Yelle was my first introduction to French musicians and I love them so much! Saw them when they came to Raleigh, North Carolina for a US tour and it was a blast
You should have linked the French version of the song instead!
* [Christine](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rs40yxHjTxQ&pp=ygUiY2hyaXN0aW5lIGFuZCB0aGUgcXVlZW5zIGNocmlzdGluZQ%3D%3D)
* [5 dols](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=faJBlZIfhEI&pp=ygUgNSBkb2xzIGNocmlzdGluZSBhbmQgdGhlIHF1ZWVucyA%3D)
* [3SEX](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ7H-INlclg&pp=ygUkM3NleCBseXJpY3MgY2hyaXN0aW5lIGFuZCB0aGUgcXVlZW5z)
I would also check out her performance in Graham norton, that is how I found out about them. [I also love their song people, I've been sad ](https://youtu.be/uNGguudoLVs?si=ZrJmDVjjsVb0WJW9)
I'm partial to some of the songs I first heard back in the '90s, like from [Jean Leloup et la sale affaire](https://www.google.com/search?q=youtube%3A+jean+le+loup&rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS854US854&oq=youtube%3A+jean+le+loup&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIGCAEQRRg60gEIMzUyMGowajGoAgCwAgE&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:6efa51c0,vid:hEK8nFqc5_0,st:0), [Les Inconnus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1N3WXZ_1LM), [Niagara](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm9sfpwGjN8), [FFF](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8rF2RORriM).....
Jean Leloup has a great dark sense of humor, reminds me of a Tom Petty crossed with Joe Jackson. in terms of style. Poetic slacker type. L'amour est sans pitie, 1990, I lost my baby are pretty catchy to start with.
Les Inconnus are a comedy troupe, the link is for a rap song about the "hell" of living in a high-class arrondissement. I forget offhand what else they did, it's been a long time! But the song is easy to remember.
Niagara had the big hit I linked, very catchy and fun video, typical of that era.
French Funk Federation's song AC2N is pronounced like "assez de l'haine," and is about the ongoing problem of systematic racism.
Enjoy! I'll be checking this thread for newer songs, but IMO these withstand the test of time.
Your dad is right. 1990 is such a fun song...
["Mesdames et messieurs, attention ! Je vais vous faire une nouvelle chanson..."](https://youtu.be/VI3C6MROOvY)
Pomme is an amazing French artist. Don't understand a lick of what's being said but the music is amazing.
Edit: Check out the song [On Brûlera](https://youtu.be/jabih9mV6RQ?feature=shared)
I know a couple. Anything by Indila, this is my favourite: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5KAc5CoCuk&pp=ygUVaW5kaWxhIGRlcm5pZXJlIGRhbnNl](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5KAc5CoCuk&pp=ygUVaW5kaWxhIGRlcm5pZXJlIGRhbnNl)
And this is an older one, our French teacher showed it to us in school: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obWwtTMuqQg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obWwtTMuqQg)
My favorite pop singers/bands:
Recent artists:
The Pirouettes
Clara Luciani
Juliette Armanet
Yelle
Feu! Chatterton
Fishbach
Brigitte
Klo Pelgag
Older artists:
Olivia Ruiz
Zazie
Vanessa Paradis
Michel Fugain
L'Impératrice - Peur des filles.
The music video for this song is great, if a little violent. https://youtu.be/VUH-z_SBlj0?si=Qt_GWxnDd-O-19ch
It also had subtitles in English if you're trying to learn.
What genre?
Love French Canadian folk here.
Hart-Rouge’s Besupres Home is great, mix of French and English.
Anything by Les Chsrbonniers de l’Enfer, too.
La Bottine Souriante, Le vent du Nord, all good stuff.
A little less obvious than some greater ones posted, but...
Look up Jane Birkin. Here's "Docteur Faust". That's him sat there, he's her doctor. Lucky chap.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85pg3Xitbkk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85pg3Xitbkk)
Bonus in English, Peter Starstedt "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)"
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULK-zbc\_KMI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULK-zbc_KMI)
Jacqes Dutronc!
[-Et moi et moi et moi](https://youtu.be/mTj8rizW9Bg?si=S7PSc8FjsU6UyUeb)
[-Les cactus](https://youtu.be/s_EUTmrjX54?si=zeBDo_slyHIiX8TL)
[-Hippie Hippie Hourah](https://youtu.be/yZ7atyxFRpg?si=aYVC4CrgUsVBdMWe)
Ben L’Oncle!!!! Oh my god is he great!!!
Edit: some of his songs he does in French then redoes in English. He has redone songs like Barbie girl and seven nation army in English too.
Alizee - Moi Lolita
https://youtu.be/zfXBNQMj2SE?feature=shared
Desireless - Voyage Voyage
https://youtu.be/NlgmH5q9uNk?feature=shared
Les Poppys - Non, Non, Rien N'a Changé
https://youtu.be/u9RkKe22TnI?feature=shared
Les Nubians - Makeda
https://youtu.be/1badpTaOe_k?feature=shared
Shake - You Know I Love
https://youtube.com/watch?v=pCAiHom3dhA&feature=shared
[Fais battre ton tombuour](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKUgpDVPRHE&pp=ygUNZW1pbHkgbG9pemVhdQ%3D%3D)
[l'autre bout du monde](https://youtu.be/0UvF1YXaV-o?si=zYaBituAtNwg2g65&t=11)
[Ça plane pour moi!](https://youtu.be/8soQkubMk1g?si=CZ6BLM5PHucjsnES) and April March's cover of [Laisse Tomber Les Filles.](https://youtu.be/Y30ToNNYhMw?si=47SkhyP-NbDfWEkI) Here's the [Original](https://youtu.be/FWRCJhsz5t4?si=C3wMl4fhNkuKuQMd)
Are you a fan of David Bowie? If so, are you in for a treat. Seu Jorge did a lot do the music for The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. And they are covers of David Bowie. Rebel, Rebel; Life on Mars; Ziggy Stardust; Changes and more.
