• Renaud Séchan (born on 11th May 1952 in Paris)

Commonly known as “Renaud“, he is a popular French singer and songwriter.

With more than 15 million albums sold, Renaud is one of the most famous singers in France and in the French-speaking world.

Raised in an educated milieu, and son of an intellectual, Renaud adopted the looks and attitude of working-class youth in the 1970s, and reflected this in his lyrics. A recurrent theme is his disgust for the average French people with petit-bourgeois preoccupations and right-wing leanings. His music focuses on the disparity between classes, the abuse of political power, overbearing authority and disgust for the military, with rare glimpses of tenderness for his fellow humans, the planet earth, and art. His song “Miss Maggie” praised the kindness of women with the markedly ironic exception of Margaret Thatcher.

He also tackled current issues by drawing a parallel between a victim of the 9-11 attacks in New York and an Afghan girl, both victims of a war they don’t understand in “Manhattan-Kaboul” (a duet with Axelle Red).

Several of his songs can be classified as long-lasting hits in France, including the sea tale “Dès que le vent soufflera”, the irreverent “Laisse béton”, the ballad “Morgane de toi” and the nostalgic “Mistral gagnant”. With the possible exception of franglais recording of “It is not because you are”, his work is almost unknown outside the French-speaking world.

Discography:

Studio albums:

* 1975: Amoureux de Paname (Polydor)
* 1977: Laisse béton (Polydor)
* 1979: Ma gonzesse (Polydor)
* 1980: Marche à l’ombre (Polydor)
* 1981: Le retour de Gérard Lambert (Polydor)
* 1983: Morgane de toi (Polydor)
* 1985: Mistral gagnant (Virgin)
* 1988: Putain de camion (Virgin)
* 1991: Marchand de cailloux (Virgin)
* 1992: Renaud cante el’ nord (Virgin) (Traditional folk songs)
* 1994: A la belle de mai (Virgin)
* 1996: Renaud chante Brassens (Virgin)
* 2002: Boucan d’enfer (Virgin)
* 2006: Rouge sang (EMI France)

Live albums:

* 1980: Bobino (Polydor)
* 1981: Le p’tit bal du samedi soir et autres chansons réalistes (Polydor)
* 1982: Un Olympia pour moi tout seul (Polydor)
* 1989: Visage pâle rencontrer public (Virgin)
* 1996: Paris-Province (Virgin)
* 2003: Tournée d’enfer (Virgin)

Awards:

* 1993: Traditional music album of the year award for “Renaud cante el’ nord”
* 2001: Lifetime achievement award
* 2003: Three awards given for: Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year (for Manhattan-Kaboul with Axelle Red)

Mistral gagnant : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYb_aYgmGP4

Laisse béton : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC5eMh1FuaU

Les bobos : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omx94meg8cg

Dès que le vent soufflera : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQS0vk8nQUM

Miss Maggie : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5DVuITUt6I

Manhattan Kaboul (duet with Axelle Red): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEcCs-So2IA

• Hugues Aufray (born on 18th August 1929 in Neuilly-sur-Seine)

Hugues Aufray is a famous French singer and guitarist. He began his career singing in Spanish. His songs are often poetic and talk about friendhip, fraternity and respect.

Aufray represented Luxembourg in the 1964 Eurovision Song Contest, performing “Dès que le printemps revient” and finishing fourth. His most famous songs are “Santiano”, “Hasta luego”, “Céline”, “Stewball” and in Spanish, “Barco de Papel”.

Aufray is well known for his French adaptations of Bob Dylan’s songs.

Discography:

LPs

1964 : Olympia 64 Hugues Aufray et son Skiffle Group
1965 : Hugues Aufray chante Bob Dylan
1966 : En direct de l’olympia
1966 : Céline/Dès que le printemps revient
1969 : Récital musicorama à l’olympia
1970 : Avec Amour
1971 : H.A & his folks
1972 : Garlick
1972 : Vous ma lady/Adieu
1973 : Nicole – chez Atlantic n° 50.018 (Nom d’un petit village du Lot et Garonne)
1976 : Aquarium
1978 : Transatlantic
1980 : Hugues
1981 : Caravane
1982 : Route 82
1985 : Petit homme
1987 : tu t’en iras
Dou Wakadou/On est les rois/Les remords et les regrets/Bambou
L’homme orchestre/Je croyais/Laisse-moi petite fille/Les yeux fermés

CDs

Concert intégral
A l’Olympia 1964
1991 : La Terre est si belle, Carabas Production : reprise de 16 de ses succès avec des arrangements plus électriques.
1993 : Little Troubadour
1993 : Santiano, Barclay
1993 : Integrale Barclay
1994 : Best of
1995 : Aufray trans dylan
1999 : Le meilleur d’Hugues Aufray
2000 : Chacun sa mer
2000 : Best of
2001 : Aux vents solitaires
2005 : Hugues Aufray chante Félix Leclerc
2005 : Hugues Aufray, plus live que jamais
2007 : Hugh !
2009 : New Yorker

Santiano: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZiLKwTuvks

• Patrick Bruel (born as Maurice Benguigui, on 14th May 1959 in Tlemcen, Algeria)

He is a Jewish French singer, actor, and professional poker player.

Although Bruel aspired to be a football (soccer) star as a youth, he decided to pursue singing after seeing Michel Sardou in 1975. However, his first success came as an actor, in 1979′s Le Coup de sirocco. He continued acting in films, on television and in the theater while pursuing his singing career. His first single, “Vide” (“Empty”), released in 1982, was not a success, but the follow up , “Marre de cette nana-là” (“Fed up with that chick”), was a hit.

