Je t'aime... moi non plus
| "Je t'aime... moi non plus" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
| "Je t'aime... moi non plus" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Je t'aime... moi non plus (Part Two)" |
- For the film, see Je t'aime... moi non plus (film). For the album, see Jane Birkin Serge Gainsbourg.
"Je t'aime... moi non plus" (French for "I love you... me neither") is the title of a French song written by Serge Gainsbourg, arranged by Arthur Greenslade and sung by Gainsbourg and his lover at the time, Jane Birkin.
History
The song was originally written for and recorded in 1968 with Gainsbourg's then girlfriend, Brigitte Bardot. However, Bardot pleaded with Gainsbourg not to release their recording of the song: she was married at the time, to German businessman Gunther Sachs. Gainsbourg complied.[3]
Later that year, Gainsbourg met, and fell in love with, English actress Jane Birkin, on the set of their film Slogan. "Je t'aime... moi non plus" was re-recorded with Birkin replacing Bardot, and was released early in 1969.
Lyrics
The lyrics are written as an imaginary dialogue between two lovers during a sexual encounter. Phrases from the song include:
- "Je vais et je viens, entre tes reins" ("I come and I go, in between your loins")
- "Tu es la vague, moi l'île nue" ("You are the wave, I the naked island")
- "L'amour physique est sans issue" ("Physical love is a dead end").
Controversy
 | This article possibly contains original research. (June 2008) |
The explicit eroticism of the song was declared offensive at the time of its release. The lyrics are commonly thought to refer to the taboo theme of engaging in sex without love, and were delivered in a breathy, suggestive style.
The song culminates in simulated orgasm sounds by Birkin: mostly because of this, it was banned from radio play in Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and the UK, and denounced by the Vatican in a public statement.
Commercial success
The song was a commercial success throughout Europe. Arguably, the publicity the controversy created was partly responsible for its success.
In the UK, it was originally released on the Fontana label, but, after reaching number 2 on the charts, it was withdrawn for sale by the label. Gainsbourg then arranged a deal with prominent independent label Major Minor and, upon re-release, it reached number one.[4]
Covers
The song would go on to influence the disco classic "Love to Love You Baby" by singer Donna Summer and legendary producer Giorgio Moroder, both of whom would later duet "Je t'aime" in its original form for the Thank God It's Friday film soundtrack. This was released as a single in Brazil.
'Allo 'Allo! stars, Gorden Kaye and Vicki Michelle recorded a parody simply titled "Je t'aime", having their characters René Artois and Yvette Carte-Blanche attempt to elope behind the back of René's wife to the tune of the song.
The English-born Australian actress Abigail (born Abigail Rogan), trading on her role as the sex siren Bev Houghton in the soap opera Number 96, recorded a version that in 1973 peaked at #6 on the Australian charts.
English singer Misty Oldland recorded a version of the song with different lyrics ("A Fair Affair") in 1993.
In 1996 Birmingham Brothers, Matt & Mark Adams recorded a version entitled "Je t'aime Moi Non Plus - Forever My Lady" under their stage name of 2DEFY.
In 1998, artist Sam Taylor-Wood recorded a cover of the song with the Pet Shop Boys as a contribution to the compilation CD/book "futique" entitled Ambassadors - We Love You, a concept designed to promote collaboration between visual and musical artists. This track later featured as a bonus track on the "I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Any More" CD single.
In 2002, Trash Palace published a cover version on their album "Positions", featuring Brian Molko of the band Placebo. Noteworthy is the fact that the singers reverse their parts throughout the song, so that sometimes the female persona was sung by Brian Molko (Je t'aime...) and the male part by Asia Argento (moi non plus...), creating a subtle commentary on the development of gender relations in the last 40 years.
Similarly thought provoking, Cat Power & Karen Elson performed an English-language version - entitled I love you (me either) for the 2005 tribute album Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited.
Selected list of recorded versions
- 1968 Serge Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot (not issued until 1986)
- 1969 Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin
- 1971 Frankie Howerd & June Whitfield as "Up Je t'aime," a parody
- 1972 Hot Butter (instrumental, as "Love at First Sight")
- 1974 Abigail (actress)
- 1975 Judge Dread
- 1978 Giorgio Moroder & Donna Summer
- 1981 Einstürzende Neubauten (as "Jet'm") [5]
- 1986 Psychic TV
- 1986 René & Yvette from 'Allo 'Allo
- 1992 Chayanne & Natalie as "Exxtasis"
- 1993 Misty Oldland as "A Fair Affair"
- 1994 Malcolm McLaren
- 1995 Nick Cave & Anita Lane as "I love you...nor do I"
- 1996 2Defy as "Je t'aime Moi Non Plus - Forever My Lady"
- 1997 Cibo Matto
- 1998 Pet Shop Boys & Sam Taylor-Wood
- 1998 Bob Downe & Julian Clary
- 2001 Sven Väth & Miss Kittin (electronic version)
- 2003 Brian Molko & Asia Argento (where male and female roles are inverted - allusion to oral sex)
- 2003 Kylie Minogue Breathe (Je t'aime) live - Money Can't Buy Concert London 2003 (studio version of Je t'aime moi non plus exists but unreleased)
- 2004 The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
- 2006 Cat Power & Karen Elson (English version)
- 2006 Patrice Coquereau & Macha Grenon (Québec)
- 2008 Junkshop Coyote as "Nope, Me Neither" (a reprocessed version of the Gainsbourg original)
Congolese singer Koffi Olomide and Nayanka Bell from Ivory Coast also recorded a version
References
- ^ 1969 Album on the AMG Retrieved 15 February 2007
- ^ World Musc The fact that it stalled at No. 69 on the American Billboard charts must have delighted its composer.
- ^ RFI Musique - - Serge Gainsbourg
- ^ BBC - h2g2 - Je T'aime (Moi Non Plus) - a French pop song
- ^ "je t'aime moi non plus: a maintes reprises" (HTML). Retrieved 2007-10-29.