French music
 

I'd like some ideas for some french music to listen to before my trip to Paris this spring? Any suggestions- new artists or old?

Hi Carla<BR><BR>I hope you enjoy your trip. I do not know what type of music you like but here are a few that I like.<BR>Dalida<BR>Vanessa Paradis<BR>Etienne Daho (even though he was more 80's) <BR>Edith Piaf is very famous<BR>Malcom McLaren (sp?) put out an album in about 95 or so called "Paris" - I highly recommend that one<BR>FNAC is a music store in Paris and they do have a website. http://www.fnac.com<BR>You can listen to clips on there and it might help you to decide what you want.<BR>

I bought Piaf,Serge Gainsbourough,<BR>and Yves Montand--a right strange mix, but very French:) c

Hi Carla. Here's one you might find interesting: Pop Romantique: French Pop Classics. <BR><BR>http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Argd9kebt0q7z<BR><BR>And this isn't French music, per se (although there is a cover Serge Gainsbourg's infamous "Je T'Aime...Moi Non Plus") but, rather Malcolm McLaren's "love letter" to the City of Light, and it's one of my favorite albums, extremely evocative. McLaren -- former manager of the Sex Pistols -- first visited Paris as a teenager and always wanted to pay musical tribute to a city he found fascinating. <BR><BR>Check out the All Music Guide link below for the songs and wonderful cover photo, but don't pay attention to Stephen Thomas Erlewhine's review. He's right in that this album is a "love letter", but he's dead wrong in that it's "pretentious and insufferable." Instead, for a review, read Ali Sinclair's review at the second link below. <BR><BR>http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Aqif1zfo8eh6k<BR><BR>http://www.westnet.com/consumable/19.../revmalco.html

No one has mentioned the favorite of the French , the very late, George Bressens.

I know this sounds silly but at Williams Sonoma they have CD's and I picked up one that is all french music for my mom. I think I'm going to have to get one for my self because it is such a great mix of french jazz, blues and big band.

Another thought. I've seen this band at WOMAD, here in Seattle, twice and loved them. They're called Lo' Jo and they're led by an enigmatic keyboard player, Denis P&eacute;an (the guy in the hat) and two sisters of Algerian descent, Nadia Nid El Mourid & Yamina Nid El Mourid. <BR><BR>http://www.lojo.org/news/index.htm

Patricia Kaas <BR>Yves Duteil<BR>Georges Moustaki<BR>Charles Trenet

Django Rhinehardt with or without The Hot Club de France and with or without Stephane Grapelli

You have to try my all time favorite: Charles Aznavour. And France's answer to Elvis: Johnny Halyday. He has a great website too.

Maybe a tribute to Gilbert B&eacute;caud, who passed away recently ... <BR>You find the lyrics and music (WMA & MIDI) on http://www.miditext.com/Auteurs/5875.htm

French artists who made most money in 2001:<BR>- Myl&egrave;ne Farmer<BR>- Patrick Bruel<BR>- Jean-Jacques Goldman<BR><BR>Other artists below retirement age:<BR>- Alain Souchon<BR>- Julien Clerc<BR>- Zazie<BR>- Laurent Voulzy<BR>- Noir D&eacute;sir<BR>- MC Solaar<BR>- Lara Fabian<BR>- Patricia Kaas<BR>- Garou<BR>- les 10 commandements (musical)<BR>- Rom&eacute;o et Juliette (musical)<BR>

If you get a chance listen to the French early baroque masters. Lully, de Lalande, and MA Charpentier were all composers in the court of Louis XIV during his very long reign. Particular titles of interest would be 'Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme' by Lully and the 'Te Deum' of Charpentier.<BR><BR>When in Paris between May and October you can actually hear these works played while the fountains of Versailles are on each Sunday.<BR><BR>A great movie to get the feel of French court life and baroque music (particularly opera and dance) is 'Le Roi Danse'. a biography of Lully (who was actually an Italian who was imported to France by Louis XIV). Lully invented the genre of French opera that we so often associate with Versailles and France while he was the court composer.

A couple more...<BR><BR>Isabelle Boulay (really Quebecoise but sings sans accent)<BR><BR>Pascal Obispo<BR>Florent Pagny<BR>Laam<BR>Assia<BR><BR>I know he's been mentioned but GAROU!!!!<BR><BR>And then there is always "Star Academy" a musical version of the US Survivor (tv show, not the group).<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>

Joey Starr!!

France's version of Wayne Newton is Henri Salvador. He's really in right now.

My favorite is Patrick Bruel. I love his albums "Alors Regarde" and "Bruel". Also, MC Solaar ("Prose Combat").

Restoration Hardware also has a French music CD--and it's on sale. I just bought one. Go to www.restorationhardware.com

Do you like french Canadian music? I love Bruno Pelletier ( one of his albums is live from Notre Dame), Daniel Lanois (wonderful voice and poetic words also producer of U2 music), Daniel Lavois, Lynda Lemay (very relaxing great voice!), and Kevin Parent (more like rock has a nice deep sexy voice). There is also a wonderful album I think it is called Pour Pour. My friend gave me a copy of it from Montreal. It is instrumental with a Cirque du Soleil feel. It is very cheerful and magical. It makes me happy and inspired every time I listen to it. I also enjoy music by Edith Piaf especially en vie en rose. Music is a big passion of mine. I am going to Paris for two and a half weeks in the middle of February.

Hi,<BR>I'm French and these are my favourite singers (and according to me the most representative of french music)<BR>Serge Gainsbourg<BR>Charles Aznavour<BR>Vanessa Paradis<BR>Jacques Brel<BR>Georges Brassens<BR>Patricia Kaas<BR>Marc Lavoine<BR>MC Solaar<BR>and Yannick Noah (the tennis player) who has just made a great album.