As of 2004, Bruel has acted in more than 40 different television and film productions and made five studio albums and several live albums. His last album to date is Entre Deux (2002), a double CD of classic chanson that features duets with Charles Aznavour, Jean-Louis Aubert, Jean-Jacques Goldman, Alain Souchon and Renaud, among others. It sold two million copies and made Bruel France’s best paid singer of the year. At the beginning of 2005, in response to the South Asian tsunami of December 26th, 2004, Bruel wrote the song “Et puis la terre” to benefit the Red Cross.

In addition to acting and singing, Bruel is a world class professional poker player. He won a World Series of Poker bracelet in 1998 for the $5,000 Limit Hold’em event. As of 2008 he has earned more than $900,000 in live tournament play. He also comments the World Poker Tour in his home country.

Discography:

Studio albums:

1982 Vide
1984 De face
1989 Alors, regarde
1994 Bruel
1995 Plaza de los héroes
1999 Juste avant
2002 Entre deux
2006 Des Souvenirs devant

Live albums:

1987 À tout à l’heure
1991 Si ce soir…
1995 On s’était dit…
2001 Rien ne s’efface…
2003 Entre deux à l’Olympia
2007 Des Souvenirs… ensemble

Singles:

1984 “Marre de cette nana-là !”
1985 “Comment ça va pour vous ?”
1986 “Non, j’veux pas”
“J’roule vers toi”
1987 “Tout l’monde peut s’tromper”
1989 “Casser la voix”
1990 “J’te l’dis quand même”
“Alors regarde”
1991 “Place des grands hommes”
“Décalé”
“Qui a le droit…”
1994 “Bouge !”
“Combien de murs…”
1995 “J’suis quand même là”
1999 “J’te mentirais”
2000 “Pour la vie”
“Au Café des délices”
“Tout s’efface”
2002 “Mon Amant de Saint Jean”
“La Complainte de la butte”
“Ménilmontant”
2006 “J’m'attendais pas à toi”

Place des grands hommes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PImVZvDr0ik

Au café des délices: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQTmN53grC8

Alors regarde: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5U2xndUDYY

• Julien Clerc (born on 4th October, 1947 in Paris)

Paul-Alain Leclerc, popularly known as Julien Clerc is a French singer, songwriter and pianist.

His father was a UNESCO employee and his mother is from Guadeloupe. Most of his songs were written by Étienne Roda-Gil, a long time collaborator. His brother, Gérard Leclerc, is a political commentator on France 3.

Julien Clerc owes his fame in France to his leading role in the 1969 French language adaptation of the musical Hair. Since then, he has sung many popular songs and is generally considered as one of the greatest francophone musicians of his generation. In 2003, he was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees after transferring the rights to his hugely popular song, Partir, to the UN.

Awards:

1974 : Five golden records

Discography:

* 1968, Yann et les dauphins.
* 1970, Des jours entiers à t’aimer
* 1971, Julien Clerc
* 1972, Liberté égalité ou la mort
* 1973, Julien
* 1974, Terre de France
* 1975, N°7
* 1976, A mon âge et a l’heure qu’il est
* 1978, Jaloux
* 1979, 36 Front populaire (comédie musicale)
* 1980, Clerc Julien
* 1980, Sans entracte
* 1981, Vendredi 13 (live à Lyon mars 1981)
* 1982, Femmes indiscrétion et blasphème
* 1983, Pantin 1983 (live)
* 1984, Aime-moi
* 1987, Les aventures à l’eau
* 1990, Fais-moi une place
* 1990, Pierre et le Loup de Prokofiev (voix off)
* 1991, Amours secretes…passions publiques
* 1992, Utile
* 1994, Olympia integral 94 (live)
* 1996, Julien
* 1997, Si on chantait (compilation)
* 1997, Le 4 octobre (live 4 octobre 1997) Concert to celebrate his 30-year music career in the Palais des Sports.
* 1998, Integrale 68-98
* 1999, Aimer (ses plus belles chanson d’amour) + Danser + Partir (compilations)
* 2000, Si j’étais elle
* 2002, Julien déménage électrique-acoustique (live 2cds)
* 2003, Studio
* 2005, Double Enfance
* 2006, 100 Chansons (compilation 5 CD)
* 2008, Où s’en vont les avions

Cooperation in:

* 1979, Emilie Jolie by Philippe Chatel

Femmes je vous aime : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz_fK97ggwc

Fais moi une place : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DB97l_V96U

Ma préférence : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lbtt-HS2VjI

• Francis Cabrel (born on 23rd November 1953 in Agen, France)

Cabrel is a French singer, songwriter and guitarist. Inspired heavily by Bob Dylan, he has released a number of albums falling mostly within the realm of folk, with occasional forays into blues or country. Several of his songs, such as “L’encre de tes yeux” and “Petite Marie” have become enduring favourites in French music. Others, such as “C’était l’hiver”, about the suicide of a young girl, have since been covered by other artists such as Canadian Isabelle Boulay.

While Cabrel is best known for his French songs, he has also recorded powerful original songs and moving translations of some of his French songs into Spanish.

Discography:

Studio albums:

* Francis Cabrel (also known as Les Murs De Poussière) (1977, CBS)
* Les chemins de traverse (1979, CBS)
* Fragile (1980, CBS)
* Carte Postale (1981, CBS)
* Quelqu’un de l’intérieur (1983, CBS)
* Photos de voyages (1985, CBS)
* Sarbacane (1989, CBS)
* Samedi soir sur la terre (1994, Columbia)
* Hors-saison (1999, Columbia)
* Les beaux dégâts (2004, Columbia)
* Des roses et des orties (2008/03/31, Columbia)

Live albums:

* Cabrel Public (1984, CBS)
* D’une ombre à l’Autre (1991, Columbia)
* Double tour (Électrique & acoustique) (2000, Columbia, 3 CDs)
* La tournée des bodegas (2005, Columbia)

Compilations:

* Cabrel 77-87 (1987, CBS)
* L’Essentiel 1977-2007 (2007, Chandelle Production)
* Lo Mejor de los Mejores (1994, Sony Music, Special Marketing)

Petite Marie : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKzNdJAuBzI

Je l’aime à mourir : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHVqKqmbhFA&feature=related

L’encre de tes yeux : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW7VqGn_Nhg

I want to emphasize that I have only mentioned the most popular French singers these days. I haven’t mentioned those who have had a very long career in France and abroad. This is the case of Mireille Mathieu who has achieved great success in France, as well as becoming an international superstar (she was extremely popular in the Soviet Union). She has performed and recorded songs in at least nine languages.

