French Music Icons You Should Know: Edith Piaf

Edith Piaf was one France’s first international superstars of the twentieth century, with her chart topping ballads like “La Vie En Rose”, “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien”, and “L’Hymne à l'Amour.” She lead a life touched by drug and alcohol addiction, scandalously public love affairs, and all the melodrama only a French chanteuse could provide. Through the tumult, Piaf managed to capture the hearts of the French people and remains an icon 50 years after her death.

Photo: Gilles Petard

Before her twentieth birthday, Piaf had been exposed to some of life’s harshest knocks. She had recovered from from keratitis-induced blindness, lived in a bordello, and lost a child to meningitis. Piaf used her sorrow to fuel her trademark powerhouse performances, which boosted her to fame within the French nightclub circuit within the span of one year. Her stage name “La Mome Piaf”, slang for “The Little Sparrow” is attributed to her “waifish” stature of only 4’8” and increased the buzz around her performances. She was known to leave her audiences breathless with her ability to draw a thunderous  voice from her petite frame.

Piaf shot to National fame during World War II and is attributed for raising the French people’s spirits during the German occupation of France. She played an instrumental role in the release of hundreds of French soldiers from Prisoner of War camps by using her influence over her German fans during negotiations.

She rose to fame in America following the war and throughout the fifties after a lone New York Times critic saved her first U.S. tour with a positive review.  She became a French classic in the states nearly overnight.

With fame also came a return to her various vices and volatile lovers, and Piaf’s health tragically declined at the turn on the sixties. Her performances were plagued with fits of coughing and fainting until she was convinced to retire from performing by her loved ones. She died of liver cancer in 1963 and was granted the highest honor of having the French flag draped over her casket during her traffic-stopping funeral procession.

Piaf’s impact is still felt today with her pieces being covered by artists of every genre, used in film soundtracks and commercials across the world, and her own recording still topping streaming charts. Edith Piaf is proof the the biggest impacts can come from something small (and French.)

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We hope you’ve enjoyed exploring French Music Icons You Should Know! Want to hear more of our favorite foreign artists? Click below to check out our official JP Linguistics Spotify playlist!

Zaz and All That Jazz

It is no news to France that Zaz, a French pop singer with a gypsy jazz style, is at the top of her game, but it might be news to you. So, who exactly Is Zaz? Let JP Linguistics be the first to tell you. Born Isabelle Geffroy, she first appeared in the music scene with her self-titled album "Zaz" and won over the hearts of fans with her top-charting hit "Je Veux" in 2010. Although she is often compared to the iconic French singer of the 1950s Edith Piaf, Zaz has independently made quite a name for herself. Her unique acoustic vocals and charm differentiate her as a modern-day, gypsy jazz singer.
Header Image: Schorle (www.commons.wikimedia.org)

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Zaz’s Early Life

Zaz was born in Tours, France on May 1, 1980. At a young age, she began learning piano, violin and guitar at a music conservatory in Bordeaux as she aspired to pursue her music career. Her first few gigs as an artist were in 2001, with such bands as Fifty Fingers, and Izar-Adatz (French for "Shooting Star"). Upon the release of "Zaz" in 2010, she began touring around the world, and quickly topped the charts in Belgium, Switzerland and Austria. Her knowledge of music and intuitive abilities enable Zaz to provide her audiences with quality shows.

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Je Veux

I Want - Je Veux (English translation)

Give me a suite at the Ritz hotel, I don't want that

Chanel's jewellery, I don't want that

Give me a limo, what would I do with it?

Offer me a staff, what would I do with it?

A mansion in Neufchatel, it's not for me

Offer me the Eiffel Tower, what would I do with it?

I want love, joy, good spirit

It's not your money that will make me happy

I want to die with a hand on my heart

Let's go together, let's discover my freedom,

Forget all your prejudice, welcome to my reality

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Upon it's release in 2010, "Je Veux" quickly became the most popular song in France, and inspired Zaz to release her first self-titled album, which sold 700,000 albums worldwide, the biggest French music export in year. Zaz won Song of the Year at Les Victoires de la Musique, the French equivalent to the Grammy's in 2011, and the European Border Breaker Awards in 2010 for French Artist Most Played Abroad. "Je Veux" was so respected because of its encouraging lyrics about the ethical view - "money doesn't buy happiness."

The success of her first album inspired Zaz to follow-up with her next album in 2013, "Recto Verso." In this album, she continues to expose her incredible vocals through her iconic, and traditional music style. "Recto Verso" reached number one in Switzerland, and number two in Germany and France.

Paris

Zaz released her most recent album in 2014, a compilation of traditional Paris-themed songs. It contains classics, such as "Sous Le Ciel de Paris," which was made famous by the iconic Edith Piaf, among other covers of Paris ballads. This album won her much recognition for its originality from her previous albums, and for its appreciation of French culture.

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Luce - Going Against the Norm

Luce is a French Singer and Songwriter known best for going against the norm with her funky personality and eccentric fashion sense. Although she is lesser known in the states, Luce is widely recognized in French for winning the eighth series of the French music competition Nouvelle Star. Auditioning on a bet, this spur-the-moment decision turned out to be her claim to fame. She won over audiences and engaged a huge following over the course of the competition. Today, Luce continues to inspire her fans to go against the norm. Her newest album, Chaud, hit the top 100 charts for its spunky instrumentals and lyrics.

Image Credit: Damien Schmitt (www.commons.wikimedia.org)

Born Lucie Brunet in Perpignan, France on January 28, 1990, Luce expressed her love for music by practicing the flute at a young age. However, she began pursing a different career entirely when preparing to study nursing in Montpellier. It was a last minute decision for her to audition for the TV talent show series, and it ultimately changed the course of her career. In 2011, she released her first album Première Phalange, and toured around Europe.

In recent years, Luce released her second album called Chaud in February of 2015, with the singles "Polka" and "Malibu" earning much recognition. This album put Luce back on the map for its funky instrumentals and vocals.

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POLKA - Lyrics

I want to dance the polka
I want to dance it in your arms
I want to dance it right away
I want to dance every sequence

I want to dance the sequence
Even if I don't know the steps
I want to dance it, it's crazy
I want to dance it while following
Even if I don't know the pace
I want to enter in the dance

I could dance no matter what
Especially since it's with you

I know I have my clogs
Yes but I wear the hat
And if I can't stand up
I will dance it around your neck
Even if I am not on the list
I want to enter on the track

Je veux danser la polka
J'la veux danser dans tes bras
J'la veux danser tout de suite
J'la veux danser toute cuite

Je veux danser la polka
Même si je sais pas le pas
J'la veux danser, c'est fou
J'la veux danser tout d'ssous
Même si je suis pas la cadence
Je veux entrer dans la danse

J'pourrais danser n'importe quoi
Tant que c'est avec toi

Je sais j'ai mes gros sabots
Oui mais je porte le chapeau
Et si je tiens pas d'bout
J'la danserais à ton cou
Même si j'suis pas sur la liste
Je veux entrer sur la piste

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We hope you enjoyed learning more about French pop star, Luce. To listen to the full album and to follow Luce, click here. To learn more French language and culture, visit the JP Linguistics services homepage. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for articles delivered directly to your inbox.