Reviews (page 5 of 8)
Sexy bastard
Speciaal. Erg zweverig. Kort genoeg om er de aandacht bij te houden
Would be a 4star instrumental work. French spoken word? No
what an interesting sound - i need to listen again, especially since i speak french, to see if the story is actually good
What an odd one, very minimalistic, almost exclusively just spoken words about a sexual relationship with a 14 year old. Leave it to the French to create this and have it become a big hit
4 if french
It's definitely French.
An odd French pop album. Not something I thought I’d find myself enjoying but quite honestly in the end I found it both enjoyable and enlightening. A nice refresh even if I didn’t always feel like it hit whatever mark it was aiming for.
Pretty good
Weird but nice sound
Kinda fun. A weird storyline though, some of the tracks made me a little uncomfortable
mja, lite tråkigt kanske? tyckte om den första låten
Sounds like instrumental rock -- between a rock opera. I don't think I enjoy the Spoken Word with it; however, I can see why it may be here. Definitely experimental. Would I listen to it again? No.
Rock. En francés.
Serge Gainsbourg, hm! French! Awesome! I liked it!
Some blues-pysch rock jam sessions with occasional symphonic elements, and a lot of spoken word vocals. Some tracks that sound a bit inspired by traditional or classical music, such as the short third track. I liked most of the music, but I often disliked the spoken word stuff. It seems likely that the album sounds creepy and predatory on purpose, and isn't just an outright celebration of pedophilia. Who knows though. Personally the themes and lyrics of an album matter very little to me compared to the music itself. The only part I didn't like were her noises on "En Melody" lol that was weird
3/4
Not heard this before and conflicted based on the subject matter. Musically 5/5. Concept 1/5. I'll give it a 3/5.
I can deal with the unsafe driving. I can live with the tale of pedophilia...errr...illicit love. I am fine with African cult rituals, but why does he have to whisper everything?
Dude I love the music, particularly the bass playing, but I don't need Serge telling me stories in French under his breath through the whole thing, especially when they're about a rich dude seducing a 15 year old. Nor do I particularly like his singing voice. Definitely know where Air got a big part of their sound now though.
Sounds fine but conceptually gross. I understand it's not a celebration of a middle-age guy going for a 15 year old but... why? Probably would help a lot if I understood French. Also is this pervert ASMR?
Sexy spoken-word music to objectify / seduce underage girls with. It's a French tradition!
Sounded like a French dude that wanted to bang me. I didn't hate it.
While the subject matter is pretty disgusting, the delivery method is, on the whole, pretty tasty. But lyrics are important, even if they're not in my primary language, and I can't give these anything more than 3 stars. Stop letching on kids, you damn creep. Gross.
Really good cohesive album, reading into the story was super interesting.
Interesting, different
6/10. I like concept albums, but since I am not great at French, I didn't follow much of this except that she has natural red hair. Bigger issue was that the music just wasn't that interesting to me. I could probably grow to appreciate it
This album reminds me of some of the Velvet Underground tracks we've heard on this list (The Gift on White Light/White Heat comes to mind) - the spoken word structure and lingering instrumentals lend themselves to that much. However, it's an album about a pedophile that I can't quite tell is satirical, mostly since it's French. 6/10
The concept of this album has not aged well at all, but it's pretty excellent musically. This is probably one of the great examples of how orchestral and pop/rock elements can work together without sounding overwrought. But am I the only one who finds Jane Birkin's pop-ins deeply annoying? Fave Songs: Cargo culte, Melody, L'hôtel particulier
Best: En Melody Worst: Valse de Melody The guitar is good no clue what he is saying tho
Not bad. Possibly a little too avant garde for my tastes. Standouts: Melody
the production is so good and i dig the chamber pop arrangements but there’s no getting around the fact the guy is a degenerate creep and this is the apogee of the degenerate 60s before the piper had to be paid
I was creeped out thinking that it was a topless 15 yr old girl holding a doll on the cover, but I was relieved to find out that his 25 yr old girlfriend Jane Birkin was actually the model. There's no way that anyone would be able to put out an album about their Lolita-esque obsession with a 15 yr old today, oh boy, how times have changed. But apart from that, this is a fine album. Gainsbourg went on to influence a ton of artists with this Gallic/psychedelic/funk style with lush strings and spoken word ramblings. He's basically the French Issac Hayes and this album could be described as music for sex. Interesting to see violinist Jean Luc Ponty on En Melody also, but he gets only a bit part so his talents are wasted. I think Gainsbourg's Je t'aime moi non plus and Bonny and Clyde are better than Melody, but overall this is tres bien.
Something interesting and likable about the album. No idea what he's singing about, but the songs and melody are very nice. I do know the name Serge Gainsbourg. I was always a fan of the je t'aime, Moi non plus. If you have never heard it, give it a listen It is quite sexy - even orgasmic! He and Jane Birkin practically make love while singing the entire song. Wish that was on this album! 3/5
Nice listen
After initial bouts of 'wtf is this' and 'wow, this guy must REALLY like someone called Melody Nelson', I found the whole thing quite captivating. Musically it's very interesting and I can hear bits of Beck and Air in there. Can't understand much of what he's saying of course. I hope it's nothing dodgy... 3 / 3.5
Wow, 1971, this is so timeless. The whole album is a great trip but I particularly enjoyed L'hôtel particulier.