Jacques Brel, Claude François, Georges Brassens, Edith Piaf, Michel Polnareff, Michel Berger, Charles Aznavour, and Michel Sardou have all had a very long and successful career in music.

• Jean-Jacques Goldman:

Jean-Jacques Goldman (born on 11th October, 1951 in Paris) is a French singer and songwriter. He is hugely popular in the French-speaking world, and in 2003 was the second-highest-grossing French pop singer, after Johnny Hallyday.

He also writes for other singers, notably Céline Dion, with whom he collaborated on D’eux (released in the US as The French Album Khaled), S’il suffisait d’aimer and 1 fille and 4 types, he has also collaborated with Johnny Hallyday, Patricia Kaas, Garou, Marc Lavoine, Lorie and Florent Pagny.

Je te donne: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVsW29gq3dk

Envole-moi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjM6nrcRC-Y

Il suffira d’un signe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQch6MO0NhE

Encore un matin: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=JsD3CWyxYY8&feature=related

Au bout de mes rêves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MD7YNyVSCng

Quand la musique est bonne: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrumxWzLIDQ

• Raphaël:

Raphaël Haroche (born on 7th November, 1975 in Paris) is a French singer who performs under the name Raphaël. His father is Russian and his mother is from Argentina.

He began his public career with the song “Sur la route” (On the road), a duet with Jean-Louis Aubert.

He is one of the most popular male singers these days.

Adieu Haiti: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=_He92Hp_AkM&feature=user

Sur la route (with Jean-Louis Aubert): http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq3JhMHVWfc&feature=user

Caravane: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHJoY0oSD_Y

Ne partons pas fâchés: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuxXN0mB9c0

Et dans 150 ans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWz147mtIu4

Schengen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9UG-ejy6g8

• Bob Sinclar: (born on 10th May, 1967 in Douarnenez)
  

Bob Sinclar, mistaken many times as “Sinclair” (born as Christophe Le Friant) is a Grammy Awards-nominated French record producer, House music DJ, remixer and owner of the label Yellow Productions. He is very famous in France and internationally.

Love generation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0NSeysrDYw&feature=fvst

World Hold On: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=hIExZvqX4j4&feature=related

Together: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGtS2-a4CBI

• David Guetta: (born on 7th November, 1967 in Paris)
  

David Guetta is a world famous DJ. Vocals and many of his singles are performed by singer Chris Willis.

Delirious: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=wiG-TgYjHP8

David Guetta & Chris Willis: Love is gone: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=beGjncfEPt8&feature=user

Love don’t let me go walking away: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=L0VmaJsPWbY&feature=user

• Christophe Maé: (born on 16th October, 1975 in Carpentras)
  

Christophe Maé is a French singer who has played the role of “Monsieur” in the musical Le Roi Soleil since 2005. He is known for songs such as “Ça marche” and “Et vice Versailles”. He learned to play the violin at age 6, and later began playing the guitar and harmonica at age 16 after he was immobilized from a chronic illness. This is when he discovered his inspiration: Stevie Wonder. His musical influences are Bob Marley, Ben Harper, Tracy Chapman and Jack Johnson as well as French singer-songwriters Francis Cabrel and Gérald de Palmas.

Tant qu’on rêve encore: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQNEV8pq_JM

Ca fait mal: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKtmIZZ6wcY

Parce qu’on sait jamais: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCrU-M-rDtU

• Jean-Baptiste Maunier (born on 22nd December, 1990 in Brignoles)

Jean-Baptiste Maunier with Clémence Saint Preux

He is a French actor and became famous with the movie Les Choristes. Jean-Baptiste started his career as a soloist in the choir Petits chanteurs de Saint-Marc (led by Nicolas Porte), which sung the sound track of the film Les Choristes (800 000 albums sold in France). He was the revelation of the film in the role of Pierre Morhange.

In 2005, he sung Concerto pour deux voix with Clémence Saint Preux, daughter of the famous French composer Saint Preux. In spite of his huge success in singing, Jean-Baptiste left the choir that year to dedicate himself to the cinema.

In 2007, he played the role of Sid in the film Hellphone by James Huth (director of the famous French film Brice de Nice). The same year he played the role of Octave in L’Auberge Rouge by Gerard Krawczyk.

He also played in the movie Le Grand Meaulnes released in October 2006. His voice was also used for the character Saxo in Piccolo, Saxo et Cie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0eKVSLrRGY&feature=related (Concerto pour deux voix)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhFu7kM7-ao&feature=related (Pueri Concinite)

• Alain Souchon: (born on 27th May, 1944 in Casablanca, Morocco)

Alain Souchon is a French singer, songwriter and actor. He has released 15 albums and has played roles in seven films.

Six months after Souchon was born his family returned to France. When he was 15 his father died in an accident. His mother sent him to a French college in England, but due to problems registering he decided to stay in London and work. Upon returning to France he took up guitar, influenced by English and American music. In 1970, he married and had his first son continuing to play in the cabarets and bars in the Rive Gauche of Paris.

