Amadou and Mariam reference a number of West African musical instruments, like djembes, dununs, balans, and tamas, in “Beaux dimanches”—a song about Sundays in Bamako.

Amadou and Mariam share singing duties with co-producer Manu Chao on a song with themes of migration and dislocation.

Born and raised in the Pyrenees region of southern France, Cali was an aspiring rugby player before attending a U2 concert at the age of 17.

Amadou Bagayoko and Mariam Doumbia are joined together by their love for music and each other. The pair met at the Institute for Young Blind People in Bamako, the capital of Mali.

Cyril Kamar, who later appeared on the music scene as K-Maro, was born in Lebanon. While still a child, he and his family fled to Paris, but finally settled in Quebec.

Nâdiya, a champion athlete, has switched gears to become a chart-busting R&B/hip-hop artist. She is fast becoming a major urban act featuring a great blend of lyrical and instrumental innovation. In this music video, “Et c’est parti,” Nâdiya pairs up ringside with US rapper Smartzee, demonstrating both her physical and artistic talent. This song will surely get you moving!

As a tribute to Françoise Hardy, who passed away recently, let's listen to her beautifully sad song, "Mon amie la rose" (My Friend the Rose). An ode to beauty and friendship, and also a lament on life and the passage of time.

Louane sings live her hit song "Si t'étais là" (If You Were Here). It's a mournful song in which she communicates in her own way with the loved ones she lost.

Zouzou sings "Il est parti comme il était venu" (He Left as He Had Come), a fleeting love story about a young man who disappeared as quickly as he came into her life.

Céline Dion laments the difficulties of life and its obstacles in her poignant song "Je sais pas" (I Don't Know), from 1995.

Michel Sardou sings one of his hit songs, "Comme d'habitude" (As Usual). If it sounds familiar to to you, it may be because Frank Sinatra used the melody for his own hit song, "My Way."

Mademoiselle K and Zazie bring us "Me taire te plaire." The song's title means "keeping quiet to please you" (with tongue in cheek, perhaps?). We're certainly glad these two ladies aren't too quiet to sing to us!

Mellow musician Bertrand Pierre sets the poignant poetry of French grand écrivain Victor Hugo to slow and soulful musical compositions. A man of many talents, Bertrand Pierre is also quite a performer live and acoustically.

After finding early success in his native Rwanda in ’93, Corneille was forced to flee his country. “Comme un fils” (“Like a Son”) is representative of his soul roots and affinity for emotional melodies.