VA - Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited (2006) [Bonus Tracks]

It's a tribute album with a twist, though, as all of the songs have been meticulously translated into English, many for the first time. The sheer variety of the contributors here should give some indication of the universal influence the man still holds. From Jarvis Cocker to Marianne Faithfull, Michael Stipe to Marc Almond, Franz Ferdinand to Cat Power – the lineup is nearly as diverse as the man's career was and, duly, the material covered here comes from nearly every corner of Gainsbourg's catalog. Unlike many collections of his work, Revisited doesn't dwell on his infamously racy selections (although there is the requisite "Je T'Aime Moi Non Plus" appearance, à la Cat Power and Karen Elson, and trip-hop's own "dirty old man" Tricky lays the musk on pretty thick for his sweaty take on "Goodbye Emmanuelle." Instead, the focus is more heavily on Gainsbourg's introspective, melancholy side (Michael Stipe's refreshing and impressively sincere reading of "L'Hotel Particullier" is a standout in that arena, as is Carla Bruni's "Those Little Things"). Alongside the melancholy, there is a good amount of just plain fun to be had as well. Faultline, Brian Molko, and Françoise Hardy's "Requiem for a Jerk" and Gonzales, Feist, and Dani's "Boomerang 2005" bring self-conscious chuckles and booty-shaking, respectively, into the mix, while the Rakes and Kills selections bring on the bravado. In a situation where any number of factors could have sent this project careening down the wrong tracks, Verve Forecast managed to wrangle it all in and offer a tribute that is reverent, representational, serious, and fun, all at the same time. –J. Scott McClintock, AllMusic

Tracklist:

01. Franz Ferdinand & Jane Birkin - A Song for Sorry Angel (Sorry Angel)
02. Cat Power & Karen Elson - I Love You (Me Either) (Je T'aime Mon Non Plus)
03. Jarvis Cocker & Kid Loco - I Just Came to Tell You that I'M Going (Je Suis Venu Te Dire Que Je M'en Vais)
04. Portishead - Requiem for Anna (Un Jour Comme Un Autre - Anna)
05. Faultline, Brian Molko & Francoise Hardy - Requiem for A Jerk (Requiem Pour Un Con)
06. Michael Stipe - L'hotel (L'hotel Particulier)
07. Tricky - Au Revoir Emmanuelle (Goddbye Emmanuelle)
08. Marianne Faithfull & Sly and Robbie - Lola R. for Ever (Lola Rastaquoucre)
09. Gonzales, Feist & Dani - Boomerang 2005 (Comme Un Boomerang)
10. Marc Almond & Trash Palace - Boy Toy (I'M the Boy)
11. Placebo - the Ballad of Melody Nelson (Ballade De Melody Nelson)
12. The Rakes - Just A Man with A Job (Le Poinconneur Des Lilas)
13. The Kills - I Call it Art (La Chanson De Slogan)
14. Carla Bruni - Those Little Things (Ces Petits Riens)
Bonus Tracks:
15. James Iha & Kazu Makino - The Ballad Of Bonnie & Clyde (Bonnie & Clyde)
16. Nina Persson & Nathan Larson - Angel's Fall (Sorry Angel)