Help me find good French music

[Cathode Ray Sunshine]

Ok, so I figured this would be a pretty good place to ask for assistance, since we have a pretty big userbase with a wide variety of tastes. I recently enrolled myself in French classes, so I've been trying to immerse as much as I can in the language and culture. While I do make a habit of studying what I'm being given in class, I realize that part of making learning fun is trying to find ways to not make it feel like "homework" where you just sit down and memorize verbs and whatnot. English is my second language and I picked up a lot of it from listening to music all the time and videogames, but it's more difficult with French because it's not as widespread. But anyway, I'm looking for any type of French music. I'm mostly a rock/metal guy, but I don't want to miss on good music just because it doesn't fall on that category. Some French artists/bands that I've been listening to lately :

Guillaume Grand
Thomas Dutronc
Noir Désir
Merzhin
Damien Saez

I've been listening to some hip-hop, I find MC Solaar and Soprano to be pretty good, even if I don't really like that genre.

While I'd appreciate music in French from any country, I'd prefer is you recommended artists from France.

[Microscopic cog]

there's some amazing french music from the past century, if you're into oldies. Stuff like Edith Piaf, Michel Fugain and Jacques Bruel.

if you're a metal guy you could try Deathspell Omega but it's kinda hard to understand what they're saying. I sometimes can't tell the difference when they sing french or english.

there's also the 70's french progrock band Ange. Oh and maybe you'd like the french bands Amesoeurs and Alcest, which are both post rock projects led by the same dude.

amesoeurs

edit: and I almost forgot my all time favourite, Harmonium from Quebec. vert

[philsov]

Rap: 3eme oeil
Pop/Rock: Jean-Jacques Goldman
Pop/Rock: Gerald De Palmas
70/80's Rock: Telephone
Cajun (ok, the guy's from Quebec), but it's the closest thing I know to Country Music that's French: Zachary Richard

[Sandry]

I'd have to recommend Akhenaton's solo stuff. (He's from the Marseillese rap group IAM, and I like their stuff well enough, but his solo albums make me super happy).

[Adam H]

I like some Carla Bruni. Very nice and mellow.

[Jonesthe Spy]

Emilie Simon is pretty amazing. Anyone who covers Iggy Pop's "I Wanna Be Your Dog" gets immediate points in my scorebook.
http://www.emiliesimonmusic.com/

[Cathode Ray Sunshine]

Ok guys, sorry I hadn't replied earlier. Just wanted to thank you all for your suggestions, especially yours philsov, I enjoyed most of them.

And thanks Microscopic og for reminding me of Alcest.


In the event that any of you discover any more music and this thread is not active, please feel free to send me a PM.

[bigglesworth]

Beginning French Pop Dump:

Thomas Dutronc - NASDAQ (He has a more famous father I think?)
Charlotte Leslie - Les filles c'est fait pour faire l'amour
Les Surfs - A present tu peux t'en aller
France Gall - Poupee de Cire, Poupee de Son

[JonnieCache]

I present FIP radio, a station from paris that plays round the clock jazz, folk, funk, pop etc and general chillin music. No advertisements. No DJs talking. Most of the music is french. It is without exception amazing. You're welcome.

http://www.fipradio.fr/

Also check out its odd history as the longest running pirate radio station in britain!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIP_(radio_station)#UK_pirate_broadcasts

[Kangaroo]

Lately, I've been listening to Malicorne (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMPIQP8Qp2k). Very relaxing and nice. Charles Trénet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd_nopTFuZA) is also quite good. Don't know if either is your taste, but there you go

[IHateThisNick]

I'm not especially fond of French music myself, still, if you want to hear some French-speaking artists, you can listen to:

- http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alain_Bashung : Alain Bashung (pop-rock)
- http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Jacques_Goldman : J.J Goldman (songwriter, pop-rock)
- http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alain_Souchon : Alain_Souchon(songwriter)
- http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serge_Gainsbourg : Serge Gainsbourg (songwriter)
- http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ga%C3%ABtan_Roussel : Gaëtan Roussel (songwriter)
- http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippe_Katerine : Philippe Katerine (hem ... his music is kinda special)
- http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camille_%28chanteuse%29 : Camille (although she does experimental stuff sometimes)

(sorry for the links, seems that URL is off for me ... cool)

The first ones are the famous French songwriters I can think of right now, but if it is not enough, there are just plenty of others (just look for the "Enfoirés" band, it regroups a ton of French singers). FIP is an excellent radio if you want to listen to (sometimes really underground) French music.

[bosonicyouth]

Colette Magny (60's jazz blues etc)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUpPS7KB ... re=related

[Cathode Ray Sunshine]

Thanks to all the new people that replied! I'll make sure to go through all your suggestions


If anyone's interested, this is a very good site I discovered that lists many French radio stations and you can listen to them. One of my favorites is Chante France.

http://www.listenlive.eu/france.html