Monday's Long Song

 

Serge Gainsbourg has always been an artist who knew no boundaries and knew how to provoke with his music and lyrics. He achieved his masterpiece in 1971 when he released his concept album Histoire De Melody Nelson. 

It is basically a setting of Vladimir Nabokov's novel Lolita, which tells the story of the paedophile relationship between literary scholar Humbert Humbert and 12-year-old. Gainbourg's story begins in a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, the man at the wheel daydreaming in his luxury vehicle until he loses control of the car and hits a cyclist. His gaze falls on the spinning tyre and the rolled-up blouse of the girl lying on the ground. Melody Nelson has red hair, Serge Gainsbourg whispers to the audience, red is her natural colour. Serge Gainsbourg has just described his Lolita experience.

So far, so good, but what does the album have to offer musically? The orchestral arrangements and the constant changes in dynamics mean that the listener is absorbed by the songs, most of which are only spoken or whispered.  The interplay of floating bass, dry drums and a few guitar chords in Melody anticipates trip hop to a certain extent.

Serge Gainsbourg - Melody