Friday, August 19, 2011

L'homme à tête de chou



Well, this "gentleman" seemed to be looking for someone?




This drole caricature is of Serge Gainsbourg, the reknown and often infamous singer, whose lyrics and songs were filled with puns and references to sex. He did look familiar in the salon window, but I could not quite place him.





(Thanks to Malyss, Vreni, Richard, Véronique, dive, Bibi, and beau gosse)


Bon weekend!


(and I need found a title, svp merci!)


Valérie
14, rue Marseille
75010 Paris

More Weekend Reflections here at James' place.

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38 comments:

  1. AnonymousAugust 19, 2011 at 2:26 AM

    Oh my goodness, that's too, too hilarious! Where in Paris was this--I have to see it when I go!

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  2. MalyssAugust 19, 2011 at 2:31 AM

    This man is the french singer Serge Gainsbourg (now dead). He was called "the man with the head of a cabbage"(l'homme à la tête de chou). Some people think that he was one of the greatest french singers.[Not my opinion..].His daughter is Charlotte Gainsbourg, actress, he had loving relationships with many famous actresses (B.Bardot..)and singers, and was married with Jane Birkin, english actress.

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  3. Sylvia KAugust 19, 2011 at 2:31 AM

    What a delightful, fun way to end my day, Genie, mon amie! I do love it! Have a wonderful day!

    Hugs
    Sylvia

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  4. VreniAugust 19, 2011 at 2:34 AM

    I would say, this is Serge Gainsbourg.

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  5. AnonymousAugust 19, 2011 at 3:20 AM

    Qui, mieux que Gainsbourg, peut représenter Paris? Il était très spécial, mais quel artiste de talent!
    Bonne journée, Genie!

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  6. Shane PollardAugust 19, 2011 at 3:34 AM

    Interesting caricature!!!

    Some of the old french singers were larger than life!

    Wishing you a very happy weekend Genie.

    Shane :)

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  7. French Girl in SeattleAugust 19, 2011 at 4:13 AM

    Funny! Here I am, enjoying my morning coffee in my Nice studio, and the first picture I see is good old Serge Gainsbourg greeting me! I can almost smell his ubiquitous cigarette from here. This guy would make a great topic for a blog post. What a life he had. Veronique aka French Girl in Seattle

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  8. diveAugust 19, 2011 at 4:34 AM

    I don't recall Serge ever wearing quite that shade of lipstick. It is a splendidly eye-catching and bizarre thing to put in a shop window.

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  9. PatAugust 19, 2011 at 6:34 AM

    Definitely Serge Gainsbourg! Looking for Jane Birkin, no doubt. Or maybe that's her lipstick she left on him!

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  10. beau gosseAugust 19, 2011 at 7:07 AM

    I believe Hermès should use this in a display for Birkin Bags! How drôle that would be!!! :o)

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  11. JoeAugust 19, 2011 at 7:31 AM

    Gee. That's a bit of a shock. Think he should have a bex and a lie down.

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  12. Genie -- Paris and BeyondAugust 19, 2011 at 8:04 AM

    Merci to all who put the name with the face or should I say "the rascal to the music."

    Bon vendredi!

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  13. HalcyonAugust 19, 2011 at 8:45 AM

    Ah yes... would have known him right away. One of my favorite French artists. He was a real poet and artist with wordplays. :)

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  14. HalcyonAugust 19, 2011 at 8:46 AM

    PS: He was well-known for controversy. He once burned a 500 franc note on live TV. He also propositioned Whitney Houston on a TV talk show.

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  15. BirdmanAugust 19, 2011 at 8:56 AM

    A day passes him by.

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  16. PerthDailyPhotoAugust 19, 2011 at 9:24 AM

    Ha! I'm coming into the discussion late, I think I might have recognized him..peut-etre!!! but I do love watching movies with Charlotte Gainsbourg his daughter! What a wonderful find Genie. Hope you have a great weekend!!

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  17. AnonymousAugust 19, 2011 at 9:40 AM

    Those lips! A Chanel red, I'm certain of it. Such a great conversation piece.

