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So I'm trying to boost my French listening comprehension before I spend a couple of months there this summer. One aspect of my training regimen is to switch at least some of my music listening over to French artists and songs. However I have no no idea what to listen to. I figure it's kind of a long shot that many people on here have ideas or preferences, but my knee-jerk reaction to a situation like this is to ask Hatrack . In terms of style, I'm not the biggest fan of hip-hop or rap, but other than that I'm really open to anything.
ETA: Thinking about it, my title could also be referring to good music of any sort to listen to while learning French. Which could also be helpful, if no one knows any actual French artists or songs. Posts: 2827 | Registered: Jul 2005
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I had real problems trying to find good (i.e. stuff I didn't actually hate) music in French when I was learning. I quite liked the soundtrack to the musical 'Notre Dame de Paris' and I seem to remember that there were some Canadian artists who had more of a rock/pop sound.
If you're more into quiet contemplative stuff, I remember Keren Ann is that kind of singer. (And there's also always the first lady of France, for that kind of thing.)
I don't want to be a downer, but the lack of good music was one of the reasons I was relieved to move on to learning Spanish.
Posts: 1528 | Registered: Nov 2004
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Francoise Hardy is a good place to start. I recommend you make a radio station on spotify based on her, and that should give you plenty to work with.
Posts: 2705 | Registered: Sep 2006
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The french singer/songwriter Raphaël has some good songs. I recommend "Peut-Etre A-T-Il Reve?" and "Et Dans 150 Ans" both of which are on the Caravane album. He's a crooner and has a pop-style. Unfortunately, the few songs of his on youtube are blocked in the US.
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If you happen to like musicals, maybe get soundtracks of ones you already know in French? That might make it easier to pick up on things, if you already have a general idea of what they're saying.
(Plus I think the fact that they're telling a story would help me. Oh! How about French books on tape for books you've already read in English?)
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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I'm listening to Chanson pour l'Auvergnat by Juliette Greco right now and highly recommend it.
Posts: 2705 | Registered: Sep 2006
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If you like something with a little more ethnic flava, I'm a big fan of Raï music. Some of their collaborations are partly in French, like this one and this one from Cheb Mami and this track, one of my favorite classics from Cheb Khaled and IAM.
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. In terms of style, I'm not the biggest fan of hip-hop or rap, but other than that I'm really open to anything. 
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