Souchon’s first hit was “J’ai 10 ans” (1974), from the album of the same name. He continued releasing albums and in 1978 wrote the theme for François Truffaut’s 1979 film Love on the Run (L’amour en fuite). At this time his second son was born. In 1980, he was invited to perform at l’Olympia. He also began his acting career, most notably starring in the 1983 film L’Ete Meurtrier. Following the album ‘On avance’, he left RCA and signed with Virgin Records at 40 years old. In 1989 “La beauté de Ava Gardner” was voted best title of the year by the Victoires de la Musique.

Then came Souchon’s biggest hit “Foule sentimentale” from 1995′s million-selling C’est déja ça. At the 20th anniversary of the Victoires de la Musique in 1995, Alain Souchon received the award for best “Chanson Originale” for his song “Foule Sentimentale.” In 1996, he received the “le Prix Vincent Scotto” award given by the SACEM (Societe des Auteurs Compositeurs) for his song “Sous les Jupes des Filles”. Souchon returned in 2005 with the hugely successful album La vie Théodore which contained the hit single “…Et si en plus y’a personne”.

Foule sentimentale: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=pisOAiBVNVk

Allo maman bobo: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=W4wIwyuBDV4&feature=related

Fais pas ci fais pas ca: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=bRCPLJDzCzU&feature=related

Est s’il n’y avait personne: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay5lnY_Dk1E
(In this song, Alain Souchon is questioning the existence of God: ” And what if there is nobody?)

• Christophe Willem: (born on 3rd August, 1983 in Enghien-les-Bains)

Christophe Willem, born as Christophe Durier, was revealed by the TV music show “La Nouvelle Star” in 2006. His voice is quite unusual (if you just listen, you would bet that it is a girl who is singing!)

Double Je: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMHrLB6vZeg

Jacques à dit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6-lwBVm5Js

• Grégory Lemarchal: (13th May 1983 – 30th April 2007)

Grégory Lemarchal was a French singer and winner of the fourth series of the reality TV programme Star Academy, broadcasted on the TF1 television network.

At twenty months of age, he was diagnosed with the hereditary disease cystic fibrosis (or mucoviscidosis). In spite of all, he became France’s champion of acrobatic rock in 1995.

Through a friend, in mid-June of 2004, Lemarchal was contacted by the producers of Star Academy in Paris who needed one more male singer for the show. On December 22, Lemarchal was announced the winner, with 80% of the total vote, an unmatched score.

His debut single, “Ecris l’histoire” peaked at number two on the French singles chart in March 2005 and was certified platinum. His album, “Je deviens moi“, released on April 18, entered at number one.

At the NRJ Music Awards in January 2006, Lemarchal was awarded “breakthrough artist of the year” (“Révélation francophone de l’année”). In the spring, he completed his first solo nationwide tour, and a DVD of his performance at the Olympia was released. A new French duet version of the British singer Lucie Silvas’ hit single “What You’re Made Of” went to number two in the singles chart.

In 2007, Lemarchal announced that his health was deteriorating and that he was ordered by doctors to take a few months off in order to recuperate. However, after 3 years of glory, he died of complications from cystic fibrosis on the morning of April 30, 2007, waiting for an organ transplant.

Grégory’s family founded “Grégory Lemarchal Association”, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with cystic fibrosis, in June 2007, one month after Grégory’s death. The organization assists in information outreach, scientific research and combating negative public perception and discrimination of people with cystic fibrosis. So far, more than 14 million euros have been raised. French people have been deeply touched by Gregory’s courage, who never complained even once about his disease.

His most popular songs are:

A corps perdu: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=TzaLljwQhfQ

Même si (what you’re made of) (with Lucie Silvas): http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=LW7qtzucAeQ&feature=related

Je suis en vie: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=kWSiGLR3hd8

Ecris l’histoire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCU17KkwLeI

Le lien: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=bgVUMsCdI_I

De temps en temps: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwZie_Q7U-k

More songs are available (they were broadcasted on the TF1 television channel during the reality TV programme Star Academy):

SOS d’un terrien en detresse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPRiHf57PfY

Show must go on: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=YBNoMyEVpms

Con te partiro: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=ogGuCAnwEWg

• Calogero: (born on 30th July, 1971 in Échirolles, Isère)

By the age of six Calogero had already taken an interest in music. He quickly learned to play several instruments, including the flute, piano and bass, and in 1986 became the lead singer and song-writer for a band called Les Charts, that he started together with his brother, Gioacchino, and a childhood friend, Francis Maggiulli. Between 1989 and 1997, Les Charts released 5 albums.

As the band began to lose its momentum, Calogero decided to launch himself as a solo artist and gathered important connections by writing songs and collaborating with already popular artists, such as Zazie and Pascal Obispo. The latter helped produce Calogero’s first solo album Au milieu des Autres (2000). His second album, CALOGERO (2002) was a huge success with the hit singles “En apesanteur“, “Aussi libre que moi“, “Tien an men” and “Prendre racine“. Finally, in 2004, Calogero released 3, featuring “Face à la mer” a duet with French rapper Passi and several other top singles such as “Yalla” and “Si seulement je pouvais lui manquer”.

Calogero’s moving lyrics and frail, tender voice have made him one of France’s top pop/rock singers.

Calogero released his fourth studio album “Pomme C” on 12th March 2007.

Pomme C: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-47Fmmj1FsA

En apesanteur: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=YO1LqqP9w3I

Face a la mer (with Passi): http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=4l-OxIqU0tY&feature=related

Tien an men: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=U4fqm78d1j0&feature=related

Je vis ou tu m’as laissé: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=bbLvXmcFTnk&feature=related

Prendre racine: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=X-dJ3gsFImk

Aussi libre que moi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO_njq8-Z3Y

• Pascal Obispo: (born on 8th January, 1965 in Bergerac)

Pascal Obispo is a famous French singer and songwriter.

