Chanson masterpieces. Recommended popular songs.

Mademoiselle de ParisJacqueline Francois

Mademoiselle de Paris – Jacqueline François ( original )

Jacqueline François, a chanson singer born in 1922.

Her song “Mademoiselle de Paris.” The word mademoiselle is familiar even in Japan, and the Japanese title, “The Young Lady of Paris,” may help you grasp the mood of the piece.

Through the expressive quality of her calm voice and the resonance of the backing orchestra, you can feel Paris in the 1940s.

It’s a masterpiece to be grateful for, one that we can easily listen to in Japan—record noise and all, which is beautiful in its own right.

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Murakami Shinpei

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Sans toi ma mieSalvatore Adamo

Salvatore Adamo – Sans toi ma mie 1963

“Sans toi ma mie,” which in Japanese is rendered as “Santois Mamii” (Santoi Mamī), is a song that has been covered by numerous Japanese artists.

It’s a piece by the Belgian composer Salvatore Adamo.

Nevertheless, it’s exactly the kind of love song we associate with France—a heartbreak song.

Filled with many beautifully flowery, even tooth-achingly sweet metaphors and expressions, it speaks to the person who has gone away.

If you want to delve deeper into the lyrics, listening to the Japanese version covered by the hugely popular Fubuki Koshiji will likely convey the atmosphere even more vividly.

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Murakami Shinpei

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Champs ElyséesZAZ

ZAZ – Champs Elysées (Clip officiel)

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call “Champs Elysées” the theme song of Paris.

It’s that famous tune everyone knows from the line, “Aux Champs-Élysées.” The song was composed by Joe Dassin, and for a long time his version was synonymous with “Champs Elysées.” Nowadays, however, the cover by Zaz, a beloved French national artist, has become the version most familiar to the French.

Pay attention to its lively rhythm and lyrics that warmly portray everyday life.

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Ryo

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Pain au chocolatJHAS

JHAS – Pain au chocolat

The French pastry filled with chocolate, “pain au chocolat.” In France, it’s so beloved that it’s even a breakfast staple, typically enjoyed warm until the chocolate inside melts.

The song “Pain au chocolat” takes this treat as its theme.

It’s a French-language track by JHAS that gained attention on platforms like YouTube and SoundCloud.

Set over a looped programmed beat, the sweet vocals of a female singer create a piece that feels experimental yet even hints at a classical atmosphere.

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Murakami Shinpei

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La BohemeCharles Aznavour

Charles Aznavour – La Boheme – B&W – HQ Audio

Charles Aznavour, a French singer-songwriter born in 1924.

On stage, he always uses a white handkerchief, employing it like a Japanese rakugo storyteller’s fan to depict things like flowers.

I’d love for you to see, through video, his facial expressions while singing and the way he handles that handkerchief, but even just listening is enough to convey the excellence of his vocal performance.

The lyrics are tinged with the melancholy of youth, and it feels as though you can hear the streets and spirit of France resonating through the song.

As an aside, the Gundam character Char Aznable takes his name from him.

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Murakami Shinpei

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Le Vent Nous PorteraSophie Hunger

Sophie Hunger – Le Vent Nous Portera (De Hofnar Edit)

Sophie Hunger is a Swiss-born artist.

In addition to English, she speaks various languages such as French, Belgian, and Swiss Italian.

Her song “Le Vent Nous Portera” is one of her popular tracks in French.

Basically, it’s a deeply immersive, dope tune, but parts of the vocals evoke the feel of old chanson.

French liaison is generally a disadvantage for vocals, yet in this song the liaison adds even more flavor.

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Ryo

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Tombe la neigeAdamo

Adamo – Tombe la neige (1976)

Salvatore Adamo, the chanson singer famous for songs like “Sans toi ma mie,” also has “Tombe la neige,” another one of his signature numbers, known in Japan under the title “Yuki ga Furu” (Snow Is Falling).

Chanson often dwells on themes like love and local color, capturing the air of a city and the feelings of its people.

This piece, too, evokes a wintry French snow scene.

I hope you’ll take in the lyrics’ message and feel the lingering melancholy that defines this number.

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Murakami Shinpei

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