French Kisses

shaka ponk

2011-11-26T14:21:00.003+01:00

Enjoy the electro rock of Shaka Ponk!

SHAKA PONK - My name is Stain (2011)

SHAKA PONK - Palabra Mi Amor (feat. Bertrand Cantat) (2011)

2011

2011-11-18T00:22:00.004+01:00

What's new in French music? Some suggestions.

In chanson:
Camille - Ilo veyou (Ilo Veyou, 2011)

Amusing and sensitive songs very well written. Oldelaf is the guy who wrote Le café.
Oldelaf - Comme je peux (Le Monde est beau, 2011)

Luce - J'me fume (Première phalange, 2011)

A French reggae hit:
Danakyl - Quitter Paname (Dialogue de sourd, 2011)

And two big hits:

Booba, gave to French rap some of his masterpieces (Mauvais Oeil, Panthéon, Temps Mort). His new songs are not as good unfortunately, but still much better than most of French rap.
Booba - Scarface (Autopsie vol 4, 2011)

Not my kind of music, but one of the biggest 2011'shit. A mix between dancehall and varieté.
Colonel Reyel - Aurélie
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Kavinsky is driving

2011-11-12T12:38:00.002+01:00

The main song from the OST of the great movie Drive is a big hit in France right now. Drive may looks like an american movie but is also quite European: the director is Danish, and the OST has been composed by a French musician: Kavinsky. Notice that his EP Nightcall has been produced by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (member of the Daft punk).

Kavinsky - Nightcall (2010)

Hot tracks

2011-11-11T12:23:00.003+01:00

It's new, it's good, and it's made in France.

Arthur H - Cheval de Feu (baba love, 2011)

Nekfeu & Alpha Wann - Monsieu sable (En sous-marin, 2011). The great rap EP is freely available for download here.

Cyril Mokaiesh - Des jours inouïs (Du rouge et des passions, 2011)

Debout sur le zinc (Sur le fil, 2011)

Download Discovering French Music volume 12

2011-09-24T15:41:00.007+02:00

Download Discovering French Music volume 12 (other link)

Enjoy this last compilation. Many artists were already featured in my previous volumes. You'll find many great chansons from 1932 (Lys Gauty) to 2005 (Mathieu Boogaerts), but also a classic of congolese rumba celebrating the independance of Congo from Belgium, a punk classic (Bérurier Noir) and electronic music (Air).

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

Discovering French music volume 11

2011-09-23T22:59:00.005+02:00

Download 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)

The tristitude

2011-09-08T11:01:00.002+02:00

Oldelaf - La Tristitude (Le Monde est Beau, 2011)

An humorous song, by the author of Le Café. It's about a silly neologism, tristitude, a word mixing tristesse (sadness), and solitude (loneliness)

Lyrics:

The tristitude, is when you've just swallowed a toothpick
When you realized that you are father is German Swiss
When a friend calls you for his moving house.
It hurts, the tristitude

It's to cross Fourvière Tunnel, the 15th of August (famous for its traffic jam)
When you got to move to Nogent-le-Rotrou (a very small city lost in the countryside)
When you hair stylist, tells you, you have auburn highlights
It's hurts,

Chorus:
The tristitude, is me, it's you, it's us
It's what? It's a small distress in our voice.
It's them, it's you,
It's life that tells you that's not going alright at all

The tristitude
It's when you're chosen to be the goal in handball
When you in the Mercedes of the Princess of Wales
When it's your daughter that plays in Canal + the saturday night (porn movie)

The tristitude, It's
when you walks on a small lego with a bare foot
When during a trip in India, you drink water
When your neighbor announces to you, he starts learning saxo
And it hurts,

Chorus

The tristitude,
It's when your Siamese twin tells you he has AIDS
When your wife does wife swapping but without you
When a child call you Sir for the first time
It's hurts, the tristitude,

It's becoming stylist but for Eddie Mitchell (an old-fashioned French rock star)
It's when you have to conjugate the verb "bouillir" in the subjunctive plural
Its going shopping the Sunday before Christmas

Chorus

Les biens aimés

2011-09-04T19:26:00.003+02:00

The new Christophe Honoré is a musical about love. He follows the path of the great Jacques Demy, like his in his movie Les chansons d'amour. A few songs composed by Alex Beaupain of this very moving movie.

Une fille légère (with Catherine Deneuve and her daughter Chiara Mastroianni)

Ludivine Saigner and Rasha Bukvic - Je peux vivre sans toi

The ending song
Catherine Deneuve - Je ne peux vivre sans t'aimer

2011's chanson

2011-09-03T18:44:00.005+02:00

A few interesting chanson and rock tracks released in 2011 in France.

Michel Cloup - Le Cercle Parfait

Bertrand Cantat and Brigitte Fontaine - Les Vergers

Brigitte - Oh la la

Hubert-Félix Thiefaine - Fièvre résurrectionnelle )

Miossec - Chanson pour les amis (Chansons Ordinaires)

Catherine Ringer - Vive l'amour

A few interesting 2011's tracks !

2011-09-03T18:23:00.003+02:00

A few interesting 2011's rap tracks !

