"Vu de l'extérieur" is a studio album by the renowned French singer-songwriter, Serge Gainsbourg. Released in 1973, this album is his ninth studio offering. The title translates to "Viewed from the Outside" in English. Sticking to his signature provocative style, Gainsbourg continued to push the lyrical boundaries, exploring themes that were often considered taboo.
This album is well-known for the song "Je suis venu te dire que je m'en vais", which became one of Gainsbourg's most famous tracks. Although less commercially successful than his previous album "Histoire de Melody Nelson", "Vu de l'extérieur" is still credited for its intrinsic artistic value.
Despite the album being predominantly in the chanson and pop genre, Gainsbourg started to experiment with reggae, a style he would explore more fully in his subsequent albums. This album reflects the artist's evolution and his flair for blending different musical styles.
In terms of the album’s production, it is worth noting that it's one of the few albums Gainsbourg produced himself. Many of the songs, including the title track, exhibit his signature style, where he uses music and lyrics to address societal norms and personal experiences, often with a sense of irony and dark humour.