Histoire De Melody Nelson

It's like opera... I don't understand it, but it sounds amazing.

sexy and French, slow and full of bass, maybe too sexy. very enjoyable

I get the appeal. Not the subject matter which is all too prevalent in modern society and not that it was a comfortable conversation when this was released. Unfortunately, the Lolita story is recast here as a middle aged man who becomes enamored with a 14 year old named Melody Nelson who he subsequently spends time In Melody ( I shit you not that is the title of the song “En Melody”) and then, wracked with guilt cries to the gods to save him but miss-shoots his invocation of the gods - as Melody dies in a plane crash when the autopilot fails. What is interesting is this concept album successfully and interestingly merges Serge’s creepy and pathetic spoken word style vocals into a bed of noir rock with blasts of orchestral music. The effect is stunning as this relatively short record passes rapidly and despite both the vocal approach and the fact that Serge was a piece of shit, is remarkable overall. I can see the impact later, particularly with a band like Portishead who was clearly inspired/influenced by this album as was likely Lou Reed who recorded with Herbie Flowers using a similar bass effect for Walk On The Wild Side. Serge really was out there as an artist but is better remembered after his death because apparently he was an ass in real life. No crime to be a dick so no deductions. 4/5

This is complicated. The record is so very cool. The theme is so ugly. The lyrics are in French, so I can ignore the theme. And French people are weird anyway. And I've always had a huge crush on Jane Birkin. But still, she's 15. And what's up with the cargo cult? And that bass...

#385 Un album français tellement français que j'en suis devenu français. Il est entièrement consacré à une fille nommée Melody Nelson et ne dure que 28 minutes. Le morceau d'ouverture, « Melody », a vraiment attiré mon attention ; c'est très réussi. J'ai lu à quel point cet album est influent, notamment auprès de nombreux artistes que j'apprécie ; toutefois, j'ai aussi pris connaissance de cette histoire aux allures de « Lolita » — c'est peut-être une bonne chose que ce soit sa femme qui figure sur la pochette et qui incarne Melody sur le disque. Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ✅ Listen before you die? ✅ Fave track(s): Melody Rating: 8/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Histoire de Melody Nelson is one of those albums where it’s impossible to separate the music from the story it tells. The relationship between the narrator and Melody is intentionally uncomfortable, and the age gap and power imbalance are central to that. I’ve seen a lot of people describe the album as depicting statutory rape, but I don’t think that’s legally accurate in its historical context. Melody is described as “15 summers and 14 autumns”, indicating that she’s 15 years old. France’s age of consent is 15 today, and for much of Serge Gainsbourg’s early life it was even lower. That doesn’t make the relationship morally unproblematic, nor does it mean listeners have to be comfortable with it. It simply means there’s an important distinction between making an ethical criticism and making a legal one. Musically, though, this album is outstanding. The arrangements are beautiful, the bass playing is superb, and its influence on later artists is easy to hear. One of my favourite albums, Beck’s Sea Change, borrows heavily from the sonic world that Melody Nelson created, and listening to this record made those connections obvious. It’s not supposed to be comfortable listening. It’s provocative, unsettling and deliberately transgressive. Whether you admire it or reject it on those grounds is a personal decision, but its musical influence and craftsmanship are undeniable.

Lyrically Serge Gainsbourg is deliberately sparking controversy. He is a man in his mid-40s singing a series of love songs about a fictional 14 year old girl from Sunderland. Comparisons to Lolita spring to mind but the direct inspiration was his 24 year old wife Jane Birkin who is pictured on the album artwork holding a teddy bear. Presenting fictionalised versions of Jane and himself with a heightened age gap is there to (in my opinion) give a sensationalist edge to a series of poetic love songs directed towards someone from a different generation. I’m kind of indifferent to this device but can see why it would wind some people up, as that was the intention. I can’t speak French though, so none of this had any bearing on my enjoyment of the album which can be summed up like this: the way Serge’s vibey rock instrumentals mix with the luscious, cinematic strings and his softly spoken, narrative heavy, mostly spoken vocals totally works on me.

Today’s album has confounded me a little. I can’t speak French so can’t tell if this is a satirical “Lolita” tale or something much more uncomfortable (the internet suggests the latter). What I do know though is that the music sounds very modern for 1971, has influenced a lot of things I love, and is seductive instrumentally. Going with a dodgy 4 for this one.

incredibly cool how this album's sweaty, nicotine-stained fingerprints are all over so much music i live - trip-hop, post-rock, Tindersticks, Pulp, things which feel so genuinely sui generis, can be traced back so cleanly to one French pervert. there's a real balance here between things loose and jammy and very exacting arrangements that keep the orchestrated moments feeling like they could fall out from under you at any moment do not begrudge anyone wanting to keep away from this due to its lyrical content, but i do think that feeling of vertigo, and the lecherousness that people seem to think is an accident or just French - those are intentional! that's not to say Gainsbourg can't find something romantic in all this, conceived as it was in partial tribute to his young wife, but it's certainly provocative and uncomfortable-making by design. mileage will vary, as it will with anything. personally, i think this is far too musically electrifying and morally muddy to write off. if you want to listen to something truly disgusting that hates women and lusts after young girls over music of absolutely no consequence, there are three new Drake records that just came out waiting for you!

Pleasant but slight, lots of cool jazzy jams while Serge mutters "Melodee Nelsohn" over and over

Difficult one this, as the music is excellent but the subject matter is loathsome. I don't think it should be entirely off-limits, but for me the question is: do I trust Gainsbourg with the subject matter? And the answer has to be no. I don't think he is condoning the narrator as the narrator is clearly a fool, even before he meets Melody - foolish enough to be dangerously distracted by the statuette on his own car. But Gainsbourg enjoyed being provocative. He seemed to think it is OK to offer this underage sleaze as a tease. I'm going to dock it a star for that. Some people will deduct a lot more than one star, and some people will have more reason to. I absolutely understand that. Is it one of the 1001 best albums ever made? Yes, I'm pretty sure it is. Should everyone be expected to listen to it? No

This was great. I don’t think it’s possible for Serge Gainsbourg to make an album that doesn’t sound a little bit dirty. Real grimy bass lines and his great nonchalant delivery. Just a really fun record.

Well... this album is, the least to say, interesting. And I have enjoyed some parts. I don't find very appealing the strong sexual components on Gainsbourg's music, which have become a part of his persona, but surely the way this album dives between a storytelling and cinematic experience is quite a risk that is pretty well delivered in the record. His voice in contrast with Jane Birkin's in this album really fits quite well and accompanies the story which, aside from being scandalous, I just find it as a provocation, so I don't care much about this aspect of the album. The songs are pretty well delivered and the different sections give this album a very fluid sound. Is it something magnificent? I wouldn't say so, but surely it is a very interesting album, mainly in the way it feels like a whole in a very literary sense. So, surprisingly, I've liked this one.

Definitely an artistic expression. While the subject is particularly distasteful during the throes of the post-Epstien reveals, it's possible to appreciate the intent was to shock and scandalize and hold up a light on the darker side of man's nature as embedded in the ground-breaking and rich phonic approach.