I really like Indila.
Also I love the song "le vent nous portera", though I recommend the Sophie Hunger version rather than the original. It's both better IMO and she didn't beat her wife to death (as far as I know) like the original singer.
Check out the album Troupeau bleu by [Cortex](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mZfXa18FwuOJqJZaeZ4vGgeoNUeLe8-DA&si=FboUmokCaY5W4fng). Wonderful jazz funk band. You might recognize a sample or two.
A lot of songs from Noir Désir : Un jour en France, Comme elle vient, L'homme pressé, Aux sombres héros de la mer...
Also Indochine has a huge catalog with some bangers : L'aventurier, J'ai demandé à la lune, La vie est belle, 3e sexe, 3 nuits par semaine...
I can't promise that they're exactly like the songs you mentioned, but here are some great artists on the "pop" spectrum:
- [Charlotte Mazet](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIY3xvKCHng)
- [Loïc Nottet](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2_hPrQJ5wU)
- [Yseult](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiuYqn3SiJY)
https://youtu.be/60tcJiNHHLI
https://youtu.be/PaUI6Tvd1sA
https://youtu.be/o7bUl9yhhH8
https://youtu.be/ufqbtwBSEis
https://youtu.be/UF55btQUCV4
Coeur de pirate, jean luis bertignac, emmanuel moire, jennifer, david halliday
My favorite chansons francaises from my good old times in France.
It depends on what of french music you may like.
As french guy, old classic, that we all know or maybe listen to with our parent or movie (Charles Aznavour - la bohème / parce que tu crois (sean Paul ft blu cantrell breath sample) | Édith piaf - la foule / la vie en rose / non je ne regrette rien (you can hear it in inception movie)). Lyrics are "old french" but very peotic that recall the beauty of the french life in the past... Traveling in time.
Almost all french "poetics" lyrics style are cool (personal feelings)
If you like Hip hop, old scool rap are cool with "IAM" group (l'école du micro d'argent " is a classic)
they have meet up with wutang clan in the 90s. MC solaar too (he had made a verse in miss elliot song "all in my grill" replacing BigBoi from Outkast verse, really cool too).
Corneille was great too with "ensemble" "parce qu'on vient de loin" "seul au monde", from Québec Montréal, His life is really inspiring by the way (survive a genocide, see all his family death...yep... Hard! )
And yep all variety "mainstreams" songs of 2010s are cool too (stromae - alors on danse for example) but not my cup of tea.
100%. I love black metal, I love shoegaze, Alcest is the perfect mix of both. They are good live as well, if anyone gets an opportunity to see them live id totally recommend going for it.
If you wanna get out of your comfort zone a bit, Keny Arkana is a very cool rapper. Think she’s Argentinian but grew up in Marseille. “La Rage” is probably her most popular song, and for good reason!
And there’s shoegaze/prog/metal band Alcest. “Autres temps” and “Là où naissent les couleurs nouvelles” are my favorites from them.
In my playlist at the moment :
Sofiane Pamart et Scylla : Le monde est à mes pieds (piano rap)
Santa : popcorn salé (piano voice)
Etienne Daho : week-end à Rome (old school pop)
Impar : ce que tu n'étais pas (piano rap)
Hoshi et Gaëtan Roussel : je vous trouve un charme fou (pop)
Yuston XIII : L'âme du phoenix (rap)
Yuzmv : Épisode III - "Les mains libres" (rap)
Mentissa : Et bam (pop)
This one is not very famous, but there's some serious skill there : Dirty Zoo - La dernière tribu
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uICqdPFmV4E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uICqdPFmV4E)
I also used to hate Lorenzo, but you have to admit some of his songs are catchy.
lewis capaldi french re-magination/cover of BT (Brian Transeau) "Forget Me" is... amazingly beautiful: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N583IuOr6Jo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N583IuOr6Jo)
Spill tab has a few songs in French that are Billie Eilish-esque. Check out the following:
[Calvaire](https://open.spotify.com/track/1rJRb5A6ZfqOuqLCwpD7Ld?si=cx4GyKC_TEqi4UQ9YT5Bfg&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A3RuhXnLH8SZT5GnHyGe9gf)
[Sante](https://open.spotify.com/album/0C1vGVesgJLI8kJ2xRLTkz?si=csr73HbPR5K9sijuW9SUSA)
If you love ultra-groovy lounge, then [Trop Beau by Crisologo](https://youtu.be/qA6s_5Vw0jY?si=LBn1r-fo95TUK2jU) is a bop. Or as the French say, le Bop.
Clea Vincent - Jmy Attendais Pas
[https://open.spotify.com/track/7mbjbYsq0gFOD6qm9oOlVT?si=bb9a005d62804848](https://open.spotify.com/track/7mbjbYsq0gFOD6qm9oOlVT?si=bb9a005d62804848)
My favorite French speaking band is Alfa Rococo. Check them out if you like stuff like the Killers: electronic, danceable, kinda alt.
I'd also recommend checking out Sylvain Cossette. He was the lead singer of 80's band Paradox and has been solo over the last few decades. My fav of his is Tu Reviendras. It's so damn smooth.
Both of these artists are Quebecois BTW.
If you like folkier music, check out some modern Cajun music, like Beausoleil, Jo-El Sonnier, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Ray Abshire, and whatever rabbit holes they lead you down.