No idea what was going on, but fun to listen to.
Sexy ol' French bastard. Ooh la laaaaa!
I understand it's a conceptual album, but the music still needs to be interesting.
Get music and music
Groovy. I've heard most of this from other sources (and I'm sure I've played it through at least once). Not unlike acolyte Jarvis Cocker, I don't enjoy a creepy man whispering in my headphones. 4 stars for music and influence, minus 1 star for Serge.
This was okay for me. I didn't really love it, but I can see its appeal to people who enjoy this type of music. It was just sort of eh to me.
I'm not sure what to think... It's interesting though and that has some value. It's needlessly provocative and creepy/cringe in some parts but other parts have a great tune. Doubt I'll listen again simply due to the subject matter but I don't regret having listened.
I loved the instrumentation and composition behind the song. The 70s guitar, funk bass, and orchestral arrangements were all very good. I am not a big fan of spoken word singing though and got rather bored with the vocals. Had they been sung; I'd have enjoyed this much more.
Pretty cool but not enough of it
Loved the instrumentation, and his vocals are interesting, well done in their style. Subject matter sounds very French.
A concept album that made a lot for french music.
Breathy and plodding french folk music. Idiosyncratic and with an interesting production style but not very gripping due to it's self-indulgence. Still, this is an album with undeniable artistic merit.
For the first and last tracks alone this deserves to be on the list. Cool as fuck.
Not really too sure about this. Kinda ok, kinda cool, but mostly not really for me.
Better than I thought it was going to be. It sounded like a load of Portishead samples! I didn't understand much of the lyrics, though.
Conceptuellement, cela ne ressemble à rien d'autre que j'ai entendu. Je ne peux pas tolérer le traitement de la jeune Melody Nelson, la pauvre fille. Soniquement, c'est immersif et mystérieux.
I was too lazy to do it today will go back later.
¡C’est si bon!
I'll look at this the same way I see trip hop music. In that regards, it's pretty good. He's a little too close to the mic, but soothing, sexy, and fitting with the grand orchestral music. I enjoy the use of the funky rock instrumental, and the avant-garde touches are nice like the creepy laughing in "En Melody" (swear to god dont let it be pedopholic sex). It's a complete and short album and does what it accomplished. Two songs make up half the album, and they're pretty much the same. Rating this a 3 mostly because the instrumental is a bit underwhelming in many parts, but it's a pleasant listen from start to finish. Favorites: Ballade, Ah Melody, En Melody
Something completely different but actually quite pleasant to listen to. Probably a lot more interesting when you can easily understand the lyrics - my french isn't good enough without a lot of effort, so I didn't even try.
I don't speak french so it's a little tough for me to judge the album. Music kind of seemed like it was meant for a film or something but to be fair since I don't really know what's going on I'll give the album a 3.
rock lento mas divertido e em frances
8/5/2022 - ALBUM #190 Today's Album: "Histoire de Melody Nelson" by Serge Gainsbourg - This album has a really strong vibe to it, with a ton of hypnotic and expertly executed guitarwork, subtle yet impressive string passages, and some funk sections so dirty they could ruin a towel. However, those elements aren’t really what shares the spotlight on this album. The real center of the album is the artist himself, at the time 36 years old Serge Gainsbourg, hopping into an alter ego of himself called Gainsbarre to lament his perverted and pedophilic desires with the caricature of an impressionable young teen, named Melody Nelson. Now, if you don’t think this sounds shady enough in concept, you can feel free to listen to the opening few tracks and experience the vocal performance Serge gives, which is an uncomfortably close, but deeply sensual sort of whisper into both audio channels. It paints the whole album in this really gross and creepy esthetic that makes me want to simply stop listening. However, the instrumental aspects of the album that I mentioned before really make this a fantastic classical/funk experience. The highlight of this experience though was the track En Melody, which drops the melodrama to provide a head-rattling bass and drum groove with some jittery, distorted guitar riffs. The band being given a track with only 4 lines of lyrics to just go absolutely ham for 3 and a half minutes was really used to the artists advantage, even if there are some really awkward woman laughing sounds being mixed in. They are so obnoxious that on a lesser track, they would make it unlistenable, but on here it somehow adds to the experience and makes the track even more psychedelic, which is emphasized by the insanely produced guitar solo that follows. Truly an incredible track that takes a fairly creepy album and makes it a solid recommendation. Overall, this album’s base concept is creepy and unsettling and I don’t really like it, but the music is pretty damn innovative and makes a listen at least partially justifiable. Give this one a listen if you’re curious and if the first few songs turn you off, give En Melody a listen at least. Highlights: En Melody Score: 6.5/10 Gross base subject matter and concept, but really great instrumentals.
Pretty dreamy sounding album; I didn't pay close enough attention to the lyrics (nor is my French that good) to pick up on the themes which appear to be somewhat controversial
fun album.
The music was nice, but the vocals were... interesting.
Fun, fresh and funky.
The man is just talking which a bit naf but it's french so I enjoyed it a bit more. Didn't understand any of it, bit tricky for a concept album but hey I had fun
I was driving couldn't hear it too well
Decent sound. I’m torn by foreign language music. Is it better to understand the lyrics to appreciate what is being said or just to appreciate the sound? I’ve certainly fallen into both categories and on this occasion it worked well enough.
