Listen: Johnny Depp & Vanessa Paradis Cover "Ballade de Melody Nelson" For Serge Gainsbourg Tribute Album

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by Kevin Jagernauth
November 22, 2011 2:56 PM
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The category of actor/musician consists of a small, diversely talented and wide-ranging bunch, including Ryan Gosling, Joseph-Gordon Levitt, Bruce Willis, Kevin Bacon, Idris Elba, Billy Bob Thornton, Keanu Reeves, Russell Crowe and yes, Johnny Depp. That Jack Sparrow has also moonlighted as a guitar player is nothing new -- in fact, just last month he jammed with ZZ Top in Austin, Texas -- and it looks like he's got some aural candy for devoted fans.

The tribute album From Gainsbourg to Lulu has been buzzed about for a while now, mostly due to Scarlett Johansson's cover of "Bonnie & Clyde" that surfaced earlier this year. Well, another sneak preview has landed, and it's the starriest yet with Depp and his wife, actress Vanessa Paradis, pairing up for "Ballade de Melody Nelson." The take by Depp/Paradis is slightly blusier/swampier that the Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbrourg original, but the spirit is the same, with the actor mostly in the background and not very audible except for some random grumbles here and there. Shrug.

Anyway, the album also features Iggy Pop, Marianne Faithfull, Rufus Wainwright, Charlotte Gainsbourg and more, and hits stores in time for Christmas on November 29th. Listen below and then compare to the original. [EW]

Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis – Ballade de Melody Nelson (Serge Gainsbourg cover) by rfp86