Les chansons de français

Written By Kensedeobong Okosun

When it comes to language acquisition, music is a germane medium for accessing and navigating a new culture. Through it, a better understanding is garnered of a society’s cultural predispositions, evolution and inhibitions.

As a French language learner, I find that music can also be a barometer for gauging one’s aptitude and pronunciation level. In the beginning, the aptitude is low, but in the long run, it all begins to register. The “once upon a time” unfamiliar word becomes a member of one’s lexical palette.

(kensedeobong)

This post highlights some of the best of french music. French music like other European music already shown on this blog (see "Germans and their Music" and "La musica d'italiano") shares a common trajectory of classical music at the onset and an evolution into popular music in contemporary times.

French music extends beyond the borders of France into Belgium, French-Canada, French-Africa and French- Caribbean, where France shares a uniquely “strong” bond. What follows are some of the best french songs should you desire to explore the romantic language. Enjoy!

  1. Alain Bashung. "Vertige de l'amour" Pizza (1981).

  2. Alain Souchon. "Foule sentimentale" C'est déjà ça (1993).

  3. Amel Bent. "Ma philosophie" Un jour d’été (2005).

  4. Angélique Kidjo. "Ces petits riens" Black Ivory Soul (2002).

  5. Awilo Longomba. "Coupe Bibamba" Coupe Bibamba (1999).

  6. Axelle Red. "Sensualité" Sans plus attendre (1993).

  7. Barbara. "Ma plus belle histoire d'amour" Non-album single (1966).

  8. Black M. "Sur ma route" Les yeux plus gros que le monde (2014).

  9. Booba. "Temps mort" Temps mort (2002).

  10. Brigitte Bardot. "Pas davantage" Brigitte Bardot Sings (1963).

  11. Céline Dion. "C'est pour toi" C’est pour toi (1985).

  12. Carla Bruni. "Quelqu'un m'a dit" Quelqu’un m’a dit (2002).

  13. Dalida. "Bambino" Son nom est Dalida (1956).

  14. Diane Tell. "Si j'etais un homme" En flèche (1980).

  15. Édith Piaf. "La vie en rose" (1947).

  16. Francis Cabrel. "La corrida" Algo más de amor (1998).

  17. France Gall. "J'entends cette musique" N'écoute pas les idoles (1964).

  18. Françoise Hardy. "La fille avec toi" Tous les garçons et les filles (1962).

  19. Georges Moustaki. "Le meteque" Non-album single (1969).

  20. GIMS. "Bella" Subliminal:La face cachée (2013).

  21. Indila. "Tourner dans le vide" Mini World (2014).

  22. Jacques Brel. "Il peut pleuvoir" Grand Jacques (1954).

  23. Jacques Dutronc. "Il est cinq heures, Paris s'eveille" Il est cinq heures (1968).

  24. Jenifer. "Au soleil" Jenifer (2002).

  25. Juliette Gréco. "La javanaise" (1963).

  26. Koffi Olomide. "Sans anesthesie" Nkolo Lupemba (1999).

  27. Matthieu Chedid. "Nostalgic du cool" Le Baptême (1998).

  28. Michel Berger. "Chansons pour une fan" Chansons pour une fan (1974).

  29. Nina Simone. "Ne me quitte pas" I Put a Spell on You (1965).

  30. Renaud. "Mistral gagnant" Mistral gagnant (1985).

  31. Serge Gainsbourg. "Bonnie and Clyde" Initials B.B (1968).

  32. Soprano. "La colombe et le corbeau" La colombe (2010).

  33. Stromae. "Formidable" Racine carrée (2013).

  34. Vanessa Paradis. "Marilyn et John" M et J (1988).

  35. Véronique Sanson. "Rien que de l'eau" Sans regrets (1992).

  36. Vitaa. "Ma soeur" À fleur de toi (2007).

  37. Wyclef Jean. "Douce" Welcome to Haiti : Creole 101 (2004).

  38. Youssou N’dour. "La cours des grandes" (1998).

  39. Yves Montand. "La bicyclette" La bicyclette (1968).

  40. Zaz. "Je veux" Zaz (2010).

(kensedeobong)

DISCLAIMER: The songs on this page are not mine. No copyright infringement is intended.

Kensedeobong Okosun

Kensedeobong Okosun (M.A Bielefeld University) is a music enthusiast, music researcher, music journalist, vocalist and an author. Her academic article “Sisterhood and Soul Music as expressions of Black Power” is featured in the edited volume, Black Power in Hemispheric Perspective (Raussert & Steinitz, eds, 2022). She has reviewed Dorothea Gail’s Weird American Music (2019). Her article on Nigerian music has also been published on Nigeria’s news daily, The Sun Newsonline.

Kensedeobong’s blog highlights music’s interconnectivity with society and comprises personal music experiences, researched information, concept playlists for multiple themes, etc.

A hard-core 90s R&B fan, she utilises the vehicle of memory, to position long forgotten music of yesteryears on the front-burner.

She is persuaded that music is a core conduit of collective harmony, equanimity, vitality and healing. And as such requires criticality in the filtration process, in order to disseminate meaning. Her blog promotes music equality and diversity.

She resides in Germany.

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