Thirty years after their legendary collaboration, Vanessa Paradis wanted to set the record straight. A guest on Europe 1 this Friday, October 17, the singer discussed her relationship with Serge Gainsbourg, the man who wrote all the lyrics for her second album. Variations on the same love youFar from rumors of tension or provocation, the 51-year-old artist delivered an emotional account of a man she describes as deeply caring.
In 1987, Vanessa Paradis became a global star with Joe the TaxiBarely out of her teens, she caught the attention of Serge Gainsbourg, fascinated by her voice and unique charisma. Together, they recorded a cult album, a symbol of the transition from innocence to maturity. Yet their collaboration was not immune to fantasies. Some saw it as an ambiguous relationship, others as ego tensions. These rumors Vanessa Paradis now dismisses out of hand. "He was completely paternal, absolutely tender, nothing like the provocative character we see," she told Thomas Isle.
A relationship of trust and high standards
While Serge Gainsbourg was known for his sultry side, Vanessa Paradis insists that he was always respectful and attentive to her. "He was an incredibly elegant man, very gentle, and a great listener," she confides. The singer even says she asked him to rework some of her lyrics. "I made him redo things; I wanted the best from him. And he took it very well," she explains with a smile. A rare freedom for such a young artist, proof of the trust that united them.
"Heaven is hell?" She finally replies.
Gainsbourg's iconic phrase, "Paradis is hell," has often fueled fantasies about their relationship. A dig? A reproach? Vanessa Paradis sets the record straight: "I've heard that since elementary school, it never bothered me. It was just a play on words, a phrase." Far from any resentment, she remembers this period as a demanding but deeply human mentor, who allowed her to assert her artistic identity.
Today, on the occasion of the release of his new album The return of sunny daysVanessa Paradis looks back with gratitude. “I don’t think I realized at the time how lucky I was to work with him,” she admits. A seminal collaboration, etched in the memory of French song and in the heart of an artist who, decades later, continues to follow in the footsteps of her illustrious mentor.
