La Javanaise

[Jean Pierre]

[color=red]NEW MIX 2023 [/color]

the new version is in my last message


an other song in french
It is one of the greatest French songs of all styles and ages
Written by Serge Gainsbourg (A lot of covers including that remarkable by ... Iggy Pop  )

Do you know the history of the Javanese? "This Javanese who was so uncomfortable because I speak Javanese". This is how Serge Gainsbourg himself gave the key to his song in an interview. For the Javanese is not a dance, contrary to what the text and rhythm of waltz of this song suggests. Do not confuse with the java, which is a popular dance of musette balls, born at the beginning of the twentieth century.

The "Javanaise" is an exercise in style of the poet Gainsbourg, a brilliant game on sounds and words. In the years 1950-1960 in France, there is a "Javanese" slang, which consists of adding the syllables "-AV" or "-VA" in the middle of almost all the words. In his text, Gainsbourg imitates Javanese, but, this is audacity, with the proper resources of the common language. The result is a text of great musicality, which has become a standard of vocal jazz, and is a real treat to make a teaching pedagogical, phonetic.

here the lyrics and a translation found on web

J'avoue j'en ai bavé pas vous mon amour
Avant d'avoir eu vent de vous mon amour
Ne vous déplaise
En dansant la Javanaise
Nous nous aimions
Le temps d'une chanson

À votre avis qu'avons-nous vu de l'amour?
De vous à moi vous m'avez eu mon amour
Ne vous déplaise
En dansant la Javanaise
Nous nous aimions
Le temps d'une chanson

Hélas avril en vain me voue à l'amour
J'avais envie de voir en vous cet amour
Ne vous déplaise
En dansant la Javanaise
Nous nous...

I admit I went through hell, didn't you my love
Before I caught  wind of you (met you) my love
Wether it please  your or not
In dancing the Javanaise
We loved each other for the lenght of a song

In your opinion what have we seen of love
From you to me you really had me going (you had me fooled) my love
Wether it please  your or not
In dancing the Javanaise
We loved each other for the lenght of a song


Alas, April in vain dedicates me to love
I wanted to see that love in you my love
Wether it please  your or not
In dancing the Javanaise
We loved each other for the lenght of a song

guitars and singing by me, others instruments by BIAB

thank you guys for  listening

[cuthbert]

Thoroughly enjoyed listening - this has a lovely, end of summer feel to it.

And thank you for your explanation of "La Javanaise" - I'm a Serge Gainsbourg fan, but I didn't understand this previously.

[Groundy]

Superb JP, as Cuthbert said it has a lovely end of Summer feel to it,
Nice guitar work and top class voice.
Well done...

Alex

[Redler]

Very nice and laid back feel here...enjoyable listening and performance!

I like that organ tone a lot!

[Hook]

Wonderful, relaxing listen. Really enjoyed this.
Rock on!

[Zoltan]

Another bump for a great cover! This is one of the few Gainsbourg songs that works (somewhat) in english too. Otherwise i think 99% of Gainsbrougs songs are best in french.

But yes. JP doesn't have that problem

[Frank53]

Glad this got bumped. I don't think I've heard it before. What a smooth, relaxing song. The French accordion is nice touch. Well played and sung, JP.

[Jean Pierre]

Zoltan was kind enough to bring this song up on the BUMP lift

I did the mix in 2017 ...At that time (prehistory!) I didn't have a studio monitor and I did all the mixes with headphones

...listening again with the ADAM AUDIO that I have now I find the sound of the voice all the same too muffled too much bass

So I did a slightly different mix that sounds more "night club in Paris" with the bass and the accordion more in front

I hope you'll like it

[Bluesberry]

Another bump for a great cover!

Another great spandex bump.........it's tight and yet loose....it's moves and yet doesn't constrain......and sounds really great........