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  18. VirginiaAugust 19, 2011 at 10:25 AM

    Oh I've had that same figure of dear Serge in my archives too! I could have told you in a minute. I think it's hilarious. I'll run it one day and link to yours. Maybe I'll include a youtube link where he's singing something really naughty!
    V

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  19. VirginiaAugust 19, 2011 at 10:26 AM

    I found mine in the Marais. You too?
    V

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  20. Genie -- Paris and BeyondAugust 19, 2011 at 11:29 AM

    M. Gainsbourg did some pretty naughty lyrics (and antics) for his time. I am not so sure that anyone would turn their head over it now.

    Virginia, this was in a small hair salon on Rue Marseille in the 10ième.

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  21. AnonymousAugust 19, 2011 at 12:22 PM

    I've listened to some of his music. He was married several times once to Jane Birkin. They did several tunes together. They stayed together about 8 years or so and she left him. I read once where he had a short affair with Bridget Bardot. He did write some pretty controversial lyrics.

    Hope you have a great weekend Genie.

    Kris

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  22. JackAugust 19, 2011 at 1:04 PM

    Pretty cool, Genie. I don't know him but anyone who can make a good living singing dirty songs is to be envied. Wait! That would be most rappers.

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  23. StarmanAugust 19, 2011 at 1:12 PM

    recognized him as soon as the picture loaded.

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  24. JamesAugust 19, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    Cool shot!
    I'd know that face anywhere. I wonder if it makes strange raspy sounds. I hope not. :) Looks like he's wearing Jane Birkin's lipstick.

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  25. 'TsukiAugust 19, 2011 at 2:13 PM

    C'est pas un homme à tête de chou, mais une véritable prise de chou ! :p

    Nice work on this one, Genie.

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  26. biebkriebelsAugust 19, 2011 at 4:07 PM

    Those lips!It is a funny caricature!

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  27. Gemma WisemanAugust 19, 2011 at 5:40 PM

    Anh amazing face full of so much character! The caricature highlights all the unusual features! And those humungous lips! Even more stunning with all those reflections playing around!

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  28. Angelsdoor * PennyAugust 19, 2011 at 5:41 PM

    This is great Genie!
    Love it..
    Blessings,
    Penny

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  29. This is BelgiumAugust 19, 2011 at 5:50 PM

    "je t aime moi non plus", was the song that caused so much commotion in its day

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  30. AlexaAugust 19, 2011 at 11:04 PM

    Ah, Gainsbourg, the male version of jolie-laide (beau-moche?). We had a bunch of friends in common, so I knew him (and Jane) slightly. Can't recall EVER seeing him without a cigarette. Remember well when "Je T'aime Moi Non Plus" was released (I hated it, btw).

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  31. RandyAugust 19, 2011 at 11:45 PM

    That's some shade of lipstick!

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  32. Genie -- Paris and BeyondAugust 20, 2011 at 12:19 AM

    Alexa, mon amie, you win the award today for your first-hand account of M. Gainsbourg... I would love to hear your stories (all of them - hah!)

    I have learned much today that was not found on the internet.

    Bises,
    Genie

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  33. UnknownAugust 20, 2011 at 3:59 PM

    One of his biggest hits, "Je t'aime moi non plus" in the 60's (with Jane Birkin) was forbidden in Portugal during Salazar's dictatorship, but I managed to buy one record before all records were taken off the shops by the PIDE (the not-so-much secret police who terrified everyone) and I played it in many garage parties (those days!...) but not out loud! Can you believe this?

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  34. Genie -- Paris and BeyondAugust 20, 2011 at 4:10 PM

    José - U-n-b-e-l-i-e-v-a-b-l-e!!! I never imagined the stories I would hear after putting up a photo that just seemed humorous. Merci.

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  35. TesAugust 20, 2011 at 5:07 PM

    Interesting! Lovely capture. :)

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  36. genieAugust 21, 2011 at 12:13 AM

    This is one really cool shot, genie. His red lips are something else. Bybreading some of the comments, I got a better understanding of thebgentleman and hisvwork. Fine capture. The Other Genie

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  37. GunnAugust 21, 2011 at 4:05 PM

    Well seen and well done!
    Quite arty too.

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  38. Rob SiemannAugust 25, 2011 at 3:00 PM

    Hello Serge.

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Merci for your comments!