Not my favourite. I don't know why all these artists feel the need to put unpleasant sounds in the middle of their albums. Really does not help their ratings.
Best Song: Melody. I don't know what's being said, but I like the way he says it. Worst Song: Ah Melody. Almost like a waltz? Didn't suit the brooding voice well. Overall: An engrossing and appealing voice quietly and powerfully delivered, although the arrangements of each of the songs on the album starts to feel a bit similar. I did quite like the strange vocals on En Melody however, with the suggestive laughter backed by some more forward instrumentation.
Hard to not start with the cover. Which is, well, a little concerning to be honest. But you sure can't take your eyes off her. Hopefully the music is just as compelling. Hmmm. looking at the track list I'm getting a distinct concept album vibe. OK here we go! ...slow start...ah ok here we go...almost...yes music coming soon...Melody not so much. I regret my lack of French. Instead I'm imagining someone with a cigarette in front of a mic on an open mic night being pretentious. And also probably a little concerning. Now checking out wikipedia ... and yes. That's the vibe. Wet bus stop. She's waiting. His car is warm and dry. The music is interesting, En Melody is my favorite although Melody's laugh goes a little Fran Drescher. I do wish I understood what he is saying, although maybe it is easier to enjoy with only vague brush strokes of the story. In any case, this album does seem like a legitimately interesting work.
Really interesting. Great writing. Gonna need to listen to this more. Might grow on me.
So chic. Ouviria o dia inteiro.
Strange as fuck but somehow cool
I am sure it’s influential, but I don’t speak French. Cool Melodie’s though.
3 was decent, better without lyrics
The French makes it sound cool, picturing a smoky bar with the bass player just living in the groove, drummer wearing shades. The synth was unexpected. Ironically, "Melody" had no melody, maybe that was the point?
This was very interesting. A bit challenging, it's not "standard" music .. yet it's good. I would probably not listen to it many more times, but I did enjoy it.
Barely an album but we’ve heard worse
Was nice even when you didn't understand can word
catchy and smooth
Cool but dated
Very 70s/80s Gainsbarre. Pretty cool and funky, albeit lecherous old man sleaze, but what do you expect from Gainsbourg? Enjoyable. I recognise the future Portishead/Massive Attack samples. 3.5
Interesting concept, but couldn't get the sonic idea.
This album is a total vibe.
Definitely different. There's some great instrumental work here but in the end I struggle with the singer's voice.
Whispery 70s French rock/funk. Its not bad, but not really for me.
Chilled and quiet, not particularly gripping
This is some sexy dark minimal French shit. Some of it's a little too boring rock for me.
c'est vraiment intéressant musicalement en fait !
I found it very atmospheric which was nice, I think I probably would have had an entirely different experience if I understood the lyrics but I really enjoyed the vibes and I was sitting on the bus watching the world go by.
Not bad but too short on tunes
The way I first described this was "pleasant". By "En Melody" I was way more into it.
What a little gem this is. This mini-album is all new to me, had never heard of it, and I don't really know what's going on with the story. It's very relaxing, I'll be revisiting it for sleep assistance.
Well this was a strange choice. Maybe it was the french language but it was quite sensual, which is what he’s famous for. Listenable certainly. ***
Suited my mood as I leant out the window smoking my Gauloises.
Enjoyed this. Who IS Melody Nelson?! 🕵🏻♂️
Some relaxing tones and filled an otherwise silent space, but I will not be rushing to buy a gainsbourg album
Not all French-speaking music sounds so stereotypically French which, on face value, makes this feel like a slightly tokenistic inclusion. That said, it clearly has wide-reaching influence beyond France and, on a personal level, I liked the musicianship and instrumentation but found the spoken word vocals a bit cringe. 6/10
Enjoyable stuff! Love a 30 minute album :)
I don't understand a word of it, but it sounds nice.
Hilariously French. I did enjoy listening to it but not sure if musically or for the fun. As such I'm not sure I can give it three stars because would it become grating over time....?
Serge is too close to the mic, I can hear all the mouth sounds. 6/10, very French but sounds like mukbang.
Probably won’t snag our big score. It was definitely 2 things: ok and French
He preferido escuchar la versión original de 7 canciones y 28 minutos a la del 40 aniversario. Me ha sorprendido el sonido y la cantidad de samples que había escuchado de este disco en otras canciones más actuales. Me han gustado "Melody", "Ballade de Melody Nelson" y "Cargo Culte".
Guta
Problematic lyrics and themes aside it was a decent listen I thought.
A concept album that works. Creepy as hell, though if you put his albums in order the next song that comes up is "nazi rock"... his songs fit this perfect mood and this album does the thing an album is supposed to do. it takes me on a journey, and before I knew the lyrics I felt really good about the journey.
Really nice French. A bit psychadelic, sometimes too much.
This album sounded like how I imagine sex is like in France.
I didn’t feel this through the first listen but the second time made me feel like I was watching a Wes Anderson movie so... I’m not sure what that means. It’s definitely charming.
Sounded good but I don't speak french so it wasn't as impactful to me
I didn't really like this. Sometimes the guitar was nice, but it was odd. And uncomfortable for me.