Pascal Obispo started singing in 1980. He got his first record deal in 1990, Le long du fleuve. When his second album came out (Plus que tout au monde) his songs became a huge success and are still very popular today. This album was sold at 2 millions copies in France. Some of his most famous songs are Plus que tout au monde, Laurelenn, Tombé pour elle, Lucie, Personne and Fan.

He is also well known for his various escapades, his unconservative behavior, his haircut, etc. His name is an anagram of the painter Pablo Picasso. Most of his albums have now sold more than 1 million copies.

Obispo used his popularity to help with humanitarian work and particularly with work to stop the AIDS epidemic. He has worked with many other well-known artists such as Florent Pagny, Johnny Hallyday, Patricia Kaas.

Tombé pour elle: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw8J-fXgtwk

Lucie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qkt_rQZvjM

Fan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BGOsbAubPQ (song that pays tribute to Michel Polnareff)

Personne: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx0wCsR_spw

Mourir demain (with Natasha Saint Pierre): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_KrP53re90

Millésime: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=7uW4UMCbv6g

Nouveau voyage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztevHSVdTnI

• Florent Pagny: (born on 6th November, 1961 in Chalon-sur-Saône)
  

Florent Pagny is one of the most famous French singers. He records work in French, Spanish and English. As Actor he has appeared in 1982 in A Captain’s Honor. He is one of the most famous French singers.

Là ou je t’emmenerai: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTfEGyyl4sU

Ma liberté de penser: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=lJY8fhGTMU0&feature=related

Savoir aimer: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=urh3zos090o&feature=related

Chanter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkj7kTMvmgk

• Johnny Hallyday: (born as Jean-Philippe Smet on 15th June, 1943 in Paris)

Johnny Hallyday is a very famous French singer, interpreter and actor. He is a real icon in the French-speaking world since the beginning of his career and is considered by many to be the French equivalent of Elvis Presley.

He has had a 48-year career in music and is one of France’s biggest stars. He has completed 400 tours, was rewarded 39 gold albums, 18 platinum albums, performed in front of 15 million people, and sold 100 million records.

Today Hallyday is still seen as a top stage performer, giving first class shows in crowded stadiums. Hallyday announced his retirement from performing on 3rd December 2007 at the age of 64, after his last tour, scheduled in 2009-2010.

Albums:

Studio albums:

Hello Johnny (1960, Vogue)
Nous les Gars, Nous les Filles (1961, Vogue)
Tête a Tête avec Johnny (1961, Vogue)
Salut les Copains! (1961, Philips)
Johnny Hallyday sings America’s Rockin’ Hits (1962, Philips)
Les Bras en Croix (1963, Philips)
Les Rocks les Plus Terribles (1964, Philips)
Halleluyah (1965, Philips)
Johnny Chante Hallyday (1965, Philips)
La Génération Perdue (1966, Philips)
Johnny 67 (1967, Philips)
Jeune Homme (1968, Philips)
Rêve et Amour (1968, Philips)
Rivière… Ouvre ton Lit (1969, Philips)
Vie (1970, Philips)
Flagrant Délit (1971, Philips)
Country-Folk-Rock (1972, Philips)
Insolitudes (1973, Philips)
Je t’Aime, Je t’Aime, Je t’Aime (1974, Philips)
Rock’n Slow (1974, Philips)
Rock a Memphis (1975, Philips)
La Terre Promise (1975, Philips)
Derrière l’Amour (1976, Philips)
Hamlet (1976, Philips)
C’est la Vie (1977, Philips)
Solitudes a Deux (1978, Philips)
Hollywood (1979, Philips)
À Partir de Maintenant… (1980, Philips)
En Pièces Détachées (1981, Philips)
Pas Facile (1981, Philips)
Quelque Part un Aigle (1982, Philips)
La Peur (1982, Philips)
Entre Violence et Violon (1983, Philips)
Hallyday 84: Nashville en Direct (1984, Philips)
En V.O. (1984, Philips)
Rock’n'Roll Attitude (1985, Philips)
Gang (1986, Philips)
Cadillac (1989, Philips)
Ça ne change pas un homme (1991, Philips)
Rough Town (1994, Philips)
Lorada (1995, Philips)
Ce que je sais (1998, Philips)
Sang pour sang (1999, Philips)
À la vie, à la mort ! (2002, Mercury)
Ma Vérité (2005, Mercury)
Le Cœur d’un homme (2007, Warner Music France)
Ca ne finira jamais (2008, Warner Music France)

Live albums:

Johnny et Ses Fans au Festival de Rock’n'Roll (1961, Vogue)
À l’Olympia (1962, Philips)
Olympia 64 (1964, Philips)
Olympia 67 (1967, Philips)
Au Palais des Sports (1967, Philips)
Que Je t’Aime (1969, Philips)
Live at the Palais des Sports (1971, Philips)
Palais des Sports (1976, Philips)
Pavillon de Paris (1979, Philips)
Live (1981, Universal Music)
Palais des Sports 1982 (1982, Universal Music)
Au Zénith (1984, Universal Music)
À Bercy (1987, Universal Music)
Dans la Chaleur de Bercy (1990, Universal Music)
Bercy 92 (1992, Universal Music)
Parc des Princes (1993, Universal Music)
À La Cigale (1994, Universal Music)
Lorada Tour (1995, Universal Music)
Destination Vegas (1996, Universal Music)
Johnny Allume le Feu: Stade de France 98 (1998, Universal Music)
100% Johnny: Live a La Tour Eiffel (2000, Universal Music)
Olympia 2000 (2000, Universal Music)
Parc des Princes 2003 (2003, Universal Music)
Flashback Tour Live (2006, Warner Music)
La Cigale (2007, Warner Music)

