Reviews (page 8 of 9)
4/10 there were some cool things about this, (I liked the guitar parts and song structures) but I didn't care for the vocal performance and I couldn't stop feeling skeeved out by the subject matter.
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
I really enjoyed this and i’m a little shocked by how much. Definitely an evocation of a time and place.
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
The coolest album ever...the spoken word portions are perfectly executed, and I love the smooth blues-y instrumentation -french chef kiss-
Tipo una storia, ma non mi convince.
I'd seen the name Gainsbourg thrown around before and maybe heard a song or two but I never listened to a full album of his before. Not bad at all. Definite 70s vibes. I took a crash course in French to prep for a trip there but I'm certainly listening without picking up on the spoken content. I can only go by feel in that respect.
Best: En Melody Worst: Valse de Melody The guitar is good no clue what he is saying tho
je ne parle pas français
Not bad. Possibly a little too avant garde for my tastes. Standouts: Melody
I know he's a bit of a legend and all that, but this one isn't for me.
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 feel like someone read a story to me and I didn’t understand a word - since it’s in French. Duh The guitar playing is quite dramatic at times but that doesn’t help me understand the story. Apparently it’s about an old dude with a 15 year old girl. How would that go over at major record companies these days? Back then, it was less than a decade after the film Lolita was released so I guess that taboo was manageable then? If it were a comedy that would help make it marketable. Is it a comedy? I have no way of knowing since, as I previously said, "it’s in French". I think I also previously said "Duh".
I have a couple of 60s-70s Gainsbourg albums. They sound very different from each other and very different than this. He’s a diverse artist, I used to think of him as a French Leonard Cohen, but he’s more esoteric and ambitious, and of course his voice is better, though that’s not setting the bar high. My bilingual co-judge says his lyrics are as clever and full of double entendres, which shouldn’t be surprising, for a French guy.. I love the baroque pop orchestrations contrasting that scratchy electric guitar. The “Ballade” and “Valse” de Melody are my favourites. This is one super-short album and it seems to me that the 7+minute first song and the 7+minute last song are more or less the same, though, as a 1001 reviewer, I’d be last person to claim that an album’s too short.
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.
It's crazy to hear where so many samples came from. Great vibe to this album.
I enjoyed the background music quite a bit. I did not appreciate the spoken word whisper style that the artist chose to use. Also the subject matter is gross and fucked up.
Another artist I've been hearing about forever but never really listened to. I liked the music a lot: the vocals (predominantly somewhat oily French murmuring) did considerably less for me. Of course I couldn't understand a word, other than the repetition of the name Melody Nelson five hundred times - each one a little jarring in this context as it's a name that would fit perfectly in the context of my rural central U.S. childhood. Does this anglicized Scandanavian surname sound exotic to the French ear? Anyway I gather these lyrics I couldn't understand are about an old French lecher creeping on a 15 year old girl? The whole thing is very, very French, but I can't deny I enjoyed listening to it and it gets a bonus point for its aggressive wierdness.
oh, yeah, smooo-ooth, lush and pure 1970s. Quelle Poesie decontracte, esprit de reves. This is so different & new to me. I do like a concept album from time to time.... (But if I had to guess, the its Francoise Hardy, (but I'm wrong, its Jane Birkin) and yes zeh eenglish weeel be geluwss that a french man can spend an album in admiring contemplation of a single, fascinating woman while sustaining our rapt attention.
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
fuckig brilliant
ASMR plus guitar
very nice discovery
Never knew this existed - very pleased to find it, sleazy groovy fun
Nice listen
Groovy.
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
Mitä vittua? Jotain taidemusiikkia
https://youtu.be/586WBOVBwS4
mehhh so slow wtf
Melody Nelson, Melody Nelson, Melody Nelson.... Tylsä, toisteinen ja ärsyttävä. Lähellä kuninkuusluokkaa.
No erikoinen, jos ei muuta. Omaan makuun liian taiteellinen
Musically, this is a real 5-star album. But boy do I wish it was about something else! What is it with French artistes and young teens? I won't be able to enjoy revisiting this the way I'd want to.
Incredible
ok vi fattar du gillar tjajjor
Banger after banger after banger. The only downside is it is a short album at 30 minutes.
Couldn’t get the entire album.
Wow, 1971, this is so timeless. The whole album is a great trip but I particularly enjoyed L'hôtel particulier.
It's probably a mercy that I don't understand the lyrics, eh? No doubt they're creepy AF. I'm glad one of the other reviewers commented on the fact Beck's "Paper Tiger" samples this extensively - I love that track, but couldn't pin down why this album sounded so familiar when I started it. That woulda bugged me! Fave track - "Melody" and "Cargo Culte" - they sound lovely to my uncomprehending ear! 🙉
WTF? I swear in the song Melody it was a beat with someone just being tickled.
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!
