By Kyle Francis
Usually Americans consider themselves ahead of Europe when it comes to music. They picture crowded discothèques pulsating to the sound of mid ’90s dance hits and shake their heads. Artists like Serge Gainsbourg proved Europe isn’t so far behind after all.
Gainsbourg, the euro-pop god, was prolific and successful during his life–as well as intensely influential since–but has long been overlooked in North America. On Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited, American artists from Michael Stipe and Marianne Faithfull to Tricky and the Canadian Feist show their appreciation. It’s a cover album with a line up strong enough to take your breath away.
While Cat Powers and Karen Elson’s rendition of “Je t’aime moi non plus” is stunning, Marc Almond and Trash Police’s cover of “I’m the boy” makes your feet move in a very nonchalant way. These two songs are typical of the album in the way they pick up on Gainbourg’s many talents as a performer and stay true to his ever-sexy, slightly-snide, sagacious aura, making Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited oh so hot.