The desired effect here seems to be a religious experience. Without any French knowledge, I'm at something of a loss in evaluating it on those terms. The mix is something unlike anything else I've heard: Gainsbourg's voice behaves like some kind of rhythm instrument but sits at the very very very front of the mix. There's a sonic arc, and clearly a focused theme. Everything else is subtle. I picked up similarities between this and Charlotte's work, of course. Not sure exactly what was supposed to grab me, but it's at least a technically impressive album with clear intent behind it.
uy french ooooh kantalogue en melody - WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE, escandalo also, im digging this album cover
A concept album with perhaps the weirdest, arguably least attractive, plot of all time. We start with what I can only assume is a playful attempt at minimalist rock. If all the songs are as sparse as this one, I'm throwing hands. But it's a cool sound. Decidedly more bizarre is Serge Gainsbourg's intense, ASMR-esque spoken vocal. And the album's plot, too – which Wikipedia describes as "Lolita-esque" and "pseudo-autobiographical". Those two descriptors don't exactly paint a positive image of this Gainsbourg fella. Great strings, though, and the instruments really build to a crescendo at the end (with drums and bass carrying the brunt of the song's weight). I dearly hope for some singing, or else full commitment to an instrumental, in later tracks. I got what I wished for! Ballade de Melody Nelson is really good. Two interacting vocals (the additional one courtesy of Jane Birkin), and they're both singing this time. Pretty well, in fact. The combo of soft drumming and lilting, mysterious strings really brings the whole piece together. Valse de Melody and Ah Melody, the following two tracks, flash by very quickly. The latter is strong – acoustic guitar and French horns are added to the mix. Sort of a meandering tune, like something you might hear characters from The Godfather listening to on the radio as they slit their comrade's throat. I was going to give this a 3 or 4, but then the song En Melody shows up. Until this point in the album you can feasibly delude yourself that Gainsbourg's proposed concept is just tongue-and-cheek, just a little personal joke that he gave in an interview about the album. The record isn't really a celebration of pedophilia, right? ...Right? Then En Melody arrives, consisting of three minutes of sex vocalisations backed by an upbeat, energetic instrumental. After this point I kind of checked out. Cargo culte (you forgot the second capital C, Spotify) flashes by without a second glance. Some amazing instrumentals in the last piece, but the listener isn't paying much heed at this point. And then, good riddance, the album is finished. A shame that this Gainsbourg bloke had to "experiment" with lyrical themes – otherwise this might've genuinely been great. 2/5 Key tracks: Ballade de Melody Nelson, Ah Melody
let’s hear it for his guitarist, but what a tiresome asshole.
didn’t like the guys voice took me out of it
some really nice grooves here but then i read what the album was about and felt really weird about it. lolita is a great novel and too many people just take it the wrong way. was a 3 and dropped it down to a 2 due to its weird ass subject matter.
2 The story the album tells is pretty disturbing but considering he was both a 70s rockstar AND French, he should probably be praised for his restraint rather than criticised for it. The music is pretty good on the first and last tracks but ruined by the mic-in-mouth vocals, and the shorter track in-between, while the vocal are less annoying, are a lot less interesting musically. In terms of the lyrics, on the one hand a lot of other artists have done worse in real life, but Elvis or Jimmy Page never wrote a whole album about it. And it seems like Gainsbrough was uncomfortably interested in these themes, which makes it difficult to give the benefit of the doubt - especially since the whole presentation (the cover, his girlfriends schoolgirl-voice lines, etc.) seem to want to lean into the shock value.
Nja... Inte helt övertygad. Fastnade inte hos mig och temat är en irritation och avsmak. Den här vidriga sexualiseringen av barn. Jag blir så trött och Frankrike har verkligen satt i system just detta. Jag tycker det är äckligt och jag uppskattar inte heller att man gör musik av det. Det gör att jag tror att Serge Gainsbourg var pedofil.
I was not previously familiar with the artist or album. As one would guess from the title, this is in French. The instrumentation is pretty good, albeit minimal. While I don't really care much that I don't understand the lyrics, I'm not a fan of the spoken word vocal style. I won't come back to this one.
2/5
Probably way more interesting when you understand the story, but now it sounds like a pervert Frenchman and some overdramatic music
It's pretty gross for a middle-aged man to write a "pseudo-autobiographical" album about seducing a 15-year-old girl. The instrumental aspects of the music are actually pretty interesting and cool, but they are so entwined with the creepy subject matter. And the breathy narration only makes it worse. No thanks.
pff wel is cool ma saaai 2.5
The concept and the album cover were better than the actual music.
French. some good guitar
Non!
It was pleasant enough, but not really engaging for me.
det instrumentala är sååå bra, hade älskat om det var utan sång, särkilt då jag stör mig på hans sätt att viska fram någon form av snack-sång
Some songs are so disturbing!!!
Recognised it was probably the bloke who did je taime, it's very much in the same vein. The spoken word singing left me feeling uneasy. And look at that, it's about an older man pursuing a 14 year old girl! Feels like a bit of a wrangun does Serge. Musically it feels a bit movie soundtracky, the right music for a classic french film probably but not something I'd ever want to actively listen to.
Musically pretty good largely. But apparently the content is sketchy, fortunately my comprehension of french is not high enough for it to matter. 2.5
nicht gut, aber irgendwie seltsamerweise nicht scheiße. 1.5 sterne
Let's just call it two stars and leave it at that
pop francés experimental
2.5 Music warrants a higher rating. Struggling with the story
Muy bonito y tal pero parece una nana para dormir.