Films:

L’aventure c’est l’aventure (1974) as himself
Détective (1985) directed by Jean-Luc Godard
Why Not Me? (1999) as José
L’homme du train (The Man on the Train) (aka Man on the Train in the US) (2002) as Milan
Crime Spree (2003) as Marcel Burot
Crimson Rivers II: Angels of the Apocalypse (2004) as L’ermite borgne
Quartier V.I.P. (2005) as Alex
Jean-Philippe (2006) as Jean-Philippe

Oh Marie: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=W74tU2d25w0

Diego: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=WLOCykaFZYc

Tennessee: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=M3KCWdIKLI0

Allumer le feu: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=l2i5hIxAMBw

Noir c’est noir: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=99phlP_e2Rw

Que je t’aime : http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn96ysEnx1Y

• Stanislas: (born on 29th May, 1972, in Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne)

Louis Stanislas Renoult, just known as Stanislas, is a French singer. After several musical collaborations since 2000, he met success in 2008 with his first solo album L’Équilibre instable.

He is the son of François Renoult, a musician who had worked with Antoine, notably on the song “Je l’appelle Canelle”.

In 2000, Stanislas formed with Gioacchino (Calogero’s brother) the band Pure Orchestra and signed with Atletico Records, the label of Pascal Obispo. Their first single “U&I” was aired on radio in summer 2001 and the album Singing’ dog was released in February 2002. In 2004, Stanislas began to wrote his first solo album et decided to start a new collaboration with his brother Thibaud. They recorded Thibaud’s first studio album, entitled Les Pas perdus, then Stanislas’ debut album L’Équilibre instable released in late 2007 (Polydor/Universal). His first single “Le Manège” achieved success in France.

Le Manège (2007): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCW7VCskmXU

La Débâcle des sentiments (2007): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpK9p8zEfnQ
La Belle de mai (2008): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwo2kzJ-XTU

If the links don’t work anymore, just copy-paste the name of the artist and the title of her song on YouTube, the video clip should come.

• Hélène Segara: (born on 26th February, 1971 in Six-Fours-les-Plages)

Hélène Ségara (born as Hélène Rizzo) is a famous French singer.

Her father is Italian and her mother Armenian. She said that she had been traumatized in her childhood by the divorce of her parents when she was 8, and by the death of her grandfather when she was 16. As she wanted to become a singer, she left school and family at the age of 14. Then she had many successive jobs including performances in the piano bars of the French Riviera. At 18, she gave birth to Raphael, her first son.

In 1993, her first single entitled “Loin” was released, but didn’t meet success. In 1996, accompanied by her young son, she moved to Paris where she met Christian Loigerot, who became one of her composers. She also met the famous producer Orlando, Dalida’s brother, who supervised and gave new impetus to her career.

Ségara began to have success with “Je vous aime adieu”, the first single from her debut album, Cœur de verre (1996), and with the duet “Vivo per lei”, performed with Andrea Bocelli. She then played the role of Esmeralda in the musical Notre-Dame de Paris, composed by Richard Cocciante. While she was auditioned for this role in 1997, she was selected in 1999, following the withdrawal of the Israeli singer Noa. “When the fate knocks at the door for a second time, we must not let it get away”, said Ségara.

However, her career was jeopardised when Dr. J. Abitbol diagnosed a cyst on the vocal cords, while she continued to perform in a show. During a show in Canada, she lost her voice. Her producer then resold her contract to Orlando while Dr. J. Abitbol carried out a laser operation to treat the singer’s vocal cords.

After her convalescence, she recorded her second album, Au Nom d’une femme in 2000. The album topped the charts, and became Diamond disc. Five singles from this album were all successful. Ségara then began a concert tour that lasted about two years. A video recording of the concert she gave at the Olympia in Paris on this occasion was released. According to a poll made by the IFOP, Segara was at the time the favourite French singer of the French people.

Awards:

* Spring 1997: The Sacem awarded the price Rolf Marbot to Hélène Segara and Thierry Geoffroy, Christian Loigerot and Christina Vié, the writers and composers of the song “Je vous aime adieu”.
* 1999: Segara was sacred Best Female Singer during the the ceremony of the ‘Trophy of Women in Gold’ in Courchevel.
* 22 January 2000: Revelation of the year at the ‘NRJ Music Awards’ in Cannes.
* 17 November 2000: Female Artist of the Year “M6 Music Awards” in Lille.
* 16 December 2000: ‘Trophy of Little Princes for the Best Singer of the Year’ on TF1.
* 20 January 2001: She received at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes a ‘NRJ Music Awards’ for the francophone album of the year.
* 17 February 2001: She won at the Olympia a ‘Victoire de la Musique’ for female artist of the year.
* 2 May 2001: She won the ‘World Music Awards’ in Monaco for the highest selling disc in France for 2000/2001.
* 20 October 2001: IFOP poll, ordered by the magazine TV Star, revealed that Ségara is the favourite French singer and the performer of the most beautiful love songs.
* 25 October 2001: Ségara made her entry in the famous Who’s Who.
* 27 December 2001: Segara formed a part of 10 stars who made 2001, according the French people, for the magazine “Gala”.
* 10 July 2002: She won the ‘IFPI Platinum Europe Awards’ in Brussels.
* 1 October 2002: She had her status at the Grevin Museum in Paris.
* 13 January 2005: During the Fête de la Musique on France 2, “Il y a trop de gens qui t’aiment” was awarded ‘Most beautiful love song’.

