soleil rare 14 - champs-élysées.

This is for those who don't know much about French music. Let's dive in with past and present giants.

Serge Gainsbourg - Valse De Melody.

The godfather of French pop music, here with his best album. This is truly a masterpiece, composed by Serge and arranged by Jean-Claude Vannier. A pregnant Jane Birkin is on the cover, playing Melody.

This song starts with the classic words "le soleil est rare, et le bonheur aussi", which clearly inspired the name of this blog.

Georges Brassens - Le Gorille.

Georges Brassens hailed from Sète, Southern France. He is famous for critisizing the politicians, using deep metaphors. This song, "Le Gorille" is supposed to be aimed at French former president, Charles de Gaulle.

He's also known for his unique use of the acoustic guitar, which was generally the only instrument backing him while singing, with his raw southern accent. Classic French. 

Francis Cabrel - La Dame De Haute-Savoie.

Another guy from the southern part of France, another icon of French music. With a mix of folk and rock, and complex lyrics, Francis Cabrel emerged in the 1970's. This song, "La Dame De Haute-Savoie", opens his third album "Fragile", released in 1980. It became one of his most famous hits and settled Cabrel's seat in the musical landscape.

Most of Cabrel's songs are supported by guitars. He started his career with a rather heavy sound, but adapted his style around the turn of the 2000's, prefering a light, simple acoustic sound.  

Alain Bashung - Dehors.

Alain Bashung died a few years ago, and it really devastated the whole French music industry. Since Gainsbourg died, the seat of French music godfather had been vacant, but Bashung recently took it, after guys like Polnareff failed to express interest in it. Unlike many other French icons, Bahsung enjoyed apotheosis while living, setting a record in award-winning. 

At the end of his career (and his life), he was suffering from cancer, but recorded his best album, "Bleu Pétrole", and toured across France. 

"Dehors" is featured on "Fantaisie Militaire", released in 1998, in which Bashung experimented new directions, such as drum&bass. A nice introduction to his universe. 

Jane Birkin - Les Capotes Anglaises.

Gainsbourg's touch is everywhere in this track, in this album, and overall in Jane Birkin's career. Let's be clear, Birkin lacks almost everything a singer should have. Except charm. Her voice is so weak that she can't even diversify the feelings in her songs. So, instead of making her voice relevant, Serge gave her unique lyrics. About condoms. Typical.

Mylène Farmer - California.

Mylène Farmer is a ghost, a sort of French Lady Gaga, only 20 years earlier. Her fans are nerds, and they are plenty. But Mylène remains a mystery. She runs away from the press, from the paparazzi, and even moved to the U.S. in order to stop being bothered.

Like Birkin, she can only whisper, as her voice isn't her main asset.

Sébastien Tellier - L'Amour Et La Violence.

My favourite weirdo. Be aware, this track will come back soon on "le soleil est rare". Just enjoy this piano. And... well, the lyrics are weird. Getting back soon. 

Françoise Hardy - Oh Oh Chéri.

As an icon in the "yé-yé" years during the 1960's, Françoise Hardy could export her talents. Now she's a star in Japan for example, and she's a well-known astrologist. Yeah... She's also a longtime soulmate of fellow "yé-yé" wonderkid Jacques Dutronc.

This song is pretty simple, childish, and perfectly sums up the spirit of the "yé-yé". If you find it pretty stupid, just consider it a little taste of Françoise Hardy. Her career proved that she is a talented musician.

Michel Polnareff - Lettre A France.

Caution : the sound is loud at first, kind of in a Spector's wall of sound way. Then it's nothing but sweet. Before Farmer, Polnareff has been a revolution in the French music industry, surrounding himself with mystery, chosing to live abroad, and making rare appearances. Though, he remained a well esteemed musician, delivering cult albums and soundtracks.  

This track was released in 1977, as Polnareff started living in California ; he expressed his feelings towards his home country. The song is among the famous ones of Polnareff's.