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.

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!

Nelly recommends some more easy books in French by Amélie Nothomb, Guillaume Musso, and Albert Camus. She also discusses the passé simple or simple past tense, which is primarily used in written French.

In this video, Nelly gives some advice about reading books in a foreign language and recommends some books for French learners. One of her recommendations is The Braid by Laetitia Colombani.

Nelly completes her explication of Victor Hugo's heartbreaking "Demain, dès l'aube," emphasizing the poem's autobiographical aspect and the hardship the author faced.

Nelly recites and explains in great detail Victor Hugo's poem "Demain, dès l'aube" (Tomorrow, at Dawn). Though initially it might read like a love poem, it turns out to be much more tragic.

Sophie and Alexandre talk about their lives as actors, which is not as easy or glamorous as one might think. In order to receive benefits, casual workers in the entertainment industry have to work a total of 507 hours over a year, which is difficult when there isn't steady work.

Sophie likes the French weekly Le Canard enchaîné because it's one of the few remaining newspapers with some independence. She and Patrice discuss what makes a newspaper honest and objective.

Nelly concludes her list of 100 essential adjectives. Once you master them all, you'll be a pro at describing things in French!

Sophie and Alexandre admit to having read their horoscopes in magazines from time to time but they don't take it too seriously. And yet... they both agree that the planets influence our destinies.

Is it acceptable to tell white lies to smooth things over, like Sara, or is it better to tell the truth at the risk of offending someone, like Lionel? Is it any wonder Lionel never gets invited back for dinner?

In honor of Valentine's Day, Nelly has some excellent tips on what to say when you want to flirt or express your love to someone—and what not to say when you're talking to friends or acquaintances.