5 Spectacular Songs To Help You Learn French

One of the best ways to supplement your language studies is by listening to music. Not only is this a fantastic way to introduce yourself to new vocabulary, but the medium also helps these new words and phrases stick