1995 - A chaque ligne (La Source, 2011)

La Canaille- "J'ai Faim" feat. Napoleon Maddox (Par temps de rage, 2011)

Zone Libre VS Casey & B.James - Aiguise Moi Ça (Les Contes du chaos, 2011)

Discovering French music : volume 10

2011-07-09T15:36:00.011+02:00

The new volume of my personal anthology of French music! As usual, a blend of styles, times, and underground and mainstream, but only good songs! Remember that you can download the first 9 volumes gathered in one giant file, here.

Download discovering French music volume 10.

tracklist:

1. Renaud - Chanson pour Pierrot (1978)
2. La Caution - Thé À La Menthe (2006)
3. Booba - Ma définition (2002)
4. Henri Salvador - Jardin d'hiver (Benjamin Biolay, 2000)
5. Les Ogres de Barback - Rue De Paname (1997)
6. Magyd Cherfi- Je Suis Franc (2004)
7. Serge Gainsbourg - Couleur Café (1964)
8. Les Hurlements d'Léo - L'accordéoniste (1998)
9. Noir Désir - A ton étoile (1997)
10. M.A.P. - Balle Populaire (2006)
11. Charles Aznavour - A ma fille (1964)
12. Jacques Brel - La Chanson des Vieux Amants (1967)
13. Alain Bashung - Gaby o gaby (1980)
14. Francis Cabrel - Je l'aime à mourir (1979)
15. Léo Ferré - C'est Extra (1969)
16. Fréhel - C'est un mâle (1933)
17. Yves Montand - Barbara (Kosma/Prévert)
18. Barbara - Göttingen (1964)
19. Mano Solo - Sacré Cœur (1993)

nice sample

2011-07-09T15:22:00.002+02:00

Charles Aznavour - Lettre à ma fille (1964)

The Firm - Fiasco (1997) produced by Dr. Dre

L'entourage, new rap from France

2011-05-08T09:52:00.003+02:00

L'Entourage - Hail Mary freestyle

A freestyle on Shook one part II's beat.
Guizmo - Le Fugitif (92 Mesures)

Sexion d'assaut is back

2011-04-04T00:48:00.001+02:00

Sexion d'assaut is back after their huge success last year.

Sexion D'Assaut - Qui T'A Dit ? (2011)

Sexion D'Assaut - Paris Va Bien (2011)

Fresh and parisian

2011-04-04T00:21:00.004+02:00

They haven't released any LP yet, but these young Mcs may be the future of french rap, trust me. They are called (1995) and are from Paris.

Nekfeu/Alpha Wann (1995) - Dans Ta Réssoi (2011)

(1995) Sneazzy X Alpha Wann - Hi Haters (2011)

Spring

2011-04-03T11:26:00.007+02:00

Good pop and chanson released in the beginning of 2011.

Les Têtes Raides duo Jeanne Moreau - Emma (2011)

Ensemble - Excerpts (2011)

Le Prince Miiaou - J'ai deux yeux (2011)

A few new songs from France

2011-04-03T11:07:00.002+02:00

Cascadeur - Walker (2011)

Thomas Fersen - Parfois Au Clair De Lune (2011)

Cheveu!

2011-03-01T19:19:00.002+01:00

Cheveu - Charlie Sheen

Download Discovering French Music volume 1-12

2010-12-30T13:55:00.019+01:00

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 (other link)

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)

download discovering French music volume 2 (other link)

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 (other link)

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 (other link)

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 (other link)

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 (other link)

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)

Download 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)

Download 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 1-12

Download Discovering French music volume 9

2010-12-29T11:42:00.001+01:00

Download Discovering French music volume 9 (other link)

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)

North African's influences in French music

2010-11-23T15:36:00.004+01:00

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

2010-11-20T20:07:00.010+01:00

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

2010-11-15T11:33:00.002+01:00

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

2010-11-14T10:18:00.004+01:00

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

2010-11-04T00:13:00.004+01:00

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

Yann Tiersen - Palestine (2010)

Yann Tiersen - Dust Lane (2010)

French music and West Africa

2010-11-02T19:49:00.005+01:00

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!

2010-10-24T23:25:00.004+02:00

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

2010-10-09T14:04:00.003+02:00

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

Kid CuDi My World (USA, 2009)

It was 50 years ago.

2010-09-27T19:44:00.004+02:00

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

2010-09-26T17:58:00.002+02:00

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

2010-09-10T23:15:00.004+02:00

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"

2010-08-28T17:55:00.009+02:00

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

2010-08-23T20:42:00.009+02:00

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

2010-08-23T16:44:00.004+02:00

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!

Richard Cocciante - Le Coup de Soleil (1979)

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

2010-08-12T22:58:00.004+02:00

EZ3kiel - Lethal Submission (feat. Nosfell)

From Kingston to Lyon

2010-07-30T10:33:00.001+02:00

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

Some Sun in my Street

2010-07-30T10:25:00.005+02:00

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

Féfé - Dans ma rue

France in the Indian Ocean

2010-07-23T17:21:00.003+02:00

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

2010-07-01T23:53:00.010+02:00

A compilation I've just made for the great blog Pirates choice. 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, 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 mère (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)

(I made the cover with a picture of the French sex-symbol Brigitte Bardot )

He saw me nude

2010-06-27T15:57:00.006+02:00

An "erotic" and humorist song recorded in 1926! It is sung by Mistinguett, and was later cover by Edith Piaf. It was composed by Pearly/Chagnon.