Firstly, is there any significant record from the 50's/60's/70's Big Jim Sullivan didn't play on? He pops even more than Al Kooper and Ry Cooder, though he appears to have had the good sense to steer clear of Stephen Stills. Secondly I'm surprised this record hasn't been sampled, or has it? Send me a fax if you know. The soundtrack is fantastic, this would be brilliant as an instrumental record. I like Serge, but then I've always liked all that Johnny Halladay/France Gall/Francoise Hardy (sigh...) stuff from the 60's/70's. There is no doubt not being conversant with French beyond the Foux de Fa Fa song (supermarche!) you don't have to dwell on the Uncle Pervy elements of him chasing down a 15 year old, mais il est français donc... This is a beautifully crafted record, gorgeous production and wonderful arrangements.
Another “very influential” album I have no interest in playing again. Not entirely without interest.
Really, until the early 2000’s, the only Gainsbourg track I would have recognised was the infamous Je T’aime Moi Non Plus, a worldwide chart-topper in 1969. Then I received a visit one night from friends Liam & Lauren of Sydney indie band, Belles Will Ring. They had just returned from an American trip & wanted to regale me with the goodies they had picked up there, including a Gainsbourg cd. I thought this was strange until we played the disc. Belles played quite a psychedelic brand of rock & that night I realised that Serge also didn’t mind a bit of that., which surprised me. From then on, I collected quite a few of his old records, including Histoire De Melody Nelson. It’s brief, more like an ep, but it’s a knockout. When I first listened to it, I was amazed at the music & not all that interested in what the French-language lyrics were about. I now realise the story he was telling was, not surprisingly, quite controversial. Nevertheless, this is a terrific listen.
This has been on my want-to-buy list for a while, and an album I occasionally spin on streaming. Creepy concept aside, I really enjoy this album, with it's laid-back funky feel, terrific string arrangements and crack session band (including Vic Flick, Big Jim Sullivan, Herbie Flowers), with Gainsbourg's gallic cool vocals over the top. It is atmospheric and sexy. This was clearly a massive influence on trip-hop, hip-hop and certain branches of 90s indie (Belle and Sebastian, Stereolab, etc), and was widely sampled or imitated in the 1990s. There is a singular vision to this album, and it almost plays like a suite, book-ended by Melody and Cargo Culte, which are the outstanding tracks. This is an album that takes its time, but doesn't waste your time. Unique and influential, hard to describe. Listening again, this has worked its way up my vinyl want-list priorities.
This is a great album; you can hear how Jean-Claude Desmarty has inspired producers like Nigel Godrich (check out "Paper Tiger" by Beck to hear what I'm talking about).
It wasn’t terrible, I just don't know French.
Could they stop being French for FIVE MINUTES and make good music?
mutmutmut jos ei ymmärrä nii miten voin kuunnella waa waa 'NO VITTU ETSI LYRIIKOISTA KÄÄNNETTY VERSIO JA LUE!!!!!! VITTU OSAAKO HERRA LUKEA!??? AIKA TÄRKEÄ TAITO NYKY MAAILMASSA SAATANA... jahas semmosta lyriikkaa... Lolita-esque... pojo pois syynä pedo... hyi vittu ranskalaiset tän takia vittu olen rasisti, yhtä kansaa vastaan...basso hyvä. tykkään kuiskutus,,, sipsutuksesta,,, aa äs äm är melody
No idea what was going on, but fun to listen to.
Did not like this one at all.
Zzzzzzzzxz
So cool and unique. I can definitely see how a lot of artists I dig would have taken inspiration from this. I'm a sucker for spoken word pieces so this is right up my alley on that front. I also like the mix of rock and orchestral elements.
Sexy ol' French bastard. Ooh la laaaaa!
p242. 1971. 2 stars. Well, that was weird. Glad I heard it but not sure I'll revisit it.
I understand it's a conceptual album, but the music still needs to be interesting.
Get music and music
What the actual fuck was this Not cool man, just a french could concieve such a disgrace
Franchutada
Ah, dull whispering french music for horny pretentious students. We didn't need another example that goofy bug eyed weirdos from france have inexplicable sex appeal because we already had Sartre. Sensual and randy as he may be, the album left me untouched.
Something different, pretty cool, and I didn't have to understand the lyrics to like it. The whole melody nelson got a little too repetitive but its a very decent album. It's also short so it doesn't overstay its welcome.
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.
This isn't a very interesting album to me. I found the first and last song to be particularly boring. I don't mind the music, but it's just not for me. My favourite song was Ballede de Melody Nelson.
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.
Very relaxed. But a bit too "artsy"
What the crapshit is this?
No more foreign albums please!
This was very enjoyable. I wish I could have understood the story.
