Je t'aime ... moi non plus

The lovely and somewhat boyish Jane Birkin on the covers of some vintage Ciné-Revue issues: September 1976, June 1972 and October 1969. It was around 1969, on the set of Slogan that she met with the enigmatic Serge Gainsbourg. They began a passionate relationship and eventually married. It was also in 1969 that they released the controversial duet Je t'aime ... moi non plus. Originally written for Brigitte Bardot, it was thus eventually recorded with his new girlfriend, Jane Birkin. Often censored and even outright banned for its sexual explicitness in Italy, Spain and, of course, the UK, because it was considered to be 'too hot' with its salacious lyrics and Birkin's ecstatic female moaning which would eventually culminate in an apparent orgasm - with rumours circulating that this was the result of an actual bout of lovemaking during the recording session. The controversy only heightened its popularity and it reached the top of the charts all over Europe, causing yet another problem in the UK as the program Top of the Pops was not allowed to broadcast the song, even though it was their number one hit.

Amongst Jane Birkin's various movie credits, two are especially interesting for the horror movie fan. In 1972, she appeared as Alma in the flashbacks of Don Sharp's creepy and underrated Dark Places, while in 1973 she was seen as Corringa in Antonio Margheriti's atmospheric La Morte Negli Occhi del Gatto, coincidentally opposite her husband, Serge Gainsbourg, aptly portraying a trenchcoat-wearing, cigaret-smoking police inspector.

Note the text on the the 1972 issue, 'Jane Birkin: plus jamais nue!' (Jane Birkin: never again nude) and the caption on the 1976 cover, 'Jane Birkin se met a nue...' (Jane Birkin naked...). You may also want to check out the Birkin quote at the bottom of this blog...