Written by Bri LaMere. Graphic by Ananya Panchal.
There was no doubt in my mind that I would study French when it came time to pick a language class in middle school. My aunts can speak French, my last name is French, why wouldn’t I give it a try? I was pretty okay at it, and graduated high school with a certificate that alleges I’m bilingual. I suppose I can make my way around France or Quebec, as long as the locals don’t talk too fast.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance this year reminded me that although my bilingual skills might not be as sharp as they once were, if the flow of a song hooks me, I can learn the meaning of the lyrics later.
I find myself more frequently hitting play on top hits from French speaking countries this spring. Here’s a list of songs that have the perfect vibe to space out to the catchy beat of:
- “Je Veux [I Want]” by Zaz.
An upbeat saxophone line carries through the song, and Zaz’s strong vocals catch my attention right away. My worlds collided when I heard it on the radio at a shop in Paris in 2023.
- “Sommeil [Sleep]” by Stromae
Stromae stands out as a French artist who connects with the United States by touring with his albums here. The lyrics of “Sommeil” talk about not getting sleep actually, even though the word is repeated frequently.
- “Le Festin [The Feast]” by Camille, Michael Giacchino
While I had to listen to this song in French class and decode the lyrics, most people relate this song with the Pixar movie, Ratatouille. The instrumentals sound playfully French and sound like the background music to European-cobblestone streets.
- “Je suis chez moi [I am at Home]” by Black M
My favorite music is upbeat rap, and I ended up listening to this song everyday for months. The music video explains it best, but Black M comments on the disparaging actions of the French towards refugees and immigrants from Guinea.
- “Au Bord de l’eau [At the Water’s Edge]” by de Palmas
A low brass sound starts and you’re blasted to a walk by the sea. De Palmas has a crystal voice that makes you listen to every word, even if you don’t speak French.
- “Le Dernier Jour du Disco [The Final Day to Dance]” by Juliette Armanet
I heard this song walking past a restaurant in Montreal in 2022, which proved the timeliness of my foreign music taste yet again. The song’s dramatic ups and downs make me want to dance on roller skates.
- “Karim et le loup [Karim and the Wolf]” by Karim Ouellet
Ouellet released many introspective songs before his untimely death. The folklore aspect of how he interacted with a wolf is interesting in this song.
- “Quand on n’a que l’amour [When you Have Only Love]” by Catherine Major
Listen, I’m not a sappy song person, but Major’s voice is strong and left me wanting more of her music when I heard this brooding love song.
- “Deux p’tits rois [Two Little Kings]” by Allô Fantôme
The chill melody with matching piano backgrounds remind me of a Broadway musical. Two little kings living their journeys together.
- “Copilote [Copilot]” by FouKi, Jay Scott
A feel-good song about companionship through everything, bridged with some lyrics in English. It adds a Bad Bunny-flair to the song and makes monolingual people tune in to see if they can decipher anything else.
Listen to the best of French Class here.
