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Initials B.B. (song)
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Wikipedia article
'Initials B.B.' is a 1968 song by Serge Gainsbourg. It was the opening single of his album 'Initials B.B.' and is about French actress and sex symbol Brigitte Bardot, who was so famous at the time that her initials were enough to know whom people referred to. Gainsbourg once had an affair with her and this was his way of expressing how he felt about it.
Song
The song is a poetic evocation of Gainsbourg's relationship with Bardot in 1967. The song quotes from the first movement of Antonin Dvorak's Ninth Symphony, better known as 'From the New World' and lyrically quotes from Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven' in its opening lines. The song also mentions the book 'L'Amour monstre' by Louis Pauwels, which was recommended to Gainsbourg by Bardot. It was recorded between February and April 1968.
Music Video
A music video was made, featuring various clips of Bardot during photo shoots and recording sessions.
In popular culture
The song was once used for a TV commercial of the perfume 'Shalimar' by Guerlain.
English singer and songwriter Charli XCX named it as one of her five favourite songs of all time in 2013
Cover versions
Mick Harvey covered it on his album 'Intoxicated Man' (1995) as the final track on that record.
In 2012 it was also covered by Therion on their album 'Les Fleurs du Mal'.
Sources
Category:1968 songs
Category:1968 singles
Category:Serge Gainsbourg songs
Category:Songs written by Serge Gainsbourg
Category:Cultural depictions of Brigitte Bardot
Category:Philips Records singles
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