Ever since I got back to the States after a short vacation in Paris, I’ve been running around America in berets trying to find the perfect macarons (unsuccessfully, of course), but I’ve also been listening to a ton of French music to help improve my French. Naturally, not everyone’s going to speak French, but even if you’re not as obsessed with the culture as I am, here are some great French pop songs for anyone to listen to for all occasions.
Placebo - Alexe Gaudreault
Canadian pop-star Alexa Gaudreault competed in the Voice Canada last year and has since risen to prominence with her lead single Placebo. The lively rhythms and lyrics are great for anyone looking to have an uplifting day or just a clean slate in life.
L’été des orages - Valérie Carpentier
Coincidentally, Miss Carpentier also competed in La Voix and has a style similar to that of Alexe Gaudreault. This song particularly resonates with me because of its lyrical significance, but its catchy beats make for a great addition to anyone’s music library.
Profite - Benjamin Biolay avec Vanessa Paradis
Benjamin Biolay and Vanessa Paradis belong to a slightly older generation of French singers, but both are still releasing music currently, and this haunting collaboration is perfect for anyone wishing to contemplate the meaning of life.
Aïe, aïe, aïe - Sindy
Sindy is somewhat less known than the previous artists on this lists, but I found this song much too fun to pass up—something of a French equivalent to Lily Allen’s Fuck You.
Le Monde Moderne - Calogero
Calogero is perhaps one of the best known French singers of our generation, but I don’t think many people are familiar with this song from his newest album, Les Feux D’Artifices. For me, it really captures the suffering that comes with living in the modern world and the apparent superficiality that has come to surround us all.
Avenir - Louane
This is another Fuck You type song that has been played on radio stations all over France that is definitely a great choice if you’re looking to dance all of your negative feelings away. J’espère que tu vas souffrir, et que tu vas mal dormir… I must be in an evil mood today.
Oublie-moi - Coeur de Pirate
Another female Canadian pop star… There must be something about those Canadians. This one’s a more melancholy alternative to Louane’s Avenir that could probably go on the same playlist as the Calogero—for those days when you’d rather just sit there and ponder your existence.
Complètement Fou - Yelle
And here’s another fun dance party hit whose title literally means “Completely Crazy.” Also great for those running playlists.
Je Veux - ZAZ
This song I discovered that one day that my roommate decided to blare French music all over the room. It’s been stuck in my head ever since.
Papaoutai - Stromae
You can’t have a French music list without Stromae. He has a lot of great hits, but this one has something of a deeper significance while still somehow coming off as an entertaining dance hit.
Sur Mes Gardes - Joyce Jonathan
And to top it off, another favorite singer of mine is Joyce Jonathan (not Canadian—I just checked). I’m not sure how much I actually agree with the lyrics, but it’s an interesting take on life.
