To ask your opinion on French pop music?

[RangeTesKopeks]

Bonjour tout le monde!

It seems that French music has often had a bit of bad press or mixed reviews on this side of the Channel (perhaps Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin are slightly responsible for it with Je T'aime? Or maybe Vanessa Paradis??)

Anyway - I'd like to ask you all please whether you listen to French music, and if you do, who your favourite singers and groups are!

If you like any current musicians, it would be great to hear who you like!

I'm a huge fan of French music by French-speaking singers and groups, but always on the lookout for new recommendations.

At the moment, I really like the Belgian singer Stromae and the French singers Indila, Bénabar, Louane and Vincent Delerm.

I also like Baloji, who are a Belgian group, the French-Canadian singer Coeur de Pirate and the French rapper Soprano.

How about you all? Would be very keen to get some thoughts on who you're into

Stromae is Belgian (wins pedantic prize)

I'm old school-Negresses Vertes, that sort of era. I listened to a lot when I lived there, nothing nowadays.

Isn't there a topic better suited than this? YABU.

YABU for liking Indila.

I quite like French music, though there is so much variation I am not sure it all fits into one category. I really like ZAZ, Christine and the Queens, and Soprano.

Not so keen on Kenji Girac and Frero Delavega for example.

Shurik'n are good - French Canadian though I think.

I also enjoyed Carla Bruni's first album.

Some of it in the 1980s was passable, e.g. Words by F.R. David and Dolce Vita by Ryan Paris. Both songs were sung in English, however. I haven't followed pop music in any language for nearly thirty years so I couldn't comment on the quality of it now, whether French, Bulgarian or Martian.

I used to rather like Gong. Showing age horribly.

Aw why alteredimages?
And very true that French music doesn't fit into one category - I completely agree. Just would like to see what you all think. Lots of great recommendations so far!

i always loved Stereolab and St Germain as a student. More recently

I used to like Khaled, but haven't listened to any for years.

I now have Aicha as an ear worm, thanks for that

do you want French music in french? If not Christine and the queens is french and fantastic. Otherwise I recommend Bashung, Camille for example.

My current earworms are usually by Calogero

Jimmy that's really nice...thanks for the link. OP I've often heard French pop or dance music in cafes and liked it. I like the sound of the language I think...more links would be welcome.

M83 and Christina and the Queens - both did excellent sets at Glastonbury which you can watch on iPlayer

Ooh thanks JimmyGreaves - just put on Je ne vois que vous by Benjamin Schoos and really enjoying it!
French thanks for your suggestions! I've heard really good things about Christine and the Queens so will definitely have a listen to their stuff :)

Negresses Vertes oh yes!

I like Boulevard des Airs to sing along to when I'm cooking dinner.

David Guetta
Petite Meller
Daft Punk
Justice
Kavinsky
Vitalic
Stardust and Air - ancient now!

Thanks Shizzlestixand ghosty for Les Negresses Vertes recommendation!! I've got them on now and really want to start dancing to it

Out of interest, has anyone heard of HK et les Saltimbanks? They really remind me of Les Negresses Vertes - I can't work out how to get a clickable link on here but they're on Spotify and YouTube. They were on the soundtrack of the film La Vie d'Adèle (Blue is the Warmest Colour), which also had lots of other fantastic music on it too!

I got hooked on Etienne Daho in the 90s.

Charlotte Gainsbourg's work is nice. I have 5:55.

Otherwise, a vote for Charles Trenet. Old school....

When I was a teenager, I loved Gregory Lemarchal. Sadly he has now died. He was so dreamy and good enough singer.

I also have some favourite songs coming from French singers. I don't have favourite singers or bands though. Just separate songs. Here's what I have on my phone to give you an idea:

Christoph Mae - Dingue, Dingue, Dingue
Gregory Lemarchal and Lucie Silvas - Meme Si (What you're made of)
Emmanuel Moire - Sans Dire Un Mot
Pauline - Allo Le Monde
Jenifer Bartoli - Au Soleil

And surprisingly - one British singer whose most songs are on my phone is actually famous in France, while not known in UK. Which is shit, because I want to go to his concert
Julian Perretta. Do you think he can be classed as French pop musician if he was born in London, is good friend with Ed Sheeran, sings in English, but lives in France and is famous there?

I always fall in love with French pop as we're driving through France, then I forget to download it and it's lost forever. It's dreamy and seems to combine the best parts of US and UK pop.

MeridianB I love Charles Trenet too!! And (Belgian) Jacques Brel

I looooved this band when I was a youngster!

Indila is fab, Stromae is great too.

No one's mentionned Shy'm yet, I really love her music, definitely check her out. Christophe Mae has some good stuff.

I also have one great Alizee song on my ipod, and on the hip hop and rap type side I have some Sexion d'Assaut and Black M on there too

I now have Ça Plane Pour Moi in my head thanks to this thread and it won't go away.... Aaarrgh!!!