22 French Songs That You may By no means Overlook (w/ Preview) (2023)

Whether or not you’re planning a visit to Paris, you’re studying the French language, otherwise you need an affordable trip with out having to do as a lot as stand up out of your chair – what else however a few French songs to move you to the faraway metropolis of Paris?

This listing of French songs has been rigorously curated to tick all of the bins typical of a French café temper.

So, plug in your stereo, boot up your streaming service of selection, and hear to those French hits, that are certain to move you en France; advisable pairing: a patio throughout dawn with a little bit espresso and a croissant.

22 French Songs That You’ll By no means Overlook

Listed below are a few of our favourite French songs that may transport you to a Parisian cafe. Don’t imagine us? Flip the quantity up, shut your eyes, and revel in! 

1. La Vie En Rose By Edith Piaf

Arguably, essentially the most recognizable tune by the “Little Sparrow,” as Edith Piaf (French celeb) is usually referred to as, and the whole lot of French songs is La Vie en Rose, which means “The Life in Pink.” 

This catchy tune was launched after WW2 and associated to those that discovered pleasure and which means in life, and extra notably – love – after wartime strife.

La Vie en Rose was coated by Madonna, Woman Gaga, Dean Martin, and plenty of extra singers.

Really feel your self fly off to a distinct time and place as you hearken to the silvery voice of Piaf crooning to the enduring melody. Who is aware of? With the best setting and temper, it’s possible you’ll start to see life in a shade of pink.

2. Comme D’Habitude By Claude François

That means “by behavior” or “as per normal,” Comme D’Habitude is a tune in regards to the day-to-day routine resulting in an individual falling out of affection in a romantic relationship. 

François derived inspiration for the tune from his failed relationship with well-known French singer France Gall. 

Referring to subjects many individuals really feel in a long-lasting relationship that grows tedious, the voice of François and the accompanying association begins softly whereas slowly rising an increasing number of intense – as all emotions of affection and falling out of affection do.

3. La Bohème By Charles Aznavour

Everytime you ask French individuals who their favourite singer is (an inevitable dialog someplace alongside the best way), likelihood is excessive the reply might be Charles Aznavour. 

What higher tune is there to epitomize his unimaginable voice and profession than his signature tune, La Bohème?

The favored tune takes the attitude of an outdated French painter eager for his youth in Montmartre regardless of being bitterly impoverished. 

It’s thus a basic tune about memory, and that nostalgia’s scent hangs over the chanson’s entirety. 

The lyrics, written by Jacques Plante, are notably highly effective and may be attributed to the well-known French lyricist. 

4. Ne Me Quitte Pas By Jacques Brel

One other basic among the many French songs to make it to the listing is Ne Me Quitte Pas (“Don’t Depart Me”) by Jacques Brel. 

Naturally, one can devise what this well-known tune is about. Nonetheless, Brel asserts that it’s “a hymn to the cowardice of man.” 

It’s believed that the tune was written after Brel’s mistress, Zizou, kicked Brel out of her life. Zizou (Suzanne Gabriello) confessed to Brel that she was pregnant along with his little one. 

Brel refused to simply accept this as the reality and claimed it have to be one other man’s little one. Resulting from these sharp phrases, Zizou had an abortion.

5. Je T’aime Moi Non Plus By Jane Birkin And Serge Gainsbourg

One of many extra rocky and experimental tracks on this listing, Je T’aime… Moi Non-Plus (I really like you… me neither) is a tune stuffed with suggestive themes and sounds, stylized by the heavy respiratory of singer, actress, and mannequin Jane Birkin.

The tune, funnily sufficient, was initially recorded by Gainsbourg and his lover on the time, Brigette Bardot, in 1967.

Solely in 1969 did the model that includes Birkin (Gainsbourg’s new lover) launch, which quickly topped the charts worldwide. 

The French love tune’s which means is to rejoice love-making – no marvel all these stereotypes exist, hein? 

6. Quelqu’un M’a Dit By Carla Bruni

A tune coloured by rhythmic fingerpicking on the guitar and an equally rhythmic and smoky voice, the Italian French Carla Bruni may have anybody wrapped round her finger after solely as soon as listening to this candy tune.

Quelqu’un M’a Dit, which means “somebody advised me,” is a tune laced with the unhappiness and issue of life and shedding a lover. 