Music was ok but the spoken word stuff?
Det er sgu godt nok liderligt, hva'
Lyder urimeligt godt, men jeg tror ikke, at jeg helt følger konceptet her Jeg skal ikke kloge mig på det franske sprog, så jeg holder mig til den lille wiki-box ovenover, og det lyder sgu lidt sus Lidt kedeligt, lidt lækkert, lidt underligt koncept, meget fransk, meget lidt replay value for mig 2.4
I never understood the "artistic" point of pedophilia. This lolita-esque text left me unimpressed and kinda disturbed.
Love Jane Birkin but this isn't my thing.
Not sure how an album about pedophilia can make it to a list of albums you must hear before you die. And inevitably, of course, it is an album by a French artist. The music was tolerable, but the low mutterings and whispers in French we’re almost unintelligible
I don't speak French so this really missed the mark for me. Had I listened to this and did not know that it was an experimental album about a middle age man meeting and then seducing a 14 year old French GIRL then maybe I would have liked it more. Or even with that if I understood French perhaps what he is saying is done so artfully that I could appreciate the music of it all. Instead it is just a guy talking over music that is ok with one portion of what I presume to be an adolescent girl laughing but in a way that sounds close to orgasming, which is not really interesting to listen to. I am not someone who does not appreciate difficult/ controversial/ illegal whatever subject matter. Nor am I someone who believes in subjecting music to some kind or moral standard or someone who cannot listen to music made by someone who is now today "canceled." So if this were better made I might like it. As it is I did not understand the words and that coupled with the subject matter made this a middling album.
The music and instrumentals are pretty great - the opening track had to have been sampled by Beck if I heard it right. But the singing and then leaning about the guy himself did nothing for me.
Ik vind dat bij bepaalde stukken van het album de songs niet heel sterk afgemixt zijn, zeker het eerste nummer hoor je dat sterk, Gainsbourg fluistert maar zijn mic staat hard aan waardoor de muziek ver op de achtergrond zakt. Muzikaal gezien vind ik ‘ t wel aardig, je verstaat verder geen zak van de tekst maar af en toe kun je er wel uit opmaken dat het gaat om een soort muze ofzo, iedere keer wanneer de naam Melody voorbij komt. T gefluister wordt af en toe een beetje irritant, maar tegelijkertijd maakt het t ook wel weer filmisch. Ik denk dat ik het een 2,4 ga geven en dus ga afronden naar beneden.
Listening session: may 5th, while chilling at home Listened to before: no Thoughts: I wanted to give this a 3/5 based on the music (which I felt pretty neutral about) but then I learned that this album sexualizes an underage girl….. Favourite track: Melody
I enjoyed this more than I expected. The story is creepy, though. Musically very interesting, but narratively questionable
Musically: 4 Lyrically: -10 gazillion
eh. also. aged poorly. Even though this exact stuff was happening with Jimmy Page and Steven Tyler and such.
It’s French which is cool but the essence of it being an early 70’s pysch rock album really drags this down for me
This album is probably like the experience of meeting a mysterious French guy, like sweet until you actually get to know him, and then he's just weird and a bit pretentious.
I suppose this would have been better as a concept album when I could understand the lyrics to get the concept. Reading about the story makes the guy a pedophile/groomer going after a teenager. Not really a fan of the music or the concept. 2/5
At first I had no idea what he was singing about, and I was mostly just taking in the music because it sounded pretty chill. Then I read the reviews and found out it’s basically a pseudo Lolita type concept album, and my first reaction was, what the fuck. The difference for me is that with something like Eminem, the whole point is shock value. It’s so over the top that it feels like an obvious alter ego doing the worst possible version of itself. This feels a lot more grounded, which makes it hit differently, and not in a good way. In today’s climate, this probably has not aged well at all. That said, the music itself still sounds good. But once you know what’s going on, it definitely changes the feel of the album. So I can’t go much higher than a 2.
очень вовремя я Бунина начала - можно одновременно слушать про французов соблазняющих малолеток и про русских! симметрия! даже безотносительно содержания, что-то я большего от классической французской музыки жду, что это за реп опять…
4/10
I dug the backing tracks on these songs, especially the ones with the languorous guitar and sexy slow beats, but of course, it's hard to get past the ick once you get a sense for the lyrics: the type of shit they might bump for happy hour for skeezy billionaires and b-list aristocrats at You-Know-Who's island. Leave it to the French.
2 French Slop
Man perves on 14 year old Brit with a sexy French voice. It's more of a stage-play, and the plot drops the rating. Well orchestrated, poorly written, 28 minute song.
Wins the "Sex Dwarf" award for Repetitive Title Usage. I'm not sure who Melody Nelson is but she didnt need her name said breathlessly 200 times.
As far as albums about a pedophile go it's OK. I feel sometimes the backing is surprisingly a bit basic jam like. It's also nowhere near as sexy as I was hoping. I feel that sentence shouldn't follow the other one I just wrote, but you know what I mean, I thought the backing would be a bit silkier like Je T'aime.
No tiddies but feel em, me lads
French garbage.
Lou Reed på franska. Det ska vara så himla coolt att det låter tillgjort. Musikaliskt hyfsat tilltalande även om jag kan vara utan Valde de Melody och En Melody. Att inte kunna franska är ett plus då jag läser mig till att detta är ett temaalbum om en medelålders man som ligger med en fjortonåring.