Mistinguett - Il m'a vue nue (1926)

Lyrics:
One evening, I was bathing
My skin was all my clothes
Nobody could see me but the black sky
Suddenly the moon showed off
I was going to say, "Shut up!, baby"
When I heard by my side an emotional shout.
There was a man on a rock
Not high enough
The man said: ah!
and I, in the water
I said: ho!

He saw me nude, totally nude
Without "bra-whatsit" and "under-thing"
I blushed until the morning
He saw me nude, totally nude

I hid my face with both hands
but I think that with this unguarded gesture
I forgot to hide some others things
hide me from some little things
he saw me nude, totally nude, more than nude
he saw me nude, totally nude
I want to forget what happened
especially since there's nothing broken
but I think since that fateful night
I can't marry another man
he saw me nude, totally nude, super nude
he saw me nude, more than nude, totally nude

Some songs of Mistinguett can be listened there.

And you can read a comic strip about this song by the great Boulet, here.

Yéyé time

2010-06-27T15:05:00.004+02:00

I can't say yéyé music was great like Chanson, but it sure was sweet! It was often covers of american or UK hits and made by one hit wonders.

Les Surfs - T'en Vas Pas Comme Ca, 1963 (Don't leave me this way). A band from Madagascar!

Patricia Carli - Demain Tu Te Maries; 1963 (Tomorrow, you're getting married)

Claude françois - Belles belles belles, 1962 (Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, cover of the song Girls girls girls)

Catchy and cheesy world travelling disco

2010-06-08T15:44:00.007+02:00

Awful music, maybe, but also ridiculously catchy hits. Or how an Has been French song can become a hype hit through Bollywood.

Ottawan - T'es OK (France, 1980)

Jimmy Adja (Disco Dancer soundtrack, India, 1982)

M.I.A (UK, Kala, 2007)

I'm melting

2010-06-02T09:20:00.006+02:00

Sorry I don't have much time to upload the blog. And unfortunately, youtube deleted my account for having uploaded Brassens's video at the request of the INA...Sorry for the dead links you may found.

Whatever, somes interesting French music of 2010 according to my favorite French blogs:

Buzy - Au bon moment, au bon endroit

Univers Zéro - Clivages

Arnaud Fleurent-Didier - La reproduction

Clara Clara - Confortable Problems

Arno - Brussld

Rocé - L'être humain et le reverbere

Casey - libérez la tête

La Fine Equipe & Mattic - Fantastic Planet

High Tone - Out Back

Mathieu Boré - Frizzante

Louis Ronan Choisy - Rivière de plumes

You can also check the nice musical selection of Radio France.

Music from French West Indies

2010-04-30T22:12:00.009+02:00

Great biguine and gwoka albums very rare can be downloaded on the great blog Listen to your ears which dig up LPs of the Caribbeans islands. Beside those albums from French Antilles (French West Indies), there are also a few albums from Guyane (a French territory in the north of Brazil).

Minor Swing

2010-04-25T20:22:00.003+02:00

Minor Swing, the great song of Django Reinhardt, played by Musette masters Jo Privat and Matelo Ferré!

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

2010-04-24T20:34:00.005+02:00

The famous love song of the The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, the masterpiece of Jacques Demy. In this scene, Nino (Guy Foucher) has been told that he has to go to Algeria to do his military service, and says goodbye to his lover Geneviève (Catherine Deneuve).

The Final scene of the movie with the incredible music of Michel Legrand, some years after the previous scene. They are both married (Geneviève was pregnant and had to marry a rich guy). They meet by chance. Time has past, is love gone?

The Swinging Poet

2010-04-21T10:10:00.003+02:00

Inspired by classical French Poets, chanson and Jazz, Brassens redefined French Chanson in the mid-50’s to the 70s. With, a great sense of the melody, a guitar with a perfect swing, and lyrics in the same time poetic, deep and subservise, he’s hailed in France as a true genius of songwritting and the greatest master of French Chanson.

A selection of his greatest songs:

Brassens – The swinging Poet

1. Supplique pour Etre Enterré à la plage de Sète
2. Le Roi des Cons
3. Rien à Jeter
4. Le temps ne fait rien à l'affaire (Quand on est con)
5. Putain de toi
6. La prière
7 .La Premiere Fille
8. Le Pornographe
9. Le Petit Cheval
10. Pauvre Martin
11. Les passantes
12. Le Parapluie
13. La Non-Demande en Marriage
14. Mourir pour des Idées

15. La Mauvaise Réputation
16. Le Mauvais Sujet Repenti
17. La Marine
18. La Marche nuptiale
19. Une Jolie fleur
20. Je suis un voyou
21. Je me suis fait tout petit
22. Il n’y a pas d’amour heureux
23. Hécatombe
24. Le Gorille
25. Embrasse-les tous
26. Dans l’Eau de la Claire Fontaine
27. La Complainte des filles de joie
28. La Chasse Aux Papillons
29. Le Bistrot
30. Les Amoureux des Bancs Publics

Bad Reputation

2010-04-02T15:07:00.006+02:00

Georges Brassens is to my opinion the best French singer-songwriter musician of the XXth century. And actually most of people who love French music think the same and I can't explain why he's so less famous outside France than Gainsbourg, Brel or Edith Piaf. So you can imagine how pleased I am to welcome the release of a CD of Brassens sung in English. It's called Bad Reputation, Pierre de Gaillande Sings George Brassens and features Keren Ann. Pierre de Gaillande is Franco-american and has worked, among others, with the great Vic Chesnutt. Both translation and music are very good. In stores June 8th 2010!

