Disgraceland is a production of Double Elvis.

The stories about Serge Gainsburg are insane.

They involve illicit romance, scandalous pop songs condemned by the Vatican,

and shocking liaisons too forbidden to last. He carried out a whirlwind affair with Bridget Bardot

at a time when she was not only the premier sex symbol in the world, but married to a powerful millionaire.

Her love inspired him toward a creative breakthrough, just as their fling barreled toward a doomed ending.

An ending that resulted in a cease and desist letter in the physical destruction of great music.

Unlike that music I played for you at the top of the show,

that wasn't great music.

That was a preset loop from my Melotron

called Jazz Hands Confidential, MK1.

I played you that clip

because I can't afford the rights to hello goodbye by the Beatles.

And why would I play you that specific slice of

yes, no, high, low, stop, go cheese, could I afford it? Because that was the number one song in

America on January 2nd, 1968. And that was the day that Serge Gainsberg and Bridget Bardot released the album Bonnie and Clyde,

a Star Cross collaboration so powerful that it stopped them from ever again making music together.

On this episode, illicit romance, scandalous songs, shocking liaisons, Bonnie and Clyde, Bridget Bardot, and Serge Gainsberg.

I'm Jake Brennan, and this is Disgraceland. West Dallas, Texas, 1932.

21-year-old Bonnie Parker was glad to be out of jail, but not thrilled to be home.

She wanted to be with Clyde, out on the road, living by the gun, living fast.

But Bonnie wasn't so fast, not like Clyde and the others.

...