NOTE: I also do free French bilingual short stories (parallel texts), and I've put lots of info + links on my Home Page
French Language Music:
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Now established continental king of electro-urban-geek music, this guy tops the list by a long shot. Was you expecting Papaoutai? Yes, it has 290 million YouTube hits but I suggest you try the clip to the right and you'll realize he is a man of many talents. The song starts at 1:34 but watch the whole thing (very avant garde) This was how he introduced his new song on Canal Plus and it went down a storm. |
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Stromae and the track in the clip... Tous les Meme |
She has not done a lot lately but at the time of the release of her extraordanary second album le fil, her music was a breath of fresh air in the what was then stagnant French music scene. You won't hear her much on the radio, but then again, knowing French radio as I do, that's probably a compliment. Jools Holland appearance. |
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Camille and the track in the clip... Ta Douleur |
Albums Le Sac Des Filles [2002] Le fil [2005] Ilo Veyou [2011] Other Songs Allez Allez Allez Tout Dit Au Port Vous |
If you were to ask me who I'm mostly listening to these days my honest answer would be Brigitte. This pair of super hipster femmes fatales found success late in the game but they are making up for it now. Their popularity was mostly in the indie scene until a bouche que veux-tu was released, which played constantly on all stations. |
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Bridgitte and the song in the clip... A Bouche Que Veux-Tu |
Albums Et Tu, Tu M'Aimes? [2011] A Bouche Que Veux-tu [2014] Other Songs Battez Vous Ma Benz Le Declin Oh La La |
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This is probably the most recent artist on this list and yet the place is well deserved. Although a good portion of her music is in English it was the Francophone tracks that she released first of her debut album, and it's these that have done so well. The Constant radio airplay was surprising as the music is fairly hipster. Don't expect to understand all the words though as this girl mumbles. |
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Christine and the Queens and the track in the clip... Christine |
Probably the most unknown outside the hexagon borders of France, this despite M having had a phenomenal carrier within. He is very much appreciated by the French themselves, with his excentric ways (distinctive horn style hair cut, though recently abandoned) and excentric music. Probably the hardest to sell to an international audience and yet I love it |
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M and the track in the clip... Ocean |
Notable Albums Je Dis Aimes [1999] Qui De Nous Deux [2003] Mister Mystère [2009] Other Songs Baia Est Que C'Est Ca Qui de Nou Deux Onde Sensuelle |
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I wasn't sure whether to include this music artist in the list. On the one hand, she had one of the biggest singles the French have ever exported: Dernière Danse [2014]. And yet... something tells me that the experience won't be repeated. Then I thought, "dammit, I love the song, and so does everyone else, aaannnd she is hugely talented: let's stick her in and wait and see! |
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Indila and the track in the clip... Dernière Danse |
Albums dfgh Other Songs Ego Love Story |
Unique voice, unique style of music, unique lyrics and unique looks help this artist stand far out from the often samey nouvelle scene crowd. She came to fame through one of those talant show things, but don't let that put you off her. I once saw her live and she was fantastic. Again, recently she has not been in the media but her back catalogue of songs is reason enough to keep here in this list |
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Olivia Ruiz and the track in the clip... J'traine Des Pieds |
Notable Albums La Femme Chocolat [2005] Miss Météores [2009] Other Songs La Femme Chocolat Elle Panique Mala Vida (Es) |
You are either going to love Fauve or hate them: and a lot will depend on your level of French comprehension: the lyrical narratives are fantastic but he sings/talks very, very fast. Very popular among the young alternative generation, Fauve, without a doubt, are the musicians musicians. Only one critic there might be, is that their songs sound quite similar to one another. Still, definitely one to watch. |
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Fauve and the track in the clip... Blizzard |
Albums Blizzard [2013] Vieux Frere (1 +2) [2014/15] Other Songs Kané Cock Smart Music/ Rag 1 Les Haute Lumieres |
This is the artist which I feel most uncomfortable putting in this list. With wide international recognition, some of her songs have been absolute belters, the biggest being Je veux, [2010]. And yet, some of them have only been fit for the 'so cheezey only the French could love em' catagory. I'm still holding out, as I really do think their is more to come, but only if she can break free from the 'nouvelle scene' cast irons. But not to leave on a negative, let me remind you that she has a shockingly good voice |
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Zaz and the track in the clip... Je Veux |
Albums Zaz [2010] Recto Verso [2013] Paris [2014] Other Songs La Fée Eblouie Par La Nuit Les Passants |
Ok, I've let my personal preferences take over for the last one, but hear me out: If I say that this slightly over looked tv talent contest winner has made two of the most listenable albums of any in this list you'd better believe me, or else, well, I'll despise you from a distance, that's all. She has had commercial success, at least in France, but no one pins her up for 'artist credibility,' which is a fine shame. |
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Camélia Jordana and the track in the clip... Dans La Peau |
Albums Camélia Jordana [2010] Dans La Peau [2014] Other Songs Moi, C'est Calamity Jane Non, Non, Non Lettera |
Notable French language artists that nearly made the list:
Coeur du pirate * Ours * Benjamin Biolay * BB Brunes * Julein Doré
Superbus * Emilie Simon * Amylie
Coeur du pirate * Ours * Benjamin Biolay * BB Brunes * Julein Doré
Superbus * Emilie Simon * Amylie
THE WHY AND HOW:
Using Les Chansons Francaises
(French language songs) to Learn French.
