Serge Ginzburg has become famous in many forms of art. Throughout his life, he was engaged in composing and performing songs (he sang and played the piano), writing scripts and soundtracks for films.
He is also known as an artist, actor and director. Biography of Serge Ginzburg will be devoted to this article.
Creative manner
The lyrics of Serge Ginzburg's songs were often intricate and featured numerous examples of puns. Moreover, the themes of his works are very mundane. This inconsistency created a comic effect. Serge Ginsburg deliberately misled the audience. Almost all the creations of this artist are written in French.
In his native country, he is considered one of the greatest songwriters in history. A lot of admirers and followers of this singer and poet in English-speaking countries, as well as in the rest of the world. Many English and American musicians admit that they studied arranging by listening to the songs of the hero of this article.
Birth
Serge Ginzburg was born in Paris in 1928. His parents were of Jewish descent. After the October Revolution, they emigrated from Ukraine to France.
The dad of the future French pop star had a classical musical education. He worked as a pianist in a cabaret and casino. It was the father who taught his children to play this instrument - Serge and his twin sister Lilian.
Children of war
The young years of Ginzburg fell during the occupation of France by German troops during the Second World War. After her graduation, the young man got a job as a teacher of music and fine art in one of the settlements near the French capital. He taught Jewish children orphaned during the war. Here he heard many sad stories, some of which were reflected later in his songwriting.
At the same time as a teacher, the hero of this article painted paintings that, however, at that time were not appreciated by the public. Therefore, by the age of thirty, Serge was disappointed in painting. Then, as a part-time job, he began playing the piano in bars.
Change of name
At birth, the future famous poet and composer received the name traditional for the French culture, Lucien. But when he began to give the first small concerts, he changed it to Serge. This, in his opinion, corresponded more to Russian traditions in which his ancestors were brought up. Both Serge Ginsburg and Jane Birkin, who was his wife, recalled that Lucien was called the assistant hairdresser, who was visited by the singer.
Therefore, becoming a star, the musician chose a more noble name for himself. He also changed the spelling of his surname. Now it has acquired the form of Gainsbourg. The name of the English artist Thomas Gainsborough is written in a similar way. The hero of this article admired this painter in his youth when he took drawing lessons.
First songs
The first steps on the stage were inspired by the work of the French chansonnier Boris Vian. This artist is called by many people of the Renaissance, because in addition to writing songs, he was engaged in the translation of literature, sculpture, painting and the creation of parody novels for detectives. Ginzburg felt spiritually close to him, as his interests were also very versatile.
The first songs were written as an imitation of the works of the French chansonnier of the old school. He had to meet some of these masters in life. So, in the late fifties, he accompanied the famous singer Michel Arnault on piano. She discovered in a shy young man the author of beautiful songs, who was shy to show them to the public, since she considered her works too innovative compared to the classic French chanson. Arno advised him to perform these songs and, if possible, record them. Thus, it was she who predicted the aspiring artist his future brilliant career.
The experiments
Inspired by his first success, Serge Ginsburg ventured into further experiments in his work. Soon elements of jazz began to appear in his compositions. In the sixties, many songs were written under the influence of English and American pop music, in the seventies he became interested in funk, rock and reggae, and after a while he began to use electronic instruments in arrangements.
As for texts, Ginzburg’s poems often contain political, social, or sexual overtones.
Songs for other artists
Ginsburg often created his works for other singers or to sing a duet with an artist. In 1964, he recorded several songs with Philip Clay.
Then the composer met with the young French singer Elec Baksik. The character of the article liked his performing style, despite the fact that Serge was well aware that the public was unlikely to appreciate such a vocal style. Despite everything, he insisted that several of his songs be recorded by this artist.
Ginzburg was right in predicting that the record would not be successful. It sold a little over a thousand copies.
The artist received world fame with the release of the song Je t'aime, which Serge Ginsburg and Birkin sang together. Due to unambiguous exclamations at the end of the composition, this romantic ballad was banned in a number of countries.
As a director, he created four films. Serge Ginzburg in one of his tapes - “Charlotte Forever” - starred his daughter, also a famous actress and singer.
The artist died at 63 years old from a heart attack. He was buried with his parents in Paris.