1001 Albums Vol. 0012: Histoire De Melody Nelson ============================================================ Introduction: It's pretty weird to see albums like this, albums in which I haven't a single idea about what is being said. I recently got an album of the exact same type and it was an extremely underrated masterpiece. It had one of the lowest ratings I had seen on this site, however. I don't know if it's an issue with the language, not understanding the context surrounding the album, or some other issue that I'm not aware of, yet this is the most hated album that I've received so far. At the time of writing, it has an extremely low 2.75. That is pretty abysmal for a site in which most albums have somewhere between a three or four. I've heard that this album is pretty good too, so I don't know what it is with this site an non-English albums. Maybe this album does just actually suck, who knows? That said, this album was released by a French man named Serge Gainsbourg all the way back in 1971. Alright, I just read the Wikipedia snippet the site offers and can now see why this album is hated. Look, I'm not going to jump on the hate train right away. There might be some genuinely profound message behind all of the madness this album offers, yet I'm simply admitting why one could take a single look at it and hate it. I honestly feel like this album's story is not something for today's society. Anyway, I'll speak more on the album's story later. Like I was saying, this album was released in 1971 by Serge Gainsbourg. Now, the Wikipedia snippet doesn't offer much information about how the album was initially received, yet it is now regarded pretty highly by critics and casual listeners. This high regard originates from the album's ability to blend genres and its compelling yet dark narrative. It managed to blend cinematic sounds with soft rock to create something that is still regarded as pretty unique even to this day. With that said, I don't really want to say more as I want to leave the plot summary for the end of my review, so let's just go ahead and get into this album. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Track 1: Melody Score: 10/10 Track 2: Ballade de Melody Nelson Score: 8/10 Track 3: Valse de Melody Score: 7/10 Track 4: Ah Melody Score: 8/10 Track 5: L'hôtel particulier Score: 9/10 Track 6: En Melody Score: 7/10 Track 7: Cargo culte Score: 9/10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Conclusion: This is an extremely weird album. I would go so far as to call it one of the weirdest things I have ever heard. It's one of the shortest albums I've ever listened to, yet it manages to have a profound impact on me within that short amount of time. So, what makes this album so weird? Well, this is a concept album about a fully-grown man who falls in a girl named Melody Nelson who I believe is fourteen years old. He accidently crashes his car into her while she's riding her bike down the road. The two then meet and fall in love with each other. The two then desire to have sex with each other. They do. Melody decides to ride to Sunderland via plane; however, the plane crashes and Melody dies. The fully-grown man then reminisces about Melody and whether she might still be alive or not. This entire story is told in the span of twenty-eight minutes. Like I said in the intro, today's culture might find this entire album to be absolutely disgusting and made for nothing more than shock value, yet there is so much more to it than that. I will admit, there were points in the album that made me genuinely feel uncomfortable. The track about the man and Melody meeting at the hotel to have sex made me especially uncomfortable, yet that's honestly kind of a good thing in this album's scenario. Anyway, shock value was not a key factor in the making of this album. It's definitely present, yet that wasn't the motivation behind this work. I would describe Gainsbourg's motivation behind this album as more of want to create a questionable of morality than to make a shocking piece of music. This album's subject matter is absolutely wrong, yet that is exactly what Gainsbourg wanted you to feel. I feel as if Gainsbourg wanted you to feel uncomfortable while listening to this tale of two lovers. The contrast between the genuinely well-written cinematic and espionage-like music that the listener should genuinely enjoy with the subject matter of the album should invoke so many feelings and questions in the listener. I mean, it feels weird to be enjoying such a perverted tale so much, yet the genius of this album simply makes it impossible not to enjoy. Now, because of this album's subject matter, there are plenty of moments throughout that I would call "tense" as well. The song I described above in which Melody and her lover go to a hotel to have sex is an especially good example of the tension this album provides the listener. More then half of the song is just detailed imagery of what the man sees while he makes his way up to the room he and Melody rented out. This sense of tension is something that I've rarely ever felt before while listening to music. It's great. It's only something that you could find in a tale that is so taboo, dark, and illegal. It's such a unique musical experience that it almost feels as if I'm listening to a movie in audio form. That's not to say the plot would be good if transferred over to a movie, I'm simply making a comparison. Now, with that all said, I'll briefly bring up both the vocals and the music. The music itself is pretty good. Like I said, it has an oddly cinematic and dark feel to it. There are definitely moments present that I would describe as having that typical "dark groove" that one would automatically envision when thinking of a smooth criminal. There's a nice blend of many genres across the album that all feel cinematic and contribute to whatever is going on in the story well. That aside, I can understand why people may not like Gainsbourg's vocals. They have a very creepy tone to them and every line being delivered in a whisper only adds to this. That being said, this delivery of lines and creepiness in the voice only adds to the overall theme of this album. It simply adds more tension to an already tense concept. His delivery is great in my opinion. In fact, I have a similar opinion about this entire album. It does what it sets out to do extremely well and feels extremely unique even to this day. As far as I'm concerned, this is a great album. Change my mind. ============================================================ Histoire De Melody Nelson Score: 9/10 Song Average: 8.3/10

There are a lot of movies, books, and tv shows about bad people. This is another one. The music is great however, and I'm pretty sure that not understanding French is a plus.

Easily the greatest French concept album about the seduction, statutory rape, and subsequent murder of a teenage girl that I’ve ever heard. Honestly I can’t even think of another contender to the crown.

obviously difficult to fully sanction but the tonal and aesthetic unity just about pulls it together for me. its so tense and repressed and fucked-up-sounding that i cant say the accusations of full romanticization hold up for me (at least without actually knowing the lyrics). more than that tho, it still manages to convey How and Why the protagonist feels , entirely through musical expression, and if its a classic just for its ability to replace ur own heart with that of a fucked up person, its well deserved for being so instantly readably understandable without knowing any french. its construction as a holistic piece is detailed, precise, and rly grabs u by the throat. still, id probably be better off just reading lolita yk...russians outsold the french

I liked it. Subject matter iffy, but that's what a concept album is all about. It IS still fiction, people.

Is this another CHANSON album!? After Jacques Brel I’ll be honest I’ve kinda been craving another. This is pretty nice stuff. Instrumentals are beautiful and it’s artistic without feeling arty (maybe it’s a little arty but I’m into it). I know Gainsbourg became a super controversial figure (was he a pedo or am I slandering him?) but if this is his early stuff I’m into it.

Without understanding the lyrics, it sounds like I’m sitting at a French cafe on the street, smoking a cigarette and downing wine and espresso on an empty stomach. The sun is low and I’m peering off into the distance imagining my life as I fall in love with every (adult) French girl that walks by. After reading the synopsis, it makes sense it’s a controversial lolita album. The album makes you feel, regardless of the context. With the context brings more feelings of disgust and taboo intrigue. It’s art, it does its job of making you feel shit. Enjoyable music for sure, if the music wasn’t so good this would be shit by content alone.

I’ve always really liked this album, nothing else sounds quite like it. The bass lines are sweet and the guitar parts sweeping the songs along, while the vocal style and string arrangements keeping the vibe pretty moody. Cargo Culte is an epic crescendo, and a track I listen to a lot. It’s just a very effortlessly cool vibe, and Air clearly borrowed heavily from this musically, while Jarvis clearly loved the vocal style. Fortunately the dubious nature of the subject matter is obscured somewhat by the language barrier. That, plus a couple of weaker tracks in the middle stop this from being a 5*. The random fact is the guitarist on this album also played the original Bond Theme.

My favorite Gainsbourg experience is the video where he gets very emotional by the choir of child Gainsbourg imitators with beards and sunglasses and cigarettes. But this is good too.

Même si les musiques sont vraiment bizarres, l'album a un sens

Love French music, even the risqué stuff

Just an effortlessly cool album, you can hear how much it influenced another great French artist, AIR. I will be digging through his catalog. Love the jazz influence and just really solid guitar and bass.

Really enjoyed this! Epic orchestral moments along with some good ol’ rock music that felt like a bit of a jam session. Felt really modern too. Maybe lots of people have been influenced by him but it all just felt really familiar. A couple of tracks properly sounded so much like Nick Cave & Kylie’s ‘Wild Rose’ track, I’d be shocked if they weren’t straight up trying to make a Serge Gainsbourg track when they made it. Will defo revisit this album.

Not the masterpiece it is usually hailed as, but very original and atmospheric. An album where to come back from time to time.

The french lyrics and slow melody is reminiscent to beatnik spoken word sessions in a cafe shrouded in cigerette smoke. Overall, a mysterious and alluring mix of rock and jazz.

Man I wish I didn't read into this album after listening to it. I really enjoyed the album's vibes - like a sleazy French James Bond soundtrack. I try to judge these based solely on the music, but finding out about the artist and the "story" of the album does leave an ick in my mouth that is hard to ignore. It can lose a star for the creepy lyrics though. P.S Everyone who voted 1 solely based on Gainsbourg's character better have also given 1 star to Led Zeppelin, Bowie, and every other old school rocker known for sleeping with their groupies.

Album cool. Des instrumentaux très puissants et une voix française apaisante pour bien s'accorder. Je réécouterais ça.

Dang I wish he didn't ruin this really good music by being a creepo

I'm not as enamoured by this album's dense and sleazy atmosphere as many others, but I certainly recognise how unique it is. Tremendously composed and orchestrated, but it sounds kinda creepy, and not in a good way. I recently listened to Gainsbourg's first few albums and I must say, I enjoyed those much more. Key tracks: L'Hotel Particulier

Dimery y'a envie de nuire comment ça tu mets cet album pour nous représenter, un album expérimental qui traite de pédophilie ; comment veux tu que ces golems d'anglosaxons comprennent qqchose. L'album est pensé un peu comme un film, avec pas mal de poésie. Le frérot arrive à créer une vrai atmosphère, autant envoutante que dérangeante en décrivant une pulsion aussi honteuse qu'indéfendable. Musicalement c'est très bien produit, parfaitement au service de la narration de l'album. Le seul problème de ce genre d'album, c'est que la réécoute est pas si simple, les sons s'écoutent pas tant que ça individuellement, l'album est un tout indivisible. Chat : Histoire de Melody Nelson (1971) est un album-concept où Gainsbourg raconte, en spoken word, l’histoire sombre et ambiguë d’un homme qui s’éprend d’une adolescente, jusqu’à une fin tragique. Il est important car il impose en France une forme d’album narratif très moderne, à la fois provocant et littéraire, devenu culte. Musicalement, c’est un mélange unique de groove (basse/batterie), de rock/funk feutré et d’arrangements de cordes très cinématographiques (Jean-Claude Vannier). Sa production minimaliste et hypnotique a influencé durablement la pop, le trip-hop et l’électro. Un disque court mais extrêmement dense, pensé comme un film sonore

Weird as fuck, man. Honestly, I kind of rate it. In a world where we have half stars, this is probably dead on a 3. It's still a 3 in a world without half stars, but it feels a bit unfair because it's better than most the shit I'm rating 3 stars.

