourg -
Released his album "Rock Around the Bunker" in 1975, another concept album about Nazi Germany.
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Released "L'Homme à tête de chou" in 1976.
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Gainsbourg had increasing problems with alcoholism and he was distancing himself from his family. Jane left him in the fall of 1980.
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His music began to wane and he made regular appearances on TV. He would often show up drunk and unkempt and make vulgar remarks. In March 1984 he burned a 500 French franc bill to protest taxation.
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He died of a heart attack in Paris on March 2nd, 1991. President Mitterand called him "our Baudelaire, our Apollinaire" and his music retains its legendary status in France today.
