Download Discovering French Music volume 1-12

French music!

The previously compilations I made, now uploaded in a unique archive that will be easier to download. I changed a few songs of the old compilations and add the last volumes. You'll also find the covers of the records the songs are from.

I also changed the front covers, now featuring pictures of the great artists of French popular Music: Brassens, Brigitte Fontaine, Edith Piaf, Charles Trenet, Jacques Brel, Django Reinhardt, Mano Solo, Oxmo Puccino, Gainsbourg, Léo Ferré, Barbara, and Bashung.

Enjoy more than 13 hours of great music from all styles and all times !

I tried not to upload songs I previously featured in my more chronological compilation A century of French Music.

Discovering French Music - Volume 1
 

1. Fréhel - Où sont mes amants (Vandair - Charlys , 1935)
2. Charles Trenet – La Mer (1946)
3. Edith Piaf – L’Accordéoniste (Michel Emer, 1940)
4. Django Reinhardt and Grappeli – Les Yeux Noirs (trad., 1940)
5. Boris Vian – Le Déserteur (Harold Berg, 1954)
6. George Brassens – Il n’y a pas d’amour heureux (Aragon, 1943, 1953)
7. Jacques Brel – Amsterdam (Olympia 1964, 1964)
8. Barbara - Si la photo est bonne (Le Mal de vivre, 1964)
9. Johnny Hallyday – Killy Watch (1960, The Cousins)
10.Léo Ferré - La Mémoire Et La Mer (Amour Anarchie, 1970)
11. Serge Gainsbourg – Ballade De Melody Nelson (Histoire de Melody Nelson, 1971)
12. Magma -Mekanik Kommandoh (Mekanïk Destruktïẁ Kommandöh, 1973)
13. Bérurier Noir – Elsa Je t'aime (Macadam Massacre, 1984)
14. Mano Solo – Allez Viens (La marmaille Nue, 1993)
15. Alain Bashung – La Nuit Je Mens (Fantaisie militaire, 1998)
16. NTM – Seine Saint-Denis Style (Suprême NTM, 1998)
17. TTC – Dans le club (Bâtards sensibles, 2004)
18. Air – Dead Bodies (Virgin Suicides OST, 2000)
19. Nosfell – Your Servant To The Ground (Poma e klokochazia balek, 2005)

DL discovering French music volume 2

1. Jeanne Moreau – Le Tourbillon De La Vie (Cyrus Bassiak, Chante 12 Chansons De Cyrus Bassiak, 1962)
2. Saïan Supa Crew – A Demi Nue (X Raisons, 2001)
3. Georges Brassens – Les Amoureux Des Bancs Publics (1953)
4. Les négresses vertes – Zobi La Mouche (Mlah, 1988)
5. IAM – L’Empire Du Côté Obscur (L’école du micro d’argent, 1997)
6. Claude Nougaro – Le Cinéma (Michel Legrand, Claude Nougaro, 1962)
7. Barbara – L’Aigle Noir (L’aigle Noir, 1970)
8. Dogs – Shakin’ Linda (Too Much class for the neighborhood, 1982)
9. Daft Punk – All Around The World (Homework, 1997)
10. Renaud – Dès Que Le Vent Soufflera (Morgane de toi , 1983)
11. Noir désir – Des Visages des figures (Des visages des figures, 2002)
12. Léo Ferré – Avec Le Temps (1970)
13. Brigitte Fontaine – Je t’aime encore (Moustaki & Areski, Kékéland, 2001)
14. Charles Aznavour - je m’voyais déjà (1960)
15. Ray Ventura et ses Collégiens - Qu'est-ce qu'on attend (pour être heureux) (Paul Misraki, 1937)
16. Lunatic - Le Son Qui Met La Pression (Mauvais Œil, 2000)
17. Django Reinhardt & Jean Sablon - Je sais que vous êtes jolie (Swing, 1935)
18. Les Têtes Raides - L'hermaphrodite (Le bout du toit, 1996)
19. Jacques Brel - J'en Appelle (Philips n°2 - Quand on a que l’amour, 1957)

Discovering French music - Volume 3

1. Jean-Michel Jarre – Oxygene (Part IV) (1976)
2. Philippe Katerine – Louxor J’adore (Robots après tout , 2005)
3. Juliette Gréco – Déshabillez-Moi (Robert Nyel, Gaby Verlor, La femme, 1967)
4. Françoise Hardy – Message personnel (Message Personnel, Michel Berger, 1973)
5. Henri Salvador – Une chanson douce (le loup, la biche et le chevalier) (Chante ses deniers succès, 1955)6. Les Chaussettes Noires – Be Bop A Lula (Gene Vincent 1955, 1961)
7. Lofofora – No facho (Lofofora, 1994)
8. Admiral T – Gwadada (2002)
9. Indochine – L’aventurier (L’aventurier, 1982)
10. Brigitte Fontaine - Les Filles D'aujourd'hui (1984)
11. Charles Trenet – Le Temps Des Cerises (Antoine Renard,Jean-Baptiste Clément, 1866/1942)
12. Alain Souchon – Foule Sentimental (C'est déjà ça, 1994)
13. Antoine – Les Élucubrations (Les élucubrations d'Antoine , 1966)
14. Gojira – Ocean Planet (From Mars to Sirius , 2005)
15. Serge Gainsbourg - Black Trombone (Serge Gainsbourg N° 4, 1962)
16. Maurice Chevalier - Ah si vous connaissiez ma poule (1938)
17. Jo Privat - Minor Swing (Django Reinhardt, Stephan Grappelli, 1937, Manouche Partie, 1960)
18. Felix Mayol - Il s'appelait Bou Dou Ba Da Bouh (1920)
19. Edith Piaf - Sous Le Ciel de Paris (Jean Dréjac, Hubert Giraud, 1954)

