Charlotte* & Gainsbourg* – Lemon Incest

[Regarding what picdisc65 says: “Charlotte later denied claims that the song was actually about incest, saying that, although the song uses the word "incest", "[Serge is] just talking about the infinite love of a father for his daughter and of a daughter for her father." According to The Guardian's Francine Gorman, "Lemon Incest" "caused one of the biggest scandals of [Serge] Gainsbourg's career" and was "his most highly contested release". So there you go!”]

Yes, words can be used in many ways maybe Serge has an infinite love for zesty lemons as well. It’s ‘true’ love is infinite, in one sense, but perhaps it is advisable to put some limits on love – between father and daughter say? Up for discussion . . .

"Incest" means incest, there is no way round it. The song writers intended for the audience to be baffled into thinking about the subject of incest and the subject’s proximity to love. The Serge Team make pop songs, which also make money. The Serge Team wanted the result they got: for people to be provoked, inflamed and cause a sensation within the French culture of that time; and also for people to buy their record in a competitive market.

1969. There are not many husband and wife teams who would use this cover, in this way, to sell their pop song:

https://www.discogs.com/release/11962952-Jane-Birkin-Serge-Gainsbourg-Je-TaimeMoi-Non-Plus

1968, Yoko Ono and Lennon did a controversial naked photographic session, TOGETHER, and that was not sexualised; it was more about the emotional bond of love (more “infinite”?).

It is also worth stating that though sex is part of love, it is also a separate aspect of love. Je t’aime is more about the sexualised aspect of love. The Serge Team use sex as one of their many tools for selling product. In a way, it is a more bland, up-market kind of prostitution – selling your sex from a distanced position, safer, easier, reaching a larger audience, more lucrative. Charlotte continues that trend and does it fairly well. She is a provocative Rock Chic also aiming high with her acting career. Think of her roles for Lars von Trier, particularly Nymphomaniac, seeing the poster alone is enough to understand. She lives the High Life in a privileged, elite, artistic family, that is her legacy.

It’s all part of France’s rich heritage, continuing with vive la revolution, De Sade, more recently Jean Genet being released from prison because Sartre proclaimed it was a travesty to imprison an ARTIST. I am not casting a negative judgement, the Serge Team’s role in French culture is central. The ordinary people, less privileged, then assess the artistic / moral worth accordingly and dip into their pockets. Charlotte now an adult, defends her close family life, past and present, she is not married to her male partner in respect of her own parents, also not married.

This is a single I have refrained from writing anything about for ages, because . . . . . ermmmmm . . . . . . I dunno . . . . what on earth . . .

"Only in france", would put the nut in the shell.

I'm still going to have to refrain from the actual song. So, it's the video; it's jam-packed with subtle metaphors. What a lovely bedroom you have Serge, all bright and sunny. No, it's black, a deep dark cave. It probably has a mirrored ceiling, but you don't see it because it's so enormous. Truly cavernous, this deep, dark cave. All black. But note the stalagmites, with their fools gold. Is that reflective of all the dosh they will make from selling the song? (So much shocking money from je t'aime, it'd be great to make even more money . . . how can we shock them again, it'd have to be more shocking - and maybe that is the simple raison d'etre, ce n'est pas profund).

That black cave is great. And at the end, things are resolved a bit, the black leather sheets are replaced with clean white cotton. Sleep well . . . . . . .

Charlotte later denied claims that the song was actually about incest, saying that, although the song uses the word "incest", "[Serge is] just talking about the infinite love of a father for his daughter and of a daughter for her father." According to The Guardian's Francine Gorman, "Lemon Incest" "caused one of the biggest scandals of [Serge] Gainsbourg's career" and was "his most highly contested release". So there you go!

Lot of talent here... but was everyone out to the cafe at Philips the day this was made and released? Serge is a cool guy but this... eek.

Just gotta say, I love the Gainsbourgs and all... but the cover and title are TRES UNCOMFORTABLE. Yikes.