Albums:

* 1996 : Cœur de verre
* 1998 : Notre Dame de Paris (musical)
* 2000 : Au Nom d’une Femme
* 2001 : En concert à l’Olympia
* 2002 : Hélène (in Spanish-language)
* 2003 : Humaine
* 2004 : Le Best of
* 2006 : Quand l’éternité…
* 2007 : Les 50 plus belles chansons
* 2007 : Collection prestige
* 2008 : Mon pays c’est la terre

Singles:

* 1993 : “Loin
* 1996 : “Je vous aime adieu”
* 1996 : “Une voix dans la nuit”
* 1997 : “Les Larmes” (remix)
* 1997 : “Auprès de ceux que j’aimais”
* 1997 : “Vivo per lei” (Je vis pour elle) (duet with Andrea Bocelli)
* 1998 : “Loin du froid de Décembre” (soundtrack from Anastasia)
* 1998 : “Vivre” (soundtrack from the musical Notre-Dame de Paris)
* 1999 : “Les Vallées d’Irlande”
* 1999 : “Il y a trop de gens qui t’aiment”
* 2000 : “Elle, tu l’aimes…”
* 2000 : “Parlez-moi de nous”
* 2001 : “Tu vas me quitter”
* 2001 : “Au nom d’une femme” (Remix)
* 2001 : “Mrs Jones” (Live Olympia 2000)
* 2002 : “Donner tout”
* 2003 : “L’Amour est un soleil”
* 2003 : “Encore une fois”
* 2003 : “On n’oublie jamais rien, on vit avec” (duet with Laura Pausini)
* 2004 : “Humaine”
* 2004 : “On ne dit pas”
* 2004 : “Ailleurs comme ici”
* 2006 : “Méfie-toi de moi”
* 2007 : “Rien n’est comme avant”
* 2007 : “Tu ne seras jamais libre”
* 2007 : “Father”
* 2008 : “La Moitié de nous” (duet with Bruno Pelletier)
* 2008 : “Qu’est-ce qu’on faire avec ce monde (Sodad)”

She has been the favourite female singer in France for several years now!

Her most popular songs are:

Elle tu l’aimes: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=C7asfuBtADo

L’amour est un soleil: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=jMbvzowbFzk

Les vallées d’Irlande: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=Jsf2UgzmMsc&feature=related

On n’oublie jamais rien (with Laura Pausini): http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=JnUUk27AXZE

Vivo per lei (with Andrea Bocelli): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-Z63Ab1-UI

Il y a trop de gens qui t’aiment: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=u7hHlB9Y0Cc\

• Mylène Farmer: (born on 12th September, 1961 in Pierrefonds, Québec)

Mylène Farmer is a French singer, songwriter, occasional actress and author. She has sold 25 million records and is among the most successful recording artists of all time in France.

Her parents moved from France to Canada in the late 1950s as Farmer’s father, Max, pursued an engineering contract on a dam. Her family returned to France when she was eight, settling in the Parisian suburb of Ville-d’Avray. In her teenage years, Farmer was passionate about horse-riding, going on to qualify as a riding instructor at the equestrian centre in Saumur. At 17, however, Mylène Farmer discovered her other passion, acting, and she abandoned the stables to take a three-year course at the Cours Florent, a drama school in Paris. Changing her name to Mylène Farmer (after her favourite American actress Frances Farmer), she began to earn a living as a model acting in several TV ads.

In 1984, Farmer met Laurent Boutonnat, a young film student also enrolled in Cours Florent, when she replied to a newspaper ad for an actress for a small film he was working on. Farmer and Boutonnat became friends and forged a creative partnership, writing and producing all her music. Boutonnat, whose ambition was to become a film director, was also the driving force behind Mylène’s videos. Much of Farmer’s fame and success can be attributed to elaborate and theatrical music videos which are often eight minutes or longer. Her concerts and videos are often compared to those of Michael Jackson and Madonna (“Pourvu qu’elles soient douces” lasts 17 minutes, while “California” was directed by Abel Ferrara and cost $700,000).

Farmer is the most successful and provocative female French recording artist, the only artist to have each of her studio albums sell over a million copies in France. She is also popular in the French-speaking countries Belgium and Switzerland and is also liked in Russia and parts of Eastern Europe.

Among her best-known songs are “Désenchantée”, “Pourvu qu’elles soient douces”, “Sans contrefaçon”, “Libertine”, “C’est une belle journée”, and “Rêver”.

Désenchantée: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=AGxPrIhs4Lo

Pourvu qu’elles soient douces: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=uIhyk9fS1fk

Sans contrefaçon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZhdKCo8Ogo

C’est une belle journée: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=vnzagxJiBkY

Rêver: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez0vvbv0cQ8

• Patricia Kaas (born on 5th December, 1966 in Forbach)

Kaas is a French singer, songwriter and actress. She is one of the most successful French-speaking singers in the world.

She was born in the mining town of Forbach, in the Lorraine region near the German border.

Her father, Joseph (a miner), was French, and her mother, Irmgard, German. Kaas grew up in Stiring-Wendel, between Forbach and Saarbrücken on the French side of the border. Until the age of six she spoke only a German dialect. Her Franco-German heritage resulted in a constant interest in improving the relationship between the two countries.

Her mother encouraged Kaas to become a singer from a very young age. At the age of 8, she was already singing in piano-bars with songs from many artists such as Sylvie Vartan, Claude François, Dalida, Mireille Mathieu & Liza Minnelli but also English-language songs such as New York, New York, at various small events; among others the marriage of her brother. Her first great success came when she received first place at a pop song contest. At her first appearances Kaas was already displaying the throaty, smoky voice that would lead to comparisons with Édith Piaf and Marlene Dietrich.

