[Glenn A]

Imagine Prince if he was Jewish and French and you wouldn't be far wrong. Best known over here for the banned single Je T Aime, in France Serge Gainsbourg was a huge selling musician who had hits for 30 years and always managed to keep up with the trends like reggae, new wave, rock and synthpop. He even recorded and had a hit with a reggae version of the Marseillaise and his death brought Paris to a standstill.

[pmw_hewitt]

Huge Gainsbourg fan right here, the man was a genius. When people ask I say he's a mixture of John Lennon, Frank Sinatra, Barry White and Sid Vicious! That tends to capture their interest.

Some of his music hasn't aged particularly well, nor was it all mindblowingly brilliant - but everything he ever did was edgy, unique and exciting. Very few musicians remain those things through their forties and beyond but Gainsbourg was as fresh and interesting in his later years as he was in his prime.

[Glenn A]

Originally Posted by pmw_hewitt

Huge Gainsbourg fan right here, the man was a genius. When people ask I say he's a mixture of John Lennon, Frank Sinatra, Barry White and Sid Vicious! That tends to capture their interest.

Some of his music hasn't aged particularly well, nor was it all mindblowingly brilliant - but everything he ever did was edgy, unique and exciting. Very few musicians remain those things through their forties and beyond but Gainsbourg was as fresh and interesting in his later years as he was in his prime.

He was in his prime when he was in his forties and fifties and always knew how to work trends. I am starting to discover a lot of French pop from the seventies and have quite a liking for Gibert Becaud and Charles Aznavour, had a real sense of class those two.

[ohglobbits]

Originally Posted by pmw_hewitt

Some of his music hasn't aged particularly well, nor was it all mindblowingly brilliant

Agreed, he was an icon for sure and a great writer but as a 60's French rebel i prefer Jacques dutronc

Originally Posted by Glenn A

He was in his prime when he was in his forties and fifties and always knew how to work trends. I am starting to discover a lot of French pop from the seventies and have quite a liking for Gibert Becaud and Charles Aznavour, had a real sense of class those two.

Try Polnareff and Claude Francois, two pop artists and originals.

[Glenn A]

Originally Posted by ohglobbits

Agreed, he was an icon for sure and a great writer but as a 60's French rebel i prefer Jacques dutronc

Try Polnareff and Claude Francois, two pop artists and originals.

Then there is always Johnny Halliday. I know we've had Air in recent years from France, but I think the early stars are better.

[ohglobbits]

Originally Posted by Glenn A

Then there is always Johnny Halliday. I know we've had Air in recent years from France, but I think the early stars are better.

Ironically my favourite song from Johnny is Marie which he did in the 00's . Not a fan of his or other ladies singers like Julian Clerc in their 70's heyday but quite like their recent offerings.

[Glenn A]

Originally Posted by ohglobbits

Ironically my favourite song from Johnny is Marie which he did in the 00's . Not a fan of his or other ladies singers like Julian Clerc in their 70's heyday but quite like their recent offerings.

Then there is always Edith Piaf, C'est formidable, Milord.