I kinda dig it
Pretty cool but not enough of it
Yikes French. But just 28 mins. The first/last track is ripped onto a David Holmes album so I know and it works well. Ok I was a bit sneery but I think this is pretty awesome. The lyrics are a bit creepy...but the Cool as fuck background guitar. Those jazzy drums/bass The strings/choir when they come in!. 4
This album had some promise, I'm always interested in listening to other country's music, France being one of them since I haven't heard a lot, but this felt a little slow and nothing really happened. I read the wiki and it's supposed to almost be like a story which is cool, but I don't think that makes it worth being on this list.
I like this. I know this artist for the Bonnie and Clyde song, which unfortunately isn't on here. This is a quick trip, apparently a concept album about a man in love with a young teen....Lolita vibes. That part of it is creepy and off-putting, but considering it's in French, I can listen without hearing that part. The music is great though, and Serge's style of talk-singing is cool too. Quite an enjoyable listen. Favorite tracks: Melody, Ballade de Melody Nelson, L'hotel Particulier, Cargo Culte. Album art: It's the artist's partner, Jane Birkin, posing as this young teen/girl that the album is about, clutching a teddy bear over her bare chest. Pretty weird stuff, I wouldn't exactly say she or he were in their "bag" with this one. Get it? The Birkin bag? 4/5
This is a really fascinating album and piece of art. It's disturbing, perverted, poetic and sonically unique. I really enjoyed it.
I didn't mind it w/ no idea what he was saying - Wikipedia tells me it's about his love affair w/ a 15 yr old which I'm not into.
me gustó
In an alternative, dystopian world, I could have lived and died without ever having heard this 28 minutes of sublime music. Fortunately, I do not live in such a world, so I have heard it, and my life is enhanced by having done so.
Surprisingly delightful!
Loved the instrumentation, and his vocals are interesting, well done in their style. Subject matter sounds very French.
This is a concept album and it's story revolves around a girl names Melody Nelson. And it's super important for the artist that you don't forget that for a second. Not the story, just the name. It's in the title of the album, it's in the title of most songs, it's in every other lyric line. Purely musically this wasn't so bad. But it was just so annoying. And pretentious. My desire for it was at the max level. At least it's short.
4-5, interesting concept
How come I didn't even know about this album before? I've heard of Serge Gainsbourg, but never in context of music. And now I know what a mistake that was. Histoire De Melody Nelson is a really well crafted album (although very short, just 27 minutes), that combines four main pillars, that could stand on their own anywhere else: - a funky bass line, that welcomes us to the album and doesn't leave us until the last notes - guitar with incredibly psychedelic solos, you could easily mistake it for a Pink Floyd part - orchestral elements added by Jean-Claude Vannier, adding another dimension to the album - and finally the vocal of Gainsbourg, soft and very deep voice, mostly just talking, is like a perfect topping for this musical cake. The whole album feels like a jam session of four musicians playing different genres of music, but somehow not only it works well, but is absolutely amazing. One of the easiest 5 stars on this list, especially among the albums I have never heard of.
very flowery french pop. I hesitate to call it pop thought because it feels like Gainsbourg scored for a movie in his mind (not a particularly interesting movie either). His spoken word or semi-singing takes away more than it adds to the experience. En Melody is probably the track i enjoyed the most, primarily because it was instrumental. I truly cannot stand Gainsbourg's vocals. I wish he'd stick to composing instead, because it's far more interesting. Actually no! Credit goes to Jean-Claude Vannier more a lot of these arrangements! He did a great job.
The melodies are interesting, but I don't speak a single word of French. I at the very least have a chance of understanding Spanish singing, but there is no way I can get French.
A concept album that made a lot for french music.
Eh, not really my thing.
the back story is like so creepy and like it was just so no.
Well. That was weird. The music is... kinda funky and fun? It gets a little dull at times with a repetitive progression but is overall short enough to be a fine listen. Can definitely see how parts of this could be sampled (and apparently was) for triphop tracks. But... this isn't creepy nope not at all...: [wikipedia] "....Its narrative follows an illicit romance which develops between the middle-aged narrator and 15-year-old girl Melody Nelson...." uhhh 4/10 2 stars.
This album stinks of Gitanes and sex.
I just don't get it.
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.
Not my thing
still gotta listen
This was a fascinating album. Loved the ebbed and flow of it.
интересная вещь, концептуальный альбом, отсылки к набокову, все дела (лучше почитать про альбомчик перед прослушиванием). плюс сама музыка хороша (первый трек ваще кайфс), но тут уж простое человеческое "не вставило"...
For the first and last tracks alone this deserves to be on the list. Cool as fuck.
The music is strangely compelling.
Disturbing concept for an album. But if you manage to ignore that (helps i dont speak french) then the music is, well its hard to describe, really there is one main piece that gets repeated. This peice is probably one of the most engaging I've ever heard. The simple bass line grooves almost as if on another planet whilst the string arrangements contrast with almost a narrative quality. Weirdly I know this as it was heavily sampled by David Holmes which I kinda prefer. The rest of the tunes are mulch shite which is weird contrstasted with the resplendent main theme. All in all a conflicted album but on balance its hard to score an album highly that's about a peado.
