French language music recommendations

[Lynn226]

I started studying French again about 1.5 years ago. I've found that listening to Latin music helps me retain my Spanish language skills when I don't have the opportunity to speak the language, so I thought I would try the same with French.

Of course, there are Celine Dion and Edith Piaf, but I'd like to expand my knowledge of French music. I've found a few blogs about it. I'm listening to an album by M Pokora (A la poursuite du bonheur) that I downloaded. So far I like it, but I only understand about one in twenty words. Obviously, my French could use some work.

Any recommendations?

Merci beaucoup.

[rjblue]

Comme les Enfants by Coeur de Pirate

Ma Belle Sophie by Les Cowboys Frigants

[flowerpower]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNnD_...eature=related
Fais-moi la tendresse (Ginette Reno)


ETA: Here's a version with lyrics, so you can read and listen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AlQGQWT8ow

Love this song.

[Ozzisk8tr]

Tina Arena

[MarieM]

If you want real french singers, you can dig :
- Anything by Maurane like http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2p...-de-bach_music
- Anything by France Gall or her late husband Michel Berger
- Gainsbourg is a must have
- M of the current generation like his songs Onde Sensuelle, Machistador or Je dis M
- Sinclair with Ensemble or Si c'est bon comme ça
- Jean Jacques Goldman my favorite being his album "Entre Gris Clair et Gris Foncé"
- Olivia Ruiz with J'aime pas l'Amour or La Femme Chocolat
- La ceinture by Elodie Frégé
-Telephone's Cendrillon or Ca se sent que c'est toi or Hygiaphone or le Jour s'est levé.

And I could go on forever
-

[flowerpower]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ytELlzOWi8
Dégénérations by Mes Aieux

And for a skating connection, Carron/Jost used this song for their OD in 07/08.

[flowerpower]

If you want real french singers, you can dig....

Fantastic suggestions, MarieM.

[MarieM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ytELlzOWi8
Dégénérations by Mes Aieux

And for a skating connection, Carron/Jost used this song for their OD in 07/08.

I could argue that it's not "french" but I do love this song and band a lot.

Oh I could have added others to my list
- Diane Dufresne. Anything. Everything by her.
- Diane Tell *love*
- Robert Charlebois
- Louis Chedid (he's the father of M by the way) and his "T'as beau pas être beau" that I love.
- Jacques Higelin. I think the song that is more easy to get is "Tombé du ciel".

I will stop because it feels like I'm giving too much artists !

[MarieM]

I must add at least one more :
Daniel Balavoine. A must have. How could I forget him ?

And my mother would kill me for not giving out her own Eddy Mitchell. La dernière séance is the song I like from him. I couldn't give you any other. Maybe Vieille Canaille.

I didn't give Noir Désir, but still I have to
Marlène, Le vent nous portera, Un jour en France, Aux Sombres Héros are the songs easy to get.

[MarieM]

And others you can listen too
Sous le soleil de Bodega
J'veux du soleil
Renaud Hantson performing La Chanson de Ziggy or Quand on arrive en ville or J'suis un enfant de la pollution from Starmania.

[briancoogaert]

New generation :
-Anything by Keren Ann : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDLmi2uTVm4
-Anything by Benjamin Biolay : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEvIZZg_5c0
-Anything by Claire Denamur : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEISNo_P1OA*
-Anything by Aldebert : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEWXRJMG9ng
-Anything by Daphne : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMLW0QgtGJE

And the good old :
-Francoise Hardy : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fjPZ9fUqUg&ob=av2n
-Barbara : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6rCLQb-GSU&ob=av2e or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ogvbEXEcEs

[MarieM]

Ton héritage by Biolay ! I love love LOVE that song.

Bashung. Madame rêve is a favorite of mine.

[Libertango]

You could also try Carla Bruni Quelqu'un m'a dit
, Raphaël

[MarieM]

Or we could point you to some of the songs you get to learn while going to camp !

Le petit âne gris
Dis moi Céline
Santiano
Stewball
La ballade des gens heureux
San Francisco
La petite fugue
Une belle histoire
L'oiseau et l'enfant

[Celine82]

I would add

Bénabar Le dîner L'effet papillon Politiquement correct
Lynda Lemay Les maudits Français La centenaire Pas de mot
Calogero Prendre racine La fin de la fin du monde Danser encore

Interesting lyrics, though some might be a tad complicated for someone who isn't (more or less) fluent in French.

[rjblue]

If you want real french singers, you can dig :-

Coming after my post, it sounds like you were saying Quebecois singers aren't really french...

Here's another Quebecois who's a pop superstar. My francophone co-worker loves him, and I like his voice. Garou

France's entry into the Eurovision song contest is by Anggun- a fabulous Indonesian artist. Think Annie Lennox singing in french.

[Lynn226]

And I could go on forever
-

Please do.

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I'll definitely be checking them out. I've heard of some of them before, but it's great to hear what French speakers are listening to.

[shah]

Sylvie Vartan

[overedge]

Please please please go and listen to Daniel Belanger: http://www.danielbelanger.com

Other Quebecois artists I like are Pierre Lapointe, Eric Lapointe (no relation), Karkwa, Jean-Pierre Ferland- (his mid-70s albums are now being remastered and rereleased on CD, and there is an excellent album called Le Petit Roi of Quebecois singers covering his songs.

[Wiery]

Thank you so much! I do the same thing with Spanish and French music, but have a just bit more trouble finding songs in French.