My dad is a big music fan, songs being his favourite way to recount his childhood and moments that shaped his life. Being lulled to sleep, dragged to the dancefloor or woken up for school with music from Daniel Balavoine or Joe Dassin are amongst my most fond memories. Renaud’s ballads ‘Mistral gagnant’ and ‘Morgane de toi’ (which gave my sister her name) still count as some of my favourite songs of all time.
The more I remember, the more I realise that France did rock some musical bangers. Artists like Shy'm with ‘Et alors !’, Sexion d’assaut with ‘Avant qu’elle parte’ or Amel Bent with ‘Ma philosophie’ were staples of my playlists when I was young.
French music will always bring me to a particular part of my memories which I am so grateful to be able to access so easily. Not as known as ‘La vie en Rose’ by Edith Piaf, these songs are famous at home, linking us closer than any phony ‘republican’ value could ever. It makes me feel much closer to home in those moments when I miss it most.
P.S.: I have mentioned many French artists in this article and I would highly recommend checking them out. Especially if you have a bit of a romanticisation complex. It goes very well with it as you are walking down the streets, thinking of all you have yet to achieve or about the lovers you have once lost.