A nice quote that can be found on Barbès' website: "He [Brassens] is both a national outcast and hero in France, yet most of us don't know him on this side of the Channel. His lyrics were more subversive than Dylan orthe Sex Pistols and he wrote better tunes than either." Alex Kapranos, of Franz Ferdinand. quoted in The Guardian October 2006

A few more:
"A few years ago, in the course of a literary discussion, someone asked who was the best poet at the moment in France. I responded without hesitation: Georges Brassens."
Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Nobel Prize for Literature 1981

"I believe it is a mortal sin not to listen to Brassens."
Jacques Brel, songwriter

Welfare Heart

2010-04-02T14:55:00.004+02:00

He sings in English deep and beatiful folk songs. His sound is all but what's done in France in 2010. All his LPS can be downloaded for free. Check out his myspace

Ernesto Violin - Seasons Of the Sun

I'll wait for the Next One

2010-03-28T12:22:00.003+02:00

A great short film of Philippe Orreindy (2001).

From Time Bomb to the 2010

2010-03-06T12:06:00.008+01:00

To start with 2010's music, some hip-hop. Oxmo Puccino and Booba were singing together in the underground crew Time Bomb back in the 90's. Now they are both very famous but as you can see, their styles have nothing in common.

Oxmo Puccino - Quitte Moi (leave me)

Booba - Foetus

And an other track of a good French rap album of 2010: Rocé - Si peu comprennent ('l'être humain et le réverbère)

Special tops of French music

2010-02-07T15:29:00.006+01:00

I dont like much doing top of Music. I'm bored too quickly. But what is to remember of this year in French music? I guess it would be Benjamin Biolay's Suberbe, Dominique A's Musique, Oxmo Puccino's L'arme de Paix and Brigitte Fontaine's Prohibition. Maybe also Phoenix, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Emilie Simon for some hype, but also JP Nataf and Miossec and many others.

Here some tops 2009 of French music I recommend (even they dont have much of rock and rap because they focus on Chanson).

-the top of RFI Musique

-the top of Musique mag

And also three anthologies of old but great French speaking music released in 2009.

-France:Une anthologie des musiques traditionnelles (Fremeaux)

-Tumbélé: Biguine, Afro and Latin Sounds from the French Caribbean, 1963-1974 (Soundway)
- Buigine à la Canne à Sucre (Fremaux)

I would recommend also The 100 best French rap songs, according to ABCDR du son. A really nice list with all the classics from NTM, IAM, Booba and Oxmo Puccino.

But this year is also the one of the death of three important French singing artists: Mano Solo, Alain Bashung and Lhasa de Sela.

Groove from the French Caraibes

2010-01-31T13:22:00.002+01:00

I don't write much about French Caribbean (Martinique and Guadeloupe are overseas départements of France) because I know little about this music but there are amazing gems there. I highly invite you to listen to the great compilation made by Soundway Tumbélé! Biguine Afro and Latin Sounds from the French Caribbean.

I quote Soundway:

"This album showcases the vibrancy of the scene on the islands in the ‘60s and ‘70s – a scene that would go on to develop the all-conquering sound of zouk in the ‘80s. Uptown bands like Ensemble La Perfecta and Les Loups Noirs combine heavy rhythms and psychedelic effects in an inimitable style – check out the crazed Jet Biguine for a better idea! The deep and introspective sounds of Monsieur Dolor and Guadeloupean hero Robert Loison show the deep African roots of the music – songs born out of the plantations, with an insistent rhythm and mournful vocals that are unique to these islands."

Check also this great article on Mondomix about French Caribbean music:

By the way, for those who've downloaded my mixtapes, there were a few songs from Caribbean: Kassav' (volume 5) , A very old buigine from Martinique (volume 7), and the young Admiral T (volume 3).

Quelques chansons pour la route

2009-11-10T17:55:00.004+01:00

Some 2009's sounds, chanson style!

Benjamin Biolay - La Superbe

Emily Loizeau - Sister

What's up?

2009-10-18T09:31:00.004+02:00

Brigitte Fontaine - Prohibition

Eiffel - A Tout Moment La Rue

Discovering French Music volume 8

2009-10-05T16:54:00.003+02:00

Discovering French Music volume 8 (other link)

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)

Only The Best

2009-09-23T16:54:00.003+02:00

I hope you'll like them! Oxmo Puccino, and Mano Solo, two of my favorite singers :-)

Mano Solo - Les Chevaux d'Aubervilliers (Rentrer au Port, 2009)

Oxmo Puccino - L'Un de nous deux (L'Arme de paix, 2009). The third single of this album.

Great News!

2009-09-18T08:41:00.007+02:00

Miossec and Tue-Loups are back! Don't miss those important French artists.

Tue-Loup releases its 8th album, folowing the solo album of their leader Xavier Plumas.

