Are you a French teacher looking for songs in French as a way to engage your students with fun and current topics they’ll get excited about? I’ve got some French music here for you to check out!
Decades ago (when we still had to buy CDs or later when YouTube was in its earliest stages and finding French music was still really hard) I committed to playing a song each week for my French students. I’d present a little about the artist, find some lyrics to read along with (or create a cloze activity with) and we’d spend some time each week just listening to songs in French!
It quickly be came a time they looked forward to, but I didn’t even know how much they loved it until one week when I was too busy to find a new song. They all let me know that this was something they really wanted to do each week!
It’s not always easy to find French music that is appropriate for class, so I’m saving you some time with some songs your students might like. As with any videos, make sure to watch them first so you can ensure that they are a good fit and are appropriate for your students.
Here are some songs in French your students might like:
Prends ma main -Gims & Vitaa
Students always love both of these artists, so of course they should love a song with both of them, right? If you’re searching for songs in French to play in the classroom, both of these artists will give you a TON of options your students will love.
Tahiti – Keen’V
This Covid-era song is super-catchy! If you are studying French Polynesia in class, this is a great video to show so students can see how amazingly beautiful it is! Plus, it just makes me want to dance! It’s perfect for those winter days when you are dreaming of being somewhere warm and sunny!
On t’emmene – Trois cafés gourmands
This is a great song that I recently found pop up in my Spotify playlist when I was driving. I try to make a note of it when I find something I like, but since I was driving, I couldn’t and I totally forgot to create a note when I got to my destination. Thankfully, it popped again this week, and I grabbed it! It’s catchy and upbeat and would be great for a cloze activity or discussion prompt for advanced classes or as part of your in-class playlist with any group.
Les petites jolies choses – Joyce Jonathan
I like this one a lot, because it’s just simple and sweet. It would be a good one to listen to before having students make lists of the little things they love in life. There are a few options for the video, but I find this acoustic version to be really pretty.
Tout oublier – Angèle
This song popped up on one of my playlists a few years ago, and I listen to it over and over! Last year for my neighborhood “around the world” party, my partner and I teamed up to make Belgian food, and I, of course, got to make the playlist (which was SO fun!) Angèle was on there quite a few times, because what’s not to love? Her voice is so beautiful!
This would be good for classes learning si clauses or with a more-advanced class to write about happiness. I’ve linked the video above, but it does take place on a beach and there are people in swimsuits, so you can use one of the lyrics videos available on YouTube if you prefer.
Extraordinaire – Fredz
Pascale, a fellow French teacher, shared this song with me, and I LOVE it! The song is great, and the video is supercute. I love the message of this song, the music is catchy, and I’m always watching for artists from Quebec, so this was a song I was really excited to learn about. I think it definitely belongs on a list of songs in French that your students would love!
À nos héros du quotidien – Soprano
I include him on just about all my playlists, because I love his music! It’s so upbeat, catchy, and filled with positive messages. This song is no different. It’s a great way to talk about gratitude, helping others, and appreciating people in our everyday lives who may not get thanked often enough. If you’re looking for songs in French to get your students discussing ideas, writing, or just for vocabulary exposure, check out this one and then make sure to listen to his other songs.
Secret – Louane
She is one of my absolute favorites! I have listened to her for years since I first found her song Maman (the first one, not the new one). Her lyrics just really resonate with me, and that one holds a really special place in my heart. This song would be great for students learning the subjunctive or for more-advanced classes who have a wider range of vocabulary. Louane is getting more and more popular (she was France’s Eurovision entry last year with a new version of Maman) so I hope she’ll be around for a long, long time.
Le tour du monde – Margot Abate
I like this one a lot, and maybe it’s because I’m just coming back from spring break, but I’ve been listening to it quite a bit! It would be good for a discussion or writing prompt to talk about how travel and getting out in the world can help us relax and refocus on the things that really matter.
I hope this helped you find some songs in French to play with your students!