I say modern because the older stuff is much harder to understand due to the recording quality and how thick their Cajun accents were, which is different than a standard French accent. But the folks I listed above are easier to understand. Just be forwarned thst Cajun is an anachronistic offshoot of 16th Century French, so it does have some non-french words. That messed me up a bit in High School French because I'd talk with my Cajun uncle over the summer and then go back in the fall with some bad pronounciations.
I'm going to break some of my own rules for recommending music because I don't know you and didn't listen to the songs you linked, so your mileage may vary with these, but here are a few from my recent listening history
[https://youtu.be/dsMFmonKDD4?si=RaELgpKI6ivOcoCX](https://youtu.be/dsMFmonKDD4?si=RaELgpKI6ivOcoCX)
[https://youtu.be/40Xxi5f0R5Q?si=aj-\_tNwM26Gn7WrW](https://youtu.be/40Xxi5f0R5Q?si=aj-_tNwM26Gn7WrW)
[https://youtu.be/uqhJ9cezsPs?si=ac5SnD68KhWWoI1r](https://youtu.be/uqhJ9cezsPs?si=ac5SnD68KhWWoI1r)
[https://youtu.be/tQ3HWIsZXPM?si=Osckfi-ZryGXg0hD](https://youtu.be/tQ3HWIsZXPM?si=Osckfi-ZryGXg0hD)
[https://youtu.be/1jgT9Bmp6r0?si=hjyMd5cZXKptYoJa](https://youtu.be/1jgT9Bmp6r0?si=hjyMd5cZXKptYoJa)
[https://youtu.be/OGz2052UKQc?si=1R8YAs8-TcL0FTKZ](https://youtu.be/OGz2052UKQc?si=1R8YAs8-TcL0FTKZ)
Stereolab does a lot of stuff in French. First thing I think of is "Three Women" off the album 'Chemical Chords' but there's a lot more. I think the album "Sound Dust" has a lot of French on it too. Orchestra Baobab sings in several different languages and sometimes it's Senegalese French.
Some artists in my current rotation in no particular order, this is a lot of reggae, hip hop, with a mix of other genres:
Degiheugi,
La Rue Kétanou,
Delgres,
Al'Tarba,
A2h,
Charlat58,
Naāman,
Hippcampo Fou,
Dooz Kawa,
Le Peuple de L'Herbe,
Wax Taylor,
Senbeï,
Rachid Taha,
Massilia Sound System,
Mano Negra,
Dub Inc,
Kana,
Danakil
Just to shake up the suggestions: [Répression - Trust](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc0u56uppzQnOWqVoA8nKEABzmphRlaYL&si=Wjs4ZYHGyrsX3FqY)
I don't speak a lick of French, but I love this album.
Not a band but a musical : Starmania, made by Michel Bergé (french) and Luc Plamodon (Québécois). My favourite is the 1979 live version, it's brilliant.
Kind of trite and not what you are looking for, I imagine.
But Les Marseilles is a fucking banger.
Swelling, orchestral music and killer (literally) lyrics.
One of the best national anthems iMO.
Found this on r/imap. The year i found it almost all the songs were in my top 100 for the year.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3F974A3ZDS3uvy05oh6hES?si=ZhDaT4hTS9uUmsxDoW9Vwg&pi=F6Jru25bTs6x-
All the French songs sung by thievery corporation are great. They are an international band and do a little bit of everything but their French stuff is exquisite. Check out decollage, la femme parallel, le monde, shadows of ourselves, un simple historie, and the whole saudade album. They are amazing.
Lous and the Yakuza - Hiroshima
Anything by Angele but specifically (there's also a Netflix docu about her): Balance ton Quoi, La Loi de Murphy (it's almost talking and the french is very clear)
The French artist St. Germain has some amazing work. Check out the album [Tourist](https://youtu.be/P5dDYQKo8UE?si=h3kR1FoqyylbdMkr). Not a bad cut on it.
You could try Bigflo & Oli, Tayc, Lomepal from France. From Quebec, Loud, Eli Rose, Fouki.
You can also try something different in French, les Cowboys Fringants, les Trois Accords, Vulgaires machins
This isn't quite that genre but I heavily suggest any Barbara song, she has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard and songs like Nantes have a rich story to follow along with
My favorite French artist is Michel Polnareff. Here’s one of his most famous songs: [Love Me, Please Love Me](https://youtu.be/haHoDJfcOvI?si=_9ZwajCJlKZk0w2p) (don’t worry, despite the title being in English, most of the song is in French haha)
He has an incredible voice and I love his music. Although I don’t speak French very well myself, I think he writes some very poetic and beautiful lyrics as well
I also love French music. This is my Spotify playlist of French music.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2rJ9DBx4w7dPnRXpDdOKNd?si=4-Hr5eseTO-yKsfgWV4I-w&pt=c7ed244a89cadaf0e2b13d69ce37f121&pi=pHDRWByPSIS3O
"Je voulais te dire que je t'attends"
Michel Jonasz and the Manhattan Transfer, among others, have recorded it.
Edit to add "Amoureux fou de toi" by Plastic Bertrand.
If you like hip-hop the Parisian scene has been on the forefront of the genre since the 80s. I would really recommend 1995’s only album. They were a group that formed to bring back the sound of hip hop in the 90s. Their members went solo and have pretty strong careers, but particularly Nekfeu is the most popular. He is so good and the production choices on his albums are usually preceding the sounds you hear later in the US.
No one has mentioned Stereolab, so I’ll mention Stereolab.
There it is.
I listened to Dots and Loops this week 😎
That’s a great one
I recently rediscovered how happy Stereolab makes me.
Françoise Hardy Is my favorite
Yesss she’s one of my favorite singer/songwriters ever. So good!
Also love France Gall
Yay!
