Have you ever considered that some of the bands or singers you listen to in English, might, in fact, be French? Some French singers would rather write and perform in English for personal or cultural reasons, or because they wish to reach a wider audience. Just like David Guetta, the French DJ who tours all around the world, here are 10 singers, DJs and bands who are francophone.
Yes, These Singers Are French!
Manu Chao
Well known for his singles “Clandestino” and “Me Gustas Tu”, Manu Chao might be confused with a Spanish or South American singer. Yet, he was born in Paris! Thanks to his Spanish parents and their social group coming from all over Latin America, he was raised in both cultures.
At the end of the 90s and beginning of 2000s, Manu Chao’s songs were a hit in France, but also in Europe and in Quebec. Nowadays, the artist is much more discreet. He stopped recording studio albums, but travels all around the world to sing in festivals.
Jain
Jain was born in Toulouse, but travelled the world to follow the professional requirements of her father. She lived three years in Dubai, four years in Congo-Brazzaville and a year in Abu Dhabi. Her Madagascan origins and her various travels influenced her musical style. It allowed her to create her unique artistic and vocal sound, between pop, electronic music, reggae and music of the world.
Her most successful songs are “Come” (you might have heard it in the Netflix show “Santa Clarita Diet”), “Makeba” and “Alright”.
Daft Punk
Do they really need an introduction? This French electronic music duo was formed in Paris in 1993. You might not know their faces (since they always wear robot helmets in public or on stage), but surely you know their hits “One More Time” and “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger”. These songs could be heard everywhere at the beginning of 2000s.
More recently, they released “Get Lucky” featuring Pharrell Williams”, and appeared on two songs from The Weeknd, “Starboy” and “I Feel It Coming”.
Skip The Use
Skip the Use is a French band founded in 2008. The band members are from Ronchin, a city near Lille, in France. Their music has a mix of electro funk, rock and punk influences. They released three albums between 2009 and 2014, but separated in 2016. Yet, the lead singer, Mat Bastard, announced in May 2018 that he was working on a new album with another member of the band, Yan Stefani.
Some of their most popular titles are “Give Me Your Life”, “Ghost” and “Nameless World”.
Phoenix
Phoenix is an indie pop band from Versailles, France. After a good first album, it’s thanks to their second album “Alphabetical” (including the singles “Run Run Run” and “Everything Is Everything”), released in 2004, that they reach more mainstream success. You might know the song “1901”, which was featured in various movies and TV shows like “Gossip Girl”, “Melrose Place”, “The Vampire Diaries” and “Hellcats”.
The band is still going strong and they released a sixth album, Ti Amo, in June 2017.
Kungs
Kungs, is a French DJ born in Toulon. He chose his stage name while searching for the translation of “gentleman” in various languages. Indeed, Kungs means “mister” in Latvian. He gained fame on Soundcloud and Youtube thanks to various remixes. He released his first album “Layers” in 2016.
You might have seen him in various festivals like Tomorrowland, We Are Electric, Lollapalooza, Îlesoniq Festival, Festival des Vieilles Charrues, Main Square Festival and Coachella.
Milk & Bone
Milk & Bone is a Canadian electro pop duo based in Montreal. The two girls, Laurence Lafond-Beaulne and Camille Poliquin, met when they were music students. Their debut album “Little Mourning” was released in 2015, and their second album, “Deception Bay” in 2018. Their lyrics are touching, their voices really ethereal, and it’s easy to be swept into their universe.
Rilès
Rilès is a French-Algerian rapper, songwriter, composer and record producer from Rouen, who became famous through Youtube. In September 2016, he decided to release a song every week, for one year during what was called the “Rilèsundayz” project. You might know his songs “Brothers”, “Thank God” and “ I Do It”.
He went on tour in France, Belgium, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and performed twice in a sold-out Bataclan. He’s one of the French singers to follow!
Kaytranada
Born in Port-au-Prince in Haiti, Kaytranada was then raised in Montreal. He began to DJ at the age of 14 under the name Kaytradamus. He changed his stage name to Kaytranada in 2012. In 2015, Kaytranada opened for two nights of Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour, one in Canada (in Vancouver) and one in the United States (in Detroit).
In 2016, he released his first studio album, 99,9%.
Arcade Fire
Arcade Fire is a Canadian indie rock band from Montreal, consisting of Win Butler and Régine Chassagne (who are husband and wife), along with Win’s brother William Butler, Richard Reed Parry, Tim Kingsbury and Jeremy Gara. They became famous in 2004, when they released their first album “Funeral”, which included the titles “Rebellion (Lies)” and “Wake Up”.
Even if their fifth album, “Everything Now”, didn’t have the expected success in the United States (the band had trouble selling tickets for their U.S tour), they had a warm welcome in Europe.
Do you know other English-speaking artists, who are in fact French singers? Of course, their songs are not a good way to learn French…. But these French singers (singing in French) might help you!
What are your favorite French singers?