Read my article explaining why and how... oh... I've just said that.
ONE-STOP LINKS AND REVIEWS FOR
The Best French Music Only Radio Stations
Want to listen to French Radio Stations for French Language Songs but finding every two out of three songs are in English (and 3rd rate ones at that). Well, you've found the one link to rule them all, the one link to find them, the one link to link them all, and in cyberspace bind them.
Now that's what I call kick-ass poetry!
(Suck on that one Keats)
FREE FRENCH LESSON
Intermediate Level
Stromea
Alors On Danse
(2013)
This is the song that started it all off for Stromea. I used to flick on the music channels when drinking my bowl of coffee in the mornings and when this song came out, it was on EVERY morning for what felt like a year. It became one of those songs that would play in my head all day long. Be careful, it may have the same effect on you.
Ps. In the lesson you'll witness how I trash almost every other translation of this song that exists!
Intermediate Level
Stromea
Alors On Danse
(2013)
This is the song that started it all off for Stromea. I used to flick on the music channels when drinking my bowl of coffee in the mornings and when this song came out, it was on EVERY morning for what felt like a year. It became one of those songs that would play in my head all day long. Be careful, it may have the same effect on you.
Ps. In the lesson you'll witness how I trash almost every other translation of this song that exists!
FREE FRENCH LESSON
Beginner-Intermediate Level
Indila
Dernière Danse
(2014)
This was on the free to view music channels every morning for the whole of spring 2014. A hit that came out of nowhere which now has 73 million YouTube hits. Vevo wouldn't let me use the official video so I used an excellent remix in place. (burn-Vevo-burn)
FREE FRENCH LESSON
Beginner-Intermediate Level
Zaz
Je Veux
(2010)
This was the song that led to Zaz becoming Frances top selling artist abroad in 2010 (or was it another year?) The album from which it came (called Zaz as it happens) ranked high in the charts all over Europe (except, of course, the UK). Simple but potent lyrics whose meaning hit home with me. Plenty of slang phrases within so if you need to work on that then this is your song.
FREE FRENCH LESSON
Intermediate Level
Stromae
Papaoutai
(2013)
Recent hit all over europe and the world (152 million YouTube Hits) by the now established king of electro-urban-geek music. This song is not the easiest of ones but has a very strong lyrical narrative, if not message (as do all his songs). Note that I've put in the phonetics for this lesson using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).
FREE FRENCH LESSON
Intermediate Level
Benjamin Biolay
Ton Héritage
(2009)
Modern Classic chanson Française. One man, one piano, one haunting tune, and a bunch of stirring lines. This one always gives me goose pimples when I hear it on the radio. The word for word translations are there but I have left it light on the grammar notes.
FREE FRENCH LESSON
Intermediate-Advanced Level
Olivia Ruiz
La Femme Chocolat
(2006)
Unique voice, unique style of music, unique lyrics and unique looks help this artist stand far out from the often samey nouvelle scene crowd. This particular song demonstrates well her quirkiness with lyrics that are just damnright trippy.
FREE FRENCH LESSON
Intermediate-Advanced
Brigitte
A Bouche Que Veut-Tu
(2014)
If you were to ask me who I'm mostly listening to these days my honest answer would be Brigitte. This pair of super hipster femmes fatales found success late in the game but there making up for it now. This particular track never fails to hit the sweet spot.
BY THE WAY
If you liked this audio list page then you may like:
My Audio List of the Best Spanish Language Songs for Learning Spanish (with Spotify playlist)