The refrain from which the tune’s title and corresponding album identify derive states, “somebody advised me that you simply nonetheless love me; would it not be doable then?” 

She has a sliver of hope, but the overwhelming indifference in the remainder of the tune could point out in any other case. 

7. Tous Les Garçons Et Les Filles By Françoise Hardy

Translating to “all of the boys and the women,” Tous Les Garçons Et Les Filles is a French tune a couple of teenage woman singing in regards to the girls and boys her age falling in love; the woman herself, although, has but to expertise the sensation of affection.

Subsequently, the tune’s narrator is annoyed, lonely, and barely envious. Regardless of the lyrics, the tune has a barely blissful tone to it.

The lyrics, nevertheless, hit residence, and there’s some authenticity to it, as Françoise Hardy was solely 18 years outdated when it was launched in 1962 and have become successful in French pop music. 

8. Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien By Edith Piaf

A tune that feels like it’s an ode to residing life to its fullest, Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien (no, I don’t remorse something), is Edith Piaf’s different chef d’oeuvre. 

As she handed away three years after its launch in 1960, it’s thought-about certainly one of her last nice works. 

Like a lot of her others, the tune has a powerful, optimistic tone, uplifting the French inhabitants and the world along with her phrases, voice, and brilliant face. 

Really feel your previous errors wash away and switch a brand new web page because the little sparrow sings to you. 

9. Alexandrie Alexandria By Claude François

The icon combining disco with French songs, Claude François, launched this funky French hit for discothèques worldwide. 

Full of head-bopping drums, a bassline that may drive you to the dancefloor and additional, and the melodies of the strings to do all the remainder – this tune is bound to guide any French-styled disco social gathering. 

The French artist narrates the story of Alexandra, a lady in Alexandria whom he loves but won’t ever attain. 

He tells of all of the loopy issues he would do to make her love him, equivalent to consuming all of the water within the Nile River and rather more. 

10. Pour Un Infidèle By Coeur De Pirate And Julien Doré

Pour Un Infidèle is a tune “for an untrue individual” a couple of liar and a cheater. 

If you happen to discover one thing completely different about Coeur de Pirate’s accent, it could be as a result of she is a Francophone Canadian. 

It’s well-known that the Quebecois have a distinct manner of speech than the French and Belgians. Nonetheless, this can be a lovely French tune with a which means many can relate to. 

11. Sacre Charlemagne By France Gall

After mentioning Gall’s identify regarding Claude François, you didn’t suppose we’d depart her out of the equation, did you? 

Typically claimed to have some of the fascinating and harmless voices of her time, France Gall sings the lyrics by her father, Robert Gall. 

Gall’s innocent-sounding voice matches the lyrics nicely since it’s about contempt for having to go to highschool. How does this concern the medieval King Charlemagne? 

Effectively, he’s historically accredited because the founding father of education. This one is for all the youngsters who’ve faked a stomachache to get a time without work from their seemingly countless learning. 

Pssst: Need newer fashionable music? Go for Stromae, this Belgian singer has many French tunes value testing. We additionally suggest testing the Formidable music video–fairly fascinating.

12. Le Sud By Nino Ferrer

Ferrer’s most spectacular hit, Le Sud (the South), is about a spot that appears like Louisiana however is definitely in Italy. 

Although the tune has a contented vibe, describing a stunning summer season setting and a spot he wish to reside. 

Like many French songs, nevertheless, this one ends on a tragic word in regards to the inevitable battle (presumably the Vietnam Struggle, which was going down right now). 

Ferrer says it’s good to think about these pretty views, gardens, and ambiance, however it’s incorrect contemplating the strife happening elsewhere.

13. Les Lacs De Connemara By Michel Sardou

Beginning the tune with somebody aggressively putting darkish notes on the piano, it shortly takes a flip and turns into paying homage to an Irish jig. 

No marvel Michel Sardou dedicates this tune to the lakes of Connemara in Eire. 

The tune was written considerably by chance; even stranger is that Sardou wrote this tune with out even visiting Eire. 

In response to some sources, the tune outcomes from a synthesizer sounding like a bagpipe, inspiring the writers to proceed with the Celtic theme all through the tune’s inception. 