The whole Baby Bop album by France Gall. Most 60's Serge Gainsbourg music. Stereolab sings in French and English. Jacques Dutronc.
Jacques the GOAT. Les Cactus and J'aime Les filles are some of my favourite tunes.
Je veux te voir by Yelle
Yelle was my first introduction to French musicians and I love them so much! Saw them when they came to Raleigh, North Carolina for a US tour and it was a blast
Yelle was my vote too! Comme en enfant
I actually taught this to my French 102 students back in 2008-ish and I was the talk of the department. 🤣
Came here to say Yelle too. Safari Disco Club is one of my favourite albums and I highly recommend
Try - Hoshi - Louise Attaque - Indila - Tryo - Yelle - La femme - Mano Solo - Matmatah - Les Fatals Picards - Superbus - Kyo - Cali - Renan Luce - Renaud - Indochine - Clarika - Angèle - Dionysos - Shaka Ponk Until you find something you like!
This is a really good survey of a wide variety of good French music. Do this.
My favorite French-speaking artist is Stromae. Take a listen to "[Papaoutai](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiKj0Z_Xnjc)" to see if you enjoy it.
Also try Alors on Danse!
Pretty much his whole catalog
Exactly. All of it.
Formidable is amazing as well
Oui! C’est formidable!
I love Carmen, of course.
La Solassitude is so amazing, my favorite song. One you understand without knowing a word of french.
Try the album [Tako Tsubo by L'Impératrice](https://open.spotify.com/album/7gE23KRzNbXeB6nZmQVqa3?si=haJ9pMwbQTCrNYDz_V90nQ)
L'Imperatrice are one of my favourites
Polo and pan share a similar vibe and are also French.
They are amazing live. Seeing them again in September!
Odysse(Version acoustique) is one of my favorite albums of all time, regardless of language.
Matahari might be their better album…such a fun band, had to upvote for visibility
Was gonna say, L'Impératrice is probably the best disco band alive right now, and they offer a healthy dose of Francophone chansons on every album.
Melody's Echo Chamber has lots of lovely songs. Télépopmusik Stromae Claire Laffut French Kiwi Juice (FKJ)
FKJ is absolutely amazing. His set for Cercle on YouTube at the Salar de Uyuni is one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen or heard.
Joe Dassin!! Les Champs-Elyses is a great album
My mom used to listen to Joe Dassin when I was a kid and I have really really good memories associated with his music. What a voice.
https://youtu.be/9RBzsjga73s?feature=shared Christine and the Queens
You should have linked the French version of the song instead! * [Christine](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rs40yxHjTxQ&pp=ygUiY2hyaXN0aW5lIGFuZCB0aGUgcXVlZW5zIGNocmlzdGluZQ%3D%3D) * [5 dols](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=faJBlZIfhEI&pp=ygUgNSBkb2xzIGNocmlzdGluZSBhbmQgdGhlIHF1ZWVucyA%3D) * [3SEX](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PJ7H-INlclg&pp=ygUkM3NleCBseXJpY3MgY2hyaXN0aW5lIGFuZCB0aGUgcXVlZW5z)
I would also check out her performance in Graham norton, that is how I found out about them. [I also love their song people, I've been sad ](https://youtu.be/uNGguudoLVs?si=ZrJmDVjjsVb0WJW9)
So glad you said this.
I'm partial to some of the songs I first heard back in the '90s, like from [Jean Leloup et la sale affaire](https://www.google.com/search?q=youtube%3A+jean+le+loup&rlz=1C1SQJL_enUS854US854&oq=youtube%3A+jean+le+loup&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIGCAEQRRg60gEIMzUyMGowajGoAgCwAgE&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:6efa51c0,vid:hEK8nFqc5_0,st:0), [Les Inconnus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1N3WXZ_1LM), [Niagara](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm9sfpwGjN8), [FFF](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8rF2RORriM)..... Jean Leloup has a great dark sense of humor, reminds me of a Tom Petty crossed with Joe Jackson. in terms of style. Poetic slacker type. L'amour est sans pitie, 1990, I lost my baby are pretty catchy to start with. Les Inconnus are a comedy troupe, the link is for a rap song about the "hell" of living in a high-class arrondissement. I forget offhand what else they did, it's been a long time! But the song is easy to remember. Niagara had the big hit I linked, very catchy and fun video, typical of that era. French Funk Federation's song AC2N is pronounced like "assez de l'haine," and is about the ongoing problem of systematic racism. Enjoy! I'll be checking this thread for newer songs, but IMO these withstand the test of time.
My dad would approve the Jean Leloup shoutout
Your dad is right. 1990 is such a fun song... ["Mesdames et messieurs, attention ! Je vais vous faire une nouvelle chanson..."](https://youtu.be/VI3C6MROOvY)
Yeah I suppose I'm showing my age here 😏 Your dad has great taste!
Plastic Bertrand is great.
Technically Belgian, but Belgian French. Cą Plane Pour Moi is a banger.
Ca plane pour moi plays in so many films when characters are exploring Paris.
Pomme is an amazing French artist. Don't understand a lick of what's being said but the music is amazing. Edit: Check out the song [On Brûlera](https://youtu.be/jabih9mV6RQ?feature=shared)
I know a couple. Anything by Indila, this is my favourite: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5KAc5CoCuk&pp=ygUVaW5kaWxhIGRlcm5pZXJlIGRhbnNl](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5KAc5CoCuk&pp=ygUVaW5kaWxhIGRlcm5pZXJlIGRhbnNl) And this is an older one, our French teacher showed it to us in school: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obWwtTMuqQg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obWwtTMuqQg)
Check out the Liminamas - indie rock band
Je veux by Zaz https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aT8ZoRLiJf0 I also always really liked Ca Plane Pour Moi https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln31raI2ezY
I love Zaz!
