Gainsbourg. An astonishingly varied career.

Francoise Hardy: there's a fabulous 2cd best of, "The Vogue Years."
Francis Cabrel: "L'essentiel" collection is also terrific. (C'est Ecrit is a brilliant song!)
"L'histoire de M. Swing" by Michel Jonasz
Try some Renaud and Mylene Farmer, too.

That doesn't look like Johnny Marr to me.

If you don't speak French (and aren't easily offended), here's the translation:

http://www.lyricsmania.com/translation/yelle_je_veux_te_voir_3586.html

(It's a riposte to French rapper Cuizinier from the group TTC and his misogynistic lyrics, apparently.)

This is magnificent:

I'm slowly growing to enjoy La Reproduction by Arnaud Fleurent-Didier following a recommendation from Les Inrockuptibles at the back end of last year.

I also like this:

Erik Satie - Gnossienne No 5

The man remains one of the biggest stars of le rap Francais because of his brilliant word play.
Takes me ages to translate them.

..recommended by a certain S Maconie in a Word feature a few years ago -tho' I prefer her French language stuff. Husky sexy french voice, gently picked guitar -what's not to like?

… but singing in French:

on the 'overcraft

Don't think you can get much more francais than this....

....especially girl group/girl singers compilations are invariably wonderful.

especially this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chante-Brassens-Brel-Barbara/dp/B00004S7BZ/ref=s...

3 birds with one stone.

One written by him, and one sung by the great man

Charles Trenet:

Alain Souchon:

If, like me, you're of a jazzy persuasion, then you could try the French accordionist Richard Galliano, here playing in a trio with Sardinian trumpet man Paolo Fresu and Swedish pianist Jan Lundgren.

David and Mark are wrong. As good as "Witchita Lineman" and "This Perfect Man" are, this is probably the best pop song ever:

J'ai écouté ce morceau de Sandrine Kiberlain. C'est bien veux le peine de faire une tradaction du parole - quel honte!

my favourite French rock band

When I had to review their album "Le Génie Humain" I was rather taken with their French lounge folk sound.

Featuring Joey Starr from Supreme NTM on vox

"Cover the wains eyes and ears!"

Les Negresses Vert? Accordions and a bit Pogueish from the late 80s

Bill Deraime. Old school. Fabulous guitar playing too...

....I sometimes listen to French Radio London while topping the sprouts if I fancy a change:

www.frenchradiolondon.com

It's pretty good and on DAB

Genius, up there with the much better known (in UK) Brel. All his stuff is good imho, this is probably his best-known song:

Also, more recently, this is a cracking tune by Etienne Daho:

for the next Massive get together if you want.

I have quite a collection of French 60's Yé-yé stuff, Jacques Dutronc, Françoise Hardy, Clothilde, Jane Birkin, France Gall, Brigitte Bardot etc...

Serge is the master of course - from Jazz, Chanson, throwaway pop, to Psychedelic concept albums and a pretty passable reggae record too in "Aux Armes et cætera" - recorded with Sly & Robbie, Marcia Griffiths and Rita Marley.

If you get chance and you're interested, I'd really recommend you try the fantastic fantasy biopic just released now on DVD called "Gainsbourg". Absolutely brilliant film.

I'd also recommend his daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg's album "5:55", with help from Jarvis Cocker, it's got a lot of her father's trademarks and if you like Air (another French band heavily influenced by Serge) then you will probably like this.

Her second one "IRM" recorded with Beck has it's moments.

I'd also really recommend Rachid Taha and his old band Carte de Séjour, he did a wicked version of "Rock The Casbah".

Manu Chao also fuses some of his mixed roots (Basque, Arabic, French) into pretty decent albums.

First heard this mid to late 80`s while in Germany. I know it`s cheesy but its good!

I have her 'Le Fil' album (includes this one) which is a lovely item indeed but know nothing of her other stuff.

A genuine artiste, her albums Le Fil and Music Hole are wonderful, mostly. Once seen live, never forgotten.

I have just discovered Emily Loizeau & am very taken with her. Here is a link of the tune she did with Andrew Bord;

I cant see any mention of Yann Tiersen yet either;

La mignonne Axelle Red

....featured rather well in the recent Lynn Barber biopic "An Education"....Typical of the genre and light and sexy, perhaps someone more adept than me could post a clip. By the way, Juliette's 84 today - Gulp!

an overwhelming response. I have immersed myself and come up for Air(!)
I am definitely turning toward the ladies with a more classic sixties sound or folkier leanings. The more modern sounding productions have mainly been a turn off.
I have a lot to catch up on but I welcome any more suggestions Massive.
Merci beaucoup.

...is really nice. I believe he's been titled the French Bob Dylan before, but his sound is a bit more poppy than that of Bobby D.

Literate hip-hop and jazz beats. This one sounds like an update on Brel's Amsterdam.
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=GB#/watch?xl=xl_blazer&v=6...