Rufus sings Serge

Rufus Wainwright sings Serge Gainsbourg’s Je suis venu te dire que je m’en vais on the album by Serge’s son Lulu. Not the first time Rufus sings in French, and not the first time he sings a song that relates to Serge. It’s one of the few highlights on the From Gainsbourg to Lulu album. The music and arrangements are okay (love the Brazilian touch of l’Eau a la bouche), but having Iggy Pop singing in French has never been a good idea (remember?), Shane McGowan in French is godawful and the less that’s said about Lulu’s singing voice, the better. The Ballade de Melody Nelson-duet between Vanessa Paradis and Johnny Depp is so-so (I will do a post on Melody Nelson-related samples and covers later) and  Scarlett Johansson can act, but she sure can’t sing. Marianne Faithfull is an acquired taste, yes, but ‘Manon’ fits her quite good, I’d say. Still, it’s a disappointment. You can save up for Charlotte’s double-album, to be released in December.

Rufus Wainwright – Je suis venu te dire que je m’en vais

 

Lulu Gainsbourg & Scarlett Johansson

Poo-doo pa poo-doo! The full version of the Lulu-Scarlett duet is out there, a cut from the upcoming From Lulu to Gainsbourg-album. Shame: Scarlett sings in English. Serge recorded an English version without Brigitte Bardot, with different lyrics. There are various other English versions of Bonnie & Clyde, for instance by The Walkabouts, Steve Wynne & Johnette Napolitano, James Iha & Kazu Makino – all with slightyl different lyrics.

Not sure what to think of Lulu’s and Scarlett’s version, it stays very close to the original, albeit they lost the poo-doo pa poo-doo (or is it whoo-hoo hah-whoo hoo?) effect. Lulu’s singing voice, as Scarlett’s, isn’t very impressive. Another track by Lulu is on the interwebs, one of my favourite SG-tracks, L’Eau à la bouche. Really dig the samba-arrangement. But the voice…hmm. Really looking forward to the album, with vocal help from Rufus Wainwright, Vanessa Paradis & Johnny Depp, Marianne Faitfull…

Lulu Gainsbourg & Scarlett Johansson – Bonnie & Clyde
Serge Gainsbourg – Bonnie & Clyde (English version)

Gainsbourg en Israel

Several French and Israeli artist paid hommage to Serge on July 28 with a concert in Tel Aviv, with Serge’s son Lulu behind the piano and FS-faves like Rose and Alizee singing (and a gorgeous singer called Shirel, whom I never heard of). Check out a highlights-trailer below. Fan-made video of Alizee’s visit to the promised land here, AFP-reportage about the concert here. (Merci Christophe)