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.
Basically a French dude talking into your ear for an hour over some light music. Maybe that’s your thing. Not really for me. Plus, I don’t speak French, so I could be wrong, but I think this guy might have an unhealthy obsession with a chick named Melody.
good background, not excited
¡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
This was a great listen, and surprising that it was made in 1971.
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.
French music is already way overrepresented in this list, but now you want me to listen to an album about a lecherous old pedophile "romancing" an underage girl? FUCK NO! "Oh this album is so influential" say sexual predators, creepy old bastard men and rape apologists because it gives their sick and disturbed predilections validation. This album is garbage and should be wiped from the cultural landscape.
4.75
Knowing the subject matter I can't help being creeped- out by the singer's voice. I would be interested in reading a translation. Also some of the background music reminds me of some 70s tv shows, which I loved in the day, but upon revisiting I find them cringey! I liked hearing the choir in the background, hearing her laughter made it seem so wrong!
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 instrumentation is sparse, and it's been years since I spent time on Duolingo French, so this album doesn't really do much for me. It's not offensive, by any means, but if the focus of this record is going to be the story and lyrics, I need to be able to understand it. Favorite tracks: "Ah Melody"
Unsettling French whispering over blues music don't like
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.
Sounds alright until you know what it's about and then it's creepy and gross.
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.
A parte de para hacerte el interesante, ¿en qué momento vas a escuchar a un FRANCÉS "cantando" flojito con musiquita de fondo? yo digo no.
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
This is a tough album for me to comment on (if you know the concept), but if I were to pick some faves, they'd be "Cargo culte" and "L’Hôtel particulier"
super weird. The music is ok, but the whispered "Melody. Melody Nelson"s kinda freaked me out. Also might be better if I understood the words/story. Doubt I'll be revisiting this one.
fun album.
Noncey
The music was nice, but the vocals were... interesting.
Bit weird for me.
I've been listening to a lot of French music from the 60's and early 70's lately, so I was happy to see this on the list. Serge Gainsbourg always seemed to have that creepy, older( French)man-vibe happening, similarly to Canada's Leonard Cohen, but you can't deny the talent and importance this music has to offer. I bought the old 45 of "Je t'aime… moi non plus", a couple years ago and have been intrigued with Serge and Jane Birkin ever since. The music is cool and if you can get past Gainsbourg's talking/singing style, it's an essential listen.
no, no, no. absolutely not. i don't care if many music critics and personnel find this influential and life changing. this album is about statutory rape! i was going to give it 2 stars because musically, it wasn't too bad of an album, but that was until i got to the sex noises in "en melody". what on earth is this album? i wish i could give 0 stars.
I would like to acknowledge that the album itself certainly defies being slotted into any one genre. It's hard to believe that it came out in the 1970s; something about it seems a lot more current. That said, this album didn't do anything for me. The music might have been more enjoyable as an atmospheric thing, but the spoken-word lyrics sort of took away from that. And the "concept" of the album is unacceptable and disgusting. Just, why?
Too french
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
2, le language gap probably
Definitely would've enjoyed this more if I knew how to speak French. The guitar work is delectably lo-fi and loose throughout the LP, but the spoken-word focus means I found myself waiting out some sections as the narrative part of this concept album took center stage.
I was driving couldn't hear it too well
Decent beats scattered throughout. Glad I don't speak French so I couldn't understand what I assume to be creepy subject matter.
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.
I thought his voice sounded so creepy so I looked up what the album was actually about: “Its Lolita-esque pseudo-autobiographical narrative follows the illicit romance that develops between the middle-aged Gainsbourg and 15-year old girl Melody Nelson.” Yeah, no. This was gonna be a 2 based off what I initially heard and now it’s a 1.
Serge Gainsbourg is a noted super-weirdo so I am very excited for this. Though he's also, I believe, a terrible pervert and creep, so also a little frightened. Melody starts pretty cool... Ok yea, this was musically everything I hoped for: weird jazziness, cool guitar, low muttered lyrics, a general cool lush vibe that was totally awesome.. And it was also everything I feared: according to Wiki this is indeed a concept album about him having sex with a 15-year-old. Oh Serge, why can't you just make good music without being a creepo? Still, gotta judge it on the music alone, I think. So high marks, but with an asterisk
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.
Good production, decent tunes, just not my flavor.
Well, that was an adventure. I don't know what in the name of French classical funk that was supposed to be, but I enjoyed it. This artist is either le Leonard Cohen or le William Shatnère, depending on whom you ask. Lots of dramatic talking and strange musical interludes. If you enjoy weird fusions of musical styles, you might like this one. I liked it pretty well and found it creative but didn't fully five-star adore it. Fave track: The opening track, "Melody," by far.
