Singing a Chanson

Originally published in the February 2009 issue of France Today.

A French performer writing and singing in English? Unthinkable until a few years ago. Traditionally, those who made that choice were at best ignored, at worst disparaged for succumbing to English-language dominance. Serge Gainsbourg, although perfectly bilingual, translated only a few of his hits to reach an Anglo-American audience. But the international success of French electro artists who use English lyrics-from Daft Punk to Air and Troublemakers-has paved the way for a new generation of French singer songwriters. Emerging a few years ago from indie rock circles, the phenomenon has expanded to the pop folk scene and keeps on growing.

Why choose English? The reasons vary from a quest for recognition beyond French borders to the natural influence of certain singers. “I think it is mainly artistic,” says Sébastien Schuller, one of the most brilliant songwriters in France. “When I work up a tune, the words or sounds that come to mind first are in English. The meaning of the lyrics resides, consciously or not, in the union between the melody and these first words.” Schuller’s first album, Happiness, issued in 2005, was widely praised by both critics and the public. Often compared to Thom Yorke of Radiohead, Schuller was among the first to prove that French artists could write and sing in English.

Alongside Schuller stands Syd Matters-real name Jonathan Morali-who broke out in 2002 with the album A Whisper & A Sigh, followed in 2005 by Someday We Will Foresee Obstacles and Ghost Days last year. With a mix of folk music and melancholic pop, Matters delivers passionate songs like the beautiful End & Start Again.

Other well-known artists working in English include the Israeli-born French singer-songwriter Keren Ann and extravagant electro composer Sébastien Tellier. Following in their footsteps, many young French musicians now launch their careers in English. In the past year, such diverse bands as Hey Hey My My, Tahiti 80, AaRON and HushPuppies, revealed on MySpace and bred in small festivals, have hit the charts.

Though influenced by English-language natives-among them Elvis Costello, Radiohead, Nick Drake, PJ Harvey and, of course, Bob Dylan-these French artists don’t merely mimic their idols but explore their own kind of writing, a postmodern appropriation that can produce unsettling results. As a foreigner, explains Schuller, “I take a whole different approach to the language than a native speaker does, and this allows a new way of playing with the words. It’s like the mistakes people make when they try to speak a foreign language-the mistakes can be funny and at the same time really interesting in the way they change the meaning.”

The wider use of English in French music has not failed to incur the wrath of some critics, but certainly they seem less hostile now than they used to be. “People now listen to The Strokes or The White Stripes more than to Telephone. Maybe these excellent bands can give them the will to listen and write in English,” notes David-Ivar Herman Düne, lead singer and guitarist of Herman Düne, a folk-rock band formed in the late ’90s. One positive sign of the times: The group’s eighth album, Giant, sold more copies in France than any of its seven previous offerings.

Even a few stars of la chanson française are now venturing into English. Vincent Delerm’s third album, Les Piqûres d’Araignées (Spider Bites) included Favorite Song, a duet with Peter von Poehl (see below), including such language-mocking lyrics as “I was a fan and I still really am, singing along to my favorite song, greatest thing I’ve heard but I didn’t get a word.” Definitely, les temps they are a-changin’.

Three of the most promising language-crossover artists:

Marie Modiano: The gifted daughter

You can be the daughter of possibly the greatest French writer alive and still opt for English as your artistic medium. Marie Modiano shares with her novelist and screenwriter father Patrick a poetic take on life, a fondness for its small moments and a charming nostalgic attitude-all manifest in her delicate first album, I’m Not a Rose, a mix of folk, jazz and country. With her bluesy voice and her inspired topics (an aging ex-Miss Hawaii who never leaves Honolulu, a long-forgotten circus, a young girl traveling the world), Marie Modiano deserves star status. I’m Not a Rose Naïve

Rhesus: French pop ‘n’ roll

Yes, you can roll with pop, and you’ll love the new sound of Rhésus. This young trio from Grenoble-Aurélien Marie, Laura Rosello and Simon Nodet-was spotted in 2004 when they took the CQFD prize awarded each year by the hip magazine Les Inrockuptibles. After a promising but sometimes annoying first album, Sad Disco, they have come back with a second collection that’s both elegant and full of energy, reminding us of the best Sonic Youth and Bloc Party. If you still think France has never produced a decent band, Rhésus should change your mind. The Fortune Teller Said Pias

Peter von Poehl: The enchanted Viking

Born in Sweden, the tall blond singer (who bears a peculiar resemblance to Owen Wilson) settled in France 10 years ago. Starting out as a brilliant background artist-guitarist for French stars such as Vincent Delerm and even Michel Houellebecq-he was soon discovered, curiously enough, by Tôt ou Tard, the main label of the nouvelle chanson française. With his brilliant first album, Going to Where the Tea Trees Are, Peter von Poehl ushers us into his fairy-tale universe, a poetic mirage that takes shape from his ethereal compositions. Magical. Going to Where the Tea Trees Are Tôt ou Tard