A musical journey to France

Bonjour! I am currently in Nantes, the sixth-largest city in France. I am here to attend a classical music festival known as La Folle Journée. Held annually since 1995, this year it is dedicated to Beethoven and celebrates the 250th anniversary of his birth. It takes place over five days between the 29th of January and the 2nd of February 2020, and the program features around 250 classical music concerts. I would now like to take the opportunity to take you on a musical journey to France, a country with a rich musical tradition, and the birthplace of some of my favorite composers:

Hector Berlioz (born in the Isère department in southeastern France; 11 December 1803 – 8 March 1869)
Georges Bizet (most famous for his ‘Carmen’; born in Paris; 25 October 1838 – 3 June 1875)
Claude Debussy (born in Paris; 22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918)
Éric Satie (born in Normandy; 17 May 1866 – 1 July 1925)
Maurice Ravel (composer of Boléro; born near Biarritz; 7 March 1875 – 28 December 1937)

As much as I enjoy classical music, I am also a big fan of other genres, such as pop, EDM and indie. For that reason, the soundtrack to this musical journey to France will feature 25 video clips from some of my favorite contemporary French musicians (in alphabetical order).

Air/Nicolas Godin

I’m kicking off my musical journey to France with Air, a duo from Versailles that has been releasing music since the late 1990s. So far, they have released six studio albums; the first one was ‘Moon Safari’ released in 1998, whereas their most recent album ‘Le voyage dans la lune’ was released in 2012. They have also composed the score to ‘The Virgin Suicides’ by Sophia Coppola.

Nicolas Godin, one half of the French electronic music duo, has released several solo projects, including ‘Contrepoint’ inspired by the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. This was followed by the soundtrack to the French series ‘Au service de la France’, and ‘Concrete and Glass’, released only a few days ago.

Boulevard des Airs

Formed in 2004, Boulevard des Airs have released four albums, with their latest ‘Je me dis que toi aussi’ being their highest topping album to date. Their third album ‘Bruxelles’ features their highest topping single ‘Emmène-moi’. All their songs are in French.

Broken Back

Broken Back is the stage name of Jérôme Fagnet, a French musician from Saint-Malo, in Bretagne. So far, he has released two albums, his self-titled debut, and his sophomore ‘Good Days’. All his songs are in English. Inspired by the Greek-born novelist Albert Cohen, Broken Back reminds us that ‘misfortune fathers tomorrow’s happiness’.

Camp Claude

Camp Claude is another French group releasing music in English. So far, they have released two albums, ‘Swimming Lessons’ and ‘Double Dreaming’.

Cats On Trees

Formed in Toulouse, Cats On Trees, first released music in 2013. Their debut single ‘Sirens Call’ remains their highest topping to date. So far, the duo has released two albums, their self-titled debut, and their sophomore ‘Neon’ in 2018. Most of their songs are in English.

Chimène Badi

I have been a fan of Chimène Badi since 2003, when I first heard her song ‘Je vais the chercher’, from her debut album ‘Entre nous‘. So far, she has released 7 studio albums in total, with songs in French. Her sophomore album ‘Dis-moi que tu m’aimes‘ features the song ‘Je viens du sud’, which has such a profound personal significance to me. As a Greek living in the post-Brexit England, the lyrics ‘Je viens du sud/Et par tous les chemins/J’y reviens’ sound now more relevant than ever before.

Christine and the Queens

Born in Nantes, Héloïse Letissier is best known as Christine and the Queens, and more recently simply as Chris. She rose to international prominence in 2016, with the release of the English version of her debut album ‘Chaleur Humaine’. The French edition of ‘Chaleur Humaine’ had already been released in 2014, and it was then when I first came across Christine and the Queens, during one of my trips to France. I remember watching the video clip of her song ‘Tilted’ (or ‘Christine’ as it’s known in French). Since then, Letissier has released her sophomore album ‘Chris’ (both in French and in English) and has performed in the UK quite a few times, including at the legendary Glastonbury Festival in 2016 and again in 2019. I saw her live in London in 2018.

Daft Punk

Formed in 1993, Daft Punk need little introduction. The French electronic music duo has met international success with many of their songs, including ‘One More Time’ and ‘Get Lucky’ which have both topped the charts across the world.

Her

It was in 2017 when I saw this French duo performing live in Leeds. Little did I know then that one of the two members would soon pass away. Their self-titled debut album was released posthumously and features their hit single ‘Five Minutes’. All their songs are in English.

