“I want to make people cry even when they don’t understand my words.” Edith Piaf (1915-1963)
From jazz to rock, from pop to rap, the hugely varied and diverse genre, French Chansons started to take shape at the end of the 19th century, and was immediately a huge hit amongst young and old alike. Browse our sheet music and scores, and discover all the greatest French Chanson hits with Stretta today!
At the end of the 19th century, the first French Chansons, cabaret songs emerged, which were already very different from the popular classical French Song and French Opera. Cafes, variety shows became venues to showcase French Chanson, and some of the most famous venues are still known today, Moulin Rouge, Les Folies Bergères, Le Chat Noir and L’Olympia.
In the 1930s, one of the greatest idols of French Chanson came to the fore, Édith Piaf, whose name was soon on everyone’s lips in France and abroad. She was followed by other popular artists such as Yves Montand, Henri Salvador, Annie Cordy and many others.
At the same time, singers like Jacques Brel and Georges Brassens were more inspired by literary, emotionally committed texts.
The 1960s saw the birth of rock music, which came mainly from the United States, and with it came the age of fans, who followed their idols such as Johnny Hallyday, Claude François, Sylvie Vartan, Françoise Hardy and many others. They were nicknamed “yéyés”, which came from the English“ yeah”, from the Beatles “She Loves You”. Thanks to these stars, the record market experienced a legendary boom.
At the end of 1970, it was the ’rock opera’ by Michel Berger and Luc Plamondon Starmania which paved the way for the genre of French musical comedy. It was followed by ’Notre Dame de Paris’, ’The Ten Commandments’, ’Romeo and Juliet’ and many others.
At the end of the century, Jean-Jacques Goldman and Mylène Farmer revolutionized the French music video, while the Canadian Céline Dion achieved international success with the release of the world’s best-selling French-language album “D’eux”, written and produced by JJ Goldman.
In the early 2000s, singers emerged, mostly from musicals, such as Garou and Lara Fabian, but the focus soon shifted back to singers with literary texts like Raphaël, Carla Bruni and Bénabar, who were hugely successful.
The Belgian singer Stromae made a name for himself on the French music scene in 2013 with his album “Racine Carré”, the best-selling album of the decade. His unique style highlights the elaborate texts that are reminiscent of those of his compatriot Jacques Brel.
Today, urban music that emerged in the 90s is the mainstay of French Chanson, with Maître Gims, Soprano and Sexion d’Assaut, among others.
for: 4-Part Choir
Choir score
Item no.: 992563
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Buch
Item no.: 466704
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Buch
Item no.: 183966
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 617651
for: Guitar
Buch
Item no.: 608080
for: Piano; voice ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 608082
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Buch
Item no.: 362893
Toller Titel von Max Raabe und dem Palast Orchester
for: Women's choir (SSA), piano
Piano score
Item no.: 680821
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 554296
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Buch
Item no.: 618220
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 430829
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 467715
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 240996
Collection Music en Poche
for: Melodyline, Guitar and Piano
Book
Item no.: 1682093
for: Voice, piano
Piano reduction
Item no.: 1053621
for: Male choir, piano
Item no.: 179936
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 334649
9 pièces spécialement adaptées pour piano
for: Piano
Music score, CD
Item no.: 280522
for: Trumpet, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1310766
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 605863
Brass Band
for: Brass band
Sheet music
Item no.: 595781
for: Voice, piano
Songbook
Item no.: 376921
l'entre deux guerres en chansons
Reliure à spirale
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Songbook (melody, lyrics, chords)
Item no.: 1018288
32 morceaux (2 albums) tablatures guitare et paroles - Et en bonus 5 m
for: Voice, guitar [piano]
Songbook PVG (Piano/Vocal/Guitar)
Item no.: 1651277
for: Euphonium, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1254137
for: Concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1288794
Blasorchester
for: Voice, concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 587863
Collection Crock'Music
for: Piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1324140
Cm
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Piano/Voice/Guitar
Item no.: 1035560
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 915080
13 Stücke für drei und vier Gitarren
for: 3–4 guitars
Ensemble score
Item no.: 180542
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 741646
(Hiking Song from Äppelbo)
for: Male choir (TTBB) a cappella
Music score
Item no.: 732276
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Buch
Item no.: 479340
for: Voice, piano [guitar/keyboard]
Songbook PVG (Piano/Vocal/Guitar)
Item no.: 608077
for: Choir (2 voices), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 808528
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Buch
Item no.: 608073
for: Mixed choir (SABar), piano
Choir score
Item no.: 619880
Songbook
Item no.: 330680
for: Piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1324058
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 358590
for: Male choir, piano
Score
Item no.: 554911
for: Voice, piano [guitar/keyboard]
Single edition
Item no.: 104426
for: String orchestra
Score, Parts
Item no.: 367758
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 124818
for: Voice, piano [guitar/keyboard]
Songbook PVG (Piano/Vocal/Guitar)
Item no.: 104342
for: Voice, piano
Score
Item no.: 607876
Klassik
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 271843