Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Contrary to French folklore, girls do not come from roses, nor do boys come from cabbages, nor does any baby come from a stork. These French midwives, the true "storks" of France, are demonstrating for better pay and working conditions.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
French workers and unionists usually take to the streets of Paris on May 1st (Labor Day). This year, they are using the opportunity to voice their opinions about Sarkozy and the recent pension reform. They also celebrate past union accomplishments, and commemorate "Juillet 1963," with some interesting lyrical adaptations...
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
In a convivial atmosphere, complete with brass bands and good humor, Parisians gather in the streets to have fun and raise awareness about the proliferation of electronic adverstising in the subways. A new citizen movement is spreading throughout France: anyone can join the ranks of "Les Reposeurs" [Redecorators], a group of protesters armed with kraft paper, markers, and whiteboard paint to write anti-advertising messages on posters and billboards.
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
Bruno Légeron tells us about his family business of making artificial flowers and feathers for fashion houses and the movie industry. The Maison Légeron dates all the way back to 1727.
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: 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: Intermediate
France
Madame Monsieur sings "Mercy," a song based on the true story of a baby girl who was born on board a Nigerian refugee ship. Her mother went into labor on her way to a refugee camp in Sicily.
Difficulty: Intermediate
Canada
Annie shows off her skills as a chanteuse, her sharp wit, and her penchant for penning clever lyrics in this rockin’ number from her band Ma blonde est une chanteuse. See if you can count how many of Annie’s personae you catch a glimpse of, and how many of her Annie-mated wordplays you follow in this fun video. Beware: the song is seriously catchy and may leave you wanting more!
Difficulty: Intermediate
France
Matthieu Chedid, better known as M, comes from a long line of talented artists. Mathieu is the eldest son of famous French singer Louis Chedid and the grandson of the writer Andrée Chedid.
Difficulty: Adv-Intermediate
France
Lauren shows us around the Croix-Rousse neighborhood in Lyon, famous for its traboules, a series of passageways located below the buildings. The neighborhood is a favorite spot for artists and families alike.
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