donderdag 12 januari 2006

En Duo: Jacques & Bambou


Guest-selection galore! Sir Edward on Jacques Dutronc & Bambou:

Caroline Von Paulus, dixit Bambou, born as the child of a German father and an Asian mother (the French call this "une eurasienne"), was the last husband and compagnée of Serge Gainsbourg until his death in 1991. Ex-model for Paris Planning, at 21, she and Serge met around 1980, in 1986 Bambou gave birth to their son, Lulu.
Bambou has always been aware she remained in the shadow of Gainsbourg, somehow being a side-effect of Serge's success, conscious and comfortable she did not crossover, like Jane Birkin (his previous partner), to become a myth on her own. Serge wrote her a complete album released in 1989, Made in China, which flopped more or less.

Bambou was celebrated in the 1981-song Bambou, written by Gainsbourg but featured on the beautifully titled Alain Chamfort-album Amour Année Zéro. Actually, as the grapevine goes, this song lifts a tip of Serge's fascination with, as is said, Bambou's junkielifestyle. Read the lyrics here and make up your own mind.

Then, obviously, she had to cover the song Opium, originally emerging from 1937(!) but completely reworked in 1987. I like the very pictural mood set in the song, the gong, the feel of a sarong in a breeze on Saigons river Mekong.
French couturier Yves Saint Laurent created the mythical perfume Opium in 1977 to "symbolize his fascination with the Orient and his unique understanding of a woman's hidden emotions and inexplicable passions. Opium arouses the senses with an exotic blend of lush florals, rich spices, and deep wood notes". What exactly was on Jacques Dutronc's mind while doing this duet, hmmm?

Jacques Dutronc & Bambou - Opium
Hear Here

4 opmerkingen:

  1. I've always wanted to know more about this woman Serge had to settle on after being dumped by the great Jane.

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  2. Speaking of Bambou - would anybody have Lulu & Bambou's "Ne dis rien"? It's a song I've wanted to hear for so long . . .

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  3. Bambou's album is impossible to find - I've always wanted to check her out becaus eof her association with Gainsbourg and for the novelty aspect of it! Thanks!

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  4. Just as Natasha said.
    Thanks for this great tune and even more for the background info.

    And thanks to Skunkeye's comment I'm now even more triggered to find this album. A new goal in life!
    :-D

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