Liked the music. Very French. Dodgy subject matter but since I couldn’t understand most of it I’m just going by the vibe which I liked. But the most disturbing aspect of this album is that he fancied a girl from Sunderland!

Happy I listened. Fascinating album. That said, I will probably never listen again.

A surprising and engaging listen

French vibe, more than music. Gainsbourg can definitely do better

The French have always had a high opinion of their food , fashion and art. Serge Gainsbourg has always struck me as an artist who makes music , rather than a musician first. This felt like it was trying to be high brow. That said , did quite enjoy it.

Someone's clearly obsessed with Melody Nelson and her natural red hair. It was interesting listening to this and trying to understand it. Honestly the French can speak nonsense into a microphone with sultry guitar and backing choir vocals and it would sound good.

Love the frwnch language! Hat french people

Backing music is pretty good. Vocals are not great but tolerable. Theme of this "concept album" is creepy as fuck.

Wow this was not an easy one, there’s the elephant slap bang in the middle of the room, and to be honest didn’t want to listen at the beginning. Same as never wanted or watched the stated classic film of the book Lolita. Whether it is just a story etc etc or not. But damn the music is good, this is obviously so influential and ahead of its time musically. Helps that I can’t really understand what’s being said, only having very basic French from high school level. Without wiki it would be 4 star for the music about some obsession about someone called Melody ( dodgy cover aside) but I do know, men in power lusting and more about 14 yr olds, story or not is just not something I want to read/hear - don’t want to think about the man’s “issue” - so sorry but can’t do more that 2 star because of that.

I like the French language except when it is being sung at me and a creepy low pitch that makes me feel like I'm about to be assaulted

Well, I wanted to rate this a 3 or 4, but then I read the album description. Bummer.

Annoying singing about a disturbing topic with righteous guitar?

If you've ever wondered what a french man using ASMR to seduce a 15 year old girl sounds like, boy have I got the album for you!

What if Leonard Cohen recorded an album where he spoke in French about having sex with a 14 year old girl? That would be this. I think if I didn’t know it was about sleeping with a teen I’d be more into it.

Pretty groovy and enjoyable. I wonder what the subject matter is….. *reads the wiki*…… Yikes.

Good sounding music but disgusting story to the album

“one of the greatest French-language albums in popular music” is an extended story about pedophilia. Great. Music isn’t awful, but that doesn’t matter. The French deserve to be invaded again

Well this is horrible. Musically great and clearly influential - I spotted bits that were sampled by Portishead. But this is not about, as Wikipedia describes it, an 'illicit romance'. It's about a middle-aged man grooming and raping a child. It can get in the fucking bin.

if you really want to listen to an uncharismatic frenchman talk into the microphone for 30 minutes about a made up love affair with a 14 year old, this album is for you! An album that brought nothing new to my life. the lyrics are very straightforward, nothing to really make you think. The backing tracks are okay i suppose, nothing crazy. this guy sounds like those tiktoks where a man is growling into the microphone because its "sexy" Ive read reviews for this work, everyone calls it sensual and brilliant, they say that this album really explores desire from a mans perspective, and yet ive failed to see any of it. Is this really the best way to explore desire? through the eyes of a pedophilic narrator? Just a pervy nothing burger. Makes me miss Nabokov, i think ill re-read lolita.

I have no idea how to rate this due to the fact that it's phedophilic content by all standards. Even when released this album was controversial. With that being said, without knowing the context the album plays like a villain monologuing. It's unfortunately influential and very well made despite the content. The "narrator" is very much a Humbert character. Lolita being released about fifteen years prior, first published in Paris, France, and then this album being made seems to have some significance. First he hits her with his car that plays as the abuser aspect, and then bringing her to a hotel as the kidnapping aspect. In line with the Lolita story more or less. As a concept album it fails to deliver any moral correction. Instead of punishment for illicit affairs with a young girl she 'dies' as a solution... It was controversial then and has only soured with time; This is unlike Lolita, where we know the antagonist is not to be empathized with. I think there's some context to know from France: The age of consent is low, and as far as I have been made aware of through the art community... Their pornographic content makes everything in America look softcore. Not a justification for the album, just context to consider. Especially since (as already stated) this album was still controversial. Great minds don't always create the best concepts. They're just good at what they do in a technical sense. Good music, absolutely shit ass take for a concept work. Statutory rape and obsession cannot be rationalized into a love story.☠️

As you’ve probably saw from the other one star reviews…yeah…this is a no for me dogg. Music was ok, but the lyrics and subject matter, that’s a different story

1001misogynistsgenerator delivers again!! backing band is alright in places. middling Can smothered by boring strings. to make sure that it's a chore to have on, all that gets drowned by sleazy French. I don't speak French, but the summary seems to be: guy hits a teen girl with his car. gets obsessed with teen girl. has sex with teen girl at a secret hotel. so that there need not be any reflection or reckoning, she dies tragically in a plane crash. guy can go on to be a regular shithead (Deeply Tortured by Desire) and nobody has to know. it forms the base of our pile here on 1001misogynistsgenerator, the pile of songs by guys who think their creep behaviour is tortured & deep. the songs in this pile outnumber the songs with a woman performer. tonight I'm going to see Sour Widows, who fuckin rock (2024's Revival Of A Friend is a 10 ★). they have a brutal song about the normalized entitlement rockers have toward young women that gets the heart of the thing in one line: "𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 / 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦" at the quiet part it goes "𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥'𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵" which is more provocative, more musically and culturally interesting than a whole career of Serge Gainsbourg. by contrast the only thing that makes me go "woah holy shit" about Historie De Melody Nelson is "holy shit what a fucking loser." nihilism is dull you coward. music: hated.

While the music sounds nice enough, I can’t in good conscience give an album that glorifies pedophilia anything other than a 1 star. This is fucking gross.

Good album but the guys a fucking pedo. Why is it here ?

Histoire De Melody Nelson is, quite frankly, an unsettling listen. Serge Gainsbourg’s whispery, sleazy vocals and the disturbing subject matter make for a deeply uncomfortable experience. The only redeeming features are the occasional flashes of great guitar work and the fact that the whole thing is mercifully short—over in under half an hour. Favourite track: I couldn’t pick one if I tried. Least favourite track: Take your pick from any of tracks 1–7. Album artwork: A cool cover, even if what’s inside doesn’t live up to it.

I had a conversation once with a french guy, where I joked around a bit about Serge, based on my knowledge at the time. But he was dead serious when he said that he was quite a revolutionary person in France, and very well respected. Sadly, I have to admit I don't understand that at all, at least not based on this album. My take is that he is well with words. If that is true, that part is completely missed since I don't speak french. And what remains when taking that away is not much. Sure, it would fit nicely in a french café perhaps, but that's about it. Probably won't ever be let into France after giving this a 1 star, but so be it. Someone will have to explain it to me sometime, but if that's what it takes to enjoy this, it is a problem in itself. And even without speaking french, this album oozes with pretentiousness.

The terrible singing/spoken word vocals coupled with subject matter make this a tough listen. Definitely not an album I needed to hear before I die.

I thought I’d enjoy this bland and aimless mess of pretentiousness better if I looked up a translation of the lyrics. That just made things far worse…

voulez vous...oui! cover! c

Great album, icky concept.

I have no idea as to why I loved this but I was completely obsessed with this album - I listened to it 5/6 times. It made me feel as though I was in a 70's film - I later found out that was the purpose but I could see France back then and a love story between two people in all its retroness.

i lurv the vibes of this one too <3333

Helt sinnsykt bra! Hører mange har hentet inspirasjon herifra! Dette treffer 10/10! Dødsfett! Veldig forut sin tid også!

70’s Rock ⭐️Cargo Culte

I swear to god that french people are so shitty but when it comes to art is the coolest shit u ever see/heard

The vibiest vibe record ever to vibe. I'm glad I don't understand French because I suspect it might break the spell.

A fave

Fuck this is good. I left this a long time listen to and wasn't enthusiastic at all, but it's brilliant. Sounds incredible, the guitar and rhythm section is so influential on lots of other great music too.

Not on the Epstein files

Massively cool. Need more time with it but yes

I didn’t understand anything but i didn’t need to, it spoke for itself 🥹

Great!

Amazing. Also melody is from Sunderland which is a great fact. One of my favourite albums

Let's address the elephant in the room. First, the 1944 novel Gigi, turned into a highly celebrated movie, won a record breaking 9 Academy Awards including best picture. An even more risqué novel, the 1955 Lolita, is a controversial story that is considered a masterpiece by many in the literary community. The 1962 adaptation currently has an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Point being, this was a different time in our culture, and neither story celebrates pedophilia. They are revered because of their ability to examine the complexity of the human condition. That brings us to Melody. While it is a cringe worthy storyline with a graphic and unnecessary hotel scene, the style of storytelling, with the musical backdrop, is undeniably captivating and creative.

Beautiful, esoteric and oh so French.

fantastic 100%

Soft strings, jazzy percussion, and French pillow talk? Hell yeah.

