"Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg" (also known as "Je t'aime... moi non plus") is a collaborative studio album by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin, released in 1969. Serge Gainsbourg, renowned French song-writer, had been known for his poetic French songs. Then, encountering Jane Birkin, an English actress with minimal music experience, he was inspired to create an entire album featuring her.
The album is perhaps most well-known for its lead single "Je t'aime... moi non plus", which caused significant controversy due to its explicit sexual content. This song was recorded initially with Brigitte Bardot before Birkin recorded her version. Due to Bardot's objection, the version with Birkin was released, and it became a huge commercial success despite its scandalous reputation.
The album, blending pop and jazz styles, achieved huge international success. It marked the beginning of a long and fruitful artistic collaboration between Gainsbourg and Birkin. The dynamic contrast between Gainsbourg's deep and charismatic voice and Birkin's light and breathy vocals makes this album quite unique and very appealing. The music and lyrics by Gainsbourg are, as always, poetic and rich in sentiment, with the tracks lyrically exploring various aspects of romance and relationships.
"Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg" played a pivotal role in turning Birkin into a popular music figure in France. Her interpretation of Gainsbourg's songs is regarded as both sensual and heartrending. As an artist, she managed to bring an air of innocence combined with a strong sensuality, making the album one of the significant works in French popular music. The album was eventually reissued in 2017, nearly 50 years after its initial release.