Tue-Loup - Le Camping (Le Goût du Bonbon, 2009)

Christophe Miossec is back after L'Étreinte released 3 years ago. Finistériens has been composed with Yann Tiersen (from the city of Brest like Miossec).

Miossec - Je T'Aime Quand Même (Finistériens, 2009).

Here They Come

2009-09-07T09:39:00.007+02:00

Two stars of French Music released new LPs.

Dominique A - Immortels (La Musique, 2009)

M (Mathieu Chédid) - Le Roi des ombres (Mister Mystère)

Check also the new album of We Insist! and upcoming ablums of Mano Solo.

, Benjamin Biolay, Jean-Louis Murat...

North Sun

2009-06-28T21:53:00.004+02:00

Oxmo Puccino - Soleil du Nord (L'arme de Paix, 2009)

They sing in English

2009-06-25T17:17:00.011+02:00

M83 - We Own the Sky (Saturdays=Youth, 2008) - Myspace

Diving With Andy - Sugar Sugar (Sugar Sugar, 2009) - Myspace

Sebastien Schuller - The Border (Evenfall, 2009) - Myspace

Butch McKoy (Welcome Home, 2009) - Myspace

Hype is French

2009-06-16T09:18:00.005+02:00

Phoenix - Lisztomania

Nosfell releases Nosfell

2009-06-12T11:12:00.007+02:00

The third LP of the incredible singer-songwriter Nosfell is fascinating! Its not the first time we write about him on French-kisses, and certainly not the last. By the way, Josh Homme is featuring on a song.

An unplugged live session with a new song, Bargain healers:

To listen to Nosfell: his Myspace for the new LP, deezer for the previous one.

Excentric and Astonishing: The Queen of Kekeland

2009-05-27T21:50:00.011+02:00

Brigitte Fontaine is a one of the most precious treasure of French music, alongside with Brassens and Gainsbourg. There is so much to say on her career: she experimented almost all styles, from chanson, to jazz, pop, arab music and avantgarde, and always with her special touch, between genius and insanity, often radical, always moving. She worked with the best French artists, but also with Sonic Youth and Archie Stepp. To my mind, her style and her importance in music can be compared to the great Nico.

To learn more about her, I let you read the article of wikipedia which is very well done (who says I'm lazy?).

Some of my favorite songs, that just give a little taste of her talent:

Dommage Que Tu Sois Mort (1968)
Comme A La Radio (1970)
Lettre A Monsieur le Chef de Gare de la Tour de Carole (1970)
L'auberge (1972)

And to not forget her recent work:
Je T'Aime Encore (2001)

Manual For Successful Rioting

2009-05-26T07:59:00.002+02:00

I rarely write about electronic music because I know very little about it. Here, a little of Birdy Nam Nam.

Birdy Nam Nam - Manual For Successful Rioting

Myspace - Wikipedia

A good-fellow

2009-05-24T12:37:00.007+02:00

Alexis HK by Pirlouiiiitt

Alexis HK "Les Affranchis" (French name of the Scorsese's Goodfellas), from la Familia, released on March. Its his 5th album.

MySpace

A French Cat meowing

2009-05-24T12:19:00.011+02:00

Chat by Pierre-jean G.

Chat (means cat) is a French singer-songwriter who released her first album on February. Worth listening!

"Alice", from Folie Douce

You can listen the whole album there. Their myspace.

"Yes we can", A Crab Said

2009-05-15T23:10:00.003+02:00

simply brillant!

Directed by Arthur de Pins

7th Sky

2009-05-06T12:49:00.019+02:00

Download Discovering French Music volume 7 (other link)

Here's the 7th volume of my home made best of French music. In this one, you'll find some golden gems of the 30s with some examples of Musette (Tony Murena), Buigine from Martinique (Orchestre Antillais d'Alexandre Stellio), and gypsy swing (Django Reinhardt & Stephan Grapelli). You'll find also a new wave hit (Taxi Girl), a rap song (ATK), and a song of the Master Brassens. For the fans of Yann Tiersen and his Amélie's score, I put a beautiful piece of Eric Satie, who is I think, his main influence. The rest is made up of nice songs of the 90's and the 00's, between chanson, pop and rock, with great singer-songwriters such as Alain Bashung, Mano Solo, Dominique A, Camille, and bands such as Zebda , Dionysos, la Tordue and Tue -Loup. And at last, an experimental cover of Prokovief'sThe Montagues and the Capulet by Ez3kiel and a punk favorite by Bérurier Noir. Enjoy :-)

tracklist

Discovering French Music volume 7

La Rue Kétanou's in the Street

2009-03-21T14:04:00.004+01:00

The new album of La Rue Kétanou, A Contre-Sens released!

La Rue Kétanou - Derrière ses cheveux longs (Behind her long hair, about a girl who's been raped)

Some French classics

2009-03-21T12:03:00.008+01:00

Enjoy these videos uploaded and translated by Lightning494.

