French Culture Awareness #7: La musique française!

Every time someone asks me about French music the first artist they think about is ... Yes, you guessed it, Edith Piaf! Not that I don't like Edith but she is slightly outdated, don't you think?

So, here is my top 10 on more modern French bands and singers - a lot of then are from the 90s or early 00s because this is what I was listening to during my childhood and when I was a teenager so it's not only cultural but it had a big impact on my life as well!

Louise Attaque

This one is very festive and no French party is complete without at least one song from them!

Favourite song: J't'emmène au vent https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRTDC9Z5UdE

Indochine

This band has been active since the 80s, it's a bit like our own French Depeche Mode.

Favourite song: L'aventurier https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7X6oYg6iro

Julien Doré

This one is fairly new, he won a music contest in 2007 and has

been active since then. His style is more romantic and pop-songs but I really like it!

Favourite song: Le Lac https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UXSWGsjAUQ

Matmatah

It's quite a festive band too and I was able to see them live in ... Seoul! How odd, I know :)

Favourite song: Lambé an Dro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKb9G3XX4lw

Mylène Farmer

She is our French Madonna: a fashion icon, a gay icon, bold songs and music videos.

Favourite song: Sans contrefaçon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d03wJOgoq1k

As de Trèfle

This one is very close to my heart because they are from Tours (my hometown) and they are quite famous in my region. Very festive too :)

Favourite song: Haut les mains https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7RgAwE_sWo&list=PL21bhpCTFI1yFn9tRcpMlB0yz7BG4bC5p&index=3

Saez

This artist is quite political is very strong message in his songs and with sometimes vulgar but impactful lyrics.

Favourite song: Jeune et con https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liG2cXiBs5k

-M-

He is from a family of artists: his grand-mother was a famous author (Andrée Chedid) and his father is a singer too (Louis Chedid) and so are his siblings.

Favourite song: Je dis aime https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hV-UnrC9tU

Jean-Jacques Goldman

JJG, as we call him, has been active since the early 80s and is often nominated as French people's favourite celebrity.

Favourite song: Quand la musique est bonne https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-boDeijWuOY

Noir Désir

This band is a bit particular because is now subject to controversy: the leader spent some time in prison because he hit and killed his wife. Some people refuse to listen to this band ever since, which I understand but they still had a big influence on the French music scene in the 90s.

Favourite song: Un homme pressé https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by1RRP9wa_Y

If you want to listen to more French artists, go on to my Spotify playlist and listen to it as often as possible: it will help you with your French skills too! You have a lot of different styles, some modern and some a bit older but they all are classics for French people. If you would like to add more artists to this list, do let me know :)

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/72Ch2dRbTOwyzSNTLze8f5?si=g8pFjknJQqi8MmMGSJmEcQ