I was surprised to see this remarkable record rated so lowly. Then I read the reviews and realised that people were rating the subject matter, not the music. If you're capable of getting past the fact that sometimes art deals with uncomfortable topics, this is an amazing album. Sounds fantastic, and it's influence on others is immediately apparent - Beck, Pulp, Portishead etc. Glad to have had it brought to my attention, which is exactly what this list is all about for me.

First heard about this album because I was told Beck’s Paper Tiger was inspired by its sound. Which is totally correct. To be honest, I’m not sure anything else quite sounds like this. You don’t need to speak French to get the gist of Gainsbourg’s spoken vocals around love, lust and loss. And the way the first and last tracks bookend the album, building from quiet bass lines to full orchestrated arrangements is near perfect.

So much here to recommend this - the influence, the great opening bassline sample, the arrangements, and the general bonkers-ness of it all. Top drawer, and definitely my favourite Beck album, by far.

1001 Albums Challenge (12/1001) 1. Melody (4/5) 2. Ballade De Melody Nelson (5/5) 3. Valse De Melody (5/5) 4. Ah ! Melody (5/5) 5. L'Hotel Particulier (4/5) 6. En Melody (5/5) 7. Cargo Culte (4/5) Total (5/5)

I liked this a lot and listened to it twice, you can hear all types of music that was likely influenced by it later

I understand Birkin Bags now

Near-perfect if you just ignore the lyrics.

Grimy

brilliant

Phenomenal compositionally no notes

10/10…chanson / französischer rock-pop

cool!

I really liked this album.

I loved this album for years, and really feel like it continues to stand out as a unique and beautiful piece of work. I don't know any French so had no idea about the Lolita-esque "ick" factors with the concept. Unfortunately this initially soured my previous appreciation of the album and I have had a tough time listening through and connecting with the vocalists as much as I used to. At the end of the day, I remind myself that these are characters in a story created by an artist who prides himself in being controversial. No children were harmed in the making of this album and the goal does not seem to be an "advocation" of the narrators egregious acts (though again I don't know French so can only read synopses and do not understand the nuisances of the language). Reflecting on what initially drew me to the album: his voice is amazing, there is so much musical variation and depth across it's short runtime, it was and continues to be cutting edge, it's funky and expressive, and it all comes full circle through masterful sequencing. For a non-french speaker like me, what is there not to love? 5/5

<sigh>

Somewhere within my last 100 albums, I had Let's Get Killed by David Holmes, which underwhelmed me except for one song - Don't Die Just Yet. That song stood out so much I had to figure out why, and I discovered it samples this album. So after that I listened to this Serge Gainsbourg album. I really enjoyed it and have listened to it a couple times since then before generating it today. (And now I know why it already sounded familiar because I listen to a lot of Beck as well.) Anyway, I'm going to rate this a 5 because that's how I felt about the music - which is fantastic - before learning the content of the lyrics just now. I genuinely hope the point is to be disturbed by the character on this album, but...to what end? I've given low ratings to several albums because of creepy or downright misogynistic lyrics. But was that easier because I didn't really like the music that much either? Why should this album get a pass? I can't answer that right now. I will reflect and read some think pieces. Maybe I will change my rating.

A fascinating piece of work. As soon as it started I recognised the trip hop influences. Really enjoyed this, will definitely listen again. Hey, it's not the most modern storyline but lots of people here don't realise France didn't have an age of consent "at all" until recently and only then set it at 15 in 2001.

Beautiful album, somewhat haunting at times too. Love the orchestra that plays throughout the album and the really funky guitar playing on En Melody. Gainsbourgs voice is beautiful too.

## In-Depth Review of *Histoire De Melody Nelson* by Serge Gainsbourg Serge Gainsbourg's *Histoire De Melody Nelson*, released in 1971, stands as a seminal work in the landscape of French music. This concept album is a daring exploration of themes such as desire, obsession, and the complexities of illicit love, all wrapped in a lush musical tapestry. The album's narrative follows a middle-aged man's infatuation with a young girl named Melody Nelson, echoing the controversial themes found in Nabokov's *Lolita*. This review delves into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and its lasting influence while also weighing its pros and cons. ### Lyrics The lyrics of *Histoire De Melody Nelson* are both provocative and poetic, showcasing Gainsbourg's mastery of language. The narrative unfolds through a series of vignettes that depict the narrator's obsession with Melody. The opening track, "Melody," introduces her character with an almost dreamlike quality: > "A little animal / That Melody Nelson / An adorable tomboy / And such a delightful child / Who I only knew for a moment." These lines set the tone for the album’s exploration of fleeting beauty and tragic desire. Gainsbourg's use of imagery is striking; he paints vivid scenes that oscillate between romantic and unsettling. In "L’hôtel Particulier," he describes a sordid hotel room where their relationship unfolds: > "If it’s available, say that you want room forty-four / They call it here the Cleopatra room..." This juxtaposition of lush descriptions against morally ambiguous actions creates a tension that permeates the entire album. Gainsbourg’s delivery—part spoken word, part singing—adds to the raw intimacy of the lyrics, allowing listeners to feel the weight of his words even if they do not understand French. ### Music Musically, *Histoire De Melody Nelson* is groundbreaking. The album features a blend of rock, funk, and orchestral arrangements that was innovative for its time. Collaborating with composer Jean-Claude Vannier, Gainsbourg crafted a sound that is both lush and minimalist. The prominent use of bass guitar by Herbie Flowers drives many tracks, providing a sensual groove that complements the lyrical content. The opening track "Melody" features a hypnotic bassline and sparse instrumentation that gradually builds tension. This is contrasted by "Cargo Culte," which closes the album with sweeping orchestral arrangements that evoke a sense of melancholy and reflection. The production is meticulous; every element—from the strings to the background vocals—serves to enhance the narrative and emotional depth of the songs. ### Production The production quality of *Histoire De Melody Nelson* is exceptional. Jean-Claude Vannier's arrangements are integral to the album’s success, blending elements from various genres to create a cohesive soundscape. Vannier’s orchestration elevates Gainsbourg’s provocative lyrics into something resembling high art rather than mere pop music. The album's short runtime (approximately 28 minutes) is another notable aspect; it delivers its narrative efficiently without overstaying its welcome. This brevity contributes to its impact, leaving listeners wanting more while also providing a complete story arc. ### Themes Thematically, *Histoire De Melody Nelson* grapples with complex issues surrounding desire and morality. The relationship between the narrator and Melody raises uncomfortable questions about age, consent, and obsession. Critics have noted that while Gainsbourg's portrayal can be seen as an exploration of forbidden love, it also risks romanticizing predatory behavior. The album’s exploration of innocence lost is poignant; it reflects on fleeting moments of beauty and desire against a backdrop of societal taboos. Gainsbourg himself described his work as surrealistic and fantastical, distancing it from reality while simultaneously engaging deeply with human emotions. ### Influence The influence of *Histoire De Melody Nelson* extends far beyond its initial release. It has been cited as an inspiration by numerous artists across genres—from Beck to Portishead—who have drawn on its innovative blend of orchestration and lyrical boldness. The album has been credited with laying groundwork for genres such as trip-hop and has influenced modern cinematic scoring. Critics have hailed it as one of the greatest French-language albums in history, often placing it alongside other masterpieces in popular music. Its unique sound continues to resonate with contemporary musicians who admire Gainsbourg’s fearless approach to songwriting. ### Pros and Cons **Pros:** - **Innovative Sound:** The combination of rock, funk, and orchestral elements creates a unique listening experience. - **Lyrical Depth:** Gainsbourg’s lyrics are rich in imagery and emotion, prompting deep reflection on complex themes. - **Cultural Impact:** The album has influenced countless artists and remains relevant in discussions about music history. **Cons:** - **Controversial Themes:** The subject matter may alienate some listeners due to its portrayal of an inappropriate relationship. - **Accessibility:** Non-French speakers may miss nuances in the lyrics without translations. - **Short Runtime:** While some appreciate its brevity, others may feel that it leaves too much unsaid. ### Conclusion Serge Gainsbourg's *Histoire De Melody Nelson* is an audacious work that challenges listeners both musically and thematically. Its blend of provocative lyrics and innovative sound has solidified its place in music history as a landmark album that continues to inspire artists today. While its controversial subject matter may provoke discomfort or criticism, there is no denying its artistic merit and lasting influence on popular music. This masterpiece invites listeners into a world where beauty and darkness coexist—a testament to Gainsbourg's genius as both a songwriter and provocateur.

I listened to this on my work computer am I going to get fired? But also, "Melody" is incredible in its squirminess; song that goes just about everywhere and soars and evolves dramatically. And I never realised just how directly David Holmes ripped it off for "Don't Die Just Yet."

The influence of this record is everywhere. 5/5

I’ve known about Serge Gainsbourg for about 25 years now, but this is my first time listening to one of his albums from start to finish. He’s truly incredible. This album has such a strong mellotron presence, giving it lush orchestral arrangements that bring out that baroque and chamber pop vibe. You also get some psychedelic rock touches and these raw, gritty guitar riffs that even flirt with a proto punk sound. The entire album is sung in French, and all those musical elements I mentioned are layered on a French pop foundation. The production is fantastic, with the bass especially standing out. This is definitely one of those albums you want to listen to with headphones to really appreciate all the sound layers. If the rest of his catalog is as solid as this, Serge Gainsbourg might just work his way into being one of my favoritesi.