Discovering French Music - Volume 4

1. Trust – Antisocial (Répression, 1980)
2. Germaine Sablon – Le Chant des Partisans (Joseph Kessel, Maurice Druon, Anna Marly, written in 1943)
3. Oxmo Puccino – Conte de Fée (Lipopette Bar, 2006)
4. Le Peuple de l’Herbe – Herbman Skank (Triple Zéro, 2000)
5. Louise Attaque – J’T'emmène Au Vent (Louise Attaque, 1997)
6. Mano Negra – King of Bongo (King of Bongo, 1991)
7. Rita Mitsouko – Marcia Baila (Rita Mitsouko ,1985)
8. Michel Petrucciani – Miles Davis Licks (Playground , 1991)
9. Jacques Brel – Ne Me Quittes Pas (La valse à mille temps, 1959)
10. M – Onde Sensuelle (Je dis Aime, 1999)
11. Tino Rossi – Petit papa Noël (1946)
12. Mylène farmer – Sans Contrefaçon (Laurent Boutonnat, Ainsi soit je…,. 1987)
13. Erik Truffaz – Seven Skies (The Walk of the Giant Turtle, 2003)
14. France Gall – Les Sucettes (Serge Gainsbourg & Alain Goraguer, 1966)
15. Massilia Sound System – Il Y’A Des Fois (3968 CR 13, 2000)
16. MC Solaar – Gangster Moderne (Paradisiaque, 1997)
17. Serge Gainsbourg - Chez Les Ye-Ye (Gainsbourg Confidentiel, 1963)
18. Georges Brassens - La Premiere Fille (1954)
19. Maurice Chevalier - Paris je t'aime d'amour (1932)

Discovering French Music - Volume 5

1. Charles Aznavour – La Bohème (1965)
2. Hector Zazou – Visur Vatnsenda-Rosu (Ft. Bjork) (Chansons des Mers Froides, 1994)
3. Idéal J – Hardcore (Le combat continue, 1998)
4. Kassav – Siwo (1986)
5. Louis Chédid – Anne Ma Soeur Anne (Anne ma sœur Anne, 1985)
6. Maxime Le Forestier – San Fransisco (Mon frère, 1972)
7. Métal Urbain – Panik (1977)
8. Michel Legrand – Chanson Des Jumelles (Les demoiselles de Rochefort OST, Germain and Claude Parent singing, 1967)
10. Serge Gainsbourg – Aux Armes Et Caetera (Aux armes et cætera, cover of La Marseillaise, Rouget de Lisle 1792 / 1979)
11. Starmania – Quand On Arrive En Ville (Michel Berger, with Daniel Balavoine and Nanette Workman, 1978)
12. Thomas Fersen – Borborygmes (Pièce montée des grands jours , 2003)
13. Tri Yann – Les Prisons de Nantes (trad., Tri Yann an Naoned, 1972)
14. Jacques Dutronc – L’Opportuniste (L’opportuniste, 1969)
15. Pigalle – Dans La Salle Du Bar-tabac (Regards affligés sur la morne et pitoyable existence de Benjamin Trembley, personnage falot mais ô combien attachant, 1990)
16. Georges Brassens - Je me suis fait tout petit (1956)
17. Claude Nougaro – Toulouse (1967)
18. Charles Trenet - Vous Oubliez Votre Cheval (1938)
19. Brigitte Fontaine & Areski Belkacem - Je Suis Venu Te Voir (Vous et nous, 1977)

Discovering French Music - Volume 6

1. Bobby Lapointe – Aragon et castille (1956)
2. Java – Ca s’ra tout (Safari Croisière, 2003)
3. Mistinguett – Il m’a vue nue (1927)
4. Mathieu Boogaerts – L’Espace (2000, 2002)
5. Oxmo Puccino – J’ai Mal Au Mic (L'amour est mort , 2001)
6. Booba – Le Bitume avec une plume (Temps Mort, 2002)
7. Arthur H- Le Jardin des Délices (Négresse Blanche, 2003)
8. Renaud – Hexagone (Amoureux de Paname, 1975)
9. Dick Annegarn – Volet fermé (Sacré géranium, 1974)
10. Georges Brassens – Le Temps Ne Fait Rien A L’Affaire (1961)
11. Les Têtes Raides – St-Vincent (Le bout du toit, 2000)
12. Mouloudji – Un Jour Tu Verras (1954)
13. Wax Tailor – Que Sera (Tales Of The Forgotten Melodies, 2005)
14. Georges Moustaki – Le Métèque (Le métèque, 1969)
15. Barel Coppet Et Mister Lof- Jeunesse Vauclin (Jeunesse Vauclin, 1972 – re-released in Tumbélé !)
16. Emile Prud’Homme – Pinsonnette (1936)
17. Django Reinhardt& Stéphane Grappelli – Minor Swing (1937)
18. Lucienne Delyle - Mon amant de Saint-Jean (Léon Agel & Émile Carrara, 1942)
19. Michel legrand – Duo Geneviève – Guy (Les parapluies de cherbourg OST, José Bartel and Danielle Licari singing, 1964)

