Melody - Serge Gainsbourg

"Histoire de Melody Nelson is a 1971 concept album by controversial French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. The Lolita-esque pseudo-autobiographical plot involves the middle-aged Gainsbourg unintentionally colliding his 26-horsepower 1910 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost into teenage nymphet Melody Nelson's bicycle, and the subsequent seduction and romance that ensues."

- From Wikipedia


I first heard this album at Alison Boland's pre-screening barbeque on a warm sunny day back in May. It was on a seduction mix made by one of Alison's friends from Arkansas, and what first caught me was its likeness to some Beck songs (specifically Paper Tiger and Dark Star). I then learned that Beck is a big fan of Serge Gainsbourg, and since I'm a Beck fan that means I've been a 2nd degree Serge Gainsbourg fan since around 7th grade and have only now made that fated connection.

Anyway, after it's release a series of music videos was made for each song and released as a short film-ish thing called "Melody." Below are links to all 7 parts*.

Part 1 - Melody
Part 2 - Ballade de Melody Nelson
Part 3 - Valse de Melody
Part 4 - Ah! Melody
Part 5 - L'Hôtel Particulier
Part 6 - En Melody
Part 7 - Cargo Culte

*Best if viewed with a glass of wine between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.