Histoire de Melody Nelson is a 1971 concept album by French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg.
Histoire de Melody Nelson is a 1971 concept album by French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg.
7.3
Serge Gainsbourg:
Histoire de Melody Nelson
Artist Origin: 🇫🇷
Release Date: 24 March 1971
Label: Philips Records
Genres: Rock
Prosecutor: Phil
Seedy from start to finish, this journey through traffic accident to infatuation to airplane crash certainly held my attention. The letchy provocateur swept along by Vanniers orchestrated accompaniment is sublime. Turner and Kane have had their mitts on this one no doubt, Last Shadow Puppets vibes. (Ray when the wind (whistle) blows vibes on Ah Melody). 9.0
Dan
The flawed Lothario's unmistakable brand of sultry rock/jazz shines bright on this fleeting concept album. The short running-time and free-flowing nature of tracks gives the album the feel of extended musical piece. Although the instrumentation never feels rushed. The bulk of the time is spent on bookending the record. The 7min+ opening and closing tracks feel like companion pieces, adopting the same low-key, raspy guitar pattern and building grooves. Opener Melody showcases Gainsbourg undeniable quality as a composer. The lush arrangement and strings alongside Serge’s hushed tones is a strong entry point and the standout feature throughout. Lyrically, in the words of Morrissey, ‘I still cannot speak French’ - although, the musical backdrop paints a clear enough picture of proceedings, offering plenty of nudges and winks as to Mr Gainsbourg’s motives. Dirty get. 7.2
Adam
This merde is bananas. B.A.N.A......you get the message. At 28 mins this breathlessly french album is the perfect length for approximately 10 goes at sex (under 3 mins a pop is about right....innit?). In summary not my cuppa. Some cracking backing guitar and strings aside I found this album to be more annoying than enjoyable with ‘En Melody’ being a particularly grating track. If I could speak the lingo I may enjoy it more, although judging by the translation PC gave (something about taking advantage of an underage girl) I wouldn’t put any money on it. Fave bit: the end. Tasting notes: breathy french, annoying giggling a prevalence of noncey overtones. 5.0
Rich
Brimming with spunk, Histoire de Melody Nelson is an intoxicating French vintage telling the tale of a middle-aged man and his rampant pursuit of a teenage girl, herself a full-bodied red. It's seedy, yet seductive - like the Confessions of a Window Cleaner set to some of the most delectable guitar and bass rhythms I ever did hear. Balancing the 'don't tell yer da' intimacy of Gainsbourg's spoken word delivery with the cinematic swell of orchestral strings and choral arrangements, the record seems to have set the template for the lineage of literate ladies men that came after; Cohen, Cave, Cocker... Hucknall. It's an amazing accomplishment that, even half a century since its inception, the musicality and sheer musk of Gainsbourg's sins can still hang so heavy in the air. Not even my Levoit Air Purifier with True HEPA Active Carbon Filters could remove its unholy stench. And I for one say: breathe it in. 9.0
Mike
Gainsbourg really is the most French man ever invented. Whispering like a sexy Quincy M.D. (Jack Klugman). The breathy non stop seedyness got a little tiresome. It seems like such a cliche to say it sounds typically French, but it is. It is very like Leonard Cohen in it's sound and delivery in patches. I get that Serge influenced alot of musicians but he didn't grab me by the balls with his nicotine stained hands. I found it a difficult listen to be honest. He is marmite I guess. 6.1
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Seedy from start to finish, this journey through traffic accident to infatuation to airplane crash certainly held my attention. The letchy provocateur swept along by Vanniers orchestrated accompaniment is sublime. Turner and Kane have had their mitts on this one no doubt, Last Shadow Puppets vibes. (Ray when the wind (whistle) blows vibes on Ah Melody). 9.0
Dan
The flawed Lothario's unmistakable brand of sultry rock/jazz shines bright on this fleeting concept album. The short running-time and free-flowing nature of tracks gives the album the feel of extended musical piece. Although the instrumentation never feels rushed. The bulk of the time is spent on bookending the record. The 7min+ opening and closing tracks feel like companion pieces, adopting the same low-key, raspy guitar pattern and building grooves. Opener Melody showcases Gainsbourg undeniable quality as a composer. The lush arrangement and strings alongside Serge’s hushed tones is a strong entry point and the standout feature throughout. Lyrically, in the words of Morrissey, ‘I still cannot speak French’ - although, the musical backdrop paints a clear enough picture of proceedings, offering plenty of nudges and winks as to Mr Gainsbourg’s motives. Dirty get. 7.2
Adam
This merde is bananas. B.A.N.A......you get the message. At 28 mins this breathlessly french album is the perfect length for approximately 10 goes at sex (under 3 mins a pop is about right....innit?). In summary not my cuppa. Some cracking backing guitar and strings aside I found this album to be more annoying than enjoyable with ‘En Melody’ being a particularly grating track. If I could speak the lingo I may enjoy it more, although judging by the translation PC gave (something about taking advantage of an underage girl) I wouldn’t put any money on it. Fave bit: the end. Tasting notes: breathy french, annoying giggling a prevalence of noncey overtones. 5.0
Rich
Brimming with spunk, Histoire de Melody Nelson is an intoxicating French vintage telling the tale of a middle-aged man and his rampant pursuit of a teenage girl, herself a full-bodied red. It's seedy, yet seductive - like the Confessions of a Window Cleaner set to some of the most delectable guitar and bass rhythms I ever did hear. Balancing the 'don't tell yer da' intimacy of Gainsbourg's spoken word delivery with the cinematic swell of orchestral strings and choral arrangements, the record seems to have set the template for the lineage of literate ladies men that came after; Cohen, Cave, Cocker... Hucknall. It's an amazing accomplishment that, even half a century since its inception, the musicality and sheer musk of Gainsbourg's sins can still hang so heavy in the air. Not even my Levoit Air Purifier with True HEPA Active Carbon Filters could remove its unholy stench. And I for one say: breathe it in. 9.0
Mike
Gainsbourg really is the most French man ever invented. Whispering like a sexy Quincy M.D. (Jack Klugman). The breathy non stop seedyness got a little tiresome. It seems like such a cliche to say it sounds typically French, but it is. It is very like Leonard Cohen in it's sound and delivery in patches. I get that Serge influenced alot of musicians but he didn't grab me by the balls with his nicotine stained hands. I found it a difficult listen to be honest. He is marmite I guess. 6.1
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