French music

The music of France reflects a wide variety of styles. In the field of classical music, France has produced several prominent romantic composers, while folk and popular music has seen the rise of the chanson and cabaret style. The world’s first known sound recording device, the phonograph, was patented in France by Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville in 1857. France is also the fifth largest market by value in the world, and its music industry has produced many artists. Internationally renowned, especially in new song and electronic music.

The history of French music dates back to the organ in the 10th century, followed by the Notre Dame School, a style of organ composition. Troubadour songs of chivalry and courtly love were composed in the Occitan language between the 10th and 13th centuries, and the Trouvère poet-composers flourished in northern France during this period. The violin was his favorite instrument. In the late 12th century, a form of song called a motet emerged, accompanied by itinerant musicians called jongleurs. In the 14th century, France produced two notable musical styles, Ars Nova and Ars Subtilior.

Seventeenth-century French music was heavily influenced by the rationalist aesthetics of classicism, which demanded taste, balance between beauty and truth, clarity of purpose, and harmony of composition. Classicism, which developed simultaneously with the Baroque style, received full expression in France in the 17th century.

The French Revolution brought enormous changes to all areas of music. Music becomes an integral part of all the events of the revolutionary era, acquiring social functions that contributed to the establishment of mass genres -songs, hymns, marches and others-.

The world’s first known sound recording device, the phonograph, was patented in France by Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville in 1857. France is also the fifth largest market by value in the world, and its music industry has produced many artists. internationally renowned, especially in nouvelle chanson and electronic music.

Its most popular musical genres are: Gregorian, classical, opera, folk, chanson, nouvelle chanson, cancan, musette, cabaret, popular, yéyé, pop, jazz, rock, hip hop, house, electronic and Celtic.

French music song charts

Spotify Playlists

In the following player you will be able to listen to the best old French music as long as you are connected to Spotify in the browser. You can also open it in the app by clicking the icon on the right.

(LIST) French early music

(TOP-10) Typical, traditional, folk music of France

Aside from old French songs, you can also find the following:

Theme	followers	Browser	Spotify
Pop 2020′	37,900
Accordion / Bohemian	2,000
1920′	7,900
2010′	14,600
Classical music	18,200
Rap	23,700
1960-70-80′	400
provence	600
Quiet music	4,200
hardcore	32,500

Youtube videos

Hours and hours of French songs. All on Youtube, so you can enjoy them for free whenever you want.

(LIST) Best current songs

(LIST) Historical French songs

(TOP-10) French songs

The most successful videos on Youtube of the best French artists.

Theme	Reproductions	Youtube
Yann Tiersen – Comptine d’Un Autre Été	33,500,000
Edith Piaf – Non, Je ne regrette rien	78,500,000
Alizee – Moi Lolita	117,400,000
Serge Gainsbourg (ft. Jane Birkin) – Je T’aime… Moi Non Plus	26,300,000
Daft Punk – Get Lucky	496,000,000
Modjo – Lady	99,200,000
Stromae – Alors On Danse	206,000,000
Charles Aznavour – La Bohème	17,500,000
Bob Sinclar – Love Generation	116,800,000
David Guetta (ft. Sia) – Titanium	1,236,000,000

(TOP-5) Mix videos (>20 min.)

A bit of everything, compilations in a single video from different categories.

Theme	Reproductions	Youtube
Ancient	8,000,000
1930-40′	4,400,000
Accordion	3,900,000
baroque classical	800,000
revolutionary	600,000