Below are some YouTube playlists highlighting music from various countries and territories that speak French. There are old songs and new songs. They are organized by geographic region. Watch at least 3 music videos (and see the notes below the playlist about the artists), each from a different playlist, and then for a follow-up, answer the following 2 questions:
1. What words did you learn or recognize
2. What differences did you notice in the styles of music?
Note: On many of the videos, you can get closed captions in French or English. Click on the CC button (if it’s available) to make closed captions appear. Then, to change them to English, click the little gear icon to the right and click “Subtitles/CC” and if English isn’t an option, click “Auto-translate” and select English from the list of languages. If the closed captions are auto-translated, they will not be perfect, especially if the singer is speaking very fast or not clearly, but they will help you follow along.
Les Caraïbes / L’Amérique du Sud (The Caribbean/South America)
Many singers in French speaking parts of the Caribbean sing in both French and various Creole languages, which are languages that draw from French and African languages.
–La Compagnie Créole is a popular band whose members are from French Guiana (a French overseas territory in South America), Martinique), and Guadeloupe. Their song “Au bal masqué” (At the Masked Ball) is about Carnaval, which we will learn about in class (and learn this song as well), and their song “Sortons masqués” (“Let’s Go Out with Masks On”) is an update that the band made in light of the Covid-19 pandemic to encourage folks to wear masks out in public.
–T-Vice (Links to an external site.) is a band from Haiti. They sing in French and Haitian Creole.
-Loriane Zacharie is a singer from Martinique.
-Erik is a jazz singer from Guadeloupe. He sings in French and Creole.
-Juliams is a singer from Guadeloupe. He sings in French and Creole.
-Gayah is a singer from French Guiana (a French overseas territory in South America). He sings in French and Guyanese Creole. His song “Ma lettre au monde” (“My letter to the world”) explores his journey as a Guyanese man who moved to mainland France but returns to his roots in French Guiana. The music video is shot in Paris as well as all over French Guiana.
-Priscillia is a singer from French Guiana. Her song “À vie” (“For life”) is a tribute to her brother. You will here her say “Je t’aime” (“I love you”) throughout the video.
-Stevy Mahy and James Germain are singers from Haiti. Their song and music video “Haïti chérie” (“Cherished Haiti”) was recorded not long after the devastating earthquake which occurred in the country in 2010.
-Misié Sadik is a singer from Guadeloupe. His song “Ti papa” (“Little dad” in Creole) is a shout out to all the fathers in Guadeloupe. This song is actually sung entirely in Creole and not in French but I am including it in this playlist because it contains some beautiful scenes of Guadeloupe and its citizens, and you can get subtitles in French to see if you recognize any of the words. In some cases, the Creole words sound very similar to their French translation. The world “Gwada” is said often in the song, which is short for “Guadeloupe.”
L’Afrique
Francophone African artists often sing both in French and in another language that is spoken in their country, such as Arabic (spoken in North Africa) or Pulaar (spoken in Western Africa).
–Khaled (not to be confused with DJ Khaled, who is a different artist) is an incredibly popular singer from Algeria. He sings a genre of music from Algeria called Raï (Links to an external site.), and he sings in both Arabic and English. Although he is not well known in the United States, he is very popular not just in the Arabic speaking world, but in Europe as well.
-Nimy was a contestant on the Francophone African version of The Voice. In his audition he covers the song “Aïcha” by Khaled.
-Magic System is a group from Côte d’Ivoire (Links to an external site.).
–Kids United (Links to an external site.) is a French musical group founded by UNICEF (Links to an external site.).
–Angélique Kidjo (Links to an external site.) is a very popular singer from Benin (Links to an external site.).
–Youssou N’Dour (Links to an external site.) is a popular singer from Senegal (Links to an external site.).
–Black M (Links to an external site.) is a French rapper whose family is originally from Guinea, a French-speaking country in Africa. His song with Youssou N’Dour “Gainde (Les lions)” was the official song of the Senegalese soccer team in the 2018 World Cup. His song with Sidiki Diabaté, “Mama,” sung in French and in Pulaar, is a tribute to his mother and to all mothers in Africa. The video takes you on a tour of several African countries.
