music

Hey y'all maybe you can help me out. Since I'm going to France, I decided to learn French. I think it's a beautiful language......plus they refuse to speak English. I learn really well by listening to music of that language. Does anyone know good French music? I tried finding some, but it's all slow serenading with accordians- I need REAL stuff. Thanks!!!
Becca

<blockquote>Quote
<hr>plus they refuse to speak English.<hr></blockquote>that is just such patent nonsense. But if you arrive fully armed with the most cliche stereotypes you might just make them come true.

I am not armed with cliche stereotypes. It's just fact that most of the population in France does not like to speak English....which is fine. Like I said, French is beautiful and I'm learning it. No need to attack. Or I'll steal your buret and hit you with the baguette I buy while wearing a striped shirt stroking my mustache and carrying a bag of bon bons and croissants after I finish my meal at a cafe. Oui?

Pathetic Becca! You have NO idea about the country and the wonderful people who live there. Have fun, no doubt you will be back on here in a few months as one of the "arent all French people rude" brigade. French people love to talk with you in English UNLESS you give very good reason to be disliked. The standard of English language skills always amazes me here. And what sort of music? You may be surprised to know that French people have the intelligence to do every type from classical to hip-hop and metal. I reccommend MC Solaar and IAM personally.

Why don't you cancel your trip now?

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<hr>It's just fact that most of the population in France does not like to speak English...<hr></blockquote>
where do you get your facts- Fox news? have you ever BEEN to france?

If y'all can't tell, I'm being sarcastic. If I didn't like France so much, why would I go there, much less learn the language? I was just responding to the first post. I guess I need to be more politically correct in saying French don't like to speak English. I've been there twice on short trips, and to my experience, they don't. My family also hosted a French student in University here. I am plenty familiar; I am not a francophobe, nor an ignorant snot. I know there are people there who are amazing. I was just responding to the first post as a joke. No one seems to understand my sarcasm- my apologies. I look forward to staying in France and I'll work on my political correctness and choice of words.
Becca

P.S. No, I don't watch Fox news. I watch the Colbert Report. More accurate, no? (That is also sarcasm, although I do enjoy it). I watch CNN and I'm proud to say I am no fundamentalist.

As I said, what sort of music?

Don't feed the troll.

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<hr>I guess I need to be more politically correct in saying French don't like to speak English. <hr></blockquote>
No you don't. What you need is a better grasp on reality. That has nothing to do with being politically correct. As someone who visits France frequently and likes the opportunity to practice my once fluent French, I can hardly open my mouth without someone wanting to practice their English on me. Get real and stop spouting lazy, clichéd stereotypes - they're offensive.

Plastique Bertrand - funky and modern. Johnny Halliday if you're a rebel.

One other thing. There are plenty of French people who post frequently on this branch (and on the Europe/Shoestring branch). Guess what language they use. Yes, that's right, they make the effort to post in what is for them a foreign language, English, for the benefit of people like you who don't speak French.

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<hr>Plastique Bertrand - funky and modern. Johnny Halliday if you're a rebel.<hr></blockquote>
LOL!!!!

French do speak English. But not as much as Brits I am afraid.

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<hr>Plastique Bertrand - funky and modern. Johnny Halliday if you're a rebel.<hr></blockquote>
LOL!!!!

French do speak English. But not as much as Brits I am afraid.

mmh, why posted twice?

music : real stuff? Noir Desir and Telephone are long time rock favourites
MC Solaar for light rap

Popular singers: Souchon, Sanson, Brel (he's from Belgium), Ferre, Brassens, and of course Aznavour.

Arthur H, Dominique A, Thomas Fersen are very popular too and have great lyrics if you want to learn French.

Another MUST HAVE : Serge Reggiani.

Don't forget Yannick Noah!!! & Renaud ... Marilene Farmer etc ...

Kira

blaughery - You said, and I quote

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<hr>they refuse to speak English<hr></blockquote>

That is NOT true. Yes, I'm sure that more than 50% of the population probably can't speak English much, but it's a big overstatement to use the word "refuse". I am not in any way a Francophile. I've been to France and I worked for years for a French company and I can tell you that there are things I like and things I despise with a passion about the French. However, it is completely untrue that they "refuse to speak English". Either you need to change what you say or how you think but that statement is just copletely false.

Plastique Bertrand is a guy who was sort of big briefly during the late 70s. He was a punk rocker. I'm American and my brother worked as a DJ in late 70s and early 80s and he took him a single of "Ca Plane Pour Moi"/"Pogo Pogo" because his radio station wouldn't play "that foreign crap". "Ca Plane Pour Moi" is a great punk song, but I can tell you that his stuff is hard to find. On my last trip to France, I actually tried to find a CD of his songs and I couldn't find anything in either the Virgin Megastore or FNAC. Recommending him is kind of like recommending the Sex Pistols to somebody. It's not a recommendation for someone who's currently popular.

Rough Guides has a lot of interesting world music compilations. They have one called "Paris Cafe" or something similar that should include some currently popular French musicians in that style of music.

