Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited

Serge Gainsbourg | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 1, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Verve Fontana
• ASIN: B000G1R3DU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #174,171 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Song for Sorry Angel (Sorry Angel)

2. I Love You (Me Either) (Je T'Aime Moi Non Plus)

3. I Just Came to Tell You That I'm Going [Je Suis Venu Te Dire Que ...]

4. Requiem for Anna (Un Jour Comme un Autre - Anna)

5. Requiem for a Jerk (Requiem Pour un Con)

6. L' Hôtel (L'Hôtel Particulier)

7. Au Revior Emmanuelle (Goodbye Emmanuelle)

8. Lola R. For Ever (Lola Rastaquouere)

9. Boomerang 2005 (Comme un Boomerang)

10. Boy Toy (I'm the Boy)

11. The Ballad of Melody Nelson (Ballade de Melody Nelson)

12. Just a Man with a Job (Le Poinçonneur des Lilas)

13. I Call It Art (Le Chanson de Slogan)

14. Those Little Things (Ces Petits Riens)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

To celebrate the 15th anniversary of Serge Gainsbourg's death, hip artists (mostly British) have covered a superb selection from his songbook. English speakers shouldn't fret: The songs have been translated/adapted from the French. But fans of the original versions won't be disappointed either: most of the tracks here are appropriately reverential, but they also put contemporary twists on songs that sometimes date back to the late 1950s and early 1960s. The CD opens and closes with very different covers of "Sorry Angel": Franz Ferdinand and Gainsbourg's muse, Jane Birkin, collaborate on the rocking "A Song for Sorry Angel," while Nathan Larsson and the Cardigans' Nina Persson's "Angel's Fall" is much moodier. Other highlights include Portishead's spooky "Requiem for Anna"; Marianne Faithfull's raspy interpretation of "Lola R. For Ever," backed by Sly & Robbie; Gonzales, Feist and Dani's quirkily funky "Boomerang 2005"; and the Rakes' taut "Just a Man with a Job." Gainsbourg was known for his unabashed taste for eroticism, and in that regard, the album’s most faithful tribute to his spirit is Cat Power and Karen Elson's whispery, Sapphic take on "I Love You (Me Either)." Monsieur Gainsbourg would have approved. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Product Description

This album brings together artists from the international scene to interpret English adaptations of various songs by Serge Gainsbourg. Features 15 total tracks from the likes of Franz Ferdinand with Jane Birkin, Portishead, Cat Power and Karen Elson, Michael Stipe, Jarvis Cocker & Kid Loco, The Kills, Cat Power with Karen Elson, Tricky, Marc Almond with Trash Palace and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Astound!, May 21, 2006

By 

Elisavet Giannakoudaki (NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited (Audio CD)

L'Hotel (6) by Michael Stipe is marvellous. This man comes definitely premium after monsieur G. Cat Power gives a sky high performance (2) but Gonzales w/ Feist elevate amazingly Boomerang (9), and Tricky (7) qualifies in Aurevoir Emmanuelle. Portishead's surprise in the Requiem for Anna (4) is more than pleasant. Monsieur must be really proud up there- it's more than his spirit in this album. Great one!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the best tribute albums, June 7, 2006

By 

Brian J. Greene "djbrian" (Durham, NC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited (Audio CD)

Tribute albums are so often a bummer, but this one really works. Serge Gainsbourg just seems to be a great artist to interpret for English-speaking bands/performers. Mick Harvey's two albums of Serge covers with English lyrics are absolute gems. And this collection is almost as enjoyable as those. The best track is Kid Loco and Jarvis Cocker's take on "I Have Come to Tell You That I'm Going," which has a late-night, downtempo feel. Not far behind is Marianne Faithful's rendition of the bawdy, hilarious "Lola Rasta" song. Gang of Four wannabees Franz Ferdinand and the Rakes both bring their angular, biting guitar work to the fore, and successfully so. One minor quibble is the Cat Power duet of "J'Taime . . . " - the version is done well enough, but this song has been covered so many times and is so over the top, it really didn't need to be recorded again. If you love Serge you will love this comp.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the BEST tribute albums...ever!, September 11, 2006

By 

G. Mitchell "greggmitch" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited (Audio CD)

I can't believe a) no one has reviewed this CD yet and b) I can't believe it's way back at 8,000+ on the sales chart - are there really 8,000+ better CDs than this?! Not on your life. Unlike most tribute albums, which usually feature inferior echoes of the original songs, THIS star-studded tribute CD is very much keeping in the spirit of Monsieur Gainsbourg: sly, sexy, and sophisticated - even groovy. The line-up is stellar and you can't find quite believe all these acts said yes: Portishead, Franz Ferdinand, The Rakes, Marianne Faithful, Placebo/Brian Molko, Marc Almond, The Kills, Feist, Trash Palace, Sly & Robbie - cmon?! WOW! And ALL these artists reinterpret a great collection of songs, making them their own, fresh, unique, and very 2006. From indie rock to reggae to trip-hop to electro-pop and all in between, this is easily one of the best CDs of 2006!