Discovering French Music volume 7

1. Alain Bashung – Noir de Monde (L’Imprudence , 2002)
2. Django Reinhardt & Stephane Grappelli- Honeysuckle Rose (1938)
3. Taxi Girl – Chercher le garçon (Cherchez le garçon, 1980)
4. Tony Murena – Passion (1942)
5. Dionysos – Song For Jedi (Western sous la neige, 2002)
6. Zebda – Mon Père M’a Dit (Le Bruit et l'Odeur, 1995)
7. Serge Gainsbourg – Variations Sur Marilou (L’Homme à la tête de chou, 1976)
8.Orchestre Antillais d’Alexandre Stellio – Mussieu Satan Faché (Au Bal Antillais: Franco-Creole Biguines from Martinique, 1929)
9. ATK – Tricher (Heptagone, 1998)
10. La Tordue – La rose et le réséda (Les choses de rien, 1995)
11. Camille – Ta Douleur (Le Fil, 2005)
12. Georges Brassens – Putain de toi (1954)
13. Dominique A – En Secret (Auguri, 2001)
14. Eric Satie- Gnossienne n°1 (1890)
15. Francoiz Breut- Si Tu Disais (vingt à trente mille jours, 2000)
16. Ez3kiel – The Montagues And The Capulets (Serge Prokovief, Battlefield, 2008)
17. Bérurier Noir – Fils De… (Carnaval des agités, recorded in the late 1980′s /, live released in 1995)
18. Brigitte Fontaine – Dommage que tu sois mort (Brigitte Fontaine est… folle !, 1968)
19. Mano Solo – Barbès-Clichy (Les Années sombres, 1995)
20. Tue-Loup – Le Lac De Fish (Le lac de fish, 2007)
21. La rue Kétanou - La rue Kétanou (2000, En attendant les caravanes)

Discovering French Music - Volume 8

1. Serge Gainsbourg – My lady Héroïne (1977)
2. Les Amis d’ta femme – Ragougnasse (Lave toi la bouche, 2000)
3. France Gall – Poupée de cire poupée de son (Poupée de cire, poupée de son, 1965)
4. Françoise Hardy – La question (La Question, 1971)
5. Jacques Brel – Le plat pays (1962)
6. Jacques Dutronc – Il est cinq heures, Paris s’éveille (Il est cinq heures, 1968)
7. Léo Ferré – Les anarchistes (L’été 68, 1969)
8. Sexion d’Assaut – Wati By Night (L’école des points vitaux, 2010)
9. Joséphine Baker – j’ai deux amours (1931)
10. Johnny Hallyday – Que je t’aime (Gilles Thibaut /Jean Renard, Palais des sports 69, 1969)
11. Hugues Aufray – Santiano (UK Traditionnal / Jacques Plante, 1961)
12. Les Négresses Vertes – Voilà l’été (Mlah, 1988)
13. Jean Louis Murat – Le venin (Cheyenne autumn 1989)
14.Mano Solo – Novembre (1997, Internationale Shalala, live recording of 1999)
15. Nino Ferrer – Le téléfon (Le téléfon, 1967)
16. Yann Tiersen – La Noyée (Le Phare, 1998)
17. Les Têtes raides – Patalo (Gratte Poil, 2000)
18. Ez3kiel feat. Nosfell – Lethal submission (2007)
19. Félix Mayol – Viens, Poupoule (written in 1898- 1932′s recording)

Discovering French Music - Volume 9

1. Anzala – Ba yo biguine (1983)
2. Barbara – Une petite cantate (Le mal de vivre, 1964)
3. Georges Brassens – La marche nuptiale (1957)
4. Brigitte Fontaine – Guadalquivir (Kékéland, 2001)
5. Charles Trenet – Je chante (1938)
6 Claude Nougaro – Une petite fille (Michel Legrand, 1962)
7. Daft Punk – One more time (Discovery, 2001)
8. Edith Piaf – La vie en rose (Louis Gugliemi, Henri Contet, 1947)
9. Zebda – Y a pas arrangement (Essence ordinaire, 1998)
10. Tryo – L’hymne de nos campagnes (Mamagubida, 1998)
11. Suprême NTM – La fièvre (Paris sous les bombes, 1995)
12. Noir Désir – L’Homme pressé (666.667 Club, 1997)
13. Maxime le Forestier – Comme un arbre (Mon frère, 1972)
14. Mathieu Boogaerts – Dommage (Michel, 2005)
15. Lunatic – Pas le temps pour les regrets (Mauvais Oeil, 2000)
16. Emile Prud’homme – Caravane rabouine
17. Lys Gauty – A Paris dans chaque faubourg (René Clair, 1933)
18. Claude François – Chanson Populaire (J-P Bourtayre, N. Skorsky, 1973)
19. Lucienne Boyer – Parlez moi d’amour (1930)
20. Ray Ventura – Tout va très bien Madame la marquise (1935)

Discovering French Music – Volume 10

1. Renaud – Chanson pour Pierrot (Ma gonzesse, 1978)
2. La Caution – Thé À La Menthe (Peine de maure, 2006)
3. Booba – Ma définition (Temps Mort, 2002)
4. Henri Salvador – Jardin d’hiver (Benjamin Biolay, Chambre avec vue, 2000)
5. Les Ogres de Barback – Rue De Paname (Rue du temps, 1997)
6. Magyd Cherfi- Je Suis Franc (La cité des étoiles, 2004)
7. Serge Gainsbourg – Couleur Café (Gainsbourg percussions, 1964)
8. Les Hurlements d’Léo – L’accordéoniste (Le café des jours heureux, 1998)
9. Noir Désir – A ton étoile (666667 club, 1997)
10. M.A.P. – Balle Populaire (Debout là dedans, 2006)
11. Charles Aznavour – A ma fille (1964)
12. Jacques Brel – La Chanson des Vieux Amants (1967, 1967)
13. Alain Bashung – Gaby oh gaby (Boris Bergman, 1980)
14. Francis Cabrel – Je l’aime à mourir (Les Chemins de traverse , 1979)
15. Léo Ferré – C’est Extra (L’été 68, 1969)
16. Fréhel – C’est un mâle (1933)
17. Yves Montand – Barbara (Kosma/Prévert, Montand chante Prévert, 1962)
18. Barbara – Göttingen (Le Mal de vivre, 1964)
19. Mano Solo – Sacré Cœur (La marmaille nue, 1993)