Yep, I agree. Plastic Bertrand did a one song hit and that was it. Back in early 80s. Definitely not representing French music (and lyrics are crap anyways).

Johnny Halliday is a bit of a joke really. Though highly popular in France.

Kira, I can't believe you recommended Noah... do you really like this thing???

Re French music:
I think Jordy would be a good one for the OP to start practicing with :-).
I'd say it qualifies as real music: there's a tune and words and everything.

Seriously though: how about Carla Bruni? Easy to hear the words.

Who was it who sang "Cent millions / de chinois / et moi, et moi, et moi" ?

I would also suggest Les Rita Mitsouko who have just published a new album after a long break.

A recent and fun discovery is Kamini, France's first "rappeur rural", who landed a surprise hit this spring, rapping about growing up in the small village of Marly-Gomont in northern France.

Linguistically, he may be challenge though, as he uses lots of colloquial and slang expressions, but you can find his texts in the
"paroles" section of his website.

Can you get DVDs with French movies and watch them in the original?

And you forget to mention the Gauloises (caporal) or Gitanes you will have to smoke while wearing your striped shirt and hitting others with baguettes ;-)

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<hr>Who was it who sang "Cent millions / de chinois / et moi, et moi, et moi" ? <hr></blockquote>
Jacques Dutronc.

If I could go back and change my post, I would...but I can't/don't know how. I already apologized I'm sorry sorry sorry. But thanks to all who told me about music. As to which type, I like any. I guess slower stuff so I can hear the words?

In that case, singers who enunciate:

Ridan
Joseph d'Anvers
Romain Didier
Doc Gynéco
Olivia Ruiz

#22, the reason you got attacked so badly over what you thought was funny sarcasm is that there are too many people (here and in real life) who spout these stereotypes. And i guess we're fed up with hearing them. Particularly when in most cases the foreign visitor is to blame, having not learned any French nor basic French etiquette, which means they do get a cold shoulder from the French only because they started themselves (perhaps without realizing, but still).

My American relatives have asked me in all seriousness if the French hate americans- of course they hadn't ever been themselves but the right-wing frenchbashing has made people believe it's really true.

Another singer who enunciates..a blast from the past..Barbara.

I like the French singers Zazie and Camille. Check them out and see if they are too your taste. You can listen to sample and watch videos on their websites or go to Amazon.fr for sound samples.

Brel is one of the greatest IMHO, and i don't say that because i am a Belgian. His lyrics are pure poetry, a good reason to study the language. I have learnt some french because of him. His pronounciation is also Very Good, with his very big mouth, he knew to articulate :)

I may sound very old-fashioned, but (despite my age) i do like Charles Trenet! The father of the french chanson, isn't he? We always start singing 'na......tio......nale......sept!' once we are in the vicinity of it. BTW, i adore the 80's version of the Honeymoon Killers/Les Tueurs de la Lune de Miel!
Que reste-t-il de nos amours was another lovely song of him.

France Gall is good too.

Dalida (with her un-french accent), with Il venait d'avoir dixhuit ans and Parole, parole

Another of the classics for me was Michel Fugain with Une Belle Histoire, hmmmm.

BTW, aren't Axelle Red and Arno popular in France right now? Both Flemish Belgians, but singing in French and both got the the title of 'Chevalier (Knight) dans l'Ordre des Arts et Lettlres' in France. I especially like Arno very much.

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<hr>"Cent millions / de chinois / et moi, et moi, et moi" ?<hr></blockquote>

"Hundreds of thousands/ of Chinese/ and me, and me, and me"? Interesting. Really. I may have to go dig that out...

Or should that be "a hundred million Chinese"?

What he sings is this actually: "Cinq cent millions de Chinois" that is "Five hundred millions Chinese". Needless to say it is a song from the 60s.

Sept cent millions de chinois
Et moi, et moi, et moi
Avec ma vie, mon petit chez-moi
Mon mal de tête, mon point au foie
J'y pense et puis j'oublie
C'est la vie, c'est la vie

Quatre-vingt millions d'indonésiens
Et moi, et moi, et moi
Avec ma voiture et mon chien
Son Canigou quand il aboie
J'y pense et puis j'oublie
C'est la vie, c'est la vie

mmmmh, looks like I am more efficient than Mao on this one... Erasing 200 millions people in one sentence. Gosh, I need to get my basics right...

Well, I was the one who initially mis-heard or mis-remembered - thanks a lot for letting me find the name.

Has George Brassens been mentioned yet?

And, in a different register, Stéphane Eicher?

Artemis - it's so nice to hear you like Brel - I get completely carried away when listening to some of his lyrics and as you pointed out, that big mouth full of teeth cannot help but pronounce big!!! I was introduced to Brel many,many years ago by a Belgian friend of mine whom I've lost touch with, so his songs carry some additional meaning to me.

I know it's probably one of his better known songs but this is amongst my favourite and it's about your country :)

how about
On s'attache by christophe mae

Thanks for all the music tips! I don't think I can fit any more music on my computer!

"AIR" isn't that a French band? not so forthcoming with the lyrics but beautiful beautiful music????