Fun tip – if you click on the name of the artists, this will take you to a page with the youtube videos of their most famous songs!
Stromae was born as Paul Van Haver on March 12, 1985. He is a Belgian singer-songwriter who is known for his hip hop and electronic music. Alors on danse was the song that brought him international fame by jumping to number one in several European countries. He was born to a Flemish mother and Rwandan father who was mostly absent during his childhood and was later killed in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. He was influenced by his mother to get into music and the rest is history. For more information on Stromae, click here.
Edith Piaf was born December 19, 1915. She rose to fame as a French cabaret singer who then came to be known as France’s national diva and one of France’s greatest international stars. Most of her songs are autobiographical and reflect on how love, loss, and sorrow all were crucial during her life. Her most well known songs are La Vie en Rose, Non, je ne regrette rien, Hymne a l’amour, Milord, et La Foule. Apart from her songs, most of her life is left to mystery. Her mother abandoned her at birth and she was left to life with her grandmother who ran a brothel. As she grew older, she joined her father in his acrobatic street life and moved around until she was discovered in 1935 by a nightclub owner. At the age of 47, she died due to liver cancer, but she certainly left her mark in this world. To learn more, click here.
Coeur de Pirate is a Candadien singer-songwriter born September 22, 1989. While she sings mostly in French, she has produced a few songs in English. She has been credited with bringing French songs to a whole new generation of Quebec youth. At the age of only 3, she began playing piano and then at the age of 9 she entered into the school of music of Quebec in Montreal. She released her debut album in 2008 and has been a hit since. For more information on Coeur de Pirate, click here
Charles Aznavour is a well-known French and Armenian singer, songwriter, actor, public activist, and diplomat. Aznavour is fmaous for his unique tenor voice that is clear while exhibiting profoundly low notes. He has written more than 1,200 songs and has sung in seven languages making him one of France’s most popular singers. He has even been dubbed to be France’s Frank Sinatra, although we can’t promise he also has blue eyes. For more information on this renowned singer, click here.
Charles Trenet is a French singer most famous for his recordings occupying the 1930s to the 1950s. During this time, it was unusual for singers to write their own material, but he persevered while declining a record but his own to publish his songs. For more information, click here.
Francoise Hardy is not only a popular singer, but she is a popular actress and figure in fashion. She grew up in a separated family and while her father contributed very little to her life, he was convinced to buy her a guitar beginning her music career. Throughout her career, she was inspired by Charles Trenet and others and eventually she answered a newspaper advertisement that was looking for young singers. She quickly rose to fame and is known for singing in French, English, Italian, Spanish, German, and even Portuguese in one of her renditions. Ironically, Hardy is a very shy individual and still remains shy to this day. For more information on Francoise Hardy, click here.
Note: These are just a few artists selected by Administration.
Check out the 50 French songs buzzfeed thinks you should know!
http://www.buzzfeed.com/alix/french-songs-you-should-know#.xoJQ681lK
that was awesome