Kaas has sold over 16 million records worldwide. She had her greatest success in Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, Russia, Finland, and Korea with her third album Je te dis vous. Kaas is almost constantly on tour internationally. In 2002, Kaas had her film debut in And now… Ladies and Gentlemen beside Jeremy Irons. Kaas goes on a world tour in the beginning of 2009. Kaas will represent France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia.

Albums:

* 1988 : Mademoiselle chante…
* 1990 : Scène de vie
* 1991 : Carnets de scène 1
* 1993 : Je te dis vous
* 1995 : Tour de charme 1
* 1997 : Dans ma chair
* 1997 : Black Coffee (not publicly available)
* 1998 : Rendez-vous 1
* 1999 : Le Mot de passe
* 1999 : Christmas in Vienna VI (with Plácido Domingo and Alejandro Fernández accompanied by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra)
* 2000 : Long Box (contains the albums Scène de vie, Je te dis vous, Dans ma chair and Le mot de passe as a box set with booklet)
* 2000 : Ce sera nous 1
* 2001 : Les indispensables de Patricia Kaas 1
* 2001 : Rien ne s’arrête/Best Of 1987–2001 2
* 2002 : Piano Bar
* 2003 : Sexe fort
* 2005 : Toute la musique… 1
* 2007 : Ma Liberté contre la tienne 2
* 2008 : Kabaret

Other recordings:

* 1997 : Les Misérables (Soundtrack to the film of the same name by Claude Lelouch)

Awards:

Mon mec à moi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zgB1Jfpjdw

Mademoiselle chante le Blues : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z7npqBBa4o

D’Allemagne : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaBoKBMTnHA

Les hommes qui passent : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycekLtDDGnc

L’aigle noir: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCGPwo28XPo

• Zazi: (born on 18th April, 1964 in Boulogne-Billancourt)
  

Zazie is a French singer and songwriter. She also co-produces her own albums with other producers. Her songs range from upbeat rock or pop songs to languid down tempo tunes and are characterised by the wit of their lyrics based on puns, alliterations, homophonies and double entendres.

She is one of the most successful female singers in France.

In 1997, Pascal Obispo and Zazie released the single “Les Meilleurs Ennemis”.

In 2001, Zazie teamed up with Axel Bauer on the single “À Ma Place”. It was her most successful single in France, reaching number four on the French charts.

She is noted for her playful use of language, which has led to the coining of the French word zazisme, or “Zazie-ism”.

In 2007, she wrote several songs for Christophe Willem’s album, Inventaire.

Je suis un homme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anp4zcjFrAE

Zen: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=fo6-lXoNxOs

Les meilleurs ennemis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYseIXVmo1w

À ma place: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=IB-HdMudR3o

Ça fait mal et ça fait rien: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=ytnJorRDfiQ

Rue de la paix: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=HnH0nKAmUcM

• Jenifer Bartoli: (born on 15th November, 1982 in Nice)
  

Jenifer is a pop singer who has, since 2002, had a number of hit singles in the French and Swiss charts.

Her most popular songs are:

Tourner ma page: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gvgaTewDyw

Au Soleil: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RszSOBF1B3g

Ma Révolution: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=MYsUTKzZ0T8&feature=related

Donne-moi le temps: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=DeSmwMyF-Vs&feature=related

C’est de l’or: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=3Goe0eSqyL0&feature=related

Le souvenir de ce jour: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=_AeFYSJHbGU

Des mots qui résonnent: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=oT1ZWaRIO6g&feature=related

J’attends l’amour: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=p0ZVAPdij1w&feature=related

• Nolwenn Leroy: (born on 28th September, 1982 in Saint-Renan)
  

Just like Jenifer Bartoli, Nolwenn Leroy was revealed by Star Academy, a popular French TV reality show, in 2002. She is probably best known for her hit singles “Cassé” and “Nolwenn Ohwo!”:

Cassé: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsbD3zenw3Y

Nolwenn ohwo: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm1HHe64R9U

Suivre une étoile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDJKN0_4cys

Mon ange: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=FSD72x6Zvs4

Le dernier mot: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=5JrwuSLnffI

• Nadiya: (born on 19th June, 1973 in Tours)
  

Before becoming a singer, Nadiya was a specialist of the 800 m. At the age of 16, (in 1989) she became the French champion of the 800 metres (her brother Kader was also champion of the world in French boxing). The following year, she won the French Championship again.

Her most popular songs are:

Si loin de vous: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37zKcvIPypk

Parle-moi: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=FtUb5bsEf3E

Et c’est parti: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paZ66s0sZck

Tous ces mots: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=WADaloa1mTQ

She has also produced a song with Enrique Iglesias: Tired of being sorry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-4wM1AG8dY

• Chimène Badi: (born on 30th October 1982, in Melun)
  

She lost of the French reality TV show, Popstars, but Badi released her first single Entre Nous in 2003, which reached number 1 in the French charts. An album of the same name reached number 4 in domestic charts, and became the 5th best selling French album of 2003.

Entre nous: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=7WycMRaZVsg

Je viens du sud: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=-kDSn9-1GDw (this is a rendition of Michel Sardou’s original song)

• Julie Zenatti: (born on 5th February, 1981 in Paris)
  

Julie Zenatti is a famous French singer who is said to have one of the most beautiful voices in the world.

Si je m’en sors: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_-eV1IyHLw

Princesse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeNLP2mq3dI

La vie fait ce qu’elle veut: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXfp_Wh-P-w&feature=fvst

• Olivia Ruiz: (born on 1st January, 1980 in Carcassonne)
  

She was revealed by Star Academy in 2001 even though she was not the winner.

Her most popular songs are:

J’traine des pieds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3sHO1IGBUU

La femme chocolat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aClbCqBkOd4

• Sheryfa Luna: (born on 25th January, 1989)

Il avait les mots: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khBSTYKTjdU

Quelque part: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6voObOyrx-A