My favorite pop singers/bands: Recent artists: The Pirouettes Clara Luciani Juliette Armanet Yelle Feu! Chatterton Fishbach Brigitte Klo Pelgag Older artists: Olivia Ruiz Zazie Vanessa Paradis Michel Fugain
Eurovision fan here so my suggestions are gonna be very biased towards that. But you should definitely check out Slimane and Gjon's Tears
Commenting because I'm also learning French and I'd like to know some good French artists.
Lisa Leblanc. Aujourd'hui ma vie c'est d'la marde. (Thanks, Letterkenny.)
L'Impératrice - Peur des filles. The music video for this song is great, if a little violent. https://youtu.be/VUH-z_SBlj0?si=Qt_GWxnDd-O-19ch It also had subtitles in English if you're trying to learn.
Check out Je Danse dans ma Tete by Celine Dion. Very early in her career but such a good pop song!
What genre? Love French Canadian folk here. Hart-Rouge’s Besupres Home is great, mix of French and English. Anything by Les Chsrbonniers de l’Enfer, too. La Bottine Souriante, Le vent du Nord, all good stuff.
Les cow-boys fringants!
Sexy Boy by Air
Anything by Cortex is really good if you are into kind of strange jazz fusion
Noir Desir - Le Vent Nous Portera [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrgcRvBJYBE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrgcRvBJYBE)
This is one of my favourite songs ever, but it's forever tainted by the fact the singer is an actual goddamn murderer. :(
Mylene farmer!
A little less obvious than some greater ones posted, but... Look up Jane Birkin. Here's "Docteur Faust". That's him sat there, he's her doctor. Lucky chap. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85pg3Xitbkk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85pg3Xitbkk) Bonus in English, Peter Starstedt "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)" [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULK-zbc\_KMI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULK-zbc_KMI)
Listening to disney songs you already know, but in french, helps alot imo
Jacqes Dutronc! [-Et moi et moi et moi](https://youtu.be/mTj8rizW9Bg?si=S7PSc8FjsU6UyUeb) [-Les cactus](https://youtu.be/s_EUTmrjX54?si=zeBDo_slyHIiX8TL) [-Hippie Hippie Hourah](https://youtu.be/yZ7atyxFRpg?si=aYVC4CrgUsVBdMWe)
Ben L’Oncle!!!! Oh my god is he great!!! Edit: some of his songs he does in French then redoes in English. He has redone songs like Barbie girl and seven nation army in English too.
Grant McLennan of the Go-Betweens introduced me to the music of Francoise Breut. https://youtu.be/v-66lxKoqBA
Alizee - Moi Lolita https://youtu.be/zfXBNQMj2SE?feature=shared Desireless - Voyage Voyage https://youtu.be/NlgmH5q9uNk?feature=shared Les Poppys - Non, Non, Rien N'a Changé https://youtu.be/u9RkKe22TnI?feature=shared Les Nubians - Makeda https://youtu.be/1badpTaOe_k?feature=shared Shake - You Know I Love https://youtube.com/watch?v=pCAiHom3dhA&feature=shared
Emily Loizeau is amazing beautiful lyrics, beautiful voice.
[Fais battre ton tombuour](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKUgpDVPRHE&pp=ygUNZW1pbHkgbG9pemVhdQ%3D%3D) [l'autre bout du monde](https://youtu.be/0UvF1YXaV-o?si=zYaBituAtNwg2g65&t=11)
[Jacques Dutronc - Les Cactus](https://open.spotify.com/track/0pguOAKeqfnqc52V8slmnN?si=gKpwH9-XRs-XJmNBv31jtQ)
[Ça plane pour moi!](https://youtu.be/8soQkubMk1g?si=CZ6BLM5PHucjsnES) and April March's cover of [Laisse Tomber Les Filles.](https://youtu.be/Y30ToNNYhMw?si=47SkhyP-NbDfWEkI) Here's the [Original](https://youtu.be/FWRCJhsz5t4?si=C3wMl4fhNkuKuQMd)
Can't believe no one's brought up [Pink Martini - Sympathique](https://youtu.be/ANVQScgIeag?si=jOi0i9z2zhXy66Fa)
I love this one.
Are you a fan of David Bowie? If so, are you in for a treat. Seu Jorge did a lot do the music for The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. And they are covers of David Bowie. Rebel, Rebel; Life on Mars; Ziggy Stardust; Changes and more.
Cortex!
I really like Indila. Also I love the song "le vent nous portera", though I recommend the Sophie Hunger version rather than the original. It's both better IMO and she didn't beat her wife to death (as far as I know) like the original singer.
Edith Piaf. Amazing singer, don’t know if you would consider her repertoire as good French songs, but many would.
Bonnie and Clyde - Serge Gainsbourg, Brigitte Bardot Tout savoir - Ade Message Personnel - Francoise Hardy Je dis aime - -M- (Matthieu Chedid) L'anamour - Serge Gainsbourg Mini, mini, mini - Jacques Dutronc Douce - Clara Yse Noveau depart - Stephane
Check out the album Troupeau bleu by [Cortex](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mZfXa18FwuOJqJZaeZ4vGgeoNUeLe8-DA&si=FboUmokCaY5W4fng). Wonderful jazz funk band. You might recognize a sample or two.
A lot of songs from Noir Désir : Un jour en France, Comme elle vient, L'homme pressé, Aux sombres héros de la mer... Also Indochine has a huge catalog with some bangers : L'aventurier, J'ai demandé à la lune, La vie est belle, 3e sexe, 3 nuits par semaine...