Interesting but not really for me
Clairement un chef d'oeuvre cet album Un peu cringe par le propos et cet éternelle obsession des français pour les filles de 15 ans🙄 mettons ça sur le dos de l'époque ... Cela dit, La bass est juste malade sur cet album ! Le tone, les grooves. Fondateur du trip hop bien évidemment. Les arrangements de cordes sont sublimes
Wow, Beck et Jean Leloup et Martin Léon ont écouté ça certain. L’ambiance de l’album est malade. Les cordes sont dépouillées et simples, mais super efficaces.
Bon, la thématique qui serait inspirée du roman Lolita de Vladimir Nobokov (que je n'ai pas lu) est malaisante. Bien que le roman serait considéré comme un chef d'oeuvre, je n'ai pas les clés pour comprendre l'intérêt de raconter ce sujet. Le qualité littéraire de ce livre devait donc plaire à Gainsbourg et il cherchait peut-être à provoquer comme il l'a déjà fait par le passé, mais le fait que ça semble effectivement cadrer avec l'homme soulève une ambiguïté qui ruine un peu mon écoute. Si on passe par dessus ça, en terme de qualité d'album, il y a du travail là! Un album concept court, avec une musique qui vient soutenir superbement une histoire racontée tout au long de l'album, ça fonctionne vraiment bien. La façon de livrer le texte qui peut être agaçante pour certains sert bien l'histoire. La basse sur l'album est superbe et les orchestrations ont définitivement influencées plusieurs artistes par la suite. La pièce En Melody est fantastique. L'ambiance dans la pièce Melody qui est reprise sur la dernière pièce, Cargo Culte, a sûrement influencée Jean Leloup pour quelques pièces sur Le Dôme (en plus de ressembler beaucoup à la mélodie d'Edgar). La basse de cette même pièce qui ferme l'album de Gainsbourg a été utilisée sur la pièce Paper Tiger de Beck. Bref, musicalement un album fantastique qui a influencé pleins d'artistes et qui se mériterait un 5 étoiles si ce n'était de la thématique. Pièce préférée: En Melody
It was an uninspiring and not that entertaining of an album. It is all in French. Some of the music was ok. No need to listen.
Miserable headphones listen, his voice is so loud in the mix I can’t enjoy the music. Admittedly I might feel different if I understood French and could tell what he was saying lol
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.
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
On paper, this sounds like a terrible album: French beat poetry about a fling between a middle-aged man and a 15-year-old girl. In reality, it's actually worse than that. Serge goes to great pains to explain just how rich he is. He spends a whole song talking about his Rolls Royce, and another one describing going on about the interior décor of his luxurious hotel. But he's sad, and here's a pretty girl he just happened to notice. Won't she be a nice trophy? "Don't tell me if you're not a virgin," he says in so many words, because that would ruin the experience. I mean, what the fuck. I guess I should mention that the backing music is nice, but I already feel dirty for giving this guy half a cent by listening to his album on Spotify. If I ever want to relive the vibe, I'll just go find Beck's stuff and listen with a clean conscience. Best track: Cargo culte (for the backing choir)
Really interesting. Great writing. Gonna need to listen to this more. Might grow on me.
I have no idea what it was about. But it was good.
De fana
Sprawling, funky tracks in a satisfyingly short package. Also not the least bit suprised about the subject of the story considering it was made by a frenchman.
Så lit...
it's alright and it is fucking quickkkkk, but outside of being relatively unique it's not particularly good.
ajme ne mogu ja ovo hahah jedna pisma cila vječnost
Nimalo muzikalno. Možda bi mi se svidilo da znan francuski il da san imala vrimena guglat prijevod. Priživila pola albuma
Weird and not in a good way.
Obviously I can’t understand the lyrics, but they’re delivered well and the music underneath them is great. Good stuff.
My high-school level French is failing me here, but the funky beats speak to me.