-Sidiki Diabaté is a musician from Mali (Links to an external site.).
–Maître Gims (Links to an external site.) is a French-Congolese (Links to an external site.) singer and rapper.
-MHD is a French rapper whose parents are from Senegal (Links to an external site.) and Guinea (Links to an external site.). His music video for “A kele nta,” a tribute to a long time friend who has just gotten married, was shot in Dakar, Senegal.
–Bébé Manga (Links to an external site.) was a singer from Cameroon (Links to an external site.) who was popular in the 1980s. I have also included a dance version cover of her popular song “Amio.”
-Toofan is a group from Togo (Links to an external site.). Their song “Se laver les mains au savon” (“Wash your hands with soap”) encourages kids to practice good hygiene.
–Christophe Maé (Links to an external site.) is a French singer. In his song, “C’est ma terre” (It’s my Earth), he collaborates with singers from Senegal (Links to an external site.), a French-speaking country in Africa. They also sing in Wolof, a language spoken in Senegal. Some of the video is shot in Senegal.
-Ouidad is a French-born singer from Morocco. Her song “Casa” is a tribute to Moroccan culture.
-Missy D is a rapper from Côte d’Ivoire. Her song “Matin, midi, soir” is about being there for important people in your life.
L’Amérique du Nord (North America)
–Céline Dion (Links to an external site.) is an enormously popular singer from the province of Québec (Links to an external site.), Canada. She sings primarily in English now but when she began her career as a young girl she spoke only French and all her songs were in French.
–Coeur de Pirate (Links to an external site.) is a singer-songwriter from Québec (Links to an external site.), Canada.
–Josée Vachon (Links to an external site.) is a folk singer from Québec (Links to an external site.), Canada who has performed at our school several times. She grew up in Maine, so her songs often address her cross-cultural experiences.
–Le Vent du Nord (Links to an external site.) is a folk group from Québec (Links to an external site.), Canada.
–Les frères Balfa (Links to an external site.) were a Cajun (Links to an external site.) folk music group from Louisiana (Links to an external site.).
–Jean-François Breau (Links to an external site.) is a singer from New Brunswick (Links to an external site.), a Canadian province where both French and English are spoken. His song “Les violons d’Acadie” (“The violins of Acadia”) is in a traditional Acadian (Links to an external site.) folk style.
–Marie-Ève Janvier (Links to an external site.) is singer from Québec (Links to an external site.), Canada. With Jean-François Breau, she has recorded covers in French of several famous English language songs.
–Roch Voisine (Links to an external site.) is a singer from New Brunswick (Links to an external site.), Canada. He sings in English and French. His song “La terre promise” (“The promised land”) is a cover of “California Dreamin'” by the Mamas and the Papas.
-Valérie Carpentier is a singer from Québec (Links to an external site.), Canada. She got her start on the French Canadian version of The Voice (Links to an external site.).
-Laurence St-Martin is a country singer from Québec (Links to an external site.), Canada.
–Lara Fabian (Links to an external site.) is a very popular singer originally from Belgium (Links to an external site.) but who has lived in Québec (Links to an external site.) for the last 30 years.
–Natasha St-Pier (Links to an external site.) is a singer originally from New Brunswick (Links to an external site.), Canada. Her song “Tous les acadiens” (“All the Acadians”) pays tribute to her Acadian (Links to an external site.) origins.
-“L’arbre est dans ses feuilles” (“The tree is in its leaves”) is a traditional Cajun song from Louisiana. Click here for lyrics and translation.
–Les Cowboys Fringants are a folk rock group from Québec, Canada.
–Samian (Links to an external site.) is a rapper from northern Québec (Links to an external site.), Canada. He sings in French and Algonquin, a First Nations language. His song “Tshinanu” (“Our People” in Algonquin) is about the plight of the First Nations people in Canada. Although the province of Québec is part of the French-speaking world, Northern Québec is comprised mostly of First Nations people, whose languages differ from French, although some of them speak French as well.
–Kashtin (Links to an external site.) is a folk rock duo from northern Québec (Links to an external site.), Canada, who team up with Samian on the song “Tshinanu.”