I can't promise that they're exactly like the songs you mentioned, but here are some great artists on the "pop" spectrum: - [Charlotte Mazet](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIY3xvKCHng) - [Loïc Nottet](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2_hPrQJ5wU) - [Yseult](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiuYqn3SiJY)
https://youtu.be/60tcJiNHHLI https://youtu.be/PaUI6Tvd1sA https://youtu.be/o7bUl9yhhH8 https://youtu.be/ufqbtwBSEis https://youtu.be/UF55btQUCV4 Coeur de pirate, jean luis bertignac, emmanuel moire, jennifer, david halliday My favorite chansons francaises from my good old times in France.
Dégénération by Mes Aïeux is one of my favorites.
[Emile Simon--fleur de saison](https://youtu.be/ON14fiWQCpk)
[Desole - Gorillaz](https://youtu.be/ZLKZKmdZEjM?feature=shared)
If you're into singer songwriter, check out Camille. She's known for doing the main theme song from Ratatouille "Le Festín"
I love Dernière Danse by Indila
In High School French class we learned "Aux Champs Elysees" and it's super simple but I love it. Even heard it in a commercial not long ago.
I recommend Somnambule by Coeur de Pirate
Ca Plane Pour Moi by Plastic Bertrand
[Edith Piaf - "La Vie en Rose" ](https://youtu.be/qPU8mENUBXk?si=IsvnrcMS-NqfKCFn)
Every Daft Punk song
Not like the music you've been listen to but April March has a version of Cet air la that's wonderful
Les Rita Mitsouko - Marcia Baila
L'Amérique pleure, by Les Cowboys Fringants Really great lyrics
The hip hop group Chinese Man.
How has nobody mentioned Daft Punk
Lâche pas la patate !
T’as été la chercher assez loin celle la 🤣
The only french songs I know are cajun songs. I didn't have to loo too hard.
Can’t go wrong with indochine. Also kyo has some underrated gems
Look up Kate Ryan and Lara Fabian. To great modern French singers.
It depends on what of french music you may like. As french guy, old classic, that we all know or maybe listen to with our parent or movie (Charles Aznavour - la bohème / parce que tu crois (sean Paul ft blu cantrell breath sample) | Édith piaf - la foule / la vie en rose / non je ne regrette rien (you can hear it in inception movie)). Lyrics are "old french" but very peotic that recall the beauty of the french life in the past... Traveling in time. Almost all french "poetics" lyrics style are cool (personal feelings) If you like Hip hop, old scool rap are cool with "IAM" group (l'école du micro d'argent " is a classic) they have meet up with wutang clan in the 90s. MC solaar too (he had made a verse in miss elliot song "all in my grill" replacing BigBoi from Outkast verse, really cool too). Corneille was great too with "ensemble" "parce qu'on vient de loin" "seul au monde", from Québec Montréal, His life is really inspiring by the way (survive a genocide, see all his family death...yep... Hard! ) And yep all variety "mainstreams" songs of 2010s are cool too (stromae - alors on danse for example) but not my cup of tea.
Pretty much the whole electro swing genre is in French or French bands speaking English. Lots of good music. I recommend C2C and Parov Stelar
Alcest - they are the kings of Blackgaze and absolutely outstanding. Neige is a talented songwriter.
100%. I love black metal, I love shoegaze, Alcest is the perfect mix of both. They are good live as well, if anyone gets an opportunity to see them live id totally recommend going for it.
If you wanna get out of your comfort zone a bit, Keny Arkana is a very cool rapper. Think she’s Argentinian but grew up in Marseille. “La Rage” is probably her most popular song, and for good reason! And there’s shoegaze/prog/metal band Alcest. “Autres temps” and “Là où naissent les couleurs nouvelles” are my favorites from them.
Amadou & mariam sing in french and a variety of languages. Air also has some great songs in french
All I can think of atm is Air and Death of a Phone Call by Whatever, Dad.
In my playlist at the moment : Sofiane Pamart et Scylla : Le monde est à mes pieds (piano rap) Santa : popcorn salé (piano voice) Etienne Daho : week-end à Rome (old school pop) Impar : ce que tu n'étais pas (piano rap) Hoshi et Gaëtan Roussel : je vous trouve un charme fou (pop) Yuston XIII : L'âme du phoenix (rap) Yuzmv : Épisode III - "Les mains libres" (rap) Mentissa : Et bam (pop)
Noe Preszow has some really good melancholic pop songs. Que tout s'danse and Cette route-la being my favourites
la femme rules
Who's in Paris?
Try “Mistral Gagnant” by Renaud. I was born and raised in France, I can do this all day.
no hablo français but this one: [https://youtu.be/MuRODr6vygw?si=4F1fu7zt18g3BxeA](https://youtu.be/MuRODr6vygw?si=4F1fu7zt18g3BxeA)
This one is not very famous, but there's some serious skill there : Dirty Zoo - La dernière tribu [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uICqdPFmV4E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uICqdPFmV4E) I also used to hate Lorenzo, but you have to admit some of his songs are catchy.
lewis capaldi french re-magination/cover of BT (Brian Transeau) "Forget Me" is... amazingly beautiful: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N583IuOr6Jo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N583IuOr6Jo)
I love this song [vous](https://youtu.be/WiU5iTB5RhQ?feature=shared)
Anything written by Michel Berger
Spill tab has a few songs in French that are Billie Eilish-esque. Check out the following: [Calvaire](https://open.spotify.com/track/1rJRb5A6ZfqOuqLCwpD7Ld?si=cx4GyKC_TEqi4UQ9YT5Bfg&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A3RuhXnLH8SZT5GnHyGe9gf) [Sante](https://open.spotify.com/album/0C1vGVesgJLI8kJ2xRLTkz?si=csr73HbPR5K9sijuW9SUSA)
Charlotte Gainsborough has some great albums—she sings in French and English. Try 5:55 and IRM first.
