Musical impressions of France. Very few French-language artists have transcended the language and culture barrier to the English-language world. So, unlike my London list, here I have not been as strict about “Paris” for the music origins. About half of these are sung in French but there are still a few that the average English-language listener will know. I have emphasized maintaining a variety of genres and eras, and so this list of 11 includes one early modern classical composition, and pop songs of various genres from the 70s (1), 90s (1), 00s (2), 10s (5), and a new one from 2020. They are listed below in chronological order. I included the title, artist, year of release, and genre. I also added a sentence or two of background and context. Finally, I also embedded video links.
You can find the Spotify playlist here.
Gaîté Parisienne Jacques Offenbach 1866 Classical/Romantic
Offenbach composed many short operettas as well as full-length pieces to be performed in his own theater in Paris. This one is not his most famous composition, that one is the overture to his 1858 operetta Orphée aux Enfers (Orpheus in the Underworld) which is associated with the cabaret, including the then-risqué can-can dance. But this one is from the operetta La vie Parisienne, and importantly for Florida people, it is also on the soundtrack to ‘Impressions de France’, the film shown at the France pavilion at EPCOT, holder of a Guinness World Record for longest-running film shown daily.
Ca Plane Pour Moi Plastic Bertrand 1977 Punk/New Wave
These guys are Belgian, but there are very few French songs to become hits in English-speaking countries. This was a top-10 hit in the UK. The French idiom is loosely ‘that’s fine with me’. The front man was just lip syncing, the real singer was the song’s producer Lou Deprijck, who allowed PB to be the face of the act. After 30 years of milking this song to maintain a career performing in France, PB finally admitted in 2010 that Deprijck was the actual singer and that PB had not actually sung on any of his first four albums. The original video by PB is a treat, but here is the 2010 release from the now a bit older Lou D.
Sexy Boy Air 1998 EDM
Breakout song for French electronic music into English-language markets. The duo from Versailles formed the band in 1995 and they also worked closely with Sofia Coppola, scoring the soundtracks to her first three films.
One More Time Daft Punk 2000 House
Widely considered by music critics as one of the best songs of the 2000s. The duo formed in Paris in 1993, and their unique blend of elements of funk, disco, and rock into electronic house music launched them. They have worn the helmets since 1999. This anime video with blue aliens is also legendary.
Harder Better Faster Stronger Daft Punk 2001 House
This one is also revered as a dance track, and for its broader cultural influence. This tribute video (Daft Hands) was among the first viral hits of the mid-2000s and is now considered a YouTube classic.
Je Veux Zaz 2010 Pop
She is a singer-songwriter from western France and this one from her debut was a hit across the French-speaking world. The song “I want” says she doesn’t want material things, but rather “love, joy and cheerfulness.”
Arc de Triomphe Paris café society 2013 Jazz
Jazzy swing. The album is “French Café” and that’s how it feels.
Aloha Møme, Merryn Jeann 2015 Electro pop
A French DJ and French singer singing in English, a top 10 hit in France.
La Vie en Rose Lady Gaga 2018 Traditional
Cover of the legendary Edith Piaf classic from 1947. “Life in Pink”, about how great it is to be in love with her beau, “a slice of happiness”. From the soundtrack to the 2018 film A Star is Born, for which Lady Gaga was nominated for the Best Actress Academy Award.
Tombé M. Pokara 2019 Pop
He emerged from a 2003 TV talent show that was looking for boy band stars. He has been recording ever since and now he is a coach on the French “The Voice – Kids”. This one was a hit in France in 2019. “I fell”, with you my queen.
Dans L’espace Gambi feat. Heuss l’Enfoiré 2020 Hip hop /trap
The number one hit in France in 2020, as I write this. He is a rapper from the Paris suburbs who got his start posting clips of himself on Youtube. “In space” is peppy, but with drug themes and gansta aspirations.