–Kelly Bado (Links to an external site.) is a singer from Manitoba (Links to an external site.), which is actually one of the English-speaking provinces of Canada. Because her family is originally from Côte d’Ivoire (Links to an external site.), a French-speaking country in Africa, however, she sings in both English and French.
–Les Soeurs Boulay (Links to an external site.) are a pair of sisters from Québec, Canada.
-Missy D is a rapper from Côte d’Ivoire who lives in Canada. Her song “Matin, midi, soir” is about being there for important people in your life.
L’Europe
French-speaking countries in Europe have many residents with origins in French-speaking countries in Africa in particular, so you will see that cultural influence in some of the songs.
–Claudio Capéo (Links to an external site.) is a French singer and accordion player. The accordion is very popular in traditional French music and Claudio brings a modern twist to the genre.
-Sidoine is also a French singer, who was on a show called Star Academy (Links to an external site.), similar to American Idol.
–Soprano (Links to an external site.) is a French rapper whose family is originally from the Comoros (Links to an external site.), a country off the coast of Africa.
–Mika (Links to an external site.) is a Lebanese (Links to an external site.)-born singer who spent time in France and currently resides in the United Kingdom. He sings songs in both English and French.
–Kids United (Links to an external site.) is a French musical group founded by UNICEF (Links to an external site.).
–Black M (Links to an external site.) is a French rapper whose family is originally from Guinea (Links to an external site.), a French-speaking country in Africa.
–Zaz (Links to an external site.) is a popular French singer.
-Sara’h is a French YouTuber who covers songs in French.
–Tal (Links to an external site.) is an Israeli-French singer.
-Boulevard des airs is a French pop/rock group.
–Leslie (Links to an external site.) is a French singer.
–Ivyrise (Links to an external site.) is a British rock group who sing in English and French. Lead singer Ben Falinski along with Leslie sing a cover of “Je te donne” (“I give to you”), originally sung by popular 80s/90s French rock singer Jean-Jacques Goldman (Links to an external site.).
–Jean-Jacques Goldman (Links to an external site.) is a French pop/rock singer who was popular in the 1980s and 1990s.
–Michael Jones (Links to an external site.) is a Welsh-French singer.
–Fredericks Goldman Jones (Links to an external site.) was a French pop/rock group consisting of Jean-Jacques Goldman, Michael Jones, and American singer Carole Fredericks (Links to an external site.).
–Amir Haddad (Links to an external site.) is an Israeli-French singer. His song “J’ai cherché” (“I searched”) was entered in the Eurovision Song Contest (Links to an external site.) in 2016.
–Amel Bent (Links to an external site.) is a French R&B singer whose parents are from Algeria (Links to an external site.) and Morocco (Links to an external site.), French and Arabic speaking countries North Africa. She got her start on the TV show Nouvelle Star (Links to an external site.), the French version of American Idol, and is now a coach of the French version of The Voice (Links to an external site.).
–Christophe Maé (Links to an external site.) is a French singer. In his song, “C’est ma terre” (It’s my Earth), he collaborates with singers from Senegal (Links to an external site.), a French-speaking country in Africa. They also sing in Wolof, a language spoken in Senegal. Some of the video is shot in Senegal.
-Gary Fico and Léo Rispal are French singers.
–M. Pokora (Links to an external site.) is a popular French singer who is currently a coach on the French version of The Voice (Links to an external site.).
-Axelle was a contestant on the TV show Nouvelle Star (Links to an external site.), the French version of American Idol. She covered the song “Alors on danse” (“So we dance”) by popular Belgian singer Stromae (Links to an external site.).
-Rita was a contestant on the French version of The Voice (Links to an external site.). She covered the song “Non, je regrette rien” (“No, I regret nothing”) by popular classic French singer Édith Piaf (Links to an external site.).
–Édith Piaf (Links to an external site.) was a French singer who was extraordinarily popular in the 1940s and 1950s.
–Théo Sarapo (Links to an external site.) was a French singer who was married to Édith Piaf.
-IGIT is a French singer who got his start on the French version of The Voice (Links to an external site.).