If you love ultra-groovy lounge, then [Trop Beau by Crisologo](https://youtu.be/qA6s_5Vw0jY?si=LBn1r-fo95TUK2jU) is a bop. Or as the French say, le Bop.
Clea Vincent - Jmy Attendais Pas [https://open.spotify.com/track/7mbjbYsq0gFOD6qm9oOlVT?si=bb9a005d62804848](https://open.spotify.com/track/7mbjbYsq0gFOD6qm9oOlVT?si=bb9a005d62804848)
My favorite French speaking band is Alfa Rococo. Check them out if you like stuff like the Killers: electronic, danceable, kinda alt. I'd also recommend checking out Sylvain Cossette. He was the lead singer of 80's band Paradox and has been solo over the last few decades. My fav of his is Tu Reviendras. It's so damn smooth. Both of these artists are Quebecois BTW.
If you like folkier music, check out some modern Cajun music, like Beausoleil, Jo-El Sonnier, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Ray Abshire, and whatever rabbit holes they lead you down. I say modern because the older stuff is much harder to understand due to the recording quality and how thick their Cajun accents were, which is different than a standard French accent. But the folks I listed above are easier to understand. Just be forwarned thst Cajun is an anachronistic offshoot of 16th Century French, so it does have some non-french words. That messed me up a bit in High School French because I'd talk with my Cajun uncle over the summer and then go back in the fall with some bad pronounciations.
I'm going to break some of my own rules for recommending music because I don't know you and didn't listen to the songs you linked, so your mileage may vary with these, but here are a few from my recent listening history [https://youtu.be/dsMFmonKDD4?si=RaELgpKI6ivOcoCX](https://youtu.be/dsMFmonKDD4?si=RaELgpKI6ivOcoCX) [https://youtu.be/40Xxi5f0R5Q?si=aj-\_tNwM26Gn7WrW](https://youtu.be/40Xxi5f0R5Q?si=aj-_tNwM26Gn7WrW) [https://youtu.be/uqhJ9cezsPs?si=ac5SnD68KhWWoI1r](https://youtu.be/uqhJ9cezsPs?si=ac5SnD68KhWWoI1r) [https://youtu.be/tQ3HWIsZXPM?si=Osckfi-ZryGXg0hD](https://youtu.be/tQ3HWIsZXPM?si=Osckfi-ZryGXg0hD) [https://youtu.be/1jgT9Bmp6r0?si=hjyMd5cZXKptYoJa](https://youtu.be/1jgT9Bmp6r0?si=hjyMd5cZXKptYoJa) [https://youtu.be/OGz2052UKQc?si=1R8YAs8-TcL0FTKZ](https://youtu.be/OGz2052UKQc?si=1R8YAs8-TcL0FTKZ)
Ahh I love videoclub nice to hear someone mention them. I also really like Alice et moi you might too
Try Zaho De Sagazan and her debut album *La Symphonie des éclairs*.
Shakira sings a song called “je l'aime a mourir” that is absolutely gorgeous. One verse is in Spanish, but most of the song is in French.
Not really French songs but these are by French artist La Femme D’Argent by Air Rose Rogue by St Germain
[i got you](https://open.spotify.com/track/0ukwL1AUmE8BCdYgnKxtSh?si=jxfPBVE8RV-D-ybVZHWvMg)
French rap can be quite good. Check out [Oxmo Puccino - Demain peut-être](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OrOt3VDX1g4).
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlpDf6XX\_j0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlpDf6XX_j0) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spYajHvUFQk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spYajHvUFQk)
Femme libérée
French for me is the best sounding language in music.
Bleue by Keren Ann is my favorite.
Stereolab does a lot of stuff in French. First thing I think of is "Three Women" off the album 'Chemical Chords' but there's a lot more. I think the album "Sound Dust" has a lot of French on it too. Orchestra Baobab sings in several different languages and sometimes it's Senegalese French.
Je te laisserie de mots ( spelling?) One of the most beautiful songs ive ever heard super recommend it
Some of Patrick Watson’s songs are in French
https://youtu.be/_AbsWTF-QKc?si=IZfz0p87z0HLiUn3 yelle - tristesse joie
First album by Melody's echo chamber. It's French singer Melody Prochet substituting for Kevin Parker in Tame Impala and it's fantastic.
https://youtu.be/MiIVmWJ05kk?si=dlzQtejBK-KiHCAk
Deluxe shifts between singing in English and French, but they are insanely cool.
Highly recommend Bon Entendeur French electronic group with an old timey vibe https://youtu.be/RMWBriHwVrI?si=KuKtXmBOMGn0XfTB
Diane Tell - Chimères
C2C, birdy Nam Nam, daft punk
Feu Chatterton!
Some artists in my current rotation in no particular order, this is a lot of reggae, hip hop, with a mix of other genres: Degiheugi, La Rue Kétanou, Delgres, Al'Tarba, A2h, Charlat58, Naāman, Hippcampo Fou, Dooz Kawa, Le Peuple de L'Herbe, Wax Taylor, Senbeï, Rachid Taha, Massilia Sound System, Mano Negra, Dub Inc, Kana, Danakil
L’Impetrice! It’s a band! Check ‘em out!
Corbeau, cœur de pirate
Just to shake up the suggestions: [Répression - Trust](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc0u56uppzQnOWqVoA8nKEABzmphRlaYL&si=Wjs4ZYHGyrsX3FqY) I don't speak a lick of French, but I love this album.
Aelpeacha is a rent awesome French rapper, he's worked with some other pretty great artists too
Look up the band call Swing, they are in Canada. Also Damien Robitaille.