The first and last tracks are almost good enough to make you forget that this is a concept album the sympathetically portrays a pedophile! :) 2.5* because also the rest of the music is just not that good...
Wish I knew the lyrics. Seven years of French didn’t help. Very listenable
French as fuck. I just can't imagine needing to go to the store to buy this, then sitting down and listening to it. I don't know what that person looks like.
No private session used and no idea of what I was getting in to. It's a double concept album in French. Something about a concept album where I don't understand the language, and therefore the concept makes me a little miffed I have to listen to it. The music wasn't bad, but still the concept album in a language I don't understand. I can only imagine me intentionally listening to this again if I had some people over and wanted to come across like a pretentious a-hole. Oh, I would impatiently roll my eyes when someone dare ask what the f are we listening to and then ignore the question to sip on my Kir Royale and adjust my beret. I ain't mad at Serge, but mad that this was considered something I had to hear before I die.
Hard to appreciate this.
Just creepy. That’s a shame as the music is decent but difficult to get past the themes.
Semi-autobiographical? Hmm. I didn’t understand a word which seems very important for this album. Based on the Wikipedia though I don’t know what would possess somebody to write this. High 2.
The mixing on the first track was absolutely brutal. His voice was so much louder than the instrumentation that I couldn’t set the volume correctly. The rest was fine. Much vibier and classic rock jam sound than I expected
This had me asking "Who the fuck is Melody Nelson?" Then I looked it up after and man, mabey worst concept for an album ever. I don't speak French but he sure sounds like he would be up for some statutory. The funky instrumentals were cool though
A french guy talks, and sometimes sings, at a very high volume under a very cool soundtrack, that unfortunately gets obscured half the time by the loud soliloquy of this french primadonna. He should have positioned the microphone further away from him, or the producer could have turned down the mic volume by at least 5 db, but alas, neither things did happen. The puritan moralists that condemn this album by its subject matter, should be reminded that talking about something is not the same as promoting or endorsing it. It gets a 2 from me, only for the fact that musically this album is butchered by the LOUD vocals.
It has a cool vibe. But it's hard for me to be too interested in a foreign language album.
Blind album and artist. Don't have much to say except it wasn't for me.
"hon hon hon my name eez Serge Gainsbourg and I will get zee most talented backeeng band to play on a record about being a pedophile hon hon"
Definitely not his best music. Very forgettable.
This is real? I thought music like this only existed to satirize the French in movies.
ew
I like French music but this not so much.
Interesting concept. Interesting album. I'm not a huge fan of the spoke-word style at the beginning. The music is good. "Cargo culte" is my favorite track. The guitar on it is great. I don't really know who this album is for. A bit too art-house to be listened to casually.
One thing I really enjoy about this 1001 album experience is the ritual. The ritual of getting an album, sometimes something completely new to me. I downloaded it and do some research and then sit down and listen front to back. This album slightly tainted that. Doing some research gave me the ick. The listening was not enjoyable. The vocals are rapey even without knowing what they meant. Knowing what they meant just made it that much more gross. I am giving this a 2 because the music is nice and well performed.
Boring it almost hurts. But only almost...
Do I want to listen to a french pedophile murmuring into a microphone over some sloppy soft-funk instrumentals? No thank you
I think I'm too caught up on the story of the album because it's super fucking creepy. Enjoyed the instrumentals and can see myself having this on in the background while doing something else. The artist is a bit ****interesting too. Very influential not only in France but other artists outside the country (don't know any of them though :/ ). Guy likes them young.
Would not buy
Just so you know he has a song called "Lemon Incest"... 2/5
Seems like a soundtrack, pretty funky but I dont like all of the spoken word stuff
Sacré Serge et ses satanés fantasmes de déculotter des mineures!
Meh
Greatest french language pop album, spoken french Ballad of melody nelson
Sjovt album - lidt langt
A very small dose of Bohemian cool that doesn’t age super well.
Decent 2,5
It sounds... fine? It definitely sets an atmosphere but not one I particularly love. Nothing special really regarding everything else, doesn't convince me of anything.
Too much talking and weird.
vocals were way too front and center and a bit too much for my taste.
this is so amelie coded
An album in an unfamiliar language will always be one I struggle to attach to. Musically, it’s actually pretty solid. But it’s just spoken word French, from a guy who sounds like a creep. Then I found out Melody is supposedly 14 in this, while the narrator is 20 years older. Yeah, not for me.
Just dig out the video of this man with Whitney Houston. Talented yes. Dirty old filthy pervert? Also yes. Interesting listen and an undeniable talent. Even if it did go to his head.
“Hon hon hon hon! C’est la rôque du pédophilie! Ouain!” I’m glad I didn’t find this musically more than middling, because I was going to write that either way.
Nope.
*The topic doesn't exactly hold up well *It has cool instrumental parts, but its often just the guy talking over it *Probably would give it a 2.5 if that was possible.