One of the most beautiful song of Edith Piaf: La Foule (cover of a peruvian waltz)

An early hit of Serge Gainsbourg, in chanson style, before he decided to sing pop: Le poinçonneur des Lilas

A great song of Brel: Les Vieux

Bye bye Alain

2009-03-15T08:43:00.009+01:00

Alain Bashung by Ludovic Carème

Yesterday, the great singer Alain Bashung has passed away. He was 61. With He was one of the few to achieve both commercial and critical success. Fantaisie Militaire, Osez Josephine, Chatterton, and l'Imprudence were widely acclaimed as masterpieces of French rock.

Gaby Oh Gaby (1980)

Vertige De l'Amour (1981)

Ma Petite Entreprise (1994)

La Nuit Je Mens (1998)

Volontaire -with Noir Désir (2000) / song written in 1982

Pissing In The Grass

2009-03-11T10:08:00.001+01:00

The new single of Ignatus, Dans l'Herbe, from his 2009's LP Je remercie le hasard qui. The movie clip is really nice too.

Xavier Plumas goes solo

2009-03-07T12:04:00.006+01:00

The singer-songwritter Xavier Plumas (leader of Tue-Loup) has released his first solo LP: La Gueule du Cougouar. Here's the single, Ne Demanderai Rien (Will ask nothing).

Some news

2009-03-01T13:44:00.013+01:00

Oxmo Puccino aka the Black Jacques Brel is back with a really good new single, 365 Days, of his upcoming LP "L'arme de Paix" (The Peace weapon).

Alain Bashung, the dark Prince of French Music is the winner of the Victoires de la Musique (Music's Victories) for his LP Bleu Pétrole. He has received11 awards since 1986! Camille, Arthur H and Rokia Traoré were also awarded. Good news actually, since the Victoires de la Musique are used to award cheesy artists.

Renaud and I: A Long Story

2009-02-08T18:29:00.003+01:00

Guest post by Pyrox

Renaud and I: a long story. I discovered him in 1989 with the opus Visage pâle rencontre public. I was 5 and he had already something like 25 years of career in songwriting and singing. His last LP, Putain de Camion, is a quite personal one (because of Coluche's death) and the selling were not that good. It announced the beginning of the end for the singer. Indeed he had become during the 80's a huge star, with a wide audience and great selling.

The story began in 1975 and this LP Amoureux de Paname (Paris' lover). At that time, he has the style of what we, French people call a "titi parisien" : some young and poor guy of the nearly suburb of Paris (faubourg Montmartre for example), with a very strong accent. He sang about this town he loves and the people who lives in its streets. With Laisse Béton (Give it up) in 1977, his style is the one of a "loubard", French mix between a tramp and a little gangster : no more cap, but leather jackets and motorcycles. But his songs are still the same : story of friends crew, girls, etc.

Musically speaking, his debut LP is very "frenchy": acoustic guitar, accordion, piano. But by the 80's, his style fit more with the period musical clichés: no more accordion, but keyboards and electrical drums. His first LP of the 80s, Le retour de Gérard Lambert sounds strongly rock. By the 90's and Marchands de cailloux and La Belle de Mai, he comes back to something closer that he used to play in the beginning of his career..

After a long break due to strong alcohol and depression problems, he came back with two good albums : Boucan d'enfer (2002) and Rouge Sang (2006). Those are quite good French chanson LPs but they's nothing compared to what Renaud used to be and represent. I'm a huge fan, but it's always nostalgic to remember what he was and what he is now. Sometimes, that hurts. But still. I love him.

And to finish, some listening. During those 35 years of career, Renaud wrote a lot of tracks deserving to be heard. On one hand hard lyrics, violent attacks against politicians of his time and one the other hand emotional songs, most of them written for his wife(ves) and his children.

Découvrez Renaud!

1,2,3,4,5...

2009-01-08T19:47:00.013+01:00

download

A bit of everything but not anything ;-) Among others good songs, there is two of my favorites rappers (Oxmo Puccino, Booba), one of my all time favorite singer-songwriter Brassens, a collaboration between Noir Désir and the Têtes Raides, a rap-accordion song (Java), some chanson classics (Mouloudji, Piaf, Brassens, Bobby Lapointe, Renaud) and very old chanson, musette and gypsy swing classics (Mistinguett, Django Reinhardt, Emile Prud'Homme) electronic music (Wax Tailor) and an amazing song of Mathieu Boogaerts.

25 Years of French Hip-hop

2008-12-28T22:50:00.006+01:00

A Short History of French Hip-hop, with one track by year. I couldn't mention all good rap crew. If you like the tracklist, check also La Cliqua, ATK, L'Armée 12, Kerry James, Svinkels, Les Gourmets, Akhenaton, Les Sages Poètes de La Rue, Busta Flex, Hocus Pocus, Fonky Family, La Rumeur...

The Roots

French Hip-hop didn't exist yet, but we could find some seeds, in the USA, with Beside singing in French on an American tune, and the Great Gainsbourg sampling a hip-hop chorus.

1983 Fab Five Freddy feat. B-side - Change The Beat
1987 Serge Gainsbourg - Your Under Arrest

The Youth

MC Solaar, NTM, Assassin and IAM are the founding fathers of French rap. They created a real French sound, inspired by, but different from the American model.

1990 MC Solaar- Bouge De Là
1991 NTM - Le Monde de Demain
1992 Assassin - L'Ecologie: Sauvons La Planète
1993 IAM - Le Shit Squad
1994 MC Solaar - Nouveau Western

The Golden Age

French Hip-hop was now matured and the best LPs were released those years. I put two great songs with prestigious American featuring.