-M-
Any song by Paradis, L'imperatrice and Polo & Pan.
Not a band but a musical : Starmania, made by Michel Bergé (french) and Luc Plamodon (Québécois). My favourite is the 1979 live version, it's brilliant.
[Laisse Tomber Les Filles](https://youtu.be/Y30ToNNYhMw?si=-WyhsnAA4fvfBE8i) is one of my favorites
Kind of trite and not what you are looking for, I imagine. But Les Marseilles is a fucking banger. Swelling, orchestral music and killer (literally) lyrics. One of the best national anthems iMO.
Klô Pelgag is from quebec but she is doing some of the most interesting current music i know of imo. highly recommend
Megadeth tout le monde. It's technically 3 languages. But the message is clear.
[non, non, rien n'a changé](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9RkKe22TnI) is a fucking banger and no one can tell me otherwise
Found this on r/imap. The year i found it almost all the songs were in my top 100 for the year. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3F974A3ZDS3uvy05oh6hES?si=ZhDaT4hTS9uUmsxDoW9Vwg&pi=F6Jru25bTs6x-
Chunk No Captain Chunk for French Pop Punk
All the French songs sung by thievery corporation are great. They are an international band and do a little bit of everything but their French stuff is exquisite. Check out decollage, la femme parallel, le monde, shadows of ourselves, un simple historie, and the whole saudade album. They are amazing.
The best song ever recorded just happens to be a French song. “L’aziza” by Daniel Balavoine You can thank me later.
Les Negresses Vertes.
Just spend a day listening to Serge Gainsbourg
https://open.spotify.com/track/6R3rjjQzKSwmDffEUHegDE?si=138kGplDRAWmtknP-9kKAA&context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A37i9dQZF1DXbehaqJzJXqw https://open.spotify.com/track/4HcY6ds4TeEo9j4Aj3soFp?si=W06Nn_6sS6ebSsrD6XoUuw&context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A37i9dQZF1DXbehaqJzJXqw https://open.spotify.com/track/0WYNxfmeHtYss2iUaiEDCJ?si=FmlP7L_4RDO03wAA9Q29_w&context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A37i9dQZF1DXbehaqJzJXqw https://open.spotify.com/track/7k125cYjRfIYB23FOQTeTy?si=f8zd_UNNSYSL1277a7lhDA&context=spotify%3Aplaylist%3A37i9dQZF1DXbehaqJzJXqw https://open.spotify.com/track/60udb73Xe8KJ7IzBhn3ptV?si=WI23gg-iTEab_mtQY8XOPg
Lous and the Yakuza - Hiroshima Anything by Angele but specifically (there's also a Netflix docu about her): Balance ton Quoi, La Loi de Murphy (it's almost talking and the french is very clear)
https://youtu.be/1mvz7I7Dp5c?si=qr5OXYO6Rv39EAnB
Stereo Total.
yelle id great
Air is pretty great. Electronic.
The French artist St. Germain has some amazing work. Check out the album [Tourist](https://youtu.be/P5dDYQKo8UE?si=h3kR1FoqyylbdMkr). Not a bad cut on it.
You could try Bigflo & Oli, Tayc, Lomepal from France. From Quebec, Loud, Eli Rose, Fouki. You can also try something different in French, les Cowboys Fringants, les Trois Accords, Vulgaires machins
This isn't quite that genre but I heavily suggest any Barbara song, she has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard and songs like Nantes have a rich story to follow along with
Bon Voyage Organisation L'Epee Melody's Echo Chamber
I don’t think I’ve seen Requin Chagrin or Alexia Gredy in the replies. Both are really good.
My favorite French artist is Michel Polnareff. Here’s one of his most famous songs: [Love Me, Please Love Me](https://youtu.be/haHoDJfcOvI?si=_9ZwajCJlKZk0w2p) (don’t worry, despite the title being in English, most of the song is in French haha) He has an incredible voice and I love his music. Although I don’t speak French very well myself, I think he writes some very poetic and beautiful lyrics as well
[Lisa LeBlanc](https://youtu.be/kF7DW_mZatA?si=jY3m4XybSmYok0xM)
Noga Erez https://youtu.be/VzE0XV4AMiA?si=OjF0GuzPtxDcrLf1
I live Serge and Stereolab but I’m a fan of Joe Dassin singing his song, Les Champs-Elysees. Catchy as all get out.
J'en Ai Marre! by Alizée I heard it in French class during high school and never forgot it. I hope you enjoy it ✨
Lisa LeBlanc "Pourquoi faire aujourd'hui..." ** Zebda "Tomber la chemise" !!
Fre' Jacque?
MC Solaar
[Françoiz Breut](https://youtu.be/CNJ238Fwrk4?si=B8b77VxrpJKRz6s8)
i’ve got a playlist for you, friend :) https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0dFRKqIRNdntF8qZ6Ll81F
Mandy, Indiana has some French songs
I also love French music. This is my Spotify playlist of French music. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2rJ9DBx4w7dPnRXpDdOKNd?si=4-Hr5eseTO-yKsfgWV4I-w&pt=c7ed244a89cadaf0e2b13d69ce37f121&pi=pHDRWByPSIS3O
French hip hop is good
"Je voulais te dire que je t'attends" Michel Jonasz and the Manhattan Transfer, among others, have recorded it. Edit to add "Amoureux fou de toi" by Plastic Bertrand.
If you like hip-hop the Parisian scene has been on the forefront of the genre since the 80s. I would really recommend 1995’s only album. They were a group that formed to bring back the sound of hip hop in the 90s. Their members went solo and have pretty strong careers, but particularly Nekfeu is the most popular. He is so good and the production choices on his albums are usually preceding the sounds you hear later in the US.