With her quirky, comical piano stylings and Nouvelle Chanson style, singer-songwriter Jeanne Cherhal has become a force in contemporary French music.
She was recently named a chevalier (knight / dame) by France's Minister of Culture, and her latest album has her on the short list for a 2015 Victoire de la Musique (French Grammy) for Best Female artist.
This creative musician built her reputation through her enchanting live shows, playing spirited compositions that evoked French chanson and cabaret and memories of the legendary Chanson Françiase singer,…
Tété is a self-taught guitarist and Folk-Pop singer-songwriter. He draws on French and English-language Pop (particularly the Beatles). He's a critics' darling and one of French music's most beloved stars.
He might not have the superstar status of Christophe Maé, but he should. A road musician first and foremost, he's spent much of his professional career under the radar. But he's definitely a French artist to know.
He's been compared to a lot of different artists, but in my opinion, the big draw is that blends…
Talk about a metamorphosis. This artist went from guesting on Hip Hop tracks to basically doing whatever she wants. Yep. It's her world.
Shy'm is often called the French Rihanna, and she lives up to the comparison with her broad crossover appeal and ever more frequent "break the internet" moments. With a slew of hits and best-selling albums under her belt, she's become one of the biggest names in French music. Every new album and televised performance of hers is a music event.
The French singer Tal is a young Urban Pop star known for her optimistic songs and authenticity. She's been celebrated as a fresh and vibrant voice in French music, largely because she focuses on universal themes of hope, courage, and brotherhood rather than trite love and breakup songs. Her style blends R&B with mainstream Pop.
Née Tal Benyerzi, she moved to Paris from Israel when she was 1 year old. She's a self-taught guitar and piano player, hailing from a family of musicians who were fond of American Soul,…
If there's an artist of the moment, it's definitely Stromae. (Pronounced STROH-MAI, it's "maestro" with the syllables inverted.) The enigmatic performer is often compared to another Franco-Belgian singer-songwriter, Jacques Brel, for his realist subject matter -- even if it is delivered over a killer dance beat.
A study in contradictions, both visual and musical, this artist is currently the toast of Europe. He's struck a nerve with recession anthems and disillusioned Pop songs that make you want to both shake your booty and slit your wrists.
With every Nico & Vinz hit and Bro Country single, it seems the racial fault lines in music are being erased. France, being way more sophisticated than us, figured this out long ago.
Corneille (pronounced Kor-NAY) launched his career in his adopted home of Montreal, but it was France that first embraced him as a beloved Pop singer back in 2003. This platinum-selling artist triumphed over personal tragedy to become one of today's most popular singers in French-speaking countries around the world.
Vanessa Paradis has certainly defied the odds. When an unlikely hit song catapulted her into the international spotlight at age 14, she seemed destined for one-hit wonderdom. But with luck and and some reinvention, she has parlayed her 15 minutes of fame into a successful career spanning over 25 years.
Quirky French heartthrob Julien Dore is known for his playful approach to music, and his penchant for making downright wacky music videos. He gained notoriety during season 5 of Nouvelle Star (French "American Idol"), when his riveting performances quickly became the main draw.
But there's more to him than a pretty face, perfectly tousled locks, and a reality show title.
Born and raised near Nimes in the south of France, Julian Doré is the great-great-great-nephew of the artist Gustave Doré, illustrator for the literary works…
The innovative French singer M is known for his playful Rock compositions and wildly theatrical live shows. His cooing falsetto is perfectly suited for his Rock-meets-Disco Funk sound.
Born Matthieu Chedid, he chose the pseudonym "-M-" and fashioned a whimsical superhero alter ego (with his wild suits and "M"-shaped hairdo à la Grandpa Munster -- a look he's since traded for "M"-shaped sunglasses) to help him overcome his shyness on stage.
Over the course of 5 studio albums, live recordings, and numerous soundtracks (including an Oscar nominated…
If you like cheerful Folk Pop you'll enjoy singer/songwriter Joyce Jonathan. Her sweet voice and acoustic guitar strumming are an irresistible combination. At just 20 years old, she conquered the French music world with her award-winning debut album of feel-good acoustic Pop.
Jonathan grew up in the northwest suburbs of Paris, and began playing piano at the tender age of 5. By age 11, she was writing her own songs. Her musical influences include the late French R&B singer Teri Moise, Jason Mraz,…
Singer-songwriter Christophe Mae performs acoustic Pop infused with Folk, Reggae, Blues and Soul. His music has an upbeat acoustic vibe, similar to Jack Johnson, Jason Mraz, or John Mayer. He's one of the biggest Pop stars in France today.
The singer, born Christophe Martichon, hails from Carpentras, a town in the Provence region of southeast France. A self-taught musician, Mae is heavily influenced by Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, Tracy Chapman, Otis Redding, Ben Harper and Jack Johnson, and one can hear threads of them woven throughout his…
It takes former teen stars a while to find their footing once they grow up. No one knows that better than Alizée, the one-time teenage protege of Euro Pop queen Mylene Farmer.
I'll admit up front that I am NOT a fan of Alizée's music. In her early days, she came off as a French Britney Spears, with a layer of icky Euro Pop icing. She was too "packaged" and manufactured, which I instinctively interpreted as a cover for a lack of talent. But the "Lolita" stuff was doing…
Success in Canada is no guarantee of stardom in France. Only a few have made the leap across the Atlantic in any significant way. Veteran singer Natasha St-Pier is one of the precious few. She's won over both Canadian and French audiences in her decade-long career. With six albums to her name and over 2 million records sold, she's an international music success story.
With a jazzy, vintage flair and deeply resonant vocals the likes of which haven't been heard since Edith Piaf, Zaz became the first French superstar with a global following in a long, long time. She topped the charts in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Germany, and has a fan base spanning from China to South America. She even won over some globally minded music fans in the U.S. with her epic debut album.
The first time you hear her debut single "Je Veux," you, too, will find yourself pulling out…
Amandine Bourgeois has always stood at the intersection of Rock and Soul music. Before winning the 6th season of Nouvelle Star (French American Idol), she sang in both Rock and R&B/Funk bands.
Her bluesy sound hints at her wide range of influences, among which she counts Led Zeppelin, Rachelle Ferrell (an underrated American R&B singer) and Joss Stone.
I've been wanting to do a post like this for a while. Avid French music fans in the United States often miss out on great songs and artists because the music isn't digitally (or physically) available. It frustrates me to no end when I hear a cool French song or artist, but I can't blog about them because their music is not in the U.S. iTunes store.
Sometimes the albums do EVENTUALLY show up -- a year or more after their release in France, but a lot of music…
Benjamin Biolay has a hushed, sensual, "talk-singing" style similar to Serge Gainsbourg and Etienne Daho. Even before he became a popular French singer, Benjamin Biolay had gained a reputation as a sought-after songwriter and producer, having launched the career of Keren Ann and written 4 songs on the successful 2000 comeback of singer Henri Salvador.
In addition to co-writing, producing, and playing instruments (including piano, guitar, and trumpet) on Keren Ann's first two albums, Biolay has worked with Raphael, Carla Bruni, Francoise Hardy, Jane Birkin, and Vanessa Paradis,…
Rose performs a unique brand of acoustic Folk-Pop. Her songs are very honest and personal, which is part of her charm. Who can resist a cute, sweet French girl, strumming a guitar, playing her own songs?
This singer has a girl-next-door demeanor that's endearing to fans. Her voice is just a wee bit raspy and husky, which adds a sense of emotion and vulnerability to everything she sings.
If you like Folk and acoustic music, check out her top songs and albums.
Claire Diterzi is one of my favorite female French alternative artists. Her music reminds me of Tori Amos, Joanna Newsom, CocoRosie, Björk and fellow offbeat French singer Camille. There's something downright otherworldly about her sound.
Born Claire Touzi dit Terzi, Diterzi fronted and played guitar in two Alternative Rock bands (Forguette Mi Note and Dit Terzi) before embarking on a solo career.
Fresh-faced French singer Thomas Pradeau makes music that is downright fun to listen to.He infuses his Pop songs with trademark elements of Parisian street music (accordions, valse, a.k.a. French waltz, etc.).
Bridging the distant past with the, um, more recent past, he cites both Mozart and the rock band Queen as musical influences. You can hear a certain deliberate musicality in his work -- which is definitely a Queen thing.
With her quirky, comical piano stylings and Nouvelle Chanson style, singer-songwriter Jeanne Cherhal has become a force in contemporary French music.
She was recently named a chevalier (knight / dame) by France’s Minister of Culture, and her latest album has her on the short list for a 2015 Victoire de la Musique (French Grammy) for Best Female artist.
This creative musician built her reputation through her enchanting live shows, playing spirited compositions that evoked French chanson and cabaret and memories of the legendary Chanson Françiase singer, Barbara. Some of her more experimental over the years showcase the evident influence of Tori Amos and Björk.
Tété is a self-taught guitarist and Folk-Pop singer-songwriter. He draws on French and English-language Pop (particularly the Beatles). He’s a critics’ darling and one of French music’s most beloved stars.
He might not have the superstar status of Christophe Maé, but he should. A road musician first and foremost, he’s spent much of his professional career under the radar. But he’s definitely a French artist to know.
He’s been compared to a lot of different artists, but in my opinion, the big draw is that blends the acoustic Soul-Folk of Ben Harper or Amos Lee with catchy, melodic elements that give him Pop appeal.
Talk about a metamorphosis. This artist went from guesting on Hip Hop tracks to basically doing whatever she wants. Yep. It’s her world.
Shy’m is often called the French Rihanna, and she lives up to the comparison with her broad crossover appeal and ever more frequent “break the internet” moments. With a slew of hits and best-selling albums under her belt, she’s become one of the biggest names in French music. Every new album and televised performance of hers is a music event.
Follow her journey from R&B chick to next-level artist.
The French singer Tal is a young Urban Pop star known for her optimistic songs and authenticity. She’s been celebrated as a fresh and vibrant voice in French music, largely because she focuses on universal themes of hope, courage, and brotherhood rather than trite love and breakup songs. Her style blends R&B with mainstream Pop.
Née Tal Benyerzi, she moved to Paris from Israel when she was 1 year old. She’s a self-taught guitar and piano player, hailing from a family of musicians who were fond of American Soul, Jazz and R&B. Her musical influences include past and present R&B legends like Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, and Alicia Keys. She’s also an avid dancer – a skill she often shows off in her music videos.
She was first discovered by the French Pop singer Gary Fico at age 16. By 19, she was signed to Sony and being hailed as the new princess of R&B. But it would take another few years for her to break through with the hit song that would make her a superstar.
If there’s an artist of the moment, it’s definitely Stromae. (Pronounced STROH-MAI, it’s “maestro” with the syllables inverted.) The enigmatic performer is often compared to another Franco-Belgian singer-songwriter, Jacques Brel, for his realist subject matter — even if it is delivered over a killer dance beat.
A study in contradictions, both visual and musical, this artist is currently the toast of Europe. He’s struck a nerve with recession anthems and disillusioned Pop songs that make you want to both shake your booty and slit your wrists.
With his timely arrival on the music scene, he managed to crystallize the frustrations of an entire continent (not to mention an entire generation) in one ubiquitous song. But we’ll get to that.
With every Nico & Vinz hit and Bro Country single, it seems the racial fault lines in music are being erased. France, being way more sophisticated than us, figured this out long ago.
Corneille (pronounced Kor-NAY) launched his career in his adopted home of Montreal, but it was France that first embraced him as a beloved Pop singer back in 2003. This platinum-selling artist triumphed over personal tragedy to become one of today’s most popular singers in French-speaking countries around the world.
Though he was inspired by the usual R&B legends — Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Prince, and Michael Jackson — his music has a universal appeal that has largely kept him from being pigeonholed.
Vanessa Paradis has certainly defied the odds. When an unlikely hit song catapulted her into the international spotlight at age 14, she seemed destined for one-hit wonderdom. But with luck and and some reinvention, she has parlayed her 15 minutes of fame into a successful career spanning over 25 years.
Quirky French heartthrob Julien Dore is known for his playful approach to music, and his penchant for making downright wacky music videos. He gained notoriety during season 5 of Nouvelle Star (French “American Idol”), when his riveting performances quickly became the main draw.
But there’s more to him than a pretty face, perfectly tousled locks, and a reality show title.
Born and raised near Nimes in the south of France, Julian Doré is the great-great-great-nephew of the artist Gustave Doré, illustrator for the literary works of Balzac, Victor Hugo, and others. He attended Fine Arts school in Nimes, studying music, acting, drawing, photography and film editing — which explains the trippy music videos.
The innovative French singer M is known for his playful Rock compositions and wildly theatrical live shows. His cooing falsetto is perfectly suited for his Rock-meets-Disco Funk sound.
Born Matthieu Chedid, he chose the pseudonym “-M-” and fashioned a whimsical superhero alter ego (with his wild suits and “M”-shaped hairdo à la Grandpa Munster — a look he’s since traded for “M”-shaped sunglasses) to help him overcome his shyness on stage.
Over the course of 5 studio albums, live recordings, and numerous soundtracks (including an Oscar nominated song on “The Triplets of Belleville” soundtrack), -M- has become one of the most beloved performers in France today.
If you like cheerful Folk Pop you’ll enjoy singer/songwriter Joyce Jonathan. Her sweet voice and acoustic guitar strumming are an irresistible combination. At just 20 years old, she conquered the French music world with her award-winning debut album of feel-good acoustic Pop.
Jonathan grew up in the northwest suburbs of Paris, and began playing piano at the tender age of 5. By age 11, she was writing her own songs. Her musical influences include the late French R&B singer Teri Moise, Jason Mraz, and Tracy Chapman. Personally, she reminds me a lot of Colbie Caillat.
Get to know this young artist and hear the first single from her sophomore album.
Discover today’s best French Pop and get the latest from your favorite singers.
With her quirky, comical piano stylings and Nouvelle Chanson style, singer-songwriter Jeanne Cherhal has become a force in contemporary French music.
