Les Harpies de Disney
"Les Harpies" is "The Work Song" from the cartoon, Cinderella in French. It is about all the work that the mean stepsisters and step mother make Cinderella do around the house.
Shuruthi Saravanan (class of '18) wanted to share this video because she loved how the mice and they birds sounded. She thought it was really cute. She also commented that "everybody likes Disney movies!." |
Le Cygne
Composed by Camille Saint-Saens, Performed by Yo-Yo Ma "Le Cygne" or "The Swan" was created by the French Composer Camille Saint-Saens in 1887. As the title might suggest, the song represents the a swan, perhaps one that is singing its final song. The song is a part of Camille Saint-Saens' "Le Carnaval des Animaux", with contained thirteen other movements. However, "Le Cygne" is the only part of this suite that Saint-Saens allowed to be published in his lifetime. The suite was written for fun and does feature a few whimsical elements. Saint-Saens believed the suite would ruin his reputation as a serious composer. Today, the suite is one of Saint-Saens' best known works. Judah Lampkin (Class of '18) contributed this video. He said that he loves the way the song progresses. He feels as if it captures the beauty and elegance of a swan. He wrote, "It creates an image of pure majesty and wonder in my head every time I listen to it. The music is awe-inspiring and melodic."
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Papaoutai by Pentatonix
Asya Yenina (Class of '21) contributed this song. She said she loves this song because the group singing it, Pentatonix, uses only two instruments, and the voices of the artists. AMAZING! She says, "I just LOVE this song and thought [others] would like to hear it. She also likes that in the video, the characters look and move like dolls.
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La Seine by Vanessa Paradis and "M"
"La Seine" is a song about the fabulous river that runs through the center of Paris. The main singer, Vanessa Paradis has represented Chanel as a spokesmodel. She has been singing professionally since the age of 14.
Suha Ibrahim (class of '20) contributed this song after hearing it in class during a presentation about the French-speaking world. She loves the tune and the voice of the singer. |
"Ces soirées-là by Yannick
"Ces soirées-là" means "Those Nights" in English and is a rap about going to a party and having a good time. The tune of the song is from "Oh What A Night" by the Four Seasons. The singer, Yannick was born in Paris, France.
This student pick was contributed by Emily Hudgins (class of '18). She chose this song because it has "an overall good vibe about it" and and after a previous French teacher shared it with the class, she couldn't get it out of her head. One day, she recalled this song from memory and has been listening to it ever since. She shared that while she enjoys American music, music, but there is just something about listening to a song in another language. I agree! |
"La Brabançonne" Belgian National Anthem
Griffin Smith (class of '18) adores history! A teacher shared the Belgian National Anthem with him, and he shared it with us. This anthem was written during the Belgian Revolution and helped solidify the idea of a Belgian State. It has been the national anthem since 1860.
The anthem is unique in that the lyrics are in French, Dutch, and German. The line, "La Nation, la Loi, le Roi" or "The Nation, the Law, the King" is a parallel to the French slogan, "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity." |
"Je veux" by Zaz
Hayley Desandre (class of '18) found this song online. This was the first song that got "ZAZ" her big break. Zaz' first album was released in 2010. She grew up learning French, Spanish, and English.
The title, "Je veux," means, "I want," and the lyrics speak about how the artist DOESN"T WANT all the expensive and extravagant things you would expect someone might desire. All she wants is to be herself and to accepted for who she is. Hayley likes this song because she plays guitar and she loves the guitar lick (A lick means short repetitive notes played for a series of time). She also really loves the voice of the artist. |
"Je suis Rick Springfield" by Jonathan Coutlon
Chantel Omene (class of '20) contributed this song after her sister shared it with her. Her sister heard it in 6th grade French Class.
The artist, Jonathan Coulton, played snare drum in his high school band but switched to guitar. He later studied music in college and sang with a cappella group called the Spizzwinks and the Whiffenpoofs. Chantel likes this song because she can catch some easy french words while the artist sings. In the first verse, he talks about a dog that wears a necktie, and those words are easy to understand. |
Carmagnole A Revolutionary Song
"La Carmagnole" was sung by those who supported the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century and then during later uprisings. It was often used as a battle cry. The song mocks the French nobility, particularly "Madame Veto" or Marie-Antoinette. The young Queeen was called "Madame Veto" for allegedly opposing all revolutionary ideas. "La Carmagnole" was written around the same time as the French National Anthem, La Marseillaise.
