Learning French with Music: Top 10 Songs

Music is one of the best ways to start learning French or sharpen your existing skills. Learning French with music makes the process enjoyable and helps you remember vocabulary naturally. I’ve curated a mix of classic and contemporary French songs for you, arranged from newest to oldest—you’re sure to find something you love!

Here’s my top 10 playlist to boost your French listening skills and dive deep into Francophone culture.

1. Louane – Maman (2025)

“Maman” (Mom) is Louane’s Eurovision 2025 entry that beautifully captures the love and tenderness between mother and child. This song is perfect for tackling complex grammar (subordinate clauses, relative pronouns, and the imperfect tense) while exploring literary devices like metaphors and repetition.

2. Angèle – Balance ton quoi (2019)

Angèle’s “Balance ton quoi” (roughly “Call out your what”) tackles sexist behavior with sharp wit and irony. The title plays off the hashtag #BalanceTonPorc (call out your pig), France’s version of the #MeToo movement. It’s an ideal window into contemporary French social issues and cultural references.

3. Orelsan – Tout va bien (2017)

“Tout va bien” (Everything’s Fine) showcases Orelsan’s signature blend of humor and social commentary. The bitter irony of repeatedly claiming “everything’s fine” while describing unemployment, pollution, and inequality makes this track excellent for developing your ear for subtext and sarcasm in French.

4. Stromae – Formidable (2013)

“Formidable” (Great/Wonderful) takes you into the mind of a man spiraling after a breakup. Stromae’s clever wordplay—”Tu étais formidable, j’étais fort minable” (You were great, I was quite pathetic)—offers insight into how contemporary spoken French sounds in real life.

5. Camille – Ta douleur (2005)

Camille’s experimental track “Ta douleur” (Your Pain) pushes the boundaries of voice and sound. It’s perfect for expanding your emotional vocabulary around pain, suffering, and intense feelings while experiencing how creative French artists play with language.

6. Renaud – Mistral Gagnant (1985)

This nostalgic gem transports you back to childhood through memories of vintage French candies (roudoudou, Mistral gagnant, Carambar). It’s a goldmine for childhood-related vocabulary and demonstrates how French uses the narrative present to bring past memories to life.

7. Charles Aznavour – La Bohème (1965)

Aznavour’s “La Bohème” (The Bohemian Life) paints a wistful portrait of struggling artists in Montmartre. This classic is your gateway to French artistic culture, packed with creative vocabulary and showing how beautifully poetic and emotional the language can be.

8. Édith Piaf – Non, je ne regrette rien (1960)

Piaf’s iconic “Non, je ne regrette rien” (No, I Regret Nothing) is pure defiance—a powerful declaration of living without regrets. Listen for the dramatic emphasis in phrases like “Non, rien de rien, non, je ne regrette rien” and emotional vocabulary like les chagrins (sorrows), les plaisirs (pleasures), and l’amour (love).

9. Jacques Brel – Ne me quitte pas (1959)

“Ne me quitte pas” (Don’t Leave Me) is raw romantic desperation at its finest. Brel’s lyrics overflow with hyperbole and metaphor (“Moi, je t’offrirai des perles de pluie venues de pays où il ne pleut pas” – “I’ll offer you pearls of rain from countries where it never rains”), making it perfect for learning emotional vocabulary while practicing future tense constructions.

10. Georges Brassens – La mauvaise réputation (1952)

“La mauvaise réputation” (The Bad Reputation) tells the story of a village outsider with Brassens’ trademark humor and wit. You’ll encounter colorful expressions (cul-terreux – country bumpkin, cul-de-jatte – legless person, voleurs de pommes – apple thieves) and discover the wordplay that made Brassens legendary.

Pro tip: Don’t just listen—read along with the lyrics and try singing them. Repetition is key to making these phrases stick naturally in your memory. Want to take your French further? I’ve also put together a list of 5 classic books that’ll level up your reading skills.

Ready to master French? Check out La French Zone! I offer personalized online French courses, both one-on-one and group sessions, so you can learn at your own pace.