Non Merci
This is the first and probably going to be the only 70s French pop album I listen to.
didn't rlly like it
bass line ok??!?! it was last weekend of septemba...... vibes. bae idk what ur saying!!!!! Ah melody kinda cute? IDK WHAT UR SAYING THO !!!!! i dont understand why this is top 1001 albums. i think i've heard better than this? idk? melody prise complete kinda fire wtv... yayyyy it's almost over en melody was fun, alex G would write this lol
between this album and the incest song with his daughter….anyone tried ctrl + f’ing mr. gainsbourg in the epstein files?
With my limited understanding of French, I didn't get many of the lyrics, but when you consider the pedophilic theme, I'm pretty sure I'm glad I didn't. I did like the music as a narrative element to whatever disturbing story was being told.
Instrumentation and musical composition were often (but not always) compelling. But the vocals were tonally unpleasant and lyrically disgusting.
Kind of interesting, but kind of weird. I feel like maybe there is another album of his that I’d enjoy more.
An ok album, I appreciate the music that it influenced tho! Prob won’t go back and listen, but it’s a low 2 for me. Didn’t hate it entirely
Not for me
kinda weird. the bass sounds great.
the guitar sections are alright but apart from that I don't really like plus I don't know French and they aren't really signing
Some cool grooves and sounds to be found on here (especially in the accompanying choir in the later track) but my ear absolutely detests the horny french ASMR loaded within here. It's honestly a shame, as the concept and surrounding elements could make for something I'd really enjoy.
This is one time where not being able to understand the language would have been very helpful. Unfortunately, Wikipedia exists and filled in the gaps of what was actually being creepily whispered in this album. The instrumentals on this album are really well done, and the only reason this album gets a two, but the content of the lyrics is so damn gross.
Creepy and French on Christmas Eve
Premier chose premier, je pense que j'ai prefere Histoire De Melody Nelson apres de decouvrir plus. By which I mean to say, first things first, I think I preferred Histore De Melody Nelson before I discovered more. It turns out it's a concept album about a man and a 15 year old. No thank you. It's a shame, because it's not unpleasant musically, and while the vocal stylings are a bit de trop, it's relatively enjoyable. A solid three for the music, loses a bit for the Lolita ick.
Wow! Glad I read some background on this one prior to listening. Actually, I really didn't need any of that background to feel upset and creeped out by this entire record. Despite the music being actually really enjoyable. There is a BIG caveat here though. There is a difference between an autobiographical admission of paedophilia and a dorky French guy essentially being the first edgelord. I believe the term was "provocateur." From a guy who recorded a song about incest with his TWELVE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, this is pretty tame. I don't know. It all reads as so "Are you TRIGGERED yet??" Either way, more musically interesting than most of the shit we hear, but pretty indefensible lyrically. If it were more understandable to me, I'm sure I'd be the "triggered soy boy" that Serge was trying "pwn" back before it was cool. Tabarnak. 2 HIGHLIGHTS: Still believing Anthony Kiedis is worse than this
Instrumentalne velmi zaujimave ale neni moj styl
This is one of those albums where I feel like it happened to me rather than I listened to it. The arrangements are nice and the vocal performance is fine when he’s actually, you know, singing. I didn’t mind my listen but can’t see myself revisiting. Apparently this spins some Lolita-adjacent tale that also misses the point of the original Lolita? The 15 year old girl “consents” at a hotel and then dies in a plane crash? More research needed. 1971 was a different time I guess. Maybe it’s for the best that I don’t speak the language. I have no real idea how to rate this so I will follow my heart, which says “be honest with yourself and just give it a fucking two, dude.”
Fuck. This. In the time of Epstein and Trump, forgive me if I simply cannot separate the art from the artist on this one. Disgusting.
a french man speaking lowly in my ear.. this ain’t for me
Weird, it feels like I'm listening to some sort of musical French audiobook starring a mysterious and coldhearted detective in love with a woman melody. Also the detective is very hot. I don't really get it to be honest, maybe if my French was better, the music is alright, but not much more than that. He really did appear to be 'en melody'. 40/100 Score edited 28/01/26
Felt like I was listening to French ASMR. Some good instrumental bits from time to time but certainly nothing special. Perhaps good for those who speak French, or who take the time to understand it. But even then, the way the story is delivered simply didn't interest me.
Crazy how this sort of thing was just cool with everyone. YUCK.dotcom
yup, that was a concept album
French expeirmental
Not my style.
Nope
Artiste connu et détesté ... Par contre je ne connais pas du tout cet album. Je n'apprécie pas du tout la voix et la narration/chant de SG. L'accompagnement est parfois pas trop mal (la basse est plutôt intéressante, mais pas l'orchestration pseudo classique sur certains morceaux) et l'album n'est pas trop long. Je suis allé au bout, mais je n'y reviendrais pas. =>2/5
It was like ASMR but I wanted to kill myself the entire time
#783. It, uh... something, I guess. 2/5: ok.
The music is pretty good, but miss me with those " vocals".
meh
its uh
this did not need to be on this list, it was just boring
Umm..................... So. Well. Not really sure to say. The music? Pretty cool. I like the bluesy psychy sounds of this record. Actually, really cool. It reminds me Curtis Maymield and Jeff Buckley and maybe even some Janis Joplin. But in French! I don't like the subject matter. After reading what the concept album was about, I felt pretty weird about it. Its very.. eh.. ancient greek? We could go with that, but in modern times that translates to "Epstein Island." So naturally, you can understand my aphrehension on knowing how to rate this thing.
2,2/5
I heard this was Jeffery Epstein’s favorite album.
