A Journey Through French Chanson
Good evening, everyone ! We are so happy to share this moment with you and take
you on a little journey through French chanson.
Let us introduce ourselves: I am Coralie, your singer for the evening.
​
And here is Aurélien, our talented guitarist.
French chanson has a long and rich history, and tonight, we’ll travel through some of its golden years.
In the 1920s and ’30s, French music was shaped by the cabarets of Paris and the sound of the accordion, think smoky cafés, dancing couples, and songs about everyday life.
It was the golden age of “la chanson réaliste”, raw, emotional songs about real life, love and struggle.
The ’40s and ’50s brought voices like Édith Piaf and Charles Trenet, with poetic, emotional songs often born from war, loss, and love.
In the ’60s, chanson started mixing with jazz, rock, and pop, with artists like Françoise Hardy, Michel Legrand, Gainsbourg and Charles Aznavour pushing the boundaries.
But it was the time of great lyricists, songwriters who crafted real poetry, such as Brel, Brassens, Gainsbourg, Barbara…
From romantic ballads to cheeky tunes, French chanson is all about telling a story, with elegance, humor, and a lot of feeling.
Introduction: Paris, Music, and Emotions
Let’s start in Paris, the heart of chanson.
♪ "Sous le ciel de Paris" (1951)
Paris has always been a muse for musicians and poets. This song, composed for a film of the same name, became a true anthem of the city, recorded by both Montand and Piaf.
Love, the French way: between passion and nostalgia
Now, a few songs about love… because this is France, after all !
♪ "La vie en rose" (1946) – Édith Piaf
This song is perhaps the most iconic French chanson worldwide. Written by Piaf after the WWII, it carries a universal message of love and hope.
♪ "Jardin d’hiver" (1999, in a 1950s style) – Henri Salvador
A more recent song that could have been written decades earlier. Inspired by bossa nova, it creates a soft and nostalgic dreamlike atmosphere.
♪ "Que reste-t-il de nos amours" (1942) – Charles Trenet
Trenet was a true poet of song. This one is filled with melancholy and elegance, and became famous internationally thanks to its English adaptation *I Wish You Love*.
♪ "Il venait d’avoir 18 ans" (1973) – Dalida
He had just turned 18 in english
A poignant ballad about an impossible and fleeting love, full of bittersweet nostalgia.
Dalida’s deep, emotional voice gives this song a haunting beauty.
Bohemia and free spirits
Time to meet the dreamers, the misfits, the bohemians, our favorite people.
♪ "La bohème" (1965) – Charles Aznavour
Aznavour takes us to Montmartre, where artists dream of fame and love. This song is a tribute to passion and the passing of time.
♪ "Mon pot’ le gitan" (1954) – Jacques Verrières
A heartfelt song celebrating the free-spirited gypsy world and the friendship between outsiders. In 1953, on the death of Django Reinhardt, Jacques Verrières wrote that song in tribute to this great musician.
♪ "Accordéon" (1962) – Gainsbourg
The theme is about the life of a street singer whose best companion is an accordion.
It’s a French musette walz song, recorded as a single in 1962 by Juliette Greco.
Accordéon by Juliette Greco
​
Jazz & American influences
A little jazz, a little swing, when Paris flirts with New York.
♪ "Nuages" (1940) – Django Reinhardt
A masterpiece of jazz manouche (gypsy jazz) composed by the great Django. Its
hauntingly beautiful melody has charmed audiences around the world.
♪ "For Me Formidable" (1964) – Charles Aznavour
A charming and playful bilingual song, blending French elegance with a crooner-style swing.
​
Excerpt from the Paris Olympic Games ceremony :“For me Formidable” par Aya Nakamura
♪ "Comment te dire adieu" (1968) – Françoise Hardy and Serge Gainsbourg
With its clever lyrics and delicate rhythm, this song represents the perfect blend of French pop and Anglo-Saxon musical influences.
Poetry in music
These next songs are all about words, moods, and quiet beauty.
