the facts of life

serge gainsbourg (1928-1991) allowed his harrowing youth during ww2 to strip him of certain boundaries most of us depend on. for better or worse, this guy flaunted protocol and if not for his genius may have been too offensive to succeed as well as he did. rude, sweet, brilliant, blue and prolific as can be, as a composer he is in a class of his own. his melodies are original and beauteous, the lyrics (from what i can decipher) are pun filled and provocative. as a singer he is smoky due to a zillion cigarettes. he was inspired and loved by the most lovely and talented actresses who all sang his songs, most famously bardot and then long time love jane birkin. jane's renditions are breathy and a bit frail and for decades she has been singing his songs around the world. serge was both beauty and the beast and his passing was a national sorrow. many soundtracks include his work. his home in the center of paris is covered with tiny messages of devotion which are far from an eyesore in the city of light. his daughter, actress charlotte gainsbourg, has plans to turn his domicile into a museum without moving the ashtrays or the ashes.