4/5. Sounds good, but why’d he have to do Lolita bruh, I can’t endorse that
Kolejny dowod na potege matrixa listowego, wczoraj pisze o wyzszosci francuzkiego popu nad hamerykanskim, a dzisiaj dostaje jeden z najbaradziej eksperymentalnych, a nadal popowych albumow listy, bo takim wlasnie krazkiem jest histoire de melody nelson, plyte ciezko zaklasyfikowac gatunkowo, bo o takie kombo psychodelii, orkiesty i funku naprawde ciezko, pan Serge Gainsbourg na 28 minutach krazka opowiada historie zwiazku tytulowej lolity z panem wieku sredniego, oczywiscie autobiograficzne watki, jak przystalo na francuza, pan Serge opowiada historie swego zycia z lolita, nie jestem pewien czy na okladce jest akurat jego lolita, ale guglowanie albumu zwraca fotki pana Serga z podobnie loliciarska lolita, lecz nie sam motyw przewodni jakim jest tak francuski zwiazek stanowi o eksperymentalnosci tego albumu, ale muzyka, ktora latwiej zrozumiec niz francuzkie liryki naszpikowane grami slownymi z ktorymi translacja przegrywa nierowna walke, bo muzycznie jest to unikalne polaczenie funkowego rockowania z harmoniami muzyki synfornicznej, najlepiej te polaczenia graja na najdluzszych kawalkach epka, czyli otwierajacym i zamykjacym kompozycje melody i cargo culte, zwlaszcza ten drugi swietnie buduje napiecie przez stopniowe wprowadzanie kolejnych brzmien, zaczynajac od pojedynczych fristrajlowych brzdakniec elektryka, rytmicznego drumienia, zeby w polowie traku dojsc do czesci chorkowo symfonicznej i zamknac z przytupem wszystkim co fabryka dala, kompozycje z tej plyty sa dzielem pracy w duecie z Jean-Claudem Vannierem, dosc popularne imie tej plyty, bo jeszcze trzy osoby o takim imieniu sa featurowane na liscie personelu w tym jako producent pan Jean-Claude Desmarty, ktoremu trzeba pogratulowac tak swietnie brzmiacego nagrania, zwlaszcza jak na rok 71, wiec pomimo tego, ze lirycznie album pozostaje dla mnie engima, to jednak sluchalo sie go swietnie, w mysl zasady z poprzedniego pika, im mniej sie cos rozumie tym przyjemniej sie tego slucha, ciekawe ile swojej zaslugi w nagraniach mial sam pan Serge jako muzyk, bo tez jest zlistowany jako pianino, ktore sie troche przewija oraz gitara, chociaz tutaj tych gitar jest zdecydowanie wiecej niz jedna, tak czy inaczej album krotki, ale zostawiajacy wrazenie ktorego sie latwo nie zapomni, na plejke leci endingowy utwor, a cala plyta na poleczke spotifajowa, dajac kolejny powod do nadrobienia lolity nabokova
So chic. Ouviria o dia inteiro.
Despite not knowing the name Serge Gainsbourg, I kind of knew what to expect. This was a perfectly chill way to start the day.
Utter wank, this holds the "award" of being one of so far 2 albums I couldn't finish. His voice, the "music" and the whole premise behind the album was awful, if I could give zero I would, nothing enjoyable about this at all
No idea what he’s whispering, but it sounds great. Really cool vibe, but I think it would benefit from having the band and music closer to the mic, it feels so far away! 4/5 - Who IS Melody Nelson?
A short groovy little album, with a bit of a Lolita theme to it. Worth listening to for some funky basslines mashed up with orchestral strings. It almost sounds like a sort of proto trip-hop album.
Some funky instrumentals, but overall not a fan.
Too odd for me.
Strange as fuck but somehow cool
Loved it, very very french
I am sure it’s influential, but I don’t speak French. Cool Melodie’s though.
Nope
Mike Patton took inspiration here, and I can see it. Very old foreign pop. It was unique, mostly spoken word, then I read about the concept and felt less good about listening.
You're better off exploring the French songs on the "Ocean's Twelve" soundtrack.
3 was decent, better without lyrics
Absolute fucking dogshit
Twaddle.
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…
Sometimes, French music in this vein does strike very well for me, capturing a mood of feeling that no other music does. However, this album came across as cheesy and only had a few bright spots in the back end.
Not for me
5/10
Just awful
5/10
Tre merde !
Ons melodieken hé. Leuk verhaal dat nu niet meer gemaakt zou worden. Gainsbourg altijd goed
While I would not go back and listen again, I definitely felt cool while listening 😆
The orchestration was really interesting. Being French, I had no idea what was going on. If someone wasn't singing, I enjoyed it but when the signing was happening, hard pass.
The orchestral instrumentation is awesome on this album. The concept of the album is not. I wouldn’t care to listen to this again.
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.
Nice to have non US/UK choice. I loved this one, very funky, and due to minimal french, can avoid alleged paedo overtones to lyrics as noted in other reviews.
Pretty groovy. Really dope precision bass tone. Sexy French lyrics I don’t understand at all. Super simple drums. And a throaty blues guitar. Kind of a perfect 70’s rock album
11/11 Sultry French vocals, soft rock soundscape. Standout Tracks: Melody, L'hôtel particulier, Cargo culte
Barely an album but we’ve heard worse
I appreciate the diversity of this list but this ones not doing it for me
4.4 + France’s pervie uncle can swing. The epitome of cool and composed. First came upon this via Beck’s “Paper Tiger.”
Was nice even when you didn't understand can word
well the concept is pretty off putting, so chose not to listen that much
Problematic gaur. Problematic saga. Fín tónlist og vel útfærð. Samt problematic. Ekki hægt að njóta.
