This song is Aznavour’s most famous one, probably. And it’s deserved. A real classic. It’s about a man working in a harbour in the industrial North of France, and who dreams of going far away in one of these boats. [More about Charles Aznavour] Vers les docks où le poids et l’ennui me courbent leContinue reading “Charles Aznavour – Emmenez-moi”
Category Archives: Artists from A to Z
Laurent Voulzy – Rockollection
This great song, written by Alain Souchon and composed by Laurent Voulzy as usual, is a “mix” of great English or American rock songs and artists, meant as a tribute. Most of these standards have already been covered numerous times by French people (with their lyrics translated into French) but this is the first timeContinue reading “Laurent Voulzy – Rockollection”
Barbara – Dis, quand reviendras-tu ?
It is one of the most beautiful songs by “the Lady in Black”. And could there be a more perfect song than this in this time of global lockdown, when we all miss some other people in other places ? Even though my translation is not perfect (it never is, but especially this one), pleaseContinue reading “Barbara – Dis, quand reviendras-tu ?”
Claude François – Alexandrie, Alexandra
This is one of the classics of French “party music” and “disco music”. The song was written in 1977 and came out in 1978, just a few days after its interpret’s accidental death. It remains on of his most famous songs. [More about Claude François] Voiles sur les filles Barques sur le Nil Je suisContinue reading “Claude François – Alexandrie, Alexandra”
Boris Vian – Le Déserteur
This is Boris Vian’s most famous song, and a hymn for pacifists and antimilitarists around the world. The song was created in the very delicate context of the end of the Indochina war (1946-1954) and the beginning of the Algerian war (1954-1962). During these decolonisation wars, many young French men were sent to war toContinue reading “Boris Vian – Le Déserteur”
Stromae – Papaoutai
“Papaoutai” (out in 2013) is Stromae’s most famous song, and it was a hit not only in France but also in other European countries and even in America. It is about a kid who doesn’t have a dad. In the song, it’s probably because the father left his wife, but in real life, Stromae’s father,Continue reading “Stromae – Papaoutai”
Jean Ferrat – Ma France
When I was a kid, I read a great children’s book about the life of a little girl who discovers she is a witch. And at one point in the story, her dad wakes her up during the night, takes her with him in his car, and begins to drive with no precise direction, justContinue reading “Jean Ferrat – Ma France”
Nino Ferrer – Le Sud
It’s a very beautiful song and the most famous hit by Nino Ferrer. It is about nostalgia, summer, holidays, and the fact that all good things have an end. He wrote and composed this song all by himself. He had already made a version in English in his previous work that didn’t have a lotContinue reading “Nino Ferrer – Le Sud”
Indochine – Trois nuits par semaine
A catchy music with a touch of new wave, a modern approach of relationships : this song had everything to please 80’s French youth and become a party classic, and it did. The 80’s more generally are very well represented in French parties and their success is still undisputed. [More about Indochine] I chose thisContinue reading “Indochine – Trois nuits par semaine”
Françoise Hardy – Message personnel
This beautiful song was written by Michel Berger (lyrics and music), except the spoken introduction, that was written by Françoise Hardy herself. It is apparently a discreet hint to Véronique Sanson, who had left Michel Berger a year before. The loved one is described as a person far away, yet very close. This person isContinue reading “Françoise Hardy – Message personnel”
French Music into English 