Learn French Through Music with ACCORD Paris: French Pop-Rock
Many French rock bands chose to sing in English, hoping to reach an international audience. But some choose to do the opposite: writing and recording in French, even if it meant staying largely unknown beyond our borders. And that’s exactly what makes their catalogue so valuable to you, these are songs written in French, playing on words with expressions and vocabulary that are genuinely French.
After our first playlist dedicated to great French singers, here’s a selection focused entirely on Pop-Rock bands who sang in French. Another way to build your vocabulary, train your ear, and get a feel for French music culture, beyond the hits already heard everywhere in the world.
Discover these French Pop-Rock bands
Dynastie Crisis
A French rock band from the 70s, Dynastie Crisis remains a little-known but well-regarded name among fans of French rock, known for ambitious compositions and a distinctly French identity.
Dynastie Crisis – Vivre Libre: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkXXq6i2XwY&list=RDKkXXq6i2XwY&start_radio=1
Dynastie Crisis – Faust 72: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r03hzBWESyU&list=RDr03hzBWESyU&start_radio=1
Atoll
A French progressive rock band from the 70s known for elaborate compositions, swinging between dreamy atmospheres and more theatrical pieces, as shown in the track below.
Atoll – L’Araignée-Mal (Le photographe exorciste): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weA1bYu2V3o&list=RDweA1bYu2V3o&start_radio=1
Téléphone
Arguably one of the most iconic French rock bands. Téléphone defined the late 70s and early 80s with energetic rock, entirely sung in French. Their lyrics and sound had a deep influence on French rock as a whole.
Téléphone – Hygiaphone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah3ayYdRO5A
Téléphone – Cendrillon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tHbSMQeCdk&list=RD_tHbSMQeCdk&start_radio=1
Téléphone – Un autre monde: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NE4Pf24pfEg&list=RDNE4Pf24pfEg&start_radio=1
Indochine
Formed in the early 80s, Indochine has grown over the decades into one of the most popular French rock bands, still active today with a loyal fanbase that spans generations.
Indochine – Trois nuits par semaine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtpnv1D-HXo&list=RDMtpnv1D-HXo&start_radio=1
Indochine – Le chant des cygnes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAmOCXgc76U&list=RDZAmOCXgc76U&start_radio=1
Triangle
A French pop-rock band from the 70s, Triangle found popular success with catchy melodies and very explicit lyrics.
Triangle – Peut-être demain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ2K9cb9L_E&list=RDjJ2K9cb9L_E&start_radio=1
Triangle – Viens avec nous: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODzH_CKGdU4&list=RDODzH_CKGdU4&start_radio=1
Martin Circus
An iconic French pop band from the 70s, Martin Circus is remembered for catchy, often humorous tracks — like this hit that still gets airplay today.
Martin Circus – Je m’éclate au Sénégal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61RHnHAERS4&list=RD61RHnHAERS4&start_radio=1
Bijou
A pioneering French rock band from the late 70s, Bijou defined its era with raw energy and lyrics firmly rooted in everyday spoken French.
Bijou – Rock à la radio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzdlgzh7Fm4&list=RDtzdlgzh7Fm4&start_radio=1
Au Bonheur des Dames
A French pop band from the 80s, Au Bonheur des Dames found huge popular success with light, danceable songs, very representative of France’s pop mood in that decade.
Au Bonheur des Dames – Oh les filles !: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fS8b9mACAWM&list=RDfS8b9mACAWM&start_radio=1
Louise Attaque
Formed in the 90s, Louise Attaque left its mark on French rock with an original sound blending guitars, violin and folk-rock energy. Songs that are ideal for improving your French.
Louise Attaque – J’t’emmène au vent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9L_dmSMBvU&list=RDk9L_dmSMBvU&start_radio=1
Trust
A major name in French hard rock, Trust made its name with hard-hitting lyrics entirely in French, still quite rare within the hard rock genre.
Trust – Antisocial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-s6951-hT0
Les Rita Mitsouko
An iconic duo from the French rock scene of the 80s, Les Rita Mitsouko stood out with a singular musical world blending rock, pop chanson and Latin influences, plus an unforgettable stage presence.
Les Rita Mitsouko – Marcia Baïla: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zWlnzFXcKY&list=RD1zWlnzFXcKY&start_radio=1
Mano Negra
An iconic band from the late 80s and early 90s, Mano Negra blended rock, punk and Latin American sounds, carried by the infectious energy of Manu Chao and his brothers.
Mano Negra – Pas assez de toi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSxoxqDB0OI&list=RDeSxoxqDB0OI&start_radio=1
Another way to learn French
These bands may not have always crossed French borders, but that’s exactly what makes their catalogue so rich for you as a French learner: lyrics written and thought through in French, with no concessions made to an English-speaking audience. By listening to them, you’re training your ear to authentic French, the kind you’ll hear every day during your stay at ACCORD Paris.
So don’t hesitate to add these tracks to your playlist, sing along with the lyrics, and ask your teachers to explain any expressions that still escape you!
