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The Woman Whose Pop Song Was Banned Worldwide Has Died
Her name was Jane Birkin and while she was primarily known as an actress in Europe, she made it across the pond for one momentous and controversial tune. She was the young woman heard moaning on the song "Je T'Aime," recorded with her then much older boyfriend Serge Gainsbourg.
The song, which was as close to X-rated as it got back then, was banned from many radio stations in the U.S., Canada and Britain. But that didn't stop it from selling enough copies to make it an international smash. Birkin was just 76, and the cause of her passing hasn't been revealed.
Actress and singer Jane Birkin dies aged 76
In case you've forgotten the 1969 tune or lived in a place that refused to air it, here's what it sounded like:
Je T’Aime: The trailblazing life and times of Jane Birkin
Last edited by aflem (July 16, 2023 11:08 am)
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Re: The Woman Whose Pop Song Was Banned Worldwide Has Died
Just as a follow-up, I found this on my local radio board from a few years ago. It centers on the then-two biggest Top 40 stations in Toronto. 
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Thread Starter- aflem
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Re: The Woman Whose Pop Song Was Banned Worldwide Has Died
Apparently this song was released twice - the first time involving Gainsbourg and none other than the legendary Brigitte Bardot. And her version was later released again. Birkin was jealous so agreed to perform it to get Bardot out of the way.
"To differentiate this version from the one he had recorded with Bardot, Gainsbourg made Birkin sing an octave higher, in a register that embodied her delicate, sensual fragility. The song became all the more scandalous, to the point of being censured by the Vatican, and declared forbidden to those under 21."
What a weird story for a very weird song.
The steamy story behind the iconic song Je t'aime… moi non plus
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