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Summary of French music genres

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

What kind of genres come to mind when you hear “French music”? If you like Western music, you might be able to name a few French bands or artists, but it’s not so easy to immediately explain the genres, is it? French music includes genres that originated in France, and even popular genres like rock and metal have developed in unique ways there—digging into them can be truly fascinating.

So this time, we’ve put together a summary of various French music genres, focusing mainly on popular music from the modern era onward.

Read this and you might become an expert on French music! Enjoy!

Summary of French music genres (11–20)

Nouvelle Chanson

DésertÉmilie Simon

Emilie Simon – Désert (Version Française)

DésertÉmilie Simon

Songs that make more use of French pronunciation and a chanson-like tone are called “nouvelle chanson.” It is said to have emerged around the 1990s, and some regard it as a fusion of chanson with other musical genres.

The most common pairing is rock, and many nouvelle chanson tracks have a more pop-leaning feel than traditional chansons.

Also, when combined with electronic music it is referred to as trip hop, and when combined with African music it is sometimes called nouvelle vague.

There are many other subgenres as well, so try looking into them.

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In conclusion

While it’s quite difficult to define strictly as a genre, not only the uniquely French music styles introduced here but also more general genres like rock, pop, hip-hop, and electronic music have all developed in distinctive ways within the French cultural landscape. If you usually listen mainly to music from the U.S. and the U.K., take this opportunity to check out French music!