I can't remember the name of this French singer.
November 11, 2010 9:06 PM Subscribe
Please help me remember the name of this french singer I heard about on NPR in the past month.
I remember that she was a female French singer who is currently very popular in just about every country besides the United States. I suppose you would describe her as a pop musician, though she had a sort of jazzy, crooner-ey sound.
It was probably on Fresh Air or All Things Considered, though I have not been able to find the page on NPR.org.
I remember that she was a female French singer who is currently very popular in just about every country besides the United States. I suppose you would describe her as a pop musician, though she had a sort of jazzy, crooner-ey sound.
It was probably on Fresh Air or All Things Considered, though I have not been able to find the page on NPR.org.
Response by poster: No, I am familiar with both of these artists. This is definitely a contemporary singer. I think this may even be her first album.
posted by AtomicBee at 9:24 PM on November 11, 2010
posted by AtomicBee at 9:24 PM on November 11, 2010
I'm going to go way out on a limb and suggest Les Rita Mitsouko...she sounds like something NPR would pick up and run with, and she does have a pop sound with some jazzy croonyness at times.
If you can think of more details...was she young/old sounding? Raspy vs. smooth voiced? Gritty vs. innocent/sweet lyrics? Romantic? Angsty? Fast-paced pop or slower? Big back-up sound or more a capella?
posted by iamkimiam at 9:25 PM on November 11, 2010
If you can think of more details...was she young/old sounding? Raspy vs. smooth voiced? Gritty vs. innocent/sweet lyrics? Romantic? Angsty? Fast-paced pop or slower? Big back-up sound or more a capella?
posted by iamkimiam at 9:25 PM on November 11, 2010
Response by poster: The story made it sound like she was a young pop singer just putting out her first single/album, though that may be inference on my part and my memory playing tricks on me.
I would say her music was mellow, smooth, somewhat slow and romantic.
posted by AtomicBee at 9:33 PM on November 11, 2010
I would say her music was mellow, smooth, somewhat slow and romantic.
posted by AtomicBee at 9:33 PM on November 11, 2010
Response by poster: Oh, and it might have been a band, not just a solo artist.
posted by AtomicBee at 9:34 PM on November 11, 2010
posted by AtomicBee at 9:34 PM on November 11, 2010
Oops, bad timing, scratch my answer then. I was just going to recommend Alizée too. She released a new album earlier this year and has had some of radio play, according to Wikipedia.
(Link is to older song)
posted by iamkimiam at 9:34 PM on November 11, 2010
(Link is to older song)
posted by iamkimiam at 9:34 PM on November 11, 2010
Camelia Jordana is young and only has one album out.
posted by iconomy at 9:48 PM on November 11, 2010
posted by iconomy at 9:48 PM on November 11, 2010
I was going to suggest Camélia Jordana as well, but I don't think she's popular worldwide.
Maybe you're thinking of Cœur de Pirate? She is actually French-Canadian, but she sings in French and has become popular over the past couple of years.
posted by helios at 9:56 PM on November 11, 2010
Maybe you're thinking of Cœur de Pirate? She is actually French-Canadian, but she sings in French and has become popular over the past couple of years.
posted by helios at 9:56 PM on November 11, 2010
Emily Loizeau? Modern and elegant and fresh.
posted by Rory Marinich at 12:07 AM on November 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Rory Marinich at 12:07 AM on November 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
Could it be Hindi Zahra? She's French-Moroccan and has a "jazzy/crooner-y" sound.
posted by HotPatatta at 12:12 AM on November 12, 2010
posted by HotPatatta at 12:12 AM on November 12, 2010
Dutch not French but there's quite a buzz around her at the moment in Europe: Caro Emerald
posted by ceri richard at 1:26 AM on November 12, 2010
posted by ceri richard at 1:26 AM on November 12, 2010
When you said French artist with a jazzy-ish sound popular everywhere but the US, my mind went straight to Patricia Kaas, though she has been around for years, so that may not be the one you're trying to find.
posted by 1901gunner at 4:33 AM on November 12, 2010
posted by 1901gunner at 4:33 AM on November 12, 2010
If the answer is not Françoiz Breut then it should be. She is absolutely wonderful.
posted by slogger at 7:07 AM on November 12, 2010
posted by slogger at 7:07 AM on November 12, 2010
Also, if you can provide the name of the NPR show on which you heard it, that might help with a search of the NPR archives. They're pretty good about listing all the artists they cover on their site, even the little musical lifts between news stories on Morning Edition.
posted by slogger at 7:10 AM on November 12, 2010
posted by slogger at 7:10 AM on November 12, 2010
Melody Gardot isn't French (she's from Philly), but she's been featured on NPR occasionally for the past couple years, and she's had most of her success in Europe, including a platinum album in France, which, along with her French-sounding name, might lead one to believe she's from that country.
posted by ocherdraco at 7:16 AM on November 12, 2010
posted by ocherdraco at 7:16 AM on November 12, 2010
Here's an NPR story about Charlotte Gains. Here's another story that mentions Ana Tijoux.
Okay, I'll stop now.
posted by slogger at 7:18 AM on November 12, 2010
Okay, I'll stop now.
posted by slogger at 7:18 AM on November 12, 2010
Response by poster: Well I don't think anyone has found the artist I was looking for, but all of your suggestions are just as good. Thank you!
posted by AtomicBee at 8:54 AM on November 12, 2010
posted by AtomicBee at 8:54 AM on November 12, 2010
I recall this, I am pretty sure her name / nickname started with Z.
posted by Earl the Polliwog at 1:15 PM on November 12, 2010
posted by Earl the Polliwog at 1:15 PM on November 12, 2010
Best answer: I recall this, I am pretty sure her name / nickname started with Z.
Then maybe it's Zaz?
posted by acidic at 4:28 PM on November 12, 2010
Then maybe it's Zaz?
posted by acidic at 4:28 PM on November 12, 2010
Best answer: You're sure it's not Hindi Zahra? There's a Z in there! A search shows she was featured on The World, which is carried by many NPR stations.
From the segment:
"...today we take you to Paris by way of Morocco, or perhaps Morocco by way of Paris. Hindi Zahra’s debut mixes jazz and blues with a generous measure of Moroccan folk music and a few dashes of funk."
If you're not able to find the singer you're looking for, it sounds like your description of her makes Zahra a good alternative.
posted by HotPatatta at 6:09 PM on November 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
From the segment:
"...today we take you to Paris by way of Morocco, or perhaps Morocco by way of Paris. Hindi Zahra’s debut mixes jazz and blues with a generous measure of Moroccan folk music and a few dashes of funk."
If you're not able to find the singer you're looking for, it sounds like your description of her makes Zahra a good alternative.
posted by HotPatatta at 6:09 PM on November 12, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: It was Zaz!
HotPatatta gets a best answer also for pointing out that The World is not on NPR's website.
Thanks again to everyone else; I asked this question to find more music like the suggestions offered.
posted by AtomicBee at 8:37 AM on November 13, 2010
HotPatatta gets a best answer also for pointing out that The World is not on NPR's website.
Thanks again to everyone else; I asked this question to find more music like the suggestions offered.
posted by AtomicBee at 8:37 AM on November 13, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Hail-Mary guess: Madeleine Peyroux?
posted by hattifattener at 9:16 PM on November 11, 2010