-Florence Coste is a French actress and singer and Julien Dassin is a French singer and the son of popular French singer Joe Dassin (Links to an external site.). They sing a cover of “Sous le ciel de Paris” (“Under Paris Skies”), a classic song originally written in 1951 that has been performed by many French artists over the years.
–Joe Dassin (Links to an external site.) was a popular French singer in the mid-20th century whose song “Aux Champs-Élysées” is about the very famous street in Paris.
–Johnny Hallyday (Links to an external site.) was an incredibly popular French rock singer.
–Charles Aznavour (Links to an external site.) was one of the most successful French singers of all time.
–Stromae (Links to an external site.) is a very popular Belgian (Links to an external site.) singer whose father was from Rwanda (Links to an external site.), a French speaking country in Africa.
-Pentatonix is an American a cappella group who covered Stromae’s song “Papapoutai.”
–Erza Muqoli (Links to an external site.) is a French pop singer and former member of Kids United (Links to an external site.). Click here (Links to an external site.) for lyrics and translation of her song “Je chanterai” (“I will sing”).
-Arcadian is a French pop group. Their song “Danser” (“Dance”) was created during the Coronavirus pandemic to lift people’s spirits despite having to stay home. The video includes clips from people all over France dancing to their song at home. Click here (Links to an external site.) for lyrics and translation.
-Théo Babac (Luther) is a French YouTuber who created this humorous rap video (Baguette) about working in a French boulangerie.
–Keen’V is a French reggae singer. In his song “Quoi qu’il arrive” (“Whatever Happens”), he collaborates with the group Magic System from Côte d’Ivoire (see the Africa playlist above for more from them). His music video for “Tahiti” is shot in French Polynesia, a French territory.
–Kendji Girac (Links to an external site.) is a very popular French singer. In his song “Tiago” he talks about a childhood friend and pays tribute to his Romani (Links to an external site.) roots.
-Et demain le collectif is a group of 350 French artists who banded together in the song “Et demain ?” (“What About Tomorrow?”) in April of 2020 to raise money for la Fondation Hopitaux de Paris during the coronavirus pandemic. Signs saying “Merci” can be seen throughout the video, thanking front line workers and first responders.
–Carla (Links to an external site.) is a French singer who got her start on the French version of The Voice Kids.
–Jean-Louis Aubert is a French singer. His video and song “Du bonheur” (“Happiness”) is meant to lift people’s spirits during the coronavirus pandemic.
–Yannick Noah (Links to an external site.) is a French singer whose father is from Cameroon (Links to an external site.), a French-speaking country in Africa. His song “Aux arbres citoyens” (Links to an external site.) (To the Trees Citizens) is a reference to a line in the French National Anthem. The video depicts four children around the world speaking to leaders in the United Nations about various environmental problems they are facing.
-Nuit Incolore is a Vietnamese-born Swiss singer.
-Julien Canaby is a French singer who competed on Star Academy in 2022.
La musique de Disney et DreamWorks
These are songs from Disney and DreamWorks movies that have been translated into French. In most cases, you will be able to get closed captions in English. You will notice that the lyrics are completely different! That is because when a song gets translated into another language, the lyrics have to change because if they stayed the same, the rhythm of the song would be off and the words wouldn’t rhyme. So, someone carefully rewrites the song in the new language so that it keeps the same flow and rhyme with different words but still retains the essential theme of the original song. This is definitely not something that could be accomplished with Google Translate!
La musique de Noël, de Hanoukka, et de l’hiver (Music of Christmas, Hanukkah, and Winter)
These are songs, some new and some familiar, that are commonly heard in winter. Christmas is widely celebrated in the French-speaking world. Hanukkah is celebrated in some places, but not as widely as Christmas, hence, there aren’t as many Hanukkah songs in French.
D’autres sites – Other Sites
This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as francophone music goes. There are plenty of other ways to discover music, be it through Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, YouTube, or any other source. If you come upon a francophone artist on your own, listen to several of their songs and answer the following two questions as follow up:
1. What is the artist’s name and where are they from (do a little research to find out)?
2. What words did you recognize in their music?