1995 NTM - Affirmative Action feat. Nas and the Firm
1996 Doc Gyneco - Ma Salope A Moi
1997 Afro Jazz - Striclty Hip-hop feat. Old Dirty Bastard
1998 Idéal J - Un Nuage De Fumée
1999 Saian Supa Crew - Angela
2000 Lunatic - Pas Le Temps Pour Les Regrets

The Renewal

While some artists became huge stars, some became commercial or redundant, others tried new ways, incorporating electronic music, Arabic music, chanson, ragga, or jazz... and rap about new topics.

2001 Oxmo Puccino - Le Laid
2002 113 - Les Bronzés
2003 Klub des Loosers - Baise Les Gens
2004 TTC- Dans Le Club
2005 La Caution - Thé A La Menthe
2006 Oxmo Puccino - Perdre Ou Gagner
2007 James Delleck - Gérard de Roubaix
2008 Sefyu -Mon Public

Best of 2008: the Sweetest French Kisses

2008-12-23T13:11:00.007+01:00

Everything worth listening released in France this year that reached my ears.

Some songs were not available on deezer so I put them on special posts (Ez3kiel, Orchestre National de Barbès, Caravan Palace). What else? Alain Bashung, Mathieu Boogaerts, Arthur H, William Sheller, Spleen, Rockin' Squat, François Breut, Anaïs, Bumcello, Charly Greane, Tahiti 80, Manu Chao, Noir désir, Mr Oizo, Thomas Fersen, Christophe, Psykick Lyrikah, Jocari, Stereolab, Kid Loco, Syd Matters, Justice, François Virot, Sebastien Tellier, Booba.

Ez3kiel in the battlefield

2008-12-23T12:48:00.005+01:00

One of the most interesting band of the 2000s. They released their 6th album in 2008, Battlefield.

"A Piece of Africa mislaid close to the Sacré Coeur"

2008-12-23T11:02:00.006+01:00

L'Orchestre National de Barbès (National Concert Band of Barbès) gives an electric blend of rock and musics of Maghreb (chaâbi, raï..). Why Barbès? Because it's the most mixed district of Paris, with a strong Arabic and African community.

Orchestre National de Barbès - Alik

If Django was alive in 2008

2008-12-23T10:43:00.005+01:00

He could sound like Caravan Palace, a very good mix between electronic music and Gypsy jazz. They released their first album in october 2008.

Links: Myspace

I Love You

2008-12-18T10:22:00.008+01:00

Matthieu Boogaerts is saying so in his 7th album released last month. One of the most singular and interesting album released in 2008.

Listen to the whole album on jiwa.fm
His Official website site

Brassens, an umbrella and a Gorilla

2008-12-14T19:18:00.002+01:00

A gem of a song, 50 years before Rihanna. Notice the repetition of the sound [i] which suggests the sound of the rain, and the slow down during the Chorus, like time has stopped under the umbrella.

Georges Brassens - Le Parapluie

One of the most famous song of Brassens, a funny tale against death penalty. The song is one of his most controversial and was banned of French radio for years.

Georges Brassens - Le Gorille (uploaded by Lightening494).

Kitch is everywhere

2008-12-10T10:03:00.004+01:00

Mayde, Mayde, 80's are back. Sometimes, it would be better not to dig up cheesy French hits.

France Gall - Ella Elle l'a written by Michel Berger, 1987. Ella, She has it, is about Ella Fitzgerald.

Kate Ryan - Ella Elle L'a 2008

Winter in Paris and Autumn Leaves

2008-12-01T16:53:00.005+01:00

As the last leaves have fallen to the ground in Paris, a little selection of nice covers (among many others) of the standard Autumn Leaves, by Yves Montand, Edith Piaf, Miles Davis, Nate King Cole and Roger Williams. The song was written in 1945 with music by Joseph Kosma and lyrics by the poet Jacques Prévert.

French Hip-hop may be bigger than you thought

2008-11-29T10:40:00.018+01:00

Known abroad for the "Laser dance song" on Ocean Twelve, La Caution is a mainstay of the "French rap new wave" of the 00's (alongside with TTC, L'Armée des 12, Klub des Loosers, James Deleck) which melt electronic music with rap.

They released many good tracks, but I want to introduce you the vocal version of their hit Thé à la Menthe. The amazing beat has a really nice Arab flavor. The lyrics are about a very typical theme in French rap: immigration. Indeed, French rappers, contrary to American ones, are very often sons of immigrates, mostly from North and West Africa. The two rappers of La Caution, Hi-Tekk et Nikkfurie are of Moroccandescents.

For the subtitles, I used this good translation (I've just corrected some little mistakes but I think there are some left). Slang and wordplay are very difficult to translate, especially when they are melt with some arabic words. (actually many French words comes from Arabic). In the song, there are the words"srab" which means "friend", and "Salamalek" which means "Peace on you" and is used to say hello. Last thing, when they say "Albatross of Baudelaire", they refer to the famous poem of Baudelaire that many students have to learn in school.