Imany

Born in the south of France, Imany has roots from the Comoros. She has released two studio albums (as well as a live one), with songs in English, and has met international success, including in my home country, Greece, where I saw her live a few years ago. Her debut album ‘The Shape of a Broken Heart’ features the hit single ‘You Will Never Know’, whereas her sophomore ‘The Wrong Kind of War’ features the dance hit ‘Don’t Be So Shy’, which has topped the charts in several countries.

Indila

Born in Paris, Indila is of Algerian, Egyptian, Indian and Cambodian descent, something that is clearly reflected in her music. So far, she has released only one studio album ‘Mini World’, which has been a number one album in France and abroad. It features 10 songs in French, including her international hit ‘Dernière danse’. The latter has also topped the charts around the world, including in my homeland, Greece. Indila has recently released a new song, ‘Parle à ta tête’, and we will hopefully hear more from her soon.

Indochine

Formed in 1981, Indochine have been releasing music since 1982, including 13 studio albums. They have been particularly successful since 2002, when ‘Paradize’, the band’s 9th and best selling album to date, was released. It featured the number one single ‘J’ai demandé à la lune’. Their latest album, ’13’, was released in 2017, and has also topped the charts in France and abroad. Most of their songs are in French.

Jain

Born in Toulouse, and with roots from Madagascar, Jain spent her early years in Dubai, and then in Congo. She sings in English and her music reflects her multi-cultural upbringing. So far, she has released two albums, ‘Zanaka’ and ‘Souldier’.

Julien Doré

I first came across Julien Doré in 2016, during a trip to Paris. That was when I heard his song ‘Le Lac’, which went to number one that year. I have been a fan of his music ever since. So far, he has released four studio albums, with songs in French.

Madame Monsieur

Madame Monsieur are famous for representing France at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018 in Lisbon. I’d already been a fan of theirs by that time, so, I was rather disappointed when their song ‘Mercy’ finished in the 13th place. So far, the duo has released two studio albums, ‘Tandem’ and ‘Vu d’ici’. Most of their songs are in English.

Noir Désir

A band from Bordeaux, Noir Désir have released six studio albums, with songs in French. Their debut ‘Où veux-tu qu’je r’garde?’ was released in 1987, whereas their most recent one, ‘Des visages des figures’, released in 2001, features the still popular single ‘Le vent nous portera’. The band have just released ‘Débranché‘, a live album featuring acoustic versions of their songs.

Papooz

Another French duo singing in English, Papooz, have released two albums so far. Their sophomore ‘Night Sketches’ was released last year.

Part-Time Friends

Part-Time Friends is yet another duo included in my list. So far, they have released two albums, with songs in English. Their debut ‘Fingers Crossed’ features the hit single ‘Here We Are’.

Petit Biscuit

Born to a Moroccan father and a French mother in 1999, Mehdi Benjelloun is best known as Petit Biscuit. He was still a teenager when he released his hit single ‘Sunset Lover’ in 2015. Since then, he has released only one studio album, called ‘Presence’.

Polo & Pan

Another EDM duo, Polo & Pan have released only one studio album so far, called ‘Caravelle’.

Sébastien Tellier

Sébastien Tellier has been releasing music since 2001. In 2008, he represented France at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song ‘Divine’ which finished in the 19th place. At that time, I felt it was quite an unlikely choice for the contest. All the same, the fact that most of the lyrics of the song were in English caused quite some controversy in France. So far, Tellier has released six studio albums, as well as several soundtracks. ‘Sexuality’ remains my favorite.

Tim Dup

It was only recently that I first heard of Tim Dup, and I was instantly hooked. This 25-year-old musician has been releasing music (in French) since 2016. His sophomore album, ‘Qu’en rester t-il?’, has just been released this year.

Tom Leeb

It has recently been announced that Tom Leeb will represent France at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest. Although Tom has already released one studio album, ‘Recollection’ (all the songs are in English), I have to admit I had not heard of him until he was confirmed as the country’s representative at the contest. Having now familiarised myself with his music, I have become a fan.

Further listening

… or to my other musical journeys:

To Greece, Norway, or Iceland

Around Europe

To California

Or, listen to one of my favorite playlists: Air France Music (On Air).

A bientôt!

Alex

(the Traveling Psychiatrist)