10 French Singers You Should Know: Some French, Some Not...

10. Joséphine Baker

Joséphine Baker progressed from vaudeville to New York theater to the Parisian cabaret scene, becoming the toast of Europe before turning 21.

The dancer and singer starred in the Ziegfeld Follies with Bob Hope and Fanny Brice in 1936 and in the early 1950s, fought to spread the Gospel of Civil Rights making headlines performing to integrated crowds in Miami and Las Vegas.

Favorite song of hers: La conga Blicoti

9. Stacey Kent

Although a New York native, Kent started her career in Soho, London. The Jazz singer was nominated for a Grammy award in 2007 for her album 'Breakfast on the Morning Tram' and was awarded the the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) by the French Minister of Culture in 2009.

Favorite song of hers: ‘Les eaux de mars’

8. Eartha Kitt

Did you know Eartha Kitt not only spoke (and sang!) French, she spoke four languages? The ‘Santa Baby’ singer became fluent in French during her years performing in the European cabaret circuit (she also spoke English, Dutch, and German).

Favorite song of hers: ‘Je Cherche Un Homme’

7. Pomme

Claire Pommet, known professionally as ‘Pomme’, grew up in the Lyon area. The French singer-songwriter has been described as a mix of pop and folk. Some of the lyrics she writes evoke themes of love, death, romanticism, and her own experiences as a queer woman: "I am naturally comfortable with my homosexuality, for example, using female pronouns in my songs. And I think it's important, given the amount of thank you messages I get”. (Source: Télérama).

Favorite song of hers: Pauline

6. Jacques Dutronc

Jacques Dutronc was born at 67 Rue de Provence in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. He played guitar in the band El Toro et les Cyclones.

Fun fact, Dutronc was married to fellow French singer Françoise Hardy (the pair separated in 1988), and wrote many of her songs before starting his own solo career. Other ventures include acting, and he even won a Cesar for playing Van Gogh in 1992.

Favorite song of his: Les cactus

5. Audrey Arno

Adrianna Medini, known professionally as Audrey Arno was born in Mannheim, Germany and started her career as a horse artist in her family's circus. After getting a recording contract in France, her Cuban-rhythm song, ‘La Pachanga’ made it on to the U.S Billboard 100 in 1961.

Favorite song of hers: Quand Jean-Paul rentrera

4. Joy Wellboy

A musical ensemble featuring Joy Adegoke and Will Janssens, Joy Wellboy has a wide musical repertoire. Starting in their hometown of Brussels, the group has since become a hit throughout all of Europe.

Favorite song of theirs: La forêt noire

3. Gillian Hills

Born in Cairo, Egypt, Gillian Hills first came to notice as a teenager in the 1960s in the British films Beat Girl (1960) and Blowup (1966). The English singer and actress spent a number of years living in France, embarking on a singing career and starring in a number of French films.

Favorite song of hers: Ne t’en fais pas

2. Françoise Hardy

Françoise Hardy remains an important figure in French pop music with a career spanning more than fifty years with over thirty studio albums released. Known mostly for her melancholic ballads (with Rock & Folk dubbing her the “queen of melancholy”), Hardy was inspired to be a singer by English-language rock and roll performers such as Elvis Presley and Paul Anka. Most of her output came in the 1960s, also being seen as a fashion staple and beauty icon of the time.

Favorite song of hers: Comment te dire adieu - It Hurts to Say Goodbye

Honorable mention: Her cover of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Suzanne’

1. Édith Piaf

And of course, my list would not be complete without the queen of French music herself, Édith Piaf. She recorded a genre-defying amount of classic French hits until cancer ultimately took her life at only 41. Decades after her passing, Piaf is still considered an icon and is universally regarded as France’s greatest popular singer.

Favorite song of hers: La vie en rose