♪ "Chanson d’un jour d’été" (1967) – Michel Legrand
from the Jacques Demy’s movie Les Demoiselles de Rochefort, A delicate song that
captures the fleeting beauty of a summer’s day.
It’s a film filled with romance, music, and spectacular dance sequences, where
every character is searching for their destiny—often just missing it by a few seconds.
♪ "Chanson de Dephine" (1967) – Michel Legrand & Jacques Demy
A dreamy and romantic melody from Les Demoiselles de Rochefort, where
Catherine Deneuve sings about the man she imagines and hopes to meet one day.
Excerpt from the original soundtrack of the film : “Chanson de Delphine”
♪ "Les moulins de mon cœur" (1968) – Michel Legrand
Originally composed for The Thomas Crown Affair, this melody has captivated audiences with its poetic beauty.
♪ "Les feuilles mortes" (1945) – Jacques Prévert & Joseph Kosma
A song that became a worldwide standard (Autumn Leaves), with lyrics by poet Jacques Prévert and a melody by Joseph Kosma.
Les feuilles mortes par Yves Montand (live in Olympia 1974)
♪ "Syracuse" (1962) – Henri Salvador
A dream of distant lands and oceans, brought to life by Salvador’s smooth voice.
Paris, realism, and popular life
Paris isn’t just romance, it’s also mornings, markets, and real people.
♪ "La complainte de la butte" (1955) – Cora Vaucaire
Written by Jean Renoir for the movie French Cancan, this song evokes the poetic and melancholic charm of the old Montmartre.
Youtube link
La complainte de la Butte par Cora Vaucaire
♪ "Il est 5 heures, Paris s’éveille" (1968) – Jacques Dutronc
A vivid, ironic, and poetic portrait of Paris waking up at dawn.
♪ "Padam" (1951) – Édith Piaf
A waltz that tells the story of a melody that haunts a woman’s life—a song that seems to follow her everywhere. These loving memories made her heart beat "padam, padam, padam”. Padam also alludes to Paname (Paris in Parisian slang)
from her Parisian life
♪ "Milord" (1959)
Written by Georges Moustaki and sung by Edith Piaf. This song tells the poignant story of a prostitute who falls in love with a wealthy traveler.
Humor and fantasy in chanson
French songs can be dramatic… but also a bit crazy. Enjoy the fun !
♪ "Les cactus" (1966) – Jacques Dutronc
A playful rock song full of irony, proving that French chanson can also be fun and
sarcastic.
Youtube link
Les Cactus par Dutronc
♪ "La bague à Jules" (1956) – Patachou
A playful little tune made famous by the great singer Patachou, in the spirit of post-
war French chanson.
♪ "Le petit bal perdu" (1961) – Bourvil
A nostalgic and poetic waltz, beautifully evoking lost loves and vanished times.
♪ "Les copains d’abord" (1964) – Georges Brassens
An ode to friendship, sung with Brassens inimitable mix of poetry and simplicity.
Les copains d’abord par Brassens
A grand finale !
Let’s end with the classics, the songs that make you love France forever.
♪ "C’est si bon" (1947) – Yves Montand / Louis Armstrong
A song about the joy of life, seducing international audiences with its irresistible melody.
♪ "Amant de Saint-Jean" (1942) – Lucienne Delyle
A romantic waltz about an impossible love, one of the great classics of the bals musette.
Mon amant de Saint Jean par Lucienne Delyle
♪ "La foule" (1957) – Édith Piaf
A song with a thrilling rhythm, telling the story of a fleeting, passionate encounter in the middle of a crowd.
♪ "Ne me quitte pas" (1959) – Jacques Brel
A heartbreaking plea for love, and one of the most powerful ballads in chanson
history.
Ne me quitte pas par Jacques Brel
♪ "La mer" (1946) – Charles Trenet
A magnificent closing piece, Trenet’s hymn to the beauty of the sea, full of poetry
and light. Known in English with the title “Beyond the sea”.