How France's songs keep world dreaming of French freedom and glamour
French-language songs are enjoying unprecedented success in non-francophone countries thanks to artists like Stromae, Aya Nakamura, Celine Dion and Edith Piaf. What makes people who don’t speak the language want to listen to them and what do they tell of France and its language? The new International Centre of the French Language outside Paris asks that intriguing question in its opening exhibition.
The Paris Olympics didn’t just showcase sporting prowess and monuments, they also gave huge exposure to songs in French.
Celine Dion arguably stole the opening ceremony with a monumental rendition of Edith Piaf's L'Hymne à l'amour from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Within 24 hours, streamings of the song worldwide were up by more than 300 percent.
Online streaming platforms have helped bring songs in French to new audiences, breaking the language barrier with translations at the ready. French-Malian star Aya Nakamura, who also contributed a memorable performance to the Olympic opener, is now the most streamed French-speaking artist ever.
Nakamura, Dion and Piaf, but also Juliette Gréco, Françoise Hardy, Zaz and many other female artists take centre stage at the exhibition “C’est une chanson qui nous ressemble” (“A song that resembles us”) that looks into the success of popular francophone songs around the world.
The title is taken from the classic Les Feuilles mortes (Autumn Leaves) by Jacques Prévert and Joseph Kosma.
Read more on RFI English
Read also:
A century of Charles Aznavour, storytelling crooner who rewrote the French songbook
Jane Birkin, an English chanteuse who left her mark on French pop
Remembering Juliette Gréco, Grand Dame of la chanson française