Discovering French Music volume 11

1.Serge Gainsbourg – Comic Strip (Avec Brigitte Bardot) (Bonnie and Clyde, 1968)
2. Marcel Mouloudji – Comme un petit coquelicot (1952)
3. Mano Negra – Pas assez de toi (Puta’s fever, 1989)
4. Lunatic – Pas l’temps pour les regrets (Mauvais Œil, 2000)
5.Lucienne Boyer – Mon p’tit kaki (R. Bernstein, G. Van Parys,J. Boyer, 1939)
6. Jean Sablon – Rendez-vous sous la pluie (Johnny Hess, Charles Trenet, 1935)
7. Jacques Dutronc – J’aime Les Filles (Jacques Lanzmann, 1967)
8.Henri Salvador – Maladie d’amour (1947)
9. Francoise Hardy – Mon Amie La Rose (Cécile Caulier – Jacques Lacome, 1964)
10. France Gall – Laisse tomber les filles (Serge Gainsbourg, 1964)
11. Christophe – Aline (Aline, 1965)
12. Charles Aznavour – Emmenez-moi (Entre deux rêves, 1967)
13. Boris Vian & Magali Noël- Fais moi mal Johnny (1956)
14. Alain Bashung –Madame Rêve (Pierre Grillet / Alain Bashung , Osez Joséphine, 1991)
16. Les Têtes Raides – Aurélie (Les Oiseaux, 1992)
17. Georges Brassens – Les Passantes (Antoine Pol, 1972)
18. Bembeya Jazz National – Telephone (Discothèque 76, 1977, Guinée)
19. DJ Mehdi – Pocket Piano (2008)
20. Eugène Mona – La Chandelle (1975-78)

Discovering French Music volume 12

1. Serge Gainsbourg – Marilou Sous La Neige (L’homme à la tête de chou, 1973)
2. Boris Vian – Je suis snob (Chansons possibles et impossibles, 1956)
3. Lys Gauty – L’amour qui passe (1932)
4.Yann Tiersen – Sur Le Fil (Le Phare, 1998)
5.Têtes Raides – Vendu(e) au diable (Le bout du toit, 1996)
6. Barbara – Dis quand reviendras tu ? (Dis, quand reviendras-tu ?, 1964)
7. Edith Piaf – L’Effet Que Tu Me Fais (Piaf & Marc Heyral, 1953)
8. Juliette Greco – Si tu t’imagines (Raymond Queneau – Joseph Kosma, 1950)
9. Georges Brassens – Le Mauvais Sujet Repenti (1954)
10. Joseph Kabassele et l’African Jazz – Table ronde (Congo, 1960)
11. Mathieu Boogaerts – Une Bonne Nouvelle (Michel, 2005)
12. Mathieu Chédid – A Celle Qui Dure (Je dis aime, 1999)
13. Django Reinhardt & Jean Sablon – Cette chanson est pour vous madame (Swing, 1935)
14. Jacques Brel – Au Suivant (1964)
15. Bérurier Noir – Salut à Toi (Concerto pour détraqués, 1985)
16. Jeanne Moreau – J’ai la mémoire qui flanche (Cyrus Bassiak, Chante 12 chansons de Cyrus Bassiak, 1963)
17. Air – Kelly watch the stars (Moon safari, 1998)
18. High Tone – Overtone

Download Discovering French music volume 9

DL

Cover: Serge Gainsbourg

1. Anzala – Ba yo biguine (1983)
2. Barbara – Une petite cantate (Le mal de vivre, 1964)
3. Georges Brassens – La marche nuptiale (1957)
4. Brigitte Fontaine – Guadalquivir (Kékéland, 2001)
5. Charles Trenet – Je chante (1938)
6 Claude Nougaro – Une petite fille (Michel Legrand, 1962)
7. Daft Punk – One more time (Discovery, 2001)
8. Edith Piaf – La vie en rose (Louis Gugliemi, Henri Contet, 1947)
9. Zebda – Y a pas arrangement (Essence ordinaire, 1998)
10. Tryo – L’hymne de nos campagnes (Mamagubida, 1998)
11. Suprême NTM – La fièvre (Paris sous les bombes, 1995)
12. Noir Désir – L’Homme pressé (666.667 Club, 1997)
13. Maxime le Forestier – Comme un arbre (Mon frère, 1972)
14. Mathieu Boogaerts – Dommage (Michel, 2005)
15. Lunatic – Pas le temps pour les regrets (Mauvais Oeil, 2000)
16. Emile Prud’homme – Caravane rabouine (1942)
17. Lys Gauty – A Paris dans chaque faubourg (René Clair, 1933)
18. Claude François – Chanson Populaire (J-P Bourtayre, N. Skorsky, 1973)
19. Lucienne Boyer – Parlez moi d’amour (1930)
20. Ray Ventura – Tout va très bien Madame la marquise (1935)

Discovering French Music 9 from boebis on 8tracks Radio.

North African's influences in French music

As you know, France had colonies in North Africa: Tunisia and Morocco (until 1956), and Algeria (a French département until 1962) so migrations had been intense between France and those countries. Thus, Arabs, Kabyles, Sefarade Jews have enriched French music.

During the first half of the XXth century, there were already great musicians of North African descent living in France; especially Kabyles from Algeria. The great Cheikh El Hasnaoui was singing in the Algerian chaâbi style, but met success only in the Kabyle community. On the other hand, some second generation immigrants became huge stars of typical chanson, like Mouloudji, Alain Bashung and... Edith Piaf!

Nowadays, there are typical north African music styles popular in France, especially among north African community but some are mainstream (like raï). There are also many singers from North African descent playing classic French music. In this post, I will only introduce you the north African influence on French styles, especially during the last 20 years, in rock, rap or chanson. I won't distinguish between all different north African musics which are very various, only because I don't knoow enough about them.

