In my previous blogs, I’ve started expanding on a travel playlist that will accompany you on your trips to one of our study abroad destinations. Last time I talked about Germany and Japan and their wildly different approach to mainstream music.
This time I’m writing about France, a country that is very diverse, and often associated with love songs and hip-hop music. As we go to Paris next summer in 2024 I’ve compiled a playlist with songs from France that will accompany you on your study abroad trip.
The playlist consists of songs that I learned to love, but also songs selected by a French student at SBCC.
Curious what you could possibly listen to in France? Let's start with the list!
France:
France covers a huge part of my personal playlists. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite songs that I associate with France that don't necessarily represent what is popular in the country.
The French/Finish duo “The Dø” originated in Paris and is an indie pop band that has created various upbeat indie-rock songs that have made it also in movies such as “Raw”. Their song “Despair, Hangover & Ecstasy” kicks off as the start of the French songs on the playlist.
For the older generations “Serge Gainsbourg” is a name that might ring a bell. Luna’s “Bonnie and Clyde - Clyde Barrow Version” is a cover of one of Serge Gainsbourg's most popular songs. This energetic and intense cover is used in the French cult film “Irma Verp”, a movie from 1996.
His album “Histoire de Melody Nelson” is an odd, experimental album that wins uniqueness by its spoken word passages that establish the foundations of albums such as Patti Smith’s “Horses”.
Following we have song recommendations from a SBCC French student, Manon Larra:
1-Amour plastique- Videoclub, Adèle Castillon
2-Le temps est bon - Bon Entendeur, Isabelle Pierre, Mattyeux
3-Respire encore - Clara Luciani
4-Le temps de l’amour- Francoise Hardy / Bon Entendeur
5-PLUS FORT - Julien Granel
6-Juste une photo de toi- Matt Pokora
7-Si bien du mal- Hervé
8- La boheme- Charles Aznavour
Check out the full playlist here!: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3f1xH0Qb3SEdtYHUcEk6jX?si=8238b27703224ab8&pt=b7d75148c1e6ab5f16336c1f90f4f004
The next time you’re on the plane for your study abroad trip this playlist will accommodate you for the specific country to travel to. (Disclaimer: There will be songs associated with a particular country, but not strictly in their language.)