01
Early 20th century
Chanson & cabaret
Piaf, Mistinguett and Trenet lay the foundations of French song: a strong voice, a clear text and a story.
Listen to France
French music
From chanson to rap, pop and French Touch, music is one of the best ways to hear the rhythm, pronunciation and living vocabulary of French.
6 eras8 artists3 festivals
From chanson to today’s scenes
A quick journey through the voices, movements and sounds that shape the French musical landscape.
02
1960s
Yé-yé & variety
The era of France Gall, Françoise Hardy and Johnny Hallyday brings younger generations closer to a more immediate and melodic French.
03
1970s–1980s
Songwriting tradition
Serge Gainsbourg, Michel Berger and Véronique Sanson turn the song into a poetic, intimate and very literary space.
04
1990s
Francophone rap
IAM, MC Solaar and NTM bring rhythm, urban identity and contemporary vocabulary.
05
1990s–2000s
French Touch
Daft Punk, Air and Justice give France an electronic signature known around the world.
06
Today
Hybrid pop & new scenes
Clara Luciani, Zaho de Sagazan, Juliette Armanet and Aya Nakamura mix strong lyrics, energy and very current French.
Indila · Dernière danse
Stromae · Papaoutai
Easy French · Paris listening practice
Easy French · What the French love about France
Scenes, styles and ways of listening
Four good entry points to understand how French changes depending on the style.
01
Chanson
Lyrics, emotion and storytelling stay at the centre. It is an excellent way to train careful listening.
02
Pop
Clear choruses, modern production and everyday vocabulary: ideal for intermediate learners.
03
Rap
Fast delivery, slang, urban identity and wordplay: great terrain for progressing.
04
Electro
Rhythm, hooks and aesthetics: even with few lyrics, French pop culture is everywhere.
Artists to know
A few very useful names to enter the French-speaking musical universe.
Chanson
Édith Piaf
An iconic Parisian voice and a perfect reference for hearing classic diction.
Yé-yé / pop
France Gall
A bright and melodic gateway into French pop from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Songwriter / pop
Serge Gainsbourg
Irony, poetry and many cultural references for advanced listening.
Rap
MC Solaar
One of the best entries into francophone rap thanks to his articulation and wordplay.
French Touch
Daft Punk
The duo that symbolizes the international side of the modern French scene.
Urban pop
Aya Nakamura
Very current vocabulary, rhythm and a huge impact on the French-speaking scene.
France in concert
Four notable festivals to experience music and French in a real public setting.
La Rochelle
Official website →
Francofolies
A major classic of French-language music, ideal for hearing many artists in one place.
Official website →
Clisson
Official site →
Hellfest
A legendary rock and metal festival, famous for its strong visual identity and international line-up.
Official site →
Brittany
Official website →
Vieilles Charrues
A giant festival with varied stages and audiences from all over France.
Official website →
Paris
Official website →
Rock en Seine
From rock to pop and electro: a good doorway into the contemporary scene.
Official website →
Keep going with music
Three simple ways to turn listening into real progress.
Listen & repeat
Choose a short chorus, play it several times and repeat it aloud to work on pronunciation.
Open the video libraryCollect key words
Write down five words or expressions that return in the song, then reuse them in your own sentences.
Back to lessonsMove into action
After listening, launch a mission or dialogue to reuse French in a real-life context.
See the missions