One of the first to mix French popular music with Arab music in France may have been Rachid Taha and his band Carte de séjour in the early 80's. As you see in the name of the band which means "Green card", political issues are not far when it comes to cultural mixing and the issues of the identity and recognition of second generation immigrants. To understand the context of the following songs, you have to keep in mind that the 1980's were also the time of the rise of xenophobic and racist party Front National...

Carte de Séjour - Zoubida (1982)

One of their success was the cover of Charles Trenet's classic track "Douce France" whose lyrics are a nostalgic portray of France written during German Occupation of France during World War II.

Carte de Séjour - Douce France (1943/1986)

One of the greatest hit of the world famous Mano Negra (Manu Chao's band) was a cover of an Arab song, sung by Philippe Teboul.

Mano Negra - Sidi'h'bidi (1989)

Influences of North African musics can also be found with Zebda, the band led by Magyd Cherfi, such as this hit with the chorus sung in Arab.

Zebda - Oualalaradime (1998)


Now, songs less rock and more chanson.

A beautiful love song with also a chorus sung in Arab:

Les Têtes Raides - Manuela (1996)


Magyd Cherfi - En enfer (2004)

Brigitte Fontaine is one of the greatest French singer. Many of her songs were composed by Areski Belkacem who was influenced by north African music, especially chaâbi.

Brigitte Fontaine - Le Nougat (1988)


Brigitte Fontaine - Guadalquivir (2001)



In French rap, influences of North African musics can also sometimes be found, such as in this two classics of French rap.


A song that deal with the relation between second generation immigrants and the native home of their parents, called in French "bled".
113 - Tonton du bled (produced by DJ Medhi, 1999)

Lunatic - Pas Le Temps Pour Les Regrets (2000) (with the sample of Lebanon star Fairuz's Zahrat El Madaen)

The song that was featured in Ocean's 12 laser scene.
La Caution - Thé à la menthe (2005) (Mint tea).



And to conclude, listen to Helwa ya baladi sung by the French pop star, Dalida, who grew up in Egypt before moving to France. The song composed by Gilbert Sinoué and Jeff Barnel for her, is an hymn to her native country.
Dalida - Helwa ya baladi (1979)

A year of love

One of the first song composed and recorded by Nino Ferrer was C'est Irréparable. The song didn't gain much success. He was only a few years later that Nino Ferrer became a huge star. The lyrics are about a guy left alone, and who remembers with bitterness the sweetness of this "year of love".

Nino Ferrer - C'est Irréparable (Un an d'amour) (1964)

The following year, this song was covered by the great Italian star Mina, both in Italian and in Spanish. What a voice! The song became a huge hit, in Spain, Italy and in whole Latin America.

Mina - Un anno d'amore (1965)

Then, in 1991, the Spanish singer Luz Casal covered it again, but changed the lyrics. The singing character is still the one left alone, but this time she's warning her lover, that if he left her, he will not be able to forget "the taste of her lips" and that "he'll understand in one moment, what means a year of love". The song was featured in the great Almodovar's movie High Heels. This Spanish movie was a great success in France, and most of the French people discovered this French song only at that time!

Luz Casal - Un año de amor (1991).

Re-up

I've just re-uploaded the volume 6 and 7 of my "discovering French music" compilations which were not available anymore, and added a few new tracks in both. Please tell me when links are dead, I'll upload them again.

2010's Autumn's leaves

A few more French kisses while trees are undressing their leaves. Only new young artists with beautiful voices.

Hindi Zahra, a new Moroccan singer singing in English, but living in France for 20 years (Handmade, 2010)

ZAZ - Je Veux (ZAZ, 2010)

Ben L'Oncle Soul - Soulman (Ben l'Oncle Soul, 2010)

Yann Tiersen's Dust lane

From Dust Lane, the great new album of Yann Tiersen.



Yann Tiersen - Palestine (2010)


Yann Tiersen - Dust Lane (2010)

French music and West Africa

If this blog mainly focuses on music from France, I do love musics from other countries. To stay in the topic of French Kisses, here's a selection of great tracks from West Africa with lyrics sung in French among my all time favorites. Great classics and more recent hits.

Unforgettable classics:
Orchestra Baobab - On verra ça ce soir (Senegal,1979)


Bembeya jazz National - Téléphone (Guinea, 1977)


Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou - Ne te Faches Pas (Benin, 1970's)


Grand Kalle & OK Jazz - Table Ronde (Congo, 1960)


Tabu Ley Rochereau - Gagner Gagner (Congo, 1984)


Tchico Tchikaya- Jeannot (Congo, soukous, 1979)


More recent sounds:

Magic system - Un Gaou à Paris (Ivory Coast, zouglou, 2003)


Amadou et Mariam - Je pense à toi (Mali, 1998)



And some African rap:
Positive black soul - Je ne sais pas (Senegal, 1995)


Abass Abass - Urgence (Senegal)

What a French teenager is listening to in 2010? Sexion d'Assaut!

In 2010, a French teenager is likely to listen to Sexion d'Assaut. With 1,5 millions facebook fans (huge if you compare to the population of France, and the band doesn't have any international audience). The crew is definitely the greatest commercial success of 2010 with there first LP L'École Des Points Vitaux (and released on an small independent label). Their style is a very catchy rap, with dancing beats and lyrics with teenage appeal (but more clever than most radio hits), but still keep the flavor of the underground where they are from.

In October a polemic occurred about the (proven) homophobic content of the early lyrics and statements of some members of Sexion d'Assaut which lead to the cancellation of many of their shows.

Sexion d'Assault - Casquette à l'envers (backward cap). (2010)


Sexion d'Assaut - Désolé (sorry) (2010)

Kid CuDi's System

Le Système Crapoutchik - All What I Have (France, 1971)


Kid CuDi My World (USA, 2009)

It was 50 years ago.

