Difficulty: Newbie
France
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!
Difficulty: Beginner
Burkina Faso
Though Mai Lingani grew up in Côte d’Ivoire, she is one of the most popular singer/songwriters in Burkina Faso, where she was born. In 1998 that country presented her with its highest award for a musician, the “Prix national de la chanson.” In addition to her beautiful French and melodious English, Mai also speaks (and sings in) three African tongues: Moré, Dioula, and Bissa. Please enjoy our interview with this delightful talent!
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Maître Gims's hit "J'me tire" (I'm Outta Here) reached the top of the French music charts in 2013. In the song, the rapper expresses his frustrations with being famous and a desire to leave it all behind him and escape to a place where he "won't be the suspect."
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
In his song "Zombie," Maître Gims wants to wake up from his Zombie state and take charge of his destiny by removing the chains that hold him back: warding off the darkness, confusion, and paranoia surrounding his life.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Maître Gims' song "Bella" (from his solo album Subliminal) is an epic tale set in Spain where beautiful Bella wrecks havoc in all the villages she visits. Lovelorn men are falling for this "femme fatale" everywhere, and Maître Gims doesn't heed the locals' advice to stay away from her but instead falls for her too. You'll notice that Maître Gims uses a form of slang known as verlan, in which a word's syllables are reversed.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Maître Gims's song "Changer" (To Change) is a promise to change and rescue his crumbling relationship. Too busy building his empire, he neglects his family and wants to become a better person, but is it too late to make amends? Maître Gims's choice of decor, the atmospheric ambiance of a grandiose castle—empty but for him, a guard dog, and the ghostly figure of a woman in the background—only adds to the feeling of mystery and heartache.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Maître Gims teams up with Niska for "Sapés comme jamais." Dressed as a sapeur, a sort of Congolese fashionista, Maître Gims embraces his Congolese identity with panache and impeccable style.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Mélanie Laurent is a French actress and singer, among other things. In this live set, she sings two powerful songs, "Circus" and "Tango."
Difficulty: Beginner
France
Melissa’s inner “petites fées du coeur” are unleashed and band together to free two soulmates frozen in time. All the mini-Melissas are there: the warrior, the sensitive type, even the one with her head not quite on her shoulders.
Difficulty: Beginner
France
Watch the beautiful Martian Melissa tell those Earthlings a thing or two. It’s nothing a little “so what?!” can’t handle.
Difficulty: Beginner
France
Proust was in search of lost time, but Melissa’s in search of lost love, and she’ll travel anywhere to find it.
Difficulty: Newbie
France
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."
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
In this tongue-in-cheek song, "Elle me dit" (She Tells Me), Mika teams up with French actress Fanny Ardant, who plays an overbearing and critical mother.
Difficulty: Beginner
France
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!
Difficulty: Beginner
France
The youngest of six children, Nâdiya was born and raised in Tours to Algerian parents. Not long after turning 16, Nâdiya earned the title of French champion in the 800-meter track and field competition. Now, in her thirties, she is one of France’s biggest R&B stars. Sung with the passion of the young mother that she is, Parle-moi (Talk to me) tackles the difficult topic of child abuse.
Difficulty: Beginner
France
France’s beloved national star, Johnny Hallyday, is still going strong! He lit up the Stade de la Beaujoire recently, playing to a crowd of over 33,000.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
The band No One Is Innocent (whose name is also the title of a single by the seminal punk band the Sex Pistols—coincidence?) have described themselves as “electro-rock-blues” and list influences as diverse as Beck, Betty Davis, and Black Sabbath.
“La Peur” was written around the time of France’s most recent presidential election, and if you listen to the lyrics, it’s not hard to hear its influence on the song’s theme. Perhaps now No One will write an ode to the USA’s new president; they could call it “L’Espoir.”
Difficulty: Beginner
France
Adonis sings us a song about protecting the environment, with a little help from his cat! Listen closely and you'll see why he's right to tell you not to do everything he does.
Difficulty: Beginner
France
Oldelaf (Olivier Delafosse) makes a comeback after ten years with a new whimsical song. He much prefers animals to a certain lady. No, it's not his ex-girlfriend. We'll give you a hint: She succeeded her father as president of Le Rassemblement national (RN) party. (Oldelaf must be glad that's all she's president of!)
Difficulty: Beginner
France
Oldelaf bares his soul in his song "La Tristitude," a portmanteau that combines tristesse (sadness) and attitude (and a little solitude). We might call it "saditude." Listen to his lyrics and you'll surely recognize it. Ça fait mal!
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
The French singer Oldelaf took his girlfriend to the Normandy beach town of Courseulles-sur-Mer, but their time there wasn't quite as romantic as it could have been. Find out what happened in this charming music video!
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
In his song "Le monde est beau" (The World Is Beautiful), Oldelaf's ironic take on social networking is bittersweet and not without humor.
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Oldelaf turned his abhorrence for rough stucco walls that scrape your skin into a funky song, "Le crépi" (Stucco).
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Oldelaf's "Bérénice" is a beautiful love song with a somewhat tragic (but very comical!) ending. You'll both laugh at and be moved by Oldelaf's poetic language and soulful crooning.
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