1971 concept album by French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. Histoire de Melody Nelson is considered by many critics and fans to be Gainsbourg's most influential and accomplished work, as well as one of the greatest French-language albums in popular music. Its Lolita-esque pseudo-autobiographical narrative follows the illicit romance that develops between the middle-aged Gainsbourg and 15-year old girl Melody Nelson. While it became a pivotal album of the 1970s and was instrumental in the development of French rock music and trip hop genre... Thanks, Wiki! I was surprised by the sound of this album. Spoken word "whispering" vocal... The funky bassline is cool! Since I like trip-hop it was interesting to hear the music that influenced some representatives of this genre... French female voice pronouncing "Melodie Nelson" is sitting in my head all the day :)))
Interesting album! Need to listen to the whole thing later.
I saw a documentary about Serge Gainsbourg maybe a dozen years ago, and that made me a fan. Fascinating person and artist. This album is great. It's very, well, Serge Gainsboug. Weirdly accessible, even in the 2020's, and even though I don't understand any of the lyrics because I know maybe a dozen words in French (nearly all food, my fellow fromage-heads). The musical arrangements are fantastic, and, wow, that guitarist can play! Somehow, with the music playing underneath the spoke French dialogue, it just works. This is one I'll listen to again.
Such a strange album this. I really feel that some of the chords in the songs I've 100% heard sampled elsewhere but I can't put my finger on where and I know it's going to drive me crazy now.
Rockier than I expected, like a Gallic Zappa.
Not for me. Maybe it’s my American ignorance not understanding French… the music was cool. Should have been an instrumental album.
catchy and smooth
French background music
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.
Cool but dated
Linhas melódicas e instrumental interessantes e funcionam mesmo com vocal francês.
it's ok
2/5 sadly no
First Listen. Very interesting sounds. Very nice.
There are flaws, to be sure, but I adore this.
It's fine. It's really just a progressive rock album made into a soundtrack. Looking into the lyrics and "concept" of the concept album more made me feel a bit uncomfortable, but overall it was a decent experience. The music element of the album was mainly pretty good rock with some orchestral dramatics thrown in. The storytelling could've been better, but that's probably just because I can't speak French. Favorite track: Valse de Melody
I am not listening to a spoken-word album in "Fr*nch" about a 15 year old girl by a full grown ass man.
i hated this. just a french dude whispering
Good stuff… probably didn’t give this enough attention, but always enjoy a bit of serge!
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
It’s great. Not quite a 5. The cover art is a 6.
I would say that I enjoyed the music behind this one. But knowing my history of the nation of France, I decided to look up what this album is about and boy did I find another reason to not like the french. This album is about a man hitting a 15ish year old girl on her bike with his Rolls Royce, who he then promptly falls in love with and seduces. I don’t care about the artistic intent and all that when the subject is pedophilia. Not a fan
I love this album. So sensual...so sexy. Never really heard anything else quite like it. A near 5, but 4.5 🌟 seems more accurate.
I didn’t really like it but then again I wasn’t paying attention at all.
Not so much cup of tea. A bit too much avantgarde.
It was in French. What’s the point of that. 0.1/10
cool and sultry, but the backstory....yikes
Wish my a French was better
Interesting concept, but couldn't get the sonic idea.
Weird
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.
This album is a total vibe.
Musically great. Overall very cool vibe to the record
Paper tiger by beck was inspired by this
It's like opera... I don't understand it, but it sounds amazing.
I dont speak french so didnt understand the words. Music was decent.
A creepy concept album. The music is enjoyable. I would have enjoyed the album much more without the vocals. Not my thing. Won't listen again. From Wiki: "The Lolita-esque pseudo-autobiographical plot of the album involves the middle-aged Gainsbourg unintentionally colliding his Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost into teenage girl Melody Nelson's bicycle, and the subsequent seduction and romance that ensues."
Definitely different. There's some great instrumental work here but in the end I struggle with the singer's voice.
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.
While some of the music was really cool, even Hendrix-esque, the whole thing didn't make too much sense too me overall.
Whispery 70s French rock/funk. Its not bad, but not really for me.
Chilled and quiet, not particularly gripping
C'est en lisant dans le livre des 1001 la critique d'un certain JiH dans le grimoire de Robert que j'ai enfin ouvert les yeux ; cette compilation des 1001 albums ne s'adresse qu'à la communauté hipster. Pas question pour l'éditeur et ses complices de sélectionner un album à succès, non, jamais. Il est ici question de choisir l'un des albums les moins connus de l'artiste afin de jouer au connaisseur et pisser sur le mainstream. Une bien triste vision des choses que je dénoncerai en message privé à l'intéressé, puisque je le connais.
This is some sexy dark minimal French shit. Some of it's a little too boring rock for me.
Different from what I'm used, really like the guitars. I need a mieux français though!
It's obviously beautiful, Serge's voice is very smooth and I like it musically. I'm just afraid I'm losing some of it because mon francais est tres mal.
Total revelation, never knew of this album’s existence and yet it has influenced so much music that I love!
1970s French pop is a thing, that's for sure.
