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Song Stories

“Je T'Aime ... Moi Non Plus”

Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin | 1969

Serge Gainsbourg originally recorded this scandalous song, erotic moaning and all, as a duet with Brigitte Bardot. Understandably, the sultry screen star's husband strongly objected, and that version went unreleased for two decades. Remade with British actress Jane Birkin, it reached Number One in the U.K., despite (or perhaps because of) a BBC radio ban. The song was only a minor U.S. hit, but Gainsbourg proudly displayed in his home a framed copy of the Billboard chart that showed it reaching, appropriately, the Number 69 position. As for the rumor that "Je T'Aime" depicted an actual lovemaking session, Gainsbourg quipped, according to Birkin, "'Thank goodness it wasn't, otherwise I hope it would have been a long-playing record.'"

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

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