Songs to Play in French Class

Want new French songs to play in class? Maybe you know how much I love using music in French class to teach new vocabulary, verb conjugation, and grammar, because I definitely share a lot of songs and ways to teach with music.

The thing is, I get bored with the same songs, and I bet you do, too. Since it is back to school time, I thought I’d share a few more songs in case you want to freshen up your song list a bit.

Here are a few of my favorite French songs to play in class.

1. Iko Iko (my bestie) by Sara’h

If you don’t already play Sara’h in class, check her out! She covers popular English songs in French, and her videos have all the words on the screen so kids can sing along. This is a catchy one that you might remember from the 80s, and it has also recently been redone in English, so kids will probably recognize the music. This is a real feel-good song!

 

2. Bigflo & Oli – Plus tard

I love their songs! They are so catchy and older kids really love them. This song in particular is great, because there are so many verb tenses in the same song, so it’s great for reviewing with more advanced students. You’ll see the imparfait and the passé composé, the present, the futur simple, and even a few present participles.

 

3. Soprano – Mon précieux 

This one was the favorite of my students the last time we had in-person school. It’s great for older kids, but even my 4th and 6th grade beginners were able to get the main idea of the song while watching the video, because our love for our cell phones is something all kids understand.

 

4. Green Team – Les enfants du monde

This one is great for a lot of age groups. If you have watched any Kids United videos with your students, they will probably recognize some of the singers. I particularly love this song, because there are so many different singers and it’s just so pretty. This is a great one to use around Earth Day, but if you do any environmentally-themed units, this one is a great fit.

 

5. Jenifer et Slimane – Les choses simples 

I like this one, mainly because I really like these two singers and have always played them in class. It’s a simple song that can open up a discussion about the little things in life that can make us happy.

 

6. Amir – On dirait

I really like his music, and this one is a favorite of mine. It’s really positive and upbeat, and it’s one I still enjoy hearing if I play it several times in a day with my classes. 🙂

 

7. Les Frangines – Notre-Dame

This song pays homage to the grand cathedral that so many of us teach about. If you’re doing a lesson on Notre-Dame, this would be a nice intro. I also just love these girls, so I definitely look for a reason to play them in class.

 

8. Vianney – Merci pour ça

I really love this song, because it says so much about how we look at and treat others. Advanced classes could have some really great discussions or even a follow-up writing assignment based on this song.

 

9. GIMS – Jusqu’ici tout va bien

Kids always love GIMS, so the list just didn’t feel complete without at least one song. This one has a catchy refrain, and the title just happens to be something I say all the time, so I’d play it just so kids know what I’m talking about!

 

10. Ezra Muqoli – Je chanterai

If you recognize her in this video, it’s because she was a founding member of Kids United and was in the video “On écrit sur les murs” when she was just ten years old. She also sings the lead in the Green Team song that is number four on this list. This song is from her first solo album, but hopefully, it won’t be her last!

 

Want even more French songs? Find some popular songs for teens HERE and HERE.