Non-content de nous proposer une ribambelle d'albums rock de merde. Robert Dimery, l'emminent créateur de cette liste scandaleuse n'a selectionné que deux albums français au sein des 1001. Parmi eux donc, cet album de Serge Gainsbourg, figure emblématique de la chanson française. Mais là encore, Robert avait tout faux. En effet, malgré la ribambelle d'albums comprennant au moins un titre classique de Serge Gainsbourg, Robert a trouvé le moyen de choisir un album experimental racontant une histoire dont tout le monde se fout, d'autant plus que les décérébrés votants du générateurs ne pipent pas un mot de français (ce qui vous en conviendrait, démontre une fois de plus leur manque flagrant de culture). La France est donc representee par cet album ridicule ou le Serge s'amuse a nous susurrer des mots a l'oreille, ce qui me plaça dans un inconfort palpable. Le pire dans tout ça, c'est que celui sur qui nos derniers espoirs reposent n'est autre que le hautement surcoté MC Solaar, que je me devrai de sanctionner d'une note assassine pour l'ensemble de son oeuvre. Ce mercredi matin ne démarre clairement pas de la meilleure des manières, d'autant plus que comme vous le savez, il semblerait que je n'ai plus d'eau chaude a mon domicile.
c'est vraiment intéressant musicalement en fait !
guy doesn’t even sing
I am losing the will to live! Some decent albums, PLEASE! This one is all in French & is trash
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.
No no no
instrumentals are groovy as all hell wow
Heavily sampled by David Holmes, hard to hear it without that context - bit hit & miss but extra star for Don't Die Just Yet
Absolute surprise - Loved it
Who is ̶K̶e̶y̶s̶e̶r̶ ̶S̶o̶z̶e̶ Melody Nelson? Had I the fluency required to understand this album I might have enjoyed it more (the Wikipedia certainly didn't help), but it's just not something I'd ever want to return to. It wasn't half bad, and I actually enjoyed the background music and chords that played throughout, but by god it sounded like this man was recording post mic-consumption, and I just couldn't get past that.
Sauvegarder Avant: Rien Dès Le Début: Melody, Ballade De Melody Nelson, Valse de Melody, Ah Melody, L'hôtel particulier, En Melody, Cargo culte (c'est à dire tout l'album) Presque Sauvegarder: Rien Notes Générales: As someone who speaks French, I figure my two-cents is valid here. In terms of the "Lolita" part of the wikipedia page, that's really not a big part of the narrative and the whole narrative is clearly not meant to be taken seriously as the guy meets her after hitting her with his Rolls Royce as he's driving on the sidewalk. The music is the most important part, and once you let Gainsbourg's mic-swallowing exist in the atmosphere of the tracks it's not so jarring. Would've been a 5 if it was longer, I just wish it had more time to develop some of those songs. But I guess that's the point of the album, it's a short fling from car crash to plane crash. 4.5 that gets rounded to a 4 for length.
Not bad but too short on tunes
Damn. Chicago 2012. Yup
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.
had i known french, i would have probably enjoyed it more
.
The whole thing is french. 0RS
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
Really Cool. Epic opening track and was short and sweet. An eclectic mix of sounds - really liked the strings. Vocals very loud!
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 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
een beetje donker en een beetje warm. you want it darker vibes
Very enjoyable. Something a bit different but very easy on the ears. 3.5
Enjoyable stuff! Love a 30 minute album :)
Groovy late 60s/early 70s psychedelic/blues jam vibe with some awesome bass work. Jean-Claude Vannier knows his to write some lovely melodies (pun not intended)
I don't understand a word of it, but it sounds nice.
Sounds like this is going to be some more strange French whisper music.... what’s the point of this. Some cool stuff happening musically, but still when the Frenchman comes in and whispers into my ear it fills me with confusion.
So sexy and cool
Comment tu t’appelles? Melody Nelson
I often like spoken word music. the music here is pretty decent but obviously I have no clue whats being said which is pretty key when there's no singing. The cover is pretty cool but its tough to be 100% sure of Melody's age. If we trust the french (and we definitely shouldn't) not to be singing about something dodgy, this is decent background music, and if I spoke french i'd probably get more out of this. So its the first one where its my fault i don't like it. 2/5 overall. 3/5 for the song where Melody just laughs throughout it.
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....?
This one passed me by a bit. Obviously it's in french so I don't understand the lyrics but every other word was the title of the album
No thanks. I actually hear the air from his mouth. Grosses me out
Not the masterpiece it is usually hailed as, but very original and atmospheric. An album where to come back from time to time.
A ratos más intenso, pero por lo general, tranquilo y reposado. Voz sugerente en francés
Definitely has a strong funk and rock vibe. The french...
I didn't understand much of the lyrics, but this was clearly an album about the love of a woman. I think. The constant twanging of the bass was excessive,.
I imagine at one point this was the height of cool for some. He speaks/sings! In French! He smokes while talking about women! A shirtless woman on the cover! Interesting as a point of reference but not much else for me, and I love 70s soft rock.
Can’t understand French
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