UNITED KINGDOM: FLUX, THE MUSIC FESTIVAL, PAYS TRIBUTE TO FRENCH ICON SERGE GAINSBOROUGH

Record ID: 336822

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: FLUX, THE MUSIC FESTIVAL, PAYS TRIBUTE TO FRENCH ICON SERGE GAINSBOROUGH
  • Date: 18th August 1998
  • Summary: DAVY SCOTT SAYING, "WELL I GUESS IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU KNOW WE TEND TO THINK OF SERGE GAINSBOURG AS A KIND OF LEERY, BEERY, DRUNKEN GUY WHO DIED EARLY BECAUSE HE SMOKED TOO MANY FAGS AND DRANK TOO MUCH AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF, BUT AT HOME IN FRANCE HE'S KNOWN AS A NATIONAL HERO - RIGHTLY SO BECAUSE THE GUY WAS A GREAT ARTIST. HE PRODUCED IN TERMS OF SHEER VOLUME SOMETHIN
  • Embargoed: 2nd September 1998 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA1UK8N932PGUA17N3KA1QOPGG7
  • Story Text: An act of a very different kind has been taking to the stage at Flux - the music festival - to pay tribute to French icon Serge Gainsbourg.
    An eclectic mix of Scottish bands have collaborated to honour the French singer/songwriter Serge Gainsbourg in Edinburgh.
    Seventeen musicians took part in the performance including members of 'The Pearl Fishers', 'Belle and Sebastian' and 'The Teenage Fan Club'.
    The idea for 'Je t'aime Gainsbourg' started with a tribute to Beach Boy Brian Wilson, the success of which snowballed into several concerts in Glasgow and a quick change of act, before dates in Edinburgh.
    Davy Scott, keyboard player with the band explained why they chose Gainsbourg: "At home in France he's known as a national hero - rightly so - because the guy was a great artist.He produced in terms of sheer volume something like 500 songs, he wrote movie soundtracks, he directed films, he wrote books.His lyrics are taught as poetry in French schools.He's taken very very seriously and rightly so," he said.
    Idolised by the French, Gainsbourg became world famous with the release of his song, 'Je t'aime...moi non plus', which he wrote and recorded with his British wife, actress Jane Birkin.
    Gainsbourg's career spanned 30 years, during which he was as persecuted abroad as he was revered at home.
    He spent most of his early musical career playing at seedy clubs.Gainsbourg slowly gained cult status with his seamless melodies and inventive lyrics which not only explored every sexual avenue possible, but were alo evidence of his healthy disregard for any kind of taboo subjects.
    These included cigarettes and disasters as well as the traditional topic of love.
    When "Je t'aime, moi non plus" was first released in 1969 it was widely banned because of its explicit groans of a couple making an interntational best-seller.
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