Emma Svitil (class of '18) shared this video because It comes from a play she is performing in. The play is about the Tuileries Gardens. This song is from the part about the Tuileries during the French Revolution. Emma says that listening to this song gives her chills. She says, "It represents the power of the people. Also, it originates from one of the most interesting periods in the history of France." |
"Festin" from Pixar's Ratatouille
Emma Svitil (class of '18) saw the movie Ratatouille and became enamored with the song, "Festin," which means "The Feast."
Emma says that, "Despite the happy beat, "Festin" is actually very deep and thoughtful. It's about trying and failing to succeed in life." Emma supports this claim by citing a line from the song, "The path of the stars is not for me." By the end of the song, Emma says there is an epiphany, and the singer starts over with a clean slate: "I'm preparing the table for my new life". Thank you Emma, for providing your interpretation of this song! |
"Ce Rêve Bleu"
from Disney's Aladdin This song was contributed by Mariana Figueredo (class of '20). It is the French version of the song "A Whole New World" from Aladdin. What is so interesting about the French version is that the title translates to "This Blue Dream." In English, the color blue is often associated with sadness. In French, however, blue is often the color of happiness (as in "blue skies").
I posted a version with lyrics for this song because the words are easy enough that students could follow along if they wanted to. |
Élégie by Gabriel Fauré
Performed by Yo-Yo Ma Judah Lampkin (class of '18) recommends this classical piece by French composer, Gabriel Fauré. Judah describes the piece as "a strong and melodic classical song." The title translates to "elegy," which is generally a term used to describe a lamentation or funeral song. Judah writes, "Inside its minor key structure it is possible to find moments of joy and peace, but generally the song has a melancholy feeling to it."
JUdah also reports to us that "Gabriel Fauré was a French composer of the late 19th/early 20th century. During his lifetime, he was critically acclaimed and well known throughout France." Thank you to Judah for all these details! |
"Un Monde Parfait" by Ilona Mitrecey
What a bright and colorful way of looking at the world! This song was at the top of French charts for 15 weeks in 2005!
French singer, Ilona Mitrecey, became famous in France after the release "Un Monde Parfait." She was only 12 years old when it was released. The song title translates to "A Perfect World". It is about a girl who paints a picture and describes everything in it including the clear blue sky, the flowers, and all of the animals that are free from cages. All these things would be in the perfect world that she imagines. This student pick was contributed by Emily Hudgins (class of '18). "Les Bâtisseurs de France" by Toma
Wow! This is a musician I had never heard of before. How awesome! The song is called "Les bâtisseurs de France" or "The builders of France." It is about the contributions of all the various immigrants who have built France alongside the French. It highlights the diversity of a country that many do not see as diverse. I couldn't find much information about the singer except that he was born near Paris in the late 70s and abandoned at birth. Thank you to Sanjeev Uppaluri (class of '20) for sending this song!
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"Le Boudin" March of the French Foreign Legion
This military march was contributed by Griffin Smith (Class of '18). It is the Principale De La Légion Étrangère or the Official March of the French Foreign Legion.
The title "Le Boudin," means "Blood Sausage," a popular food in some parts of France. In this case, however, it refers to the rolled up gear that sits atop the backpacks of the French Foreign Legion soldiers. Click on the video and enjoy a bit of French patriotism! "Elle me dit" by Mika
I heard this song for the first time in 2012. Two students, Tanvi Bhavsar (class of '20) and Grace Ann Geer (Class of '18), sent it to me to post on the website. It has a catchy tune and funny irreverent lyrics. The singer goes on and on about what his mother tells him all the time: She tells me... (Elle me dit...). Among the things she says all the time are... "Pourquoi tu gâches ta vie?" or "Why are you ruining our life?" She also says, "C'est ta vie; fais ce que tu veux, tant pis!" or "It's YOUR life; do what you want, it's too bad!"
In the end, he decides to DANCE, DANCE, DANCE! |
"Belle" by Jack Johnson
The Buxbaums (Class of '18 and '20) sent me this song by American folk singer and song-writer, Jack Johnson.
"Belle" is short and sweet. It is mostly instrumental, with a few lyrics at the end in several languages. The French part tells the listener: "Beautiful girl, I don't understand French." Johnson then adds in English, "So you''ll have to speak to me some other way "Les Lionnes" by Yannick Noah
Yannick Noah is a former tennis player who has become a champion for social justice through music. In the song "Les Lionnes," or "The Lions," he sings about the role that African women play in the survival of their villages. They are the water bearers and the lifelines to those who depend on them.
This video even has the lyrics for you to follow! Thank you to Emma Svitil (class of '18) for contributing this song to the website! |