Serge Gainsbourg was a drunkard who smoked three packs a day. He yelled obscenities at world-famous stars and let under aged girls sing about lollipops with anise filling. He wrote a novel about a man who broke toxic winds and recorded the most scandalous number of all times which was banned by the Vatican. Someone like that surely deserves a tribute!

But does everyone in the Netherlands and Belgium know about this? Sure, we did some heavy breathing along to Je t’aime… moi non plus. No wonder it was one of the longest running hit singles in the Netherlands!

In fact, Serge Gainsbourg’s work is celebrated every day. Not a month goes by without someone somewhere recording a new cover. People like actress Victoria Abril, young French singer Julien Doré, Michael Stipe of R.E.M. or singer and presidential spouse Carla Bruni. As well, Beck, Portishead, De La Soul and Sharleen Spiteri have all used fragments of his work.

Forty years after the release of Je t’aime… moi non plus 18 bands and artists from Belgium and the Netherlands have recorded their favourite Gainsbourg number for Gainsnord. Although their songs are disguised as soul stompers, piano ballads, swinging rumbas and damping dubs, no matter what they’ve done, the numbers are simply brilliant. It just goes to show how much Gainsbourg’s work continues to inspire musicians and bring out the best in them.

CD RELEASE: 18 September
RELEASE PARTY: 18 September, Upstairs Room Paradiso, Amsterdam feat. Janne Schra, West Hell 5, Suarez, VJs Scopi-tonics, Amsterdam Beat CLub-DJ’s, women, booze, smoking rooms.