Customer Reviews

Di Doo Dah

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been going through a Jane Birking/Serge Gainsbourg reappreciation period this year. There was the excellent French bio-pic "Gainsbourg: Vie Heoiric", and then there was the annoucenment that Jane Birkin would tour the US. All of this led me to relisten to my Gainsbourg/Birkin CDs, which includes this one.

"Di Doo Dah" (1973 release; 14 tracks including 2 bonus tracks; 39 min.) starts off with the reggae-lite title track, which would become one of Birkin's concert staples as the years went by. All songs are of course written by Serge Gainsbourg, and while Jane Birkin isn't just the paper-thin vocalist that she gives the impression to be at times, Gainsbourg writes the songs with her vocals in mind. So the songs tend to lean towards a jazz-lite/pop-lite flavor, and as such the album finds a particular charming rythm. The songs are generally short, and flow one into the other. This 2010 re-issue comes with of course a very nice remastered sound, and also 2 bonus tracks: "La Decadence", the essential 1971 non-album hit single with Serge Gainsbourg, and "Les Langeus de Chat", which is the B side of that single. Tbe CD booklet comes with great liner notes, lots of pictures (it's amazing how much Charoltte Gainsbourg resembles her mom), and most ciritical of all, the lyrics to the songs as of course many of Gainsbourg's songs are based on word-play/double entendres. For those of you who do not understand French, there is even an English translation of the original French lyrics!

Jane Birkin recently toured the US, and I had the good fortune of seeing her at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC just last week, and what a performance she and her 4 piece back-up band put on. They played for 2 hours, bringing several songs you'll find on this album, including of course the title tracks and also Banana Boat, and Jane brought them with grace and humor, sharing tons of stories about life with Serge and how these songs came about. An unforgettable evening! Meanwhile "Do Doo Dah" is highly recommended!

1970's Sex kitten, married to Serge Gainsbourg, mother of Charlotte Gainsbourg (many years after this album), made a huge name for herself singing mostly off key but incredibly sensual songs in French and English. Di Doo Dah is similar to Ex Fan de Sixties (Ex Fan Des Sixties), the same double entendre French lyrics, the same breathless singing and sighing. I grew up with Ex Fan de Sixties, it was the ultimate sexy album of the day. This album is better, the backup music is better, the songs have a bit more story to them, and her voice relies less on the breathlessness.

Since I wore out Ex Fan de Sixties, I had to add to my Jane Birkin collection with this album. The album is pressed on 180 gram vinyl. My copy has two imperfections, two pops that are depressions in the vinyl. Light in the Attic Records might not be paying incredibly close attention to quality control. Otherwise, this is a very quiet album, the sound is excellent. Honestly, I can't imagine another way to listen to this album than on vinyl.

The gatefold album cover includes a long essay about Ms Birkin, "If Don Juan Were a Woman." Lyrics are included on the opposite cover. The back is adorned with a contact sheet a 36 exposure roll of film. The session was not part of the cover photo (darn). This is so appropriate; Jane Birkin was a model before marrying Serge and becoming a singer. In many ways, this is what vinyl is all about - big spaces of cardboard to display art work.

During the seventies, Jane Birkin was very popular in France, mostly among adolescent boys and men. I count myself a member of that club. Realistically, she doesn't sing very well, relying on breathing and double entendre to carry her songs. It isn't essential to understand the French to get what she is singing about. Nearly half the songs are in English.

Between Ex and this album, I would lean toward this album. Overall, an excellent addition to a Jane Birkin album collection.

Daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg is infinitely more talented. I love her two albums, IRM and 5:55. She has the same breathless sound, but can carry a tune rather well, and she avoids the double entendre. She is also an amazing actress.