My only interaction with this man before now was seeing footage of a room full of children dressed up to look like him with fake beards, whisky, and cigarettes, all singing to him as he wept. One of the funniest things I've ever watched and also this album was pretty good

I listened to this while making a quiche and it made the entire activity seem like such a sexy endeavour.

That was brilliant!

Very nice.

Can't believe it took this long to get to a Gainsbourg album. It's short and sweet and there should probably be about three more of his albums on this list. Perfectment

I don’t know what he’s saying, but it sounds sexy. Great drums, heavy basslines, and generally just a cool album.

This one is for the pervs and the rhythm section! Gorgeous and lush, the production of this record has been imitated many times, but this is kind of singular. My only complaint is that the record is a little short.

Из уважения к французскому шансону. Но очень странно, что ничего больше (почти) нам не включили. А зря, я бы может и послушал что-то вместо очередного альбома Боба Дилана. Альбом ультракороток, и это... наверное, не entry-level альбом для понимания, кто такой Серж Генсбур. Это одна из первых его экспериментальных работ, более того - это первый концептуальный альбом на французском языке. Новатор, экспериментатор... и совершенно неуспешен в продажах. Хулиган, чё сказать)

5/5

I have the joy of appreciating both the lyrics and the music. The orchestration is great, he's a master lyricist, and has a masterful delivery

Very unusual, liked it!

Well. What a conflicting album this is. On the one hand, it's brilliant. Musically, lyrically, stylistically it is genuinely one of the most compelling, captivating and consuming albums I think I've ever heard. The production of it is great. On the other - the subject matter is a bit icky. I guess it's meant to be. Brilliant album. And L'hotel Particulier is absolutely stand-out. Can clearly see how it influenced Jarvis Cocker for F.E.E.L.I.N.G.C.A.L.L.E.D.L.O.V.E.

A mí en particular me a encantado, un adelantado a su tiempo.

Listen this at: 05/02/2024

This was a surprise, I love this. That last track really hits. Cinematic, those cellos absolutely ripp

Between a four and a five. Leant the generous side due to its influence on Tranquility Hotel. And to mildly irk Myfanwy.

Un grand grand classique, orchestral, drôle et sensuel.

I don’t like the concept for this concept album, but this is by far the best concept album I’ve heard. Maybe if I was French and understood the nuance of the lyrics I could take a better stance. But musically it’s phenomenal.

beautiful

Musically this is just astonishing, like nothing else really. You can query the narrative, but it's clearly a character - like the musical equivalent of Lolita

Very cool precursor to Lou Reed

With Histoire de Melody Nelson, Gainsbourg creates the first true (and perhaps only) concept album. Precursors first linked tracks thematically, then sonically, then historically, but the tracks were always separable from the whole; the music stood up by itself. Later attempts at concept albums have culminated in epic feats of navel-gazing. Histoire de Melody Nelson is the first album where the music is incidental to the story, and the story is incidental to a deeper philosophy of life. Gainsbourg wields rock music to pose us questions on sex and violence, to challenge us to confront the ideas posed by Nabakov, Ballard and Bataille. And before we know it, the music boils over, leaving us more stranded than we were before.

that was interesting af

The mixture of overdrive guitar funk sound with the orchestra/choir, as well as that smooth ass french voice (I have no idea what they're saying). Makes this one of the most unique albums I've listened to.

Who knew French music could be so fascinating? Fun album that holds up remarkably well for 50+ years.

Deeply unsettling

Close to being perfect in my mind. A bizarre mix of rocky riffs, orchestral bites, jazzy interludes and almost spoken word lyricism. It's clearly an inspiration for some of my favourite artists, beck, Alex Turner, and so on, but the overall theme leaves a gross taste in my mouth. It's so incredibly French, the sound of a cigarette and adultery in a bohemian hotel room. 09/07/23

This is what this whole 1001 greatest albums process is all about. Completely left-field choice, something I'd never even heard of before, a concept album in a different language - and it's a real, genuine hidden gem. What an atmosphere this album has. It's quite dark and dangerous and sexy and seductive. The music and production is incredible. I love the violins, the sudden explosion of drums, that deep driving bass. Very very good. I've given it about 3-4 listens now, and it'll definitely be one I go back to a fair bit. There's something really compelling about this. Album 192 and I've finally found my first 5 star album from an artist who was completely unknown to me beforehand - thank you!

Gillar Serge. Har lyssnat mycket på honom de senaste 10 åren men inte så mycket på just denna platta. Klart som fan att det är bra.

fuckig brilliant

Groovy.

Incredible

Banger after banger after banger. The only downside is it is a short album at 30 minutes.

Gainsbourg is the epitome of cool. This album is rocking and sexy and suave, and doesn't outstay its welcome.

I have always wanted to learn French, and after hearing this album for the first time, I enrolled so that I could understand the lyrics on my own. I love this album so much!

This was a fascinating album. Loved the ebbed and flow of it.

Tre cool. I've not listened to a lot of French music (outside of rap and whatever they play on Lupin) but this was good.

the instrumentals are fucking phenomenal, tho I don’t really care for the vocals feels like i’m in a Ghirardelli commercial with some of these songs still super impressive that an album like this came out in 1971 - 9/10

Loved it, very very french

I really liked this album. I had never heard it before, but I listened to it like 4 times. and I didn't understand a word of the lyrics.

There are flaws, to be sure, but I adore this.

I would have never listened to this album if It weren't for this project. This is why I'm doing it. What a vibe this thing has.

Total revelation, never knew of this album’s existence and yet it has influenced so much music that I love!

Absolute surprise - Loved it

Damn. Chicago 2012. Yup

me gustó mucho EN MELODY

I have no clue what this guy was saying, but I loved every second of it. It was groovy and sexy, and I even liked the weird laughing. I'm a fan of Chilly Gonzales and it seems he has been influenced by Serge.

Let me preface this with saying I listened to this before knowing anything about the concept of the album or Serge as a person, so this review is going to be solely based on the blind listen I went in with. That said, this is exactly what I signed up for! Production, performance, arrangements, everything is fantastic. Based on other French artists I've heard in my life, I can say Serge is absolutely as stereotypical in his delivery as you can get, but the way everything comes together is perfect. A little jazzy, a little avant-garde, very groovy, very sensual (and yes, feels gross using that word knowing what I now know..). Definitely makes me think of Air's "Moon Safari", albeit with organic instrumentation.

Ah Serge you mad sexy bastard.

Certainly an interesting listen despite it's dubious subject matter. Very influential. Lush

Transgressive, but short - at 28mins that's 2 mins for each year of Melody's life! An album I never quite got to on my previous sorties into Gainsbourg territory as I was almost exclusively in his Yé-yé period. Incredibly influential - the strings on the opener massively lifted for Becks Sea Change, the Stereolab like groove on L'hotel, the Cocker (or is it Tip-Top!) vocals throughout - also love the organ that drops in during L'hotel - itself taking a page straight out of Floyd.

You can hear the multitude of influences this album lays down for those to come, but the idea of a dirty minded lothario who liked a younger lady writing a concept album about falling in love and popping the cherry of a 14 year old is deeply disturbing. I’m marking this for the music alone.

Someone I've never heard of with an album cover that made me think of generic Hollywood-friendly pop music. It took about 5 seconds for me to realize this was a stunning piece of modern production. I was so scared the experience would unravel negatively, and then the next song comes on and it keeps hitting you with quality. This experience holds for its entire half hour duration. Much respect has been earned for Gainsbourg before the album is over. This is 1971, a precursor to trip-hop, but it's got the *perfect* blend of spoken word, funk, and symphonic structure. I'm not even fluent in French, and it kind of matters. The story is crazy, straight up musings from the mind of a grooming predator, a very intimate look into the thought process of a disgusting animal portraying as human. You can nearly empathize with the fucker, the emotional aspect of the music is so solid. That doesn't stop L'hotel from feeling sleazy, but it's enjoyable as art, as an extension of someone else's feelings. The album takes you somewhere you might not have been curious about, and makes you experience things in a way that might feel foreign, that might allow perspective or understanding. 4.4/5

I do like this.

Sophisti-pop of the ‘70s variety, incorporating jazz, funk and rock into a pleasingly Continental sort of vibe, elevated by French baritone murmurings. Of course rich French sounds are evocative of sex…too bad that it turns out he’s murmuring about sex with a 14 year old girl. It doesn’t detract from this record’s nearly perfect application as your next dinner party’s soundtrack. Add wine and candlelight, and hopefully adults, who knows where la nuit could go?

I hate French and everything to do with French. I’ve said it before. This is special though. Too bad they didn’t want to sell records and de use to do an English version. I hear Lovage in this so that would tell me that this music fell onto or into the right ears. Maybe it didn’t and they have no idea who this guy is. I don’t know I don’t care that much I’m moving on. This was painful to listen to because of the French mumbo jumbo but alas, I listened through it. Bravo

kind of like the french scott walker. pretty groovy/orchestral

Rate: 8/10.