14. L’Aventurier By Indochine

Most likely essentially the most upbeat tune of all featured hits on our listing of French songs, L’Avanturier (which means the adventurer) follows the story of Bob Morane. 

This fictional character at all times manages to flee the sticky conditions that appear to comply with him wherever his adventures take him. 

The tune reached No. 4 on the French music charts, which is kind of spectacular since its sound was utterly towards the grain of conventional French music on the time. 

However, it’s a enjoyable tune that manages to mild a fireplace of journey within the hearts of those that listened. 

15. Pour Que Tu M’Aimes Encore By Celine Dion

Opposite to what many could imagine, Celine Dion is a Canadian artist born within the French-speaking metropolis of Charlemagne. 

Pour Que Tu M’Aimes Encore (“so that you simply love me once more”) is her most critically acclaimed French hit. 

The lyrics listing every part Dion is prepared to take action that her lover will fall for her as soon as extra. 

The tune went platinum in France and is certainly one of few international language songs that have been in a position to chart in Nice Britain, attaining most of its success within the British Isles in Eire. 

16. Joe Le Taxi By Vanessa Paradis

Joe Le Taxi (“Joe the Taxi”) is a French pop tune supposedly a couple of girl referred to as Maria José Leão dos Santos who glided by the identify “Joe” after fleeing from the authoritative Portuguese authorities within the ’70s as a consequence of her sexual orientation. 

The lyrics paint Joe as a type of Parisian nightlife hero – somebody who is aware of all the greatest locations within the Metropolis of Lights, whether or not within the little side-streets, alongside the Seine, and all around the remainder of Paris (as one would count on of an excellent taxi driver).

17. Femme Libérée By Cookie Dingler

That includes some of the iconic chord progressions amongst all of French music, Femme Libérée (free/liberated girl) holds a particular place in French tradition. 

The French and their writers (equivalent to Simone de Beauvoir) have emphasised feminism earlier and maybe extra aggressively than another tradition.

The tune, nevertheless, appears to problem feminism by decreasing the “liberated girl” to not more than a magazine-loving, sex-craving, cigarette-smoking, fragile determine. 

Furthermore, the band is all male, and the lyrics have been written by a lady named Joelle Kopf. Maybe it’s a satire on the normal male standpoint, however who’s to say? 

18. Les Champs-Élysées By Joe Dassin

Joe Dassin’s voice is sufficient to make anybody swoon whereas he sings his joyful tune in regards to the lovely Champs-Élysées. 

The tune is straightforward and follows the melody of “Waterloo Street,” but it is sufficient to put a delicate smile on anybody’s face whereas the brass devices do all the remainder. 

19. Foule Sentimentale By Alain Souchon

On this tune, Alain Souchon criticizes society, calling it a foule sentimental (“sentimental crowd”). 

Basically, he’s attempting to say that we’ve got grow to be too materialistic, attaching too many sentiments to non-living objects. 

The tune gained many awards, and its phrases actually maintain their floor on the earth we reside in at present. 

20. Elle Me Dit By Mika

The singer with a technicolor voice, Mika, launched his first French tune a while again, referred to as Elle Me Dit or “she tells me.” 

On this tune, a lady (presumably Mika’s mom) tells him that he’s appearing an excessive amount of like an adolescent moderately than an grownup, amongst different issues. 

In essence, the tune is about being your self no matter what others could let you know. 

21. Cendrillon By Téléphone

The well-known French rock band, Téléphone, sings the story of Cinderella (Cendrillon). 

It’s a trendy tackle the basic fairytale, and it considerations the woman’s mistake of naïvely imagining that she’s going to reside fortunately ever after along with her newfound love. 

The remainder of the tune follows her downfall, the place her husband leaves her for one more, she loses her youngsters and ultimately succumbs to medicine and prostitution. 

Not the happiest ending, however the tune itself is kind of good, and all people likes a darker story every now and then. 

22. Amsterdam By Jacques Brel

Whereas its main melody is a spinoff of Greensleeves, Amsterdam is a musical and poetic narrative of sailors leaving the port of Amsterdam. 

Brel’s voice grows stronger because the tune continues till an epic crescendo. It’s actually a French hit with varied cultural inspirations.

Would you add different French songs to this listing? Drop their names within the feedback! We’d love to listen to from you!