The French Music Scene

October 4, 2007 3:10 AM

What kinds of music are hip French 19 year-olds (or any hip people for that matter) listening to? Who are some popular artists?

A question inspired by a late night session listening to music acquired from friends while on vacation in France. I'm into all kinds of music (hip-hop, Indie Rock, World and electronic etc.) and I don't mind whether it's in English or French.
Thanks in advance for your recommendations!

posted by baserunner73 to media & arts (19 comments total)

It's all in here somewhere.
posted by Wolof at 3:27 AM on October 4, 2007

here are the weekly best-selling singles.

Popular artists are Diams, Superbus, Tokio Hotel, the late Gregory Lemarchal, etc.

Julien Doré and Christophe Willem managed to win the french version of Pop Idol *and* buld something that looks llike a career.

Star Academy (big brother meets pop idol) is a hugely popular program so each year for three months they get substantial airplay.
posted by Baud at 4:22 AM on October 4, 2007

If we are talking about hip French people, then I'm not sure following the top 50 and/or Pop idols is a good idea.

I am 22 and French - but currently live in London and admittedly don't like French music that much- and most of my hip friends either like:

- La "nouvelle scene Francaise", which is mostly "chansons a textes" (songs with texts, meaning there's an accent put on poetry and songwriting).

Check out artists like katerine, Camille, Daphné, Vincent Delerm (I personally hate him, but whatever), Benabar, Olivia Ruiz, Anais, Pauline Croze. Check out this page.

- Electro: You, of course, will know bands like Daft Punk or Air, but you might also check out Justice (although he's now pretty much huge in the UK). One of my favourite singer is Emilie Simon, a cross between a songwriter and electro, think Bjork meeting Feist, in french. She's also a real beauty.

- Hip Hop. I stopped listening to hip hop shortly after NTM (the best-known French hip hop band) disbanded, but there's a lot to be discovered.

And if you don't like Herman dune, well, eh, you're a sucker.

Check sites like Les Inrocks and such for more names.

Good hunting!
posted by Sijeka at 4:42 AM on October 4, 2007

Here's a French streaming site where you can listen to the current top of the charts.

Don't know if I would be considered "hip", but I'm currently listening to Justice a lot. Other artists from the Ed Banger and Institubes labels are really popular in clubs nowadays.
posted by kepano at 4:46 AM on October 4, 2007

Would second Camille, Diams, Olivia Ruiz, Justice - all excellent

Some other recommendations:

Benjamin Biolay (singer songwriter)
MC Solaar (Rap)
Carla Bruni
posted by mattr at 5:04 AM on October 4, 2007

i really like this album. also nthing Camille, who is wonderful.
posted by ascullion at 5:30 AM on October 4, 2007

also - listen to radio nova.
posted by ascullion at 5:31 AM on October 4, 2007

I would recommend having a look around LastFM - you can do a search for a particular artist - such as one of those listed above - and then look to see what else those who are listening to that artist are in to. You can also run a seach to see exactly what a group of French 19 year olds are listening to.
posted by rongorongo at 5:45 AM on October 4, 2007

...Oh - and here is a link to bring up some of those French 19 year olds.
posted by rongorongo at 5:48 AM on October 4, 2007

It may not be very current, but check out Noir Désir. And I'm not sure if anyone actually listens to them, but my favorite french band is Louise Attaque by far.
posted by kiltedtaco at 5:57 AM on October 4, 2007

I'm pretty sure no hip French people listen to Tokio Hotel.

I like TTC and Yelle and the French mp3 blogs Boule a facettes and Fluokids.
posted by snownoid at 6:37 AM on October 4, 2007

Noir Désir is nice but their singer is currently in jail for beating a woman to death which at least for me makes it really hard to enjoy their music.
posted by snownoid at 6:45 AM on October 4, 2007

Radio Nova is good, but perhaps too trendy. It is filled with American soul and funk, a lot of Jimi Hendrix and world music. It is a great station, but I doubt it is like saying "East Village Radio" when you probably would better saying "Kanye."
posted by geoff. at 7:35 AM on October 4, 2007

MC Solaar was hip in, like, the late '90s.

Two bands I'd recommend are Clotaire K, whose album "Lebanese" came out in 2002 (so a little past the hipster expiry date), and Bérurier Noir, whose "Abracadaboum," from 1987 has had a hipster revival.
posted by klangklangston at 8:09 AM on October 4, 2007

Some great (Quebecois) French music:
Numero - J'aime la bourgoisie (vive le rock)
Malajube - Montréal-40ºC
posted by arcticwoman at 8:21 AM on October 4, 2007

While browsing some of the above recommendations I stumbled on Anik Jean. Wow! Highly recommended.
posted by arcticwoman at 8:38 AM on October 4, 2007

Thirding Justice. "D.A.N.C.E." and "We Are Your Friends" with Simian were pretty much the hip songs of the summer...which is over, so they are as well.
posted by Falconetti at 10:04 AM on October 4, 2007

(Meanwhile in the southern hemisphere, as summer swings in Justice does too - delightful)
posted by teststrip at 1:14 PM on October 4, 2007

I find RadioBlagon from Bordeaux good to listen to. No idea if it's hip or not though, not being 19 or French.
posted by ComfySofa at 3:41 PM on October 4, 2007