Like her American counterpart Jackie Evancho, teenage singer Caroline Costa has a voice that sounds incredibly mature. Her favorite singers are those with big voices: Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, and Whitney Houston, to name a few.
Costa hails from the Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France. She attended music school in Castelsarrasin, and first performed on stage at the age of six. In 2007, she competed on a children’s talent show called Iapiap!, where she was mentored by M Pokora. Upon winning on the show, she was placed in the mixed-gender teen singing group Pop System. The group scored a top 20 hit in 2007 with “Laissez-nous dire.”
By the time her Evancho moment came in the 2008 reality competition La France a un Incroyable Talent (the French version of America’s Got Talent), she was already a show business veteran. Never mind that Costa was still just 12 years old at the time.
In an alternative universe, this singer could very well be the subject of a “Where Are They Know” post. But 20 years after being crowned Best New Artist, Gérald De Palmas is reinventing himself in creative ways.
He spent the late 80’s playing in a synth band (Les Max Valentin), then made it big huge as a Guitar Pop solo star in the 90’s and early aughts, with a diamond-selling album. (He was that era’s Christophe Mae / John Mayer, if you will.)
His next phase — the one that made ME take notice — involved some inventive Acoustic Pop that sounded oh-so-good with his crackly vocals. I was desperately seeking some male singers who didn’t do that whispery thing that the French seem to find sexy, and I found De Palmas’ style of full-throated crooning refreshing.
These days you’ll find him fronting a French Rock band with some rootsy American influences.
Let’s check out his best work, along with his latest and greatest.
Alex Beaupain is an award-winning singer-songwriter and composer. He first came to my attention when I saw the film Dans Paris, the second of his six films he’s scored for celebrated filmmaker Christopher Honoré. (Think Blake Edwards and Henry Mancini — it’s a filmmaker/composer partnership that spans their careers.) The music was so beautiful that I watched the credits to see who created the music. Once I knew who was behind the music, I was hooked.
While Canada has foisted some questionable “talent” upon the world over the years (I’m not naming names), I’m delighted with the crop of French-language artists coming out of the Montreal scene. With her breakthrough debut album of French piano Pop, Quebec singer Coeur de Pirate (nee Beatrice Martin) made Chanson Française cool in Canada, where singing in English usually paves the way to success.
She also accomplished the rather rare feat of achieving mainstream success in France. That puts her on a very short list with exports like Celine Dion and Natasha St-Pier.
If you’re a fan of French music, you should get to know the music of the talented French singer Camille Dalmais (who performs as just “Camille”). She’s got a soulful, playful, and eclectic style, prompting some to call her France’s answer to Bjork.
Camille was born and raised in Paris, and is fully fluent in English, thanks to having an English teacher for a mother. She’s one of the “Nouvelle Chanson” singers, the crop of serious, intellectual, traditional musicians that emerged in the early 2000’s as an antidote to reality show singers and trendy Pop stars.
Algerian-born Arabic / French singer Rachid Taha is known for his highly energetic and innovative blend of both music influences.
His East-meets-West style (dubbed “Rock & Raï”) often incorporates Punk, electronic music, Arabic percussion and North African string instruments behind Arab and French lyrics.
Saturday Night Live used his serious music to humorous effect in their wacky “Les Jeunes de Paris” skit featuring guest host Miley Cyrus.
Emilie Simon is a French singer, songwriter and composer who draws unavoidable comparisons to Bjork and Kate Bush for her enigmatic music videos and avant-garde musical style.
Simon boasts an impressive resume of music study, with 7 years at a Montpelier conservatory, university-level music education, and even a post-graduate degree in music. The 3-time Victoire de la Musique (French Grammy) winner laces dense electronic soundscapes with orchestral sounds and Pop songwriting, delivered in her dreamy, childlike voice.
Her music seems to become more accessible with each successive album, so now’s a great time to dive in.
Keren Ann has a voice that seems like it was made for soft French music. It floats tenderly over her superbly crafted compositions in a way that even Norah Jones would envy. A polyglot who’s fluent in 4 languages, she imbues her music with a smart, cosmopolitan vibe..
Over the course of 6 albums, she’s become a sought-after songwriter, and she remains the underground artist to name check when you wanted to impress your friends.
Carmen Maria Vegais both the name of this band and its animated lead singer, who imbues their songs and videos with humor and charisma. The band helped fuel the recent resurgence of Jazz Manouche in France.
Carmen is the vocalist and the heart of the band, with her expressive visual and vocal performances on stage and on video. With its Rock edge, the group helped introduce Gypsy Jazz to a whole new generation.
Melissa NKonda is out to prove that she’s much more than a reality show castoff. Though most people remember her from Nouvelle Star (French American Idol), she’s since made a splash with a much different sound and image. Now a confident songwriter, she shines with acoustic Pop / Soul and a bilingual appeal.
Her earworm hit “Nouveaux Horizons” was among the contenders for song of the summer in 2011.
Hailing from Maubege in north France, Mélissa Nkonda (a.k.a. Mélissa Reffas) dabbled in cosmetology and hospitality before turning to a career in music.
Like her American counterpart Jackie Evancho, teenage singer Caroline Costa has a voice that sounds incredibly mature. Her favorite singers are those with big voices: Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, and Whitney Houston, to name a few. 
