french language music

[caterpillar]

can anyone recommend me some decent music in french? my tastes are pretty diverse so anything will do really, but preferably rock/indie or hip-hop.
thanks!

[cancross]

Noir Desir makes interesting stuff. Though the lead singer just got out of jail aftter a controversial conviction for manslaughter. Controversial in that many wanted him to have a stiffer sentence.

[delboy3]

Have a listen to some French radio:

http://www.listenlive.eu/france.html

Don't know what to recommend, but there's plenty of hip-hop & rock stations listed.

[nocturnalme]

Stereolab have some French members, do some stuff in French.

[jen78]

Long time since I was over there but the people I stayed with when working there listened to Celine Dion, Roch Voisine (http://www.rochvoisine.com/) and Francis Cabrel.

More "easy listening" though.

They did have a version of top of the opos on a Saturday morning so may be an idea to see if it's downloadable on YouTube etc...

Max may be able to help more if you can get her on here, if I see her I'll point her over here.

[jen78]

Well known soundtracks in french can also help as they stick in your brain.

The Lion King soundtrack was big when I was over there and I probably know it better in french then english now.

[soozmac]

MC Solaar is pretty good. The comment about soundtracks is right - hunt out the Man Bites Dog one, which I think Solaar did (just don't watch the film, it's rubbish).

Have a look at this Amazon list:

http://www.amazon.com/French-Hip-hop-albums-av ailable-Amazon/lm/25N9F5XSFVNGP

Of course, probably some of them sing en anglais.

[soozmac]

actually, I'm not sure that it was MC Solaar who did that soundtrack.... I'm sure someone will correct me.....

[lil'frog]

Dinoysos are my favourite - very eccentric and arty, with influences ranging from the Pixies to Tim Burton or Salvador Dali. They have some songs/lyrics in English, but really it is their French material which showcases their style the best. I would say their most approachable album is "Western sous la neige" (which was produced by legend Steve Albini). Check out this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdSbSBROdnk for a little taste of it.

Indochine is an older band (they started in the 80s with some new wave hits) but their recent stuff is definitely very modern and with the album "Paradize" (2002) they became a staple of French music all over again. Their most energetic songs have a very punk/electro vibe - although I like that, I prefer the mellow side of them, which I find just plain sweet and charming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_vYYb7S6qI

Other bands of interest include Noir Desir (mentionned before) who were THE French rock band of the late 90s - and despite the scandals it still sounds great, very clever and politically engaged: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8Z549GKkeM . You should probably also check out Louise Attaque - they split up in 2001 I think, but their style was original, mixing modern and traditional music. The result is not to everybody's taste (I personally love it) but they're worth looking up for the quality of their lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0emXuhPTWUM. Same goes for Matmatah who mixed up modern rock and celtic music from their native Britanny: https://www.youtube.com/

[lil'frog]

I' ve been living in the UK for a few years now so I am not sure what 'new' bands are popular at the moment in my country but I know of a few solo artists like Benabar or Kali who won music awards for their lyrics and originality.
This is all rock/indie stuff by the way, I am not the hip-hop type :p

[lil'frog]

My first answer was too long :( Here's the last link that got cut off: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBVanW04l74