50 years ago, many African countries became independent from France and Belgium. To celebrate this important event, here's the famous anthem of the Congolese independence, and a great rap remix by Baloji.

Grand Kalle - Indépendance Cha Cha (1960)


Baloji - Le jour d'après/ Siku ya baadaye (2010)

You'll See

When a great French singer covers a great brazilian singer songwriter.

Chico Buarque - O que será (composed in 1966 / live of 1976 with Milton Nascimento)

Claude Nougaro - tu verras (1978) (same music but the meaning of the lyrics is different)

Like in the radio

When a great Japanese singer covers a great French singer:

Jun Togawa - Comme a la Radio (2000) (Japan)


Brigitte Fontaine - Comme à la Radio (1969) with the Art Ensemble of Chicago and Areski Belkacem.

Rock "without papers"

Some of you may have heard about it, but the President Sarkozy is trying to seduce the far-right vote with xenophobic acts and speeches, against migrants, French of foreign descent, French Muslims and recently against the romani people.

If I'm talking politics here, it's also because in 2 weeks will be held the show "Rock sans papiers" against Sarkozy's immigration policy, and especially an upcoming awful bill by immigration Minister Besson. And the musical selection of French musicians is really good! Dominique A, 113, Têtes raides, Tryo, Wampas, Daniel Darc, Jane Birkin, Jeanne Cherhal, Clarika, No one is innocent, Nosfell, Oxmo Puccino, Jacques Higelin, Sinsemilia, Cheb Bilal, Cali, Abd Al Malik....

Here's a playlist of those artists, with rock, pop, new chanson, rap, raï... with many of the best French artists from the past 15 years.

Never too late

I've been quite busy lately, but French music didn't wait for me. So I'm catching up with some nice songs of 2010!

The new single by the very young (17 years old) Camélia Jordana. She became famous with the TV contest La Nouvelle star, normally full of talentless wannabe singers. She has a very beautiful and moving voice and had the taste to chose good songwriter for her first album. Listen to the whole album there.

Camelia Jordana - Calamity Jane (2010)


The band praised as the spiritual son of Noir Désir.
Luke - Pense à moi (2010) (Think of me)


From Ivory Coast, the famous Tiken Jah Fakoly is back.
Tiken Jah Fakoly - Je Dis Non (2010) (I say No)

The new single by Féfé, of his 2009's album Jeune à la retraite (retired young)

Love songs with cheese

I don't know if French people are more romantic than others, but we do have plenty romantic ballads, where amour rhymes with toujours. For sure, we enjoy cheesy music almost as we love cheese!

Johnny Hallyday - Que Je T'Aime(1969). Arranged by Jean Claude Vannier (who arranged the cult Gainsbourg's Melody Nelson.

Claude François - Le Téléphone Pleure (1974)

I missed it

EZ3kiel - Lethal Submission (feat. Nosfell)

From Kingston to Lyon

High Tone ft Pupajim - Rub a Dub Anthem (2010)

Some Sun in my Street

A very fresh song by Féfé (former member of the Saian Supa Crew)

Féfé - Dans ma rue

France in the Indian Ocean

Davy Sicard - Maloya Kabosé

A beautiful modern maloya song. Maloya is a little known musical style from La Réunion, a small French island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar.

A Century Of French Music

Enjoy 90 great tracks!

French Kisses - A century of French music

French music. From Musette to underground rock, from chanson to yéyé, from gypsy swing to rap, from Paris to the oversea territories, from 1900 to 2009, here’s a personal overview of the best of a century of French popular music in 90 songs.

It’s difficult and useless to try to identify « pure » French music in the XXth century. Indeed, France has always been very open to foreign influences, like polka (Bohemia), waltz (Vienna), paso doble (Spain), or music hall (UK). 

In the beginning of the century, Aristide Bruant, Félix Mayol, Mistinguett, Maurice Chevalier, and Fréhel were some of the first French singers to be recorded. They were playing what is called « chanson Francaise». The word simply means « song » in French but is used to describe the typical lyric driven music from France. At that time the chanson was the most popular style, alongside tango, jazz, waltz, music-hall, and musette. The 30’s and the 40’s saw the rise of many chanson singers and songwriters (Charles Trenet, Edith Piaf, Jean Sablon, Yves Montand, Lys Gauty, Lucienne Boyer, Lucienne Delyle) and Musette’s accordionists (Gus Viseur, Emile Prud’homme, Jo Privat). Chanson was soon influenced by Jazz (Ray Ventura, Trenet), like gypsy music with gypsy jazz (the guitarist genius Django Reinhardt and the violonist Stephan Grappeli) and Musette (Jo Privat, Gus Viseur). But jazz and tango were not the only foreign influences. For example, Henri Garat's “Avoir Un Bon Copain” is the cover of a German song, Felix Mayol’s Matchiche is a spanish paso-doble with lyrics about brazilian music (maxixe), and Edith Piaf covered Peruvian/Argentine waltz (La Foule).

The World War II changed many things. Most of the artists continued to sing during the German occupation of France, sometimes with songs with double meanings or a nostalgic flavor. In the aftermath, artists who sang for the Nazis had difficulties to continue their careers. With the Marshall Plan, the cultural influence of the USA was more important than never. Some pre-war artists were still very popular (Trenet, Piaf) but a cultural renewal was ongoing, exemplified by the existentialist movement (Sartre, Camus).

The golden age of chanson Francaise took place at that time, from the 50's to the 60's, with great songwriters such as Brassens, Jacques Brel, Léo Ferré, Barbara, Aznavour and interprets (Juliette Gréco, Patachou). Without doubt, the greatest of all was Georges Brassens which stands as the true musical genius of French music of the century. In France where there is an old tradition of poetry, the lyrics were often more important than the music. Complex and poetic lyrics may even be the trademark of chanson. Many singers sang classical poets (Verlaine, Baudelaire) and contemporary ones (Aragon, Quenau, Prévert). Nowadays, lyrics of Brassens and Brel are printed in French schoolbooks next to their great masters.

