The reason I became interested in French was honestly because of its music. I’d really never thought about the rich culture and history that it had until I was about to take French class. I’ve always been big on music, taking my ipod with me wherever I go and constantly changing favorites. Punk rock one year, Korean pop the next, classical music and techno during different seasons, and then one day, upbeat French music.
It started with Yelle’s A cause de Garcon, who I feel is France’s Lady Gaga only with more of a techno beat then pop. Her music, from what I’ve listened to, always seems to be really upbeat, fun, and in a way, loud. All kinds of sounds are combined in her music, which can easily be seen in her latest single, Safari Disco Club, where it starts out with what sounds like cans, then electronic noises, and drums, until it all combines into this really electronic upbeat dance ryhtm. Actually, I have to admit, I’m disappointed in that song, but I love Que Veux Tu from her new album (so I recommend that one and tons of her older music). Anyways, on top of her really unique sounds, all of her videos have spots of color everywhere and her outfits are often outrageous or extremely creative. The videos are fun to watch and the music fun to listen, or dance, to.
I also did sometimes listen to Les Shades, but their music was always really different and unique. Every song had a different feel to it, so I admired them for what they did, but didn’t often go searching for them unless I was in the mood. Their somewhat latest song though, A l’Horizon, which is so completely different from their style that it shocked me. It seems they finally caved in to their companies demands, for its missing all the rock they had in it before, has a constant electronic background beat, and is really upbeat with a type of cutesy sound to the chorus. Strangely enough, it made me realize how much I missed their old music for being what it was, different. Though I will mention that the lyrics for their song, C'est la guerre (This is War), is really beautiful and witty to me.
If they were to cave into any type of sound to follow, I would've loved for Les Shades to have gone with the sounds from their song Electrique. Upbeat rock with a crazy type of feel to it. Lots of energy and rhythm in everything. In a way, one could say it's overwhelming until the singer starts, his voice mellowing everything out as they all mix together. That was one song that was always on my French playlist, unlike the rest of their songs.
I also sometimes listened to Plastiscines, but their lead singers voice was strangely a bit too deep to me at times so it wasn't something I constantly listened to. However, when I was in the right mood and didn't mind her voice, I adored their beat. It was the same type of feel as Les Shades, an upbeat rock feel with lots of energy. My favorite from them being Pas Avec Toi which is very much rock in that one.
My most favorite French band ever though is BB Brunes. I'm not sure exactly what it is about their music, but I just love everything. The lead singers voice is ridiculously attractive to me and the beats they have in all their songs have something about it that lures me to it. The rock rhythm is somehow really upbeat and meshes extremely well with his voice. Either way, whatever it is that I love about it, I do and I recommend my most favorite by them Dis Moi.
BB Brunes also now has an english album, which I'm not sure yet how I feel about it. I still love his voice, I think that'll always be sexy no matter what language he's speaking, but the beat seems a bit different from what I feel they have in French. It seems somehow, a bit more mellow so far, but we'll see if it changes as I listen to it more.
Anyways, that's my little random bit for the day!