La Caution - Thé à la menthe (from Peine de Maures, 2005)

Links: Myspace, Wikipedia, Peines de Maures on streaming

Just Try A Little Harder (To Discover French Music)

2008-11-24T19:40:00.007+01:00

download Discovering French music volume 5

In this tape, as usual, chanson, rap and rock, but also a disco song, a musical with Starmania, a zouk song from Guadeloupe and a celtic song from Brittany. A special one is the famous reggae version of the French anthem, La Marseillaise by Serge Gainsbourg.

Sweet Candies of the Past

2008-11-15T18:30:00.010+01:00

Renaud - Mistral Gagnant (1985)

This the most famous song of Renaud (the tenderhearted rebel of French music) about himself telling his childhood to his daughter. The title of the song refers to a candy popular in the 70s, which could be "winning" (you got a new one for free). The rapper Booba sampled the song on his hit Pitbull.

The translation was requested in the comments of the blog, so don't hesitate to ask. I would do it (if I like the song) and it gives me ideas for upcoming post.

Lyrics of Mistral Gagnant

To seat on a bench for 5 minutes with you
Looking at the people as long as there are some
To tell you the good times which are dead or will be
Shaking in my hand your lil’ fingers
Then to feed silly pigeons
And to kick them for fake
And hear your laugh which cracks the wall
And can cure my injuries
To tell you a little how I was when I was a kid
The wonderful candies we used to rob at the shopkeeper
Car-en-sac and Minto, one franc fudge
And the winning mistral

To walk under the rain, for 5 minutes with you
And looking at the life as long as there's still some
To tell you the Earth, while eating you with my eyes
To tell you a little about your mom
And jump in the puddles to make her moans
To smash up our shoes and laugh
And to hear your laugh like some hears the sea
To stop and go back backward
Most of all, to tell you, the old carambars and the coco bohèmes
And the real roudoudous which cut our lips
And ruined our teeths
And the winning mistrals

To seat on a bench for 5 minutes with you
And looking at the sun fading away
To tell you about the good old days which are dead and I don’t care
To tell you that the bad guys are not us
That if I am nuts, it’s only of your eyes
Which have the advantage to be two
And to hear your laugh, flying off as high
As the calls of the birds fly off
To tell you at last that you’ve got to love life
And love it even Time is a murderer
And to take with it the laughs of children
And the winning mistrals
And the winning mistrals

The French Gift Of Jay-Z To Obama

2008-11-13T12:53:00.010+01:00

The first time a sample story is broadcast on usual French medias! They are proud of the sample of Veronique Sanson on the latest track of Jay-Z (produced by Kanye West). Unfortunately, Sanson's cheesy and Jay-z's one is disappointing.

Jay-Z - History (2008)

Veronique Sanson (with Marc Lavoine)- Une nuit sur ton épaule (1995)

Source: Cansei de ser me

Everybody's Looking for Some Samples

2008-11-07T10:00:00.001+01:00

I'll never be bored of looking for samples. Two other samples of French music by American producers, found on the great sampleur-samplé blog.

Jacques Brel, a master of French music, sampled but the very good crew Onyx on one of their best single. The first 10 seconds of the sampled song, Vieillir, really sound like hip-hop.

Jacques Brel - Vieillir (1977)

Onyx - Shut'Em Down (1998)

Johnny Hallyday is the top seller in France of all time with 60 millions records sold! (the Beatles only sold 18 milions). FT is an underground crew from New York. Not that strange if you know that FT is produced by Get Large... who is French!

Johnny Hallyday / Le Ghetto (1976)

F.T. / The World Iz A Ghetto (2005)

Chicken # 728120, I love you

2008-11-02T21:45:00.002+01:00

A crazy singer Philippe Katerine, with a very very special humor. I hope you dont like chicken the way he does.

Poulet n°728120 (Chicken #728120)

Who's paying?

2008-11-01T15:00:00.009+01:00

Photo: Joëlle Niang

Gurejele is the most famous band of Kaneka, a blend of traditional kanak (native people) music, blues and reggae. They are from New Caledonia, an oversea French territory located in the southwest Pacific. The band is led by Dick Buama and has released four LPs.

I've uploaded their biggest hit, Who's Paying ? released in 2001. I have translated the lyrics which have an interesting political meaning.
Gujerele - C'est Qui Qui Paye?

Lyrics of C'est Qui Qui Paye -Who's Paying

Our politicians are going to Paris
To plan with the Motherland
The agreements for the wealth of the country
Agreements to agreements, and it's not over

Chorus:
Who's paying, paying?
It's France which is paying
Who's paying, paying?
It's France which is Paying
And yes, that's also this

If you're broke, you just have to ask
One condition, you've got to join
In the party, we are supported financially
Dogs can bark, we are legalized

Chorus

We are not enthusiast anymore
Of political meetings
Here, under the tropics, we prefer music
The one of Jamaica, the on of States of America
In civil service, they just work for dough

Chorus

All the subsidies of all political parties
It's France which is paying
Consumption of all political refugees
It's France which is paying
The salary of the civil servants working for dough
It's France which is paying
Ecologist bombed in the Kiwi country*
It's France which is paying

Chorus

(*refer to the sinking of the Greenpeace's boat in New Zealand by the French foreign intelligence services, who killed one man)

links: New Caledonia, sinking of the Greenpeace boat, biography (in French)