After the first rock ’n’ roll songs in the late 50’s (Boris Vian), the US and UK rock trend really hit the French public in the early 1960′s to the 70's. Rock and especially twist energized typical chanson to give birth to the light yéyé (Claude François, France Gall, Jacques Dutronc). It also influenced more intellectual and experimental musics (Brigitte Fontaine, Léo Ferré). Nevertheless, Chanson was still very popular even among the youth (Renaud).

During all these years, some famous singers were also composers for other interprets (Trenet, Ferré, Gainsbourg) but other less known artists are behind true classics (J. Kosma, J-C. Vanier, Michel Legrand, Paul Misraki, Jean Boyer, Areski). This classification is of course too raw to be exact and many artists can’t be classified. For example, Serge Gainsbourg started as a typical chanson songwriter but was also inspired by jazz and African rhythms. He composed yéyé hits for teen-idols but also ambitious pop songs. On the contrary, Brassens never followed any style but his own and his sound is remarkably homogeneous through years.

In the 80′s and the 90’s, French musicians merged the fury of underground rock to the spirit of chanson, musette or even gypsy, Latin and Spanish musics (Les Négresses Vertes, Mano Solo, Alain Bashung, les Têtes raides, Mano Negra). Other bands were playing raw rock (Dogs), punk (Bérurier Noir) or hard rock (Trust), but even then, there were a chanson taste with ambitious lyrics (Noir Désir). In the early 90’s, second-generation immigrants living in the suburbs of Paris or Marseille appropriated Hip-hop to French issues and language (NTM), with a gansta attitude (Lunatic, Booba), or more introvered lyrics (Oxmo Puccino). At the same time, French electronic music (Daft Punk, Air, Mr. Oizo) gained world-wide success following the path of Jean-michel Jarre 20 years earlier. Chanson is still very popular in the 00’s. The commercial one is called "variété" . The interesting one is almost always mixed to rock or pop (Benjamin Biolay, Mathieu Boogaerts, Mathieu Chedid, Yann Tiersen), to rock and raï (Zebda) or reggae (Massilia Sound system).

Within this great music, we can’t forget to mention important artists coming from outside Metropolitan France, such as Henri Salvador (Guyanne) or Jacques Brel (Belgium) but settled in Paris. French Caribbean islands (Guadeloupe, Martinique) had a particularly strong musical identity: ancient biguine, sometimes mixed with jazz (Alexandre Stellio) or psychedelic guitar (Les Loups Noirs), the drum music from Guadeloupe called gwo ka (Marcel Lollia aka Vélo). Most recent sounds include zouk in the 80's (Kassav') and reggae-dancehall (Admiral T). There are also original musics in Polynesian Nouvelle Calédonie (Kaneka) and in la Réunion at the east of Madagascar (sega). During the 70’s, there were a revival of local traditional songs in Regions with strong cultural identity, such as Corsica (I Muvrini) and Brittany (Tri Yann). In former French colonies, there were great artists singing in French, sometimes popular in France, sometimes just in the black diaspora (Orchestra Baobab from Senegal, Les Loups Noirs from Haiti, Magic System from Ivory Coast).

To finish, you can notice the links between music and cinema. Lyricists wrote screenplays (Prévert), songwriters composed film scores (J. Kosma, Michel Legrand, Glanzberg, Georges Delerue) and many singers were actors (Jeanne Moreau, Yves Montand, Jacques Brel, Trenet).

In this anthology, I tried to mix classics, popular hits and less known great songs. I preferred to left behind famous but less interesting artists, often playing what is called in French "variété " or "soupe" (Carla Bruni, Alyzée, Mylène Farmer, Johnny Hallyday, Richard Clayderman, Michel Sardou, Goldman, David Guetta…) to keep room to the best artists. Actually, I couldn’t put many important artists, so this anthology shall only be seen as a small introduction to French music. And I didn’t include traditional folk music neither contemporary classical music (Boulez, Dutilleux…) because I don’t know enough about them.

Tracklist :

