about the quoted person:french poet and a punk; a singer, songwriter, actor, soundtrack composer, Eurovision winner, novelist, photographer, artist, film director, screenwriter and intellectual. Gainsbourg was born Lucien Ginsburg in Paris in 1928. His father was a musician who had come to France from Russia just after the 1917 revolution. With false papers, quick wits and constant vigilance, the Ginsburg family managed to survive the German occupation. Coming of age during such a time of fear and repression, it's not surprising that Gainsbourg would develop a cynical and fatalistic approach to life. Lucien Ginsburg was trained as an artist, but devoted much of his time to the piano and guitar. Gainsbourg was more than just a pianist, he was a character. Full of cynical charm and dark humour. Gainsbourg's early songs attracted the attention of other singers and soon he was writing for many. Deciding that no one could sing his songs as well as he could himself, Lucien Ginsburg changed his name to something he felt to be a bit more French, and as Serge Gainsbourg he signed with Philips Records. Gainsbourg had an ear for fine melodies, and his lyrics, full of worldly cynicism, struck a cord with the fashionable Left Bank crowd. Suddenly Gainsbourg was in hot demand. After years of being the darling of the left bank, he was now main stream.. By 1968, Serge Gainsbourg was known throughout France.during his life gainsbourg always tried to provoke people. one time he burned a 500 francs biliet on telvision. he died in 1991.