The singer so often tainted with scandal in his lifetime is nowadays hailed as a genius. Serge Gainsbourg’s repertoire seems to be inscribed in the patrimony of French chanson like an irrefutable monument. From La chanson de Prévert à La Javanaise (the most-played track on French airwaves), to Initial BB or his later number, Aux armes etc., for thirty years the artist showered the French landscape with his unforgettable tunes, including forays into jazz, reggae and funk.  He also used his talent to write for a long list of other artists, including Juliette Gréco, Vanessa Paradis, Catherine Deneuve, Brigitte Bardot, Alain Chamfort, Jacques Dutronc, etc. and obviously Jane Birkin and Charlotte Gainsbourg.

All of his works have been interpreted by a huge number of singers since the 1950s. Well after Gainsbourg’s death, his work lives on, taken up by all kinds of artists, some beyond French borders. Because it has to be said that one of Gainsbourg’s most distinctive features was his ability to seduce an eclectic audience, ranging from rappers sampling his tunes to British rockers looking for sophisticated instrumentation.

The tributes got going well before the month of March, including special programmes on French TV, like the Gainsbourg edition of the live music programme Taratata (22 February). There have been some new books ("L'intégrale Gainsbourg" by Loïc Picaud and Gilles Verlant, which gives the background to his songs) and obviously some new records. One of these is a 20-CD set of his complete works (Universal) including some unknown treasures like Gainsbourg’s own interpretation of the track originally sung by Dani, Comme un boomerang.

Although none can claim to rival his talent, some of Gainsbourg’s own children seem to have inherited his bent for music. Charlotte started out singing with her dad at a tender age (Charlotte for ever). Yet it took twenty years for her to find her own way and finally bring out a personal album, 5.55. Lulu Gainsbourg was only six when his father died, and has gone on to become a pianist. After studying at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in the United States, he is apparently currently putting together an album that reworks some of Gainsbourg senior’s repertoire.

For a look back over the life of Serge Gainsbourg, here is a selection of articles published by RFI Musique since 2001 on the subject. 

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