1. Aristide Bruant –Nini Peau d’Chien (1889/ 1909)

2. Félix Mayol – la Matchiche (chanson/paso-doble, Borel-Clerc , 1905)

3. Mistinguett – Mon Homme (chanson, A. Willemetz, J. Charles, M. Yvai, 1920)

4. Alexandre Stellio – Mussieu Dollar (Martinique, biguine, 1929)

5. Lucienne Boyer - Parlez moi d'amour (chanson, Jean Lenoir, 1930)

6. Henri Garat – Avoir un bon copain (chanson, W.Heyman, J.Boyer, 1931)

7. Maurice Chevalier – Paris je t’aime d’amour (chanson, Chertzinger, Grey, Bataille, Henri , 1932)

8. Lys Gauty- A Paris, Dans Chaque Faubourg (chanson, René Clair, 1933)

9. Jean Sablon & Mireille – Puisque vous partez en voyage (chanson, Jean Nohain, 1934)

10. Fréhel - Où sont mes amants (chanson, Charlys - M. Vandair , 1935)

11. Charles Trenet – Boum (chanson, 1938)

12. Django Reinhardt & Jean Sablon - Rendez-vous sous la pluie (chanson, Trenet, Siniavine, 1935)

13. Jean Sablon - Vous, qui passez sans me voir (chanson, C. Trenet / J. Hess 1936)

14. Django Reinhardt – Minor Swing (gyspy swing, 1937)

15. Gus Viseur – Jeannette (Musette, 1938)

16. Django Reinhardt – Nuages (gypsy swing, 1940)

17. Charles Trenet – Le temps des cerises (chanson, J-B Clément, A. Renard, 1866/1942)

18. Charles Trenet - Que reste t–il de nos amours ? (chanson, 1942)

19. Lucienne Delyle - Mon amant de Saint-Jean (Musette, Agel, Carrara, 1942)

20. Yves Montand - Les feuilles mortes, (chanson, J. Prévert, J. Kosma, 1945)

21. Django Reinhardt – Django’s Tiger (gypsy swing, 1946)

22. Yves Montand - Barbara (chanson, J. Prévert, J. Kosma, 1946/1962)

23. Henri salvador - Maladie d’Amour (1947)

24. Edith Piaf – Hymne à l’amour (chanson, 1949)

25. Edith Piaf – Padam Padam (chanson, H. Contet, N. Glanzberg 1951)

26. Georges Brassens – La Mauvaise réputation (chanson, 1952)

27. Georges Brassens et Patachou - Maman, Papa (chanson, 1952)

28. Georges Brassens –Il n’y a pas d’amour heureux (Aragon, chanson, 1953)

29. Boris Vian and Magali Noël – Fais moi mal Johnny (rock, A. Goraguer, 1956)

30. Jacques Brel – Quand on a que l’amour (chanson, 1957)

31. Edith Piaf – La Foule (chanson, Ángel Cabra, 1936, 1957)

32 Jacques Brel – Ne me quitte pas (chanson, 1959)

33. Juliette Gréco– Jolie Môme (Léo ferré, chanson, 1960)

34. Charles Aznavour- Je m’voyais déjà (chanson, 1960)

35. Georges Brassens – Embrasse les tous (chanson, 1960)

36. Serge Gainsbourg - La Chanson De Prévert (chanson, 1961)

37. Claude Nougaro – Le Cinéma (M. Legrand, 1962)

38. Françoise Hardy - Tous les garçons et les filles (yéyé, 1962)

39. Jeanne Moreau – Le tourbillon de la vie (S. Rezvani, OST Jules et Jim, 1962)

40. Georges Delerue – Thème de Camille (OST, Le mépris, 1963)

41. Barbara – Nantes (chanson, 1964)

42. Barbara – Dis Quand reviendras-tu (chanson, 1964)

43. Michel Legrand – Duo Geneviève - Guy (OST, Les parapluies de Cherbourg, 1964)

44. Jacques Brel – Ces Gens là (chanson, 1966)

45. Georges Brassens – Supplique pour être enterré à la plage de Sète (chanson, 1966)

46. France Gall – Les Sucettes (yéyé, S. Gainsbourg 1966)

47. Claude François – Comme d’habitude (yéyé, G. Thibaut, 1967)

48. Brigitte Fontaine – Dommage que tu sois mort (1968)

49. Jacques Dutronc – L’Opportuniste (yéyé, 1969)

50. Anzala, Dolor, Velo – Ti Fi La Ou Te Madam (gwo-ka - Guadeloupe, 197?)

51. Brigitte Fontaine – Comme à la radio (Belkacem, the Art ensemble of Chicago, 1970)

52. Léo Ferré – La mémoire et la mer (1970)

53. Serge Gainsbourg – Ballade de Melody Nelson (with J-C Vannier, 1971)

54. Léo Ferré – Ton style (chanson, 1971)

55. Brigitte Fontaine – L’Auberge (Jean-Charles Capon,1972)

56. Les Loups noirs – Jet biguine (Biguine - Haiti, 1972)

57. Tri Yann - Tri Martelod (1972, traditional)

58. Serge Gainsbourg – Je suis venu te dire que je m’en vais (1973)

59. Renaud – Hexagone (chanson, 1975)

60. Serge Gainsbourg – Variations sur Marilou (with J-C Vannier, 1976)

61. Trust – Antisocial (hard rock, 1979)

62. Renaud – Chanson pour pierrot (1979)

63. Alain Bashung – Vertige de l’amour (1981)

64. Dogs – Too much class for the neighborhood (rock, 1982)

65. Orchestra Baobab – Coumba (Senegal, afro-cuban , 1982)

66. Kassav – Zouk La Ce Sel Medicament Nou Ni (zouk, 1984)

67. Les Rita Mitsouko – Marcia bella (rock, 1984)

68. Bérurier Noir – Pavillon 36 (punk, 1987)

69. Les Négresses Vertes – Zobi la mouche (rock, 1988)

70. Mano Negra – Mala Vida (rock, 1988)

71. Les Têtes Raides – Gino (live) (chanson, 1992)

72. Mano Solo – Allo Paris (chanson , 1993)

73. NTM – Qu’est ce qu’on attend ? (Rap, 1995)

74. Daft Punk – Da Funk (House, 1995)

75. Noir Désir – Un Jour en France (rock, 1997)

76. Alain Bashung – La nuit je mens (1998)

77. Zebda – Oualalaradime (1998)

78. Yann tiersen – La dispute (chanson, Le phare, 1998)

79. Mano Solo – Je suis venu vous voir (live) (1999)

80. Mathieu Chedid (M) - Je dis aime (Andrée Chédid, 1999)

81. Mr. Oizo – Analog worms attack (electronic music, 1999)

82. Magic System – Premier Gaou (Ivory Coast, 2000)

83. Air – Suicide Underground (electro, 2000)

84. Lunatic – Groupe Sanguin (Rap, 2000)

85. Oxmo Puccino – J’ai mal au mic (Rap, 2001)

86. Admiral T – Gwadada (Guadeloupe, Dancehall, 2002)

87. Nosfell – Mindala jinka (2005)

88. Booba – Pitbull (rap, 2006)

89. Mathieu Boogaerts – Chaque fois (chanson, 2008)

90. Benjamin Biolay – La Superbe (chanson, 2009)

cover : a picture of the French sex-symbol Brigitte Bardot