3.9/5 - Went from "what the fuque is this" to "magnifique." Pretty cool stuff.

The coolest of music. 3.5/5

kinda killer

This was very interesting and I enjoyed it. Sets a mood for being in 60s Paris. He is very talented. Sure I have heard some of his music on French movie soundtracks.

Werde ich vmtl nie wieder an machen, aber cool das mal gehört zu habe und ist ganz nice - ist seiner Zeit weit voraus mMn

Sexy French poetry over rock beats. Would probably be more appreciated if I spoke a lick of French.

Smooth and French.

Kinda great: strings, guitar grooves, it’s a different sound

When I saw this come up I was like oh man I don't want to listen to this again but now I see I previously gave it 4 stars. Sometimes a language barrier is a good thing it seems.

Why do I feel as if he's specifically trying to fuck me. Having read the background of the album and the concept behind it, it makes sense that the singer is a brilliant mix of seductive yet sleazy. I can't say it's bad. I can't say I enjoyed it either.

fav songs: ah melody stylish, cinematic, hypnotic 70/100

Unique sound and it confirms a lot of what we all think about the French

French, yet cool

kind of a good idea. make some cool music and then just talk over it. france rocks man

Geweldige conceptplaat van de goat in de Franse muziek

Most unexpected banger ever. The opening track is so cool. A drummer that needs no more than a kick and a snare, and maybe a hat. Beautiful buzz rolls and ghost notes, and a swing that begs to be sampled (turns out it was - collab between Massive Attack, Nellee Hooper, Portishead - how cool is that?) The rest of the album is a mix of slow French sophistry and the more upbeat stuff. Adding to my playlist

Thankfully I don’t understand the lyrics - so I was just left with the songs which are great

I like the instrumentation, esp the guitars and bass. The addition of an orchestra was fun. Is this a rock opera? The story of Melody Nelson It threw me off how short some of the songs were It was a very cool album. The subject matter however is very cringe. Low key glad I only understand basic French

I'm bringing sexy Frenchie back. Serge for whatever reason deciding to have Melody Nelson be fourteen...when album cover image and voice of Melody, Jane Birkin, was 25 at the time. "Fucking Gainsbourg, that creep can roll, man." "Yeah, but he's a pervert, Dude. No, he's a sex offender. With a record. He served 6 months in Chino for exposing himself to a fourteen year old."

Mkay a deep sexy french voice doing its thing with a solid instrumental including an orchestra, no idea what he’s saying but i heard ecstacy so maybe its meant to actually be sexy? Seems to be a love story revolving around the titular Melody Nelson. Can’t give it full points due to the language barrier but i was surprised how much i liked this. Standouts are Melody, Ballade de Melody Nelson, en Melody and Cargo Culte.

I actually really enjoyed this album. I enjoyed the laid-back feel to it and that tight 70's production.

Alright man

i'm really torn over this one. the sound is great, the spoken word approach fits perfectly over these instrumentals and i especially enjoyed the first and last tracks, both of which feel almost like proto-trip hop? but like, after reading up on what the concept of the album is....... hmm. it's probably a good thing i don't speak french? i'm giving it a 4 on the strength of everything else, but i feel like i need to take a shower now.

So French

81/100. The central narrative of this album is undeniably uncomfortable. Serge Gainsbourg builds the record around the story of a middle aged man pursuing a fifteen year old girl, and when that is paired with his real life reputation for provocative and often troubling behavior, it makes the listening experience difficult. At the same time, the musical execution is incredible, which is what makes the album so frustrating and complicated. The arrangements are rich and cinematic, full of orchestral pop, funk and psychedelic influences. I have honestly been conflicted about giving the record such a high rating because of those themes. I honestly cannot see myself revisiting it again.

This is kinda sick. Often sounds so ahead of its time. So effortlessly cool. Sounds like the Nouvelle Vague. Was this a film soundtrack or something? I don't really care it was fun. Fave Tracks: Melody, Ballad de Melody Nelson, L'hotel particulier (BOF "Melody Nelson") 4.4/5

Very cool and cool French pop

As it is, standing on it's own and not knowing any French, it's a pretty groovy and chill 4 star album. I recognized something in here from Beck's Sea Change album which I did enjoy and saw that Beck and many others were inspired by this. Yeah the story behind it from what I read in wikipedia is creepy for sure but I enjoyed the sound of this album not knowing any of that ahead of time.

My favorite Gainsbourg album. Due mainly to the fact that I’m a sucker for a concept pieces but also because of that simple bass line you hear throughout. That compared with the noodling of an overdriven guitar creates a sexy backdrop to a story I can only make inferences about due to my limited understanding of the French language. Even though he gets freaky throughout Serge sticks to his 60s crooner style which I appreciate. To top it all off, it has a fantastic crescendo to finish. Good shit! Edit: I didn’t realize the concept was a romance between Gainsbourg and a 15 year old. I was thinking the woman with the doll was a bit strange but didn’t read into it until after my listen/rating. Dammit Serge!!!

Extremely problematic theme aside, the music and flow of this album was great. Not something I'd be all over, but very listenable. Clearly artistic, but jesus, what the fuck.

80

Never listened to Serge before and really drawn in by it

Ik kan geen frans maar zat gelijk in het album. De orkestrale arrangementen van Jean-Claude Vannier trekken je er gelijk in. De bas is heeft geeft een fijne gekke groovy basis en gitaar is ook wel aardig. Productioneel is het er goed een goed gemixt wat voelt als een cinematisch album op deze manier. Na wat research lees je waar het album over gaat en dat maakt het toch een beetje lastig. Omdat je geen frans begrijpt is het ook moeilijk om de intonaties van bepaalde vertellingen te horen. Maar een ontmaagding van een 14 jarig meisjes in een hotel door een man van middelbare leeftijd is wel moeilijk te verteren in welke (literaire)context dan ook. Los van de inhoud van het verhaal hoor je wel dat de muziek meebeweegt met een dramatisch slot akkoord waar het einde muzikaal goed samenkomt. Muziekaal en qua verhaal structuur denk ik wel dat het 5 sterren is maar ik voel toch een ongemak tijdens het luisteren en niet op een poëtische manier dat het schuurt maar dat ik er liever niet naar luister. Ook het gebrek aan franse taalkennis kan ik heet moeilijk in ene bepaalt perspectief zien. Ik snap wel dat album op veel muziekanten een grote invloed heeft gehad.

Музично це просто сууууупер стиль. Я дуже кайфонув від альбому. А потім пішов почитати, про що співали/розповідали, і тут дізлайк. Я дуже не люблю всі ці заборонені кріпові лав-сторі чоловіків до дівчат-підлітків ні в літературі, ні в фільмах, ні в музиці. Виходить, що менше знаєш - ставиш вищу оцінку. Поставлю 4 виключно через дуже гарну, можливо, навіть видатну, музичну частину.

Класний і дуже стильний альбом. Тверда четвірка. Взагалі дискографія Гензбурга доволі цікава, а ще він вплинув на створення мого улюбленого альбому АМ tranquility based hotel and casino.

Mel-uh-dee: a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, a bike, the spirit of ecstasy. Mel. Uh. Dee. The night is plain, easily hiding those wishing to be hidden. They travel far, thundering down quiet roads. I feel I know her, but sometimes my arms bend back. Pure colours, melting clouds. It has stopped raining.

De uitdrukking 'Enfant terrible' lijkt voor Serge Gainsbourg uitgevonden. Provocateur, etterbak, kettingroker, clown, perverseling, vies mannetje, charmeur, versierder. En altijd onvoorspelbaar. De man die Frankrijk op stang joeg met een hilarische reggae-versie van het volkslied ('Aux armes et caetera'), en internationaal moraalridders shockeerde met het best wel obscene hijgnummer 'Je t'aime moi non plus'. Zijn partner-in-crime Jane Birkin geeft ook hier acte de présence, als de Melody Nelson uit de titel. Als we de nogal vage teksten mogen geloven is zij een vroegrijpe roodharige deerne van 14 à 15 jaar, een ideaal onderwerp voor beroepsviezerik Gainsbourg. Waarna ze met een vrachtvliegtuig neerstort in Nieuw-Guinea, of zoiets. Het gaat allemaal weer nergens over, Gainsbourg zingzegt met zijn vertrouwde luie toontje over best aardig gecomponeerde en gearrangeerde nummers, waarop zelfs James Bond-gitarist Vic Flick meespeelt(!). Fransen vinden zo'n klier als Gainsbourg geweldig, ik houd wat reserves, maar al met al is dit mafklap-album toch best goed uitgevoerd. De muziek beklijft, de sfeer is uniek en het krijgt dus allemaal het voordeel van de twijfel deze keer.

