Category Archives: Non classé

One of his classic songs. The lyrics are by Pierre Barouh and the music is by Francis Lai. One again, professionnal lyricists and professionnal composers were a huge component of French songs, especially during this era. They are the one who really created a sense of “French touch” in songs. [More about Yves Montand] QuandContinue reading “Yves Montand – La bicyclette”

This famous song was written by singer-songwriter Michel Berger for his wife France Gall. It is a tribute to jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, that he admired a lot. It’s one of France Gall’s biggest hits and it was also successful abroad, in Germany for example. The title (and the chorus) is a pun between “Ella”Continue reading “France Gall – Ella, elle l’a”

A very beautiful 80’s song about difference, inequalities and origins. It was written in a context when racism was rising in France. (I’ll explain it in the notes for those who are interested). It’s one of Maxime Le Forestier’s most famous songs, and one that gave a new start to his career. Note : forContinue reading “Maxime Le Forestier – Né Quelque Part”

One of the most iconic Serge Gainsbourg songs, about one of the most iconic French actresses of all time. Brigitte Bardot, in the late 50’s and in the 60’s, was a real icon and sex symbol in France. She and Gainsbourg had a short affair together in 1967. It’s at the end of this relationshipContinue reading “Serge Gainsbourg – Initials B.B.”

This is one of Yves Simon’s most famous (and only famous) songs. It is also a great and poetic way to express his fascination for this huge city. Since the people mentionned in this song are not French, if you don’t know them, you can look them up and I have nothing more to addContinue reading “Yves Simon – J’ai rêvé New York”

I try to cover different styles so that you discover a lot of aspects of French music. So here’s a more recent track. In 2017, it is with this video (that’s quite impressing technically), and with this song, that the very famous rapper Orelsan announced that a new album was coming. This first single wasContinue reading “Orelsan – Basique”

One of his most beautiful and poignant songs, and one of his most beautiful and enigmatic lyrics, written with Jean Fauque. There’s multiple layers to these lyrics : apparently it is about love, separation and lies. But Jean Fauque himself stated that it was in fact about French Resistance during the occupation of the country,Continue reading “Alain Bashung – La nuit je mens”

The song was written by Charles Trenet in 1943 as he was in a train trip, in 20 minutes. But he didn’t really believe in the potential of the song until he finally recorded it in 1946. This may be one of the most successful and famous French songs abroad, especially since it was adaptatedContinue reading “Charles Trenet – La mer”

This song (in English : “he used to stand to play the piano”) was written for France Gall by Michel Berger (her husband) as a tribute to the rock’n’roll pianist Jerry Lee Lewis. [More about France Gall] Ne dites pas que ce garçon était fou Il ne vivait pas comme les autres, c’est tout EtContinue reading “France Gall – Il jouait du piano debout”

Elvy : I’m a French student, quite lost in life (who isn’t at some point ?), an eternal dreamer mostly paying attention to unimportant things, and spending most of my free time having weird ideas, like this one, that has been running in my head for several months now. And the best way to freeContinue reading “Who am I and why this blog ?”