I didn't like it. I mean, the music is good, sometimes great, but I just can't with his breathy, "seductive" spoken word. I don't speak French, so I just listened to it without much understanding but certainly go the gist that this guy is a major creep and there is a very young girl in the mix. I wouldn't listen to it again. The cover is also not great, it looks like a semi-professional magazine cover, like the photographer knows how to manage lighting but isn't yet very good at it. It is cleverly thematic and eye catching though, that gets it a 2/5.
IT was OK mostly instrumental french casual music. Not horrible. but I don;t know why this made it to the list. It doesn;t seem to be influential or worth listening to again.
31/10/2025 This didn't sit well with me, I thought it was quite boring. Spotify listeners: 1.1 million
Creepy story, creepy songs, creepy bloke
French alt wave, not for me
I found 1 or 2 good melodies in this album, but I couldn't get past the creepy storyline.
Alveg ekki minn tebolli í dag. Perralegur Serge. Búinn að reykja frá sér allt vit.
Serge getur verið töff en þetta var ekki að grípa mig og perralegt að auki.
I remember this being popular with the art school girls which always scanned as kinda odd. Really can’t deny Serge’s ear for arrangements and atmosphere and then there’s the content of the songs themselves.
Why is this here?
French Nick Cave
ESSE EH O VEIO DAS CRIANÇA FUMANDO CIGARRO E BEBENDO ENQUANTO CANTAM EM HOMENAGEM A ELE!!!!! talvez o album mais FRANCÊS do mundo. ele em si já tem um clima horrível, com a temática então... ignorando isso, nao eh ruim. mas é bem monotono. mas eh foda ignorar né...
Nah, not my thing
It’s fr**ch
French person discovers word "melody"
Rating: 5/10 Meh.
Forse non ero nel mood giusto
no comment
Hmm
This guy really tapped into his muse for this one. I hope melody got some royalties for her breathy voice-overs.
this was interesting, different sound but i would give it another listen
The cover is, of course, completely wrong. The music is mediocre to passable.
This was not something I thought I would like, but I was pleasantly surprised. At 38 minutes it was short and sweet. I just read the concept for the album...a middle aged dude pursuing a 14 year old girl; yikes. That changes things a bit for me; too bad. 2/5
** Not my music. Too slow, too much "chanson".
Quite short for an album. Overall I really like the music but the spoken vocals aren't my favor.
Some girls are smitten by a guy who speaks French. But as a guy who speaks French, this SUCKS.
Not really the vibe I was looking for on a monday at work
Quite a french album if you ask me. I don't have anything to add 2/5
I've never listened to this album, but I knew one or two songs (2). Good production but the lyrics have aged horribly, really indulgent and creepy album concept.
A lot of layers to cover in this review. 1. The subject matter is pretty brutal. No thanks. 2. ASMR. So many mouth noises, as the mic sounds like it's directly on the singer's tongue. No thanks. 3. Background music is pretty great. The closest thing to a redeeming feature. Overall - more bad than good.
it didn’t particularly sound captivating I guess
Wish I hadn’t read what this was about before I listened. Vocal delivery (no singing here) is not for me even if I did understand what was being said. Actually, it’s a blessing I didn’t in this case. Background music was ok in fairness and it was mercifully short at 30 mins
jag vet inte. för rapeig stämning för mig.
Why?
The story is fucked up, and the music really isn’t that good. Just some soft guitar with whispering over it. This is some bullshit that only the French could cook up.
i liked the music and the voice but pedo concept isn't cool
This is clearly a really impressive work of art but it made me exceptionally uncomfortable
Yup, nope
Je n'en ai pas compris un mot, mais la musique était agréable
Some of the music was pretty, but I found the whisper singing offputting
It was nice background music but very creepy story (but I don’t speak French so…)
Not all that interesting a listen, but on the plus side it really flew by.
- war sehr kurz (ohne CD 2) und soweit ganz entspannt, aber nix Dolles für mich 2 – Respektiere ich, aber nicht meins 🤷♂️ Ich sehe, warum das Album wichtig ist oder geschätzt wird, aber es hat mich nicht gepackt.
I wish I could understand this.
1,5
Very groovy, doesn't overstay its welcome. Still, I don't love hearing a Frenchman grumble-half-singing for half an hour, especially upon learning it's about an underage girl.
I get what they are trying to do. It's innovative and groovy at times, especially for being 50+ years old. I don't think it's fantastic though... Just creative. I like Cargo Culte.
at least it's only 27 minutes long
Musically actually pretty solid & well-produced. Would probably help if I understood French. Although maybe not, considering the subject matter.
Would be 3*, but -1 for paedophilia
Instrumental was great, vocals were awful
Yeah nah, an album about the statutory rape of a child and then the death of said child in a plane crash, it’s not for me. I would have thought this album would have perhaps fallen out of favour due to its themes, but turns out every one from Pulp to Beck to the Arctic Monkeys have been inspired by this one, creepy
Weirdly French, hard to listen to, but it didnt suck
not really my thing. kind of reminds me of a french Leonard cohen.
French spoken word jazz might not be for me?
I was more distracted by the Frenchman whispering sexily at me during my morning commute, than anything...
Melody Nelson. Got it. Instrumentally speaking, this album is a masterpiece, but yeesh with the constant repeating of the name.