Een Nabokov/Lolita-achtig verhaal van een vies mannetje in het Frans gesproken/gezongen/gefluisterd door een vies mannetje. Althans zo klinkt Serge, die we natuurlijk beter kennen van het hijgnummer "je t'aime moi non plus". Ik luister het met extra interesse omdat ik probeer wat Frans te verstaan. Verder vind ik Lolita een aanrader qua boek, dus dat zijn allemaal van die kleine dingetjes die meehelpen in het eindoordeel. Qua muziek gaan we duidelijk terug naar de 70s. Het mag een beetje zweven of psychedelisch rocken, heeft regelmatig een funky basslijntje. Wat strijkers voor de sfeer erbij. Ik kan dit erg goed aanhoren. Om mijn Frans te oefenen zou ik het nog een keer willen luisteren, maar gewoon voor de muziek zou ik het ook prima nog een keer op kunnen zetten. Geinig plaatje, quatre étoiles!

Serge Gainsbourg is one of France's biggest music exports, although I think by now Daft Punk might have crossed that threshold for future generations because the subject matter would be canceled today !!!!!!!!! Putting the obvious aside, Histoire de Melody Nelson is considered Gainsbourg's magnum opus. It's such a short record at around 28 minutes and yet I feel like I can't fully speak about the story or songwriting because it's French and I don't speak it, but the instrumentation (and especially) the bass drive the motion of the album incredibly well. Like, the bass is fantastic. It feels so loose, and at times feels like a car crash is about to happen and you just have to take it in. For a pop record (kind of hard to boil this down to one genre but I mean, he IS the popular french musician guy of the mid 20th century), this is pretty well done. The worst parts of the album are coincidentally, the two icky songs that aren't pretty good to begin with. Not like I can understand what it was about when I was listening to it, but I also though it was instrumentally the weaker parts of the album clocking in at like 3 minutes of a 28 minute record. 10%! Yeah that's math bet you didn't expect that you wanker.

So French it should come with a garlic necklace, a cigarette, questionable morals and a shrug. The music and production are fantastic. However, I didn't need to look up the lyrics to know it's definitely questionable - especially knowing about Gainsbourg (hint: it's pedobait). Anyway, luckily I can't speak French so I can just jam along to the music. Best Tracks: Melody; L'hotel particulier; En Melody

Just love the irreverence of Gainsbourg. The mix of cinematic jazz stylings and loungey singer songwriter works great on this record. 4 stars

Sex på et album

Cool, definitively cool, even if you let it go on for a good minute. Just keeps coming. Should be a James Bond movie. A genre unto itself.

My dad loved Serge Gainsbourg so I’ve always given him respect and appreciation for the talent and provocative attitude. He keeps on poking the stick with no let-up. It’s an insane and difficult concept album but I was on board and would listen again.

I wish I understood French because I really like Serge Gainsbourg's vibe. However, if I did understand this beyond the pedophile description of the album, I'm sure I wouldn't enjoy it as much. It's complicated.

What a character. Personally I greatly prefer his reggae/dub record aux armes et cetera.

Reminds me a little of the Marvin Gaye divorce album we recently reviewed in that it mines similarly sketchy, cringeworthy territory; suffice it to say, there’s probably no way this Lolita of an album could be made today. But like Here, My Dear, the music here is fantastic; dreamy, evocative and totally absorbing. Gainsbourg’s speak-and-whisper vocals are sexy and the backing band paints an appropriately loose, funky picture. Another thing that stands out is its influence. The stoned, lackadaisical feel and strings of the leadoff track sounds like the blueprint for Beck’s “Paper Tiger,” while fans of the album De La Soul is Dead will recognize the bass line from “En Melody” as a sample.

Prior to this I only really knew Gainsbourg as that horny French guy with the sex song, but this was really bloody good.

Texten förstår jag egentligen ingenting av, jag tror det pågår någon oanständig romans mellan gubbe och alldeles för ung flicka. Är han pedofil? Om man kan bortse från detta är det som händer bakom Serges prat ändå spännande. Ett tungt vilande komp med bas och trummor i centrum. Suggestivt. Progressiv jazzrock emellanåt. Musikaliskt inte alls vad jag väntade mig av denna tvivelaktiga 60/70-talschanteur. Jag ger en fyra till musiken.

Bela viagem. Estilo diferente e muito belo

I want to drink his voice like coffee bc it’s so delicious and then like Ursula steal his singing abilities and sue them to make songs about beautiful women who are super of age….. #separatetheartfromtheartinadifferentlanguagetjatucantunderstand

It’s hard to believe this album came out in 1971. It was so ahead of its time. This is the kind of album I was gooong to find from this list.

I don't know that I understood a thing he said, but I am pretty sure I felt everything he did. Somewhere between a 3 and a 4, leaning towards a 4 since I think it would get better with more play.

The music here sounded instantly familiar. Beck’s Sea Change is one of my favorite albums, and it’s so clear he was influenced by this record — particularly with the song Paper Tiger sharing the same DNA as the opening and closing tracks. As far as my enjoyment of this record goes, it’s slightly marred by reading up on the subject matter. Maybe it’s better I don’t speak French for my enjoyment. I listened through twice and En Melodie had the only moments of the record I didn’t enjoy. The closer is the best, keeping the tune and instrumentation of the opener and adding those haunting backing vocals. Just superb. I have to knock a star off because the whole storyline gives me the ick, but the music is pretty much flawless.

Singing was a little bit uncomfortable at times but the musical content was actually really good. A very pleasant surprise.

listening to this feels a little like watching porn in the middle of the day while your family hangs around in the same room. the melody was amazing, very funky and groovy. the vocals were smooth and sexy if not also a little creepy (or maybe even a lot creepy). the concept of this album is... certaintly a choice. but i guess the album was pretty good, if glossing over the fact that it's a little pedo-ish and rapey.

There's a lot going on thematically in this concept album- reckless driving, lust, statutory rape, untimely death. But the music is fantastic! Weird to have that sordid story against the relentless funky psychedelic music. Oddly this seems to be more shocking to people than shock rock. Also, was there a touch of goth in Cargo Culte?

4 and a bit

It's one of the most famous and influential French albums for a good reason. It's a concept album, a very well produced one, with long smooth instrumentals. I can hear the direct influence he had on bands like Air, for instance. Thankfully I don't understand the language because I read it's about a relationship with a 14-year old, so this kind of pedo-lolita story is not my thing. I base my rating on the music itself, though, which is really great.

Beats were nice, groove was good. Would listen to again.

No nos cabe la más mínima duda de que Gainsbourg estaría hoy en día canceladísimo y quien sabe si se habría convertido en otro de esos fachaprogres que no hacen más que lamentarse de que ahora ya no se pueden hacer discos sobre jovencitas de 15 años abusadas por señores mayores aprovechando su inocencia, que es de lo que va el disco. Esa voz susurrante, grave, que habla más que canta y los arreglos funky con preeminencia de las líneas de bajo han definido el estilo de Serge durante gran parte de su carrera. Amado y odiado a partes iguales, me quedo con el Serge de la actitud rebelde pero me da un poco de grima su más que posible actitud machista en cuanto a la relación de la que hacía gala con las mujeres.

kind of interesting 3.5

This + David Bowie = Pulp. I dug it but I'm glad I couldn't understand the words.

So did we all get this album this week to mark more of the Epstein files dropping? I feel bad for liking it as much as I do because the concept behind this album is truly reprehensible, but some of the music is gorgeous.

I surprisingly listened to this before and it just makes me feel like i’m in a cafe in paris. Crossaint and Bread. but i do not understand a lick of french i did enjoy the album and the instrumentals. I cant really speak on the lyrics…. Im pretty sure it’s a story about a lady named Melody Nelson and it’s very beautiful. French is a beautiful language i will say but i have nothing else to say but a 8/10

382/1089 - Drums are incredible on this. The con sordino strings sound very French (Gee, I wonder why???) and distinct. Not a fan of the talk singing and microphone eating. After looking at the subject matter, I'm once again convinced that the French are a nation of perverts (sometimes I do pay attention to lyrics!), but other than that it was pretty good.

This is cunty. A lot of the instrumentals are so good that idegaf that I have no clue what he’s saying.

In reading the wiki article on Serge, I was led to the French tv broadcast of a bunch of young boys dressed up as him singing to him while he cried, which was more interesting than this album. Maybe bc I don't understand French. He seems like the musical incarnation of Pepe Le Pew, and there is something to be said for that. Mercifully short.

Perfect for the days when you just need to hear a whispery French man and a sexy-sounding lady saying her own name once in a while. ...okay so after reading the reviews, apparently the "lady" is actually an underage girl, ugh. Very disappointing.

This was much better than I was expecting. The 2nd side of bonus tracks is unnecessary, but the original tracks flow together seamlessly. Musically, its a break from the other Serge Gainsbourg music I've heard. More psychedelic, funk, and rock focused than his other music. It works well, even with him speak-singing over the tracks. Overall, quite good.

Pan baguette

Tiene algo mágico Gainsbourg

beautiful voice, i don’t speck french but it sounds soo good aghhhh. The melodies at the start of the songs are so catchy!

Don't know French, but this kicks serious ass. Probably 4.5 for me

I didn't pay enough attention in French class in secondary school. Which works to this album's advantage. If I could understand what Serge is saying, I feel it would only go against this album, and its incredibly creepy concept. So, I'll stick with ignoring what he's singing about and concentrate on the music instead. The opening track "Melody" is absolutely brilliant, and by far the best on the album. The orchestration works so well with the fragmented, stabbing guitar playing, sounding like something from a 2000s alt rock record. In fact, to be more specific, sounding absolutely identical to Beck's "Paper Tiger", which is, it turns out, no coincidence. Despite being released in 1971, this feels like an album well ahead of its time. You can hear its influence lingering, and not just with Beck. The blend of beats, guitar and orchestration brings Portishead to mind. Serge's breathy spoken-word vocals were clearly an inspiration for Jarvis Cocker. Then there's the guitar sound. Vic Flick's guitar work doesn't just feel like it's inventing a genre of "alt rock" 30 years in advance, it feels like it could have been released in the late nineties to early 2000s and would fit right in. I'm not fully convinced that he didn't actually travel back in time to play on this album. I hear aspects of Johnny Greenwood, Adrian Utley and Mick Harvey in the use of guitar across these tracks: scattered, raw, and at times just doing it's own thing. It often acts as percussive texture, bringing frenzied energy to the compositions, rather than a more traditional solo melody. For all its brilliance, Histoire de Melody Nelson is not an easy or comfortable listen. Its deeply unsettling concept lingers in the atmosphere. But musically, it's brilliant: influential, innovative, and decades ahead of its time. Just make sure your French is as bad as mine.

Really enjoyed super cool and jazzy

Fette pedo aber susch banger album

Es bastante interesante y te atrae, pero no sé si sea por el idioma

love serge and his co-vocalist just ululating. experimental and fresh. its what you need to feel weird and breathy. whisper at me frenchman, whisper.

interesting enough that i gave it multiple listens Would I listen again? Yes Deserves to be on this list? Maybe 3.9

8/10

An interesting and unexpected sound for French pop music from 1971.

Incredible musicianship and great vibe.

I don't know what to say. This is chill. Favorite track: Balade de Melody Nelson

4/5

Not feeling great now that I read about what the lyrics were about but the music is pretty good. Good enough to be ripped off by Beck

C'est melodie

Dejligt og fransk🥰

Virkelig fedt? God instrumental, smuk stemme :)

When this popped up my immediate thought was; "oh lord, what the hell is this..." So to my surprise I'm happy to report this album is kinda incredible. I 'll have to brush up on my French because I have no idea what he's saying but the spoken word flowing over the top of simple but stylish guitar work and a layer of strings is sublime. I might have to buy this on vinyl...

A little creepy. Decent music though.

The strings and guitar on this are amazing I can’t understand what he is saying That’s probably for the best…

Interesting stuff

Wow. The lyrics are disgusting, but the music is great. Favorite song: melody.

Sure, sure there's a little repulsive about the whole thing in theory. But I only understand about ten words of French, so it's pretty easy to ignore, and the genius of it all is impossible to ignore. The music blends a few layers of funk and rock with absolute mastery on all players parts, and somehow it works under whatever his vocals are. Cargo cult!

No one makes me quite as horny as the Serge.

I liked this am I fancy pants

french

8 I heard the other day that Serge is afraid of taking a bath which made me enjoy this album a lot more. My fave of his stuff by far.

This was a nice Melody.

This is so cool! Certain parts reminded me of Beck and Air, albums I'd already listened to on this list. It's definitely interesting finding the original influences when progressing through this thing.

This album has actually made me incredibly frustrated. There is so much excellent music in there but he insists on chuntering over it all his breathy, monotone ‘singing’ turned right up in the mix, to the point where I can’t just put this on and enjoy it. There are so many great bass lines, guitar fills and instrumental wizardry I would honestly have called this a masterpiece if it was completely instrumental. It flows, swells and the orchestral arrangements are perfect. I even went in for a listen of the bonus tracks to see if there were instrumental versions to be extracted but it seems to be more of the same but with a few more cuts and a bit of studio chatter between takes. Such a missed opportunity but I guess the artist knows best.

4.5

The subject matter is a bit icky and it definitely helps that it's a 1970s album, not a current one. Although it must be said that even back then, Gainsbourg and this album in particular were quite controversial, and he did bask on that controversy to a point. But beyond all that, it's seriously an incredible album musically.

Interesting album. Creepy concept, but there's a lot of good sounds. It's probably better if you don't know the subject. Some of the guitar and drum work sound really ahead of their time. Overall really good album 3.5/5

Weirdly sensual but it was a vibe.

This record is really cool sounding. The basslines, melodies, percussion, harmonic language, arrangements, motifs, are all very moving. Spoken word holds it back for me, imo. I just wish that I didn’t know what it was about. Probably won’t come back to this, but I am glad I heard it once. Awful taste, but great execution. 7-7.5/10

Cet album là, c'est un 8. Mais je lui enleve 4 étoiles parce que c'est wrong.

Dope

Man I wish I understood French

hustý vibe, přijemné poslouchat na pozadí

I understand the video with the little kids smoking now

Odd, troublesome (she’s 14), but a great listen and after reading about it, you can absolutely feel the influence on later music.

8.5. - Subject matter is rather concerning, but the music itself is very solid. Can see why so many people like the style so much.

weirdly fun album

Well this was a great experience. This guy manages to stay on the good side of that fine line between clever and stupid only occasionally drifting over the line like a drunken, horny frenchman who probably needs a bath. The guitars and arrangements are exceptional on this wierd masterpiece. Might have been a five if not for the cringe worthy subject matter. Once again, I am pleased I don't understand French - the language or the people.

französische friedrich lichtenstein creepy dude aber gute musik

Enjoyable listen. All in French. Apparently the album is about a middle aged man in love with a 14 year old girl? Probably doesn’t land as hard today lol. The sound of the album is great and singer has an entertaining delivery. Parts of the album felt like they could be a Radiohead song even. I enjoyed the whole album, would have to listen through it again to pick any particular songs, but they do all flow easily into each other.

01) Melody - 8,0 02) Ballade de Melody Nelson - 8,5 03) Valse de Melody - 7,0 04) Ah ! Melody - 7,5 05) L'Hôtel particulier - 7,5 06) En Melody - 7,0 07) Cargo culte - 7,5 TOTAL: 7,57 (76/100)

Cool atmospheric sexy little album

Love the musical arrangements on this album. Not so fussed on the vocals. It's not one I'd want in my collection, but I'd certainly seek it out for further listening in the future.

Docking a star for the whole pedo thing

7/10 Some great sounds, although at times it is a bit weak and I'm not a fan of those Beatles style strings that really date the music. But the general feels is sooo cool. Just a shame about the subject matter...

The music is good. I wish I had not read that it is about a romantic fling between a middle aged man and a 14 year old girl. Kind of sours the vibe, and I would have had no idea since I don't speak french.

Beautiful album swinging between pop and rock

A little quirky with the sensual spoken word throughout, but overall I found a lot to like here in the compact 28 minute playtime. Bookeneded by two thematic atmospheric jams with spoken word that start stripped down and build with strings and choral support respectively; effortlessly cool sounding. Otherwise, Valse de Melody is really very pretty, En Melody is a jam (though the cackling is a bizarre inclusion), and L'hotel particulier is an interestingly groovy interplay between the strings and guitar. Quite better than I expected going in. This is a solid to high 4 in my book.

This is so strange. It's apparently a whole story about this Melody broad. Unfortunately I don't speak French so I can't understand that, but I do love the instrumentals and seems to flow well. Also nice and short which I love. En Melody is a JAM. Last song really reminds me of Air. This had to have been an influence on them. This isn't the highest of 4's but hard for me to not like that. Pretty unique and fun sounding.

this gets zero stars from my 11 and 9 year olds. But I thought it was incredible. I love an album where I don’t know what to expect. The music was all over the place. It sounded a bit chaotic. Then I read what the story was and holy ballsack. That’s fucked up. I’m rating this based on my initial feelings and not knowing French. I’m glad I don’t know French.

I don’t speak that French stuff, but he seemed to speak it very well. I really like how all the instruments complement each other as well as his voice. Writing is fantastic, production is crystal clear, lyrics are probably cool. I don’t know. I really enjoy this album. Good stuff. 4/5

Really interesting production-wise. Serge’s character can annoy me in the long run, but since there’s so many instrumental parts it gives me the space I need to enjoy this.

A French singer has sex with a minor and makes a cultural product to brag about it. La routine, quoi.

A cigarette smoker talking over a psychedelic orchestra. 4 stars

Exquisite

I really like the instrumentation Will I listen to again: 85%

Rating based on the music only. I realize it’s troubling subject matter.

I wonder how much speaking the same language would change my experience. Regardless it's a solid album. Worth listening to at least once, imo.

3.5 stars. Really enjoy the instrumentals, cool string arrangements backing the guitars. At times chill and at times faster-paced. Choral backing in final track is a nice touch. Vocals (spoken word) and - though I can't understand because it's in French - lyrical content (middle-aged dude hooking up with 14 yr old), detracts from an otherwise good pop album.

85.