Although Gainsbourg and Birkin had appeared in a string of films since their magnetic collision in Pierre Grimblat’s Slogan, Melody was a bit of diversion from their collaborations since it’s a series of interwoven videos inspired by the Gainsbourgalbum. For '71 it’s a novel concept to bring visual life to an LP, but even more surprising are the short film’s amazing visuals that director Averty crafted using a wealth of video filters, overlays, camera movements and chroma key effects. Averty applies these in tandem with the increasing tone of Gainsbourg’s songs, which more or less chronicle an older man's affair with a young girl. Each song is comprised of steady, sometimes brooding poetic delivery, with refrains timed to the phrase repeats of each song, while Alan Parker’s buzzing guitar accompanies and wiggles around Gainsbourg’s resonant voice. The bass is fat and groovy, the drums easy but steady, and the periodic use of strings or rich vibrato makes this short a sultry little gem.
Melody
December 22, 1971
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Jane Birkin
Melody Nelson
Serge Gainsbourg
L'homme
Jean-Christophe Averty
Director
Serge Gainsbourg
Writer
Serge Gainsbourg
Original Music Composer
Jean-Claude Vannier
Original Music Composer
Daniel Durand
Sound
Raymond Nègre
Production Design
Gérard Drolet
Production Design
Jacques Duhamel
Director of Photography
René Rigobert
Makeup Artist
Nicole Dalence
Hairstylist
Josette Verrier
Costume Design
Annie Coupez
Makeup Artist
Christiane Coutel
Editor