Rose: French Folk-Pop Singer

By Admin, Published on March 13th, 2013, Updated on July 13th, 2020

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.

Rose’s real name is Keren Meloul, and she was born in Nice, France. She takes her stage name from the 1979 film, “The Rose,” a biopic about Janis Joplin. Coincidentally, she shares a birthday with Bob Dylan, another one of her American musical influences.

Though she’s been writing songs since she was 8, she didn’t sign her first record deal until she was 27. Before that, she went to law school (wow!) and worked as an elementary school teacher.

Her late start in the music business did not keep her from making a huge splash.

Rose the debut album

Her 2006 debut album, Rose was a revelation, and went platinum in France as she was quickly embraced by French music fans. She struck gold with her singles “Ciao Bella and “La liste.” I definitely hear echoes of Joni Mitchell’s jazz-folk fusion when I listen to songs like “Les Jeux Sonts Fait” and “Rose” on her debut album.

Some English-speakers — French language learners in particular — took a liking to “La liste,” with it’s simple-to-understand lyrics. The song’s lyrics are the list of things she wants to do with her lover. The charming thing is that her list oscillates between the mundane (“Allez chez Ikea”/go to Ikea, “Boire mon cafe noir”/drink my black coffee), and the epic (“T’aimer de tout mon etre”/love you with all my being, “Avoir une petite fille”/have a little girl).

She wrote the hit song at Jardin du Luxembourg, my favorite place in Paris. Check out the adorable video:

Souvenirs Sous Ma Frange

Saleswise, Rose hit a sophomore slump with her second album, Les Souvenirs Sous Ma Frange in 2009. Her sound evolved a bit — but her delivery remained soft and airy. I liked the album, but perhaps she fell victim to soaring expectations after the wild success of her debut. Even though her singles failed to chart, I think they’re worth a listen if you’re a fan.

Check out “Yes We Did,” (in French, with an English chorus), and “Comment c’était déjà.”

Et Puis Juin

Her 2013 album, Et Puis Juin, gives us more of the folky, pensive songs with a tinge of melancholy that we’ve come to expect from the chanteuse. If you’re a Rose fan, you’ll definitely enjoy it. FYI, the final song, “Comme si c’était demain” lasts 15 minutes. (The singing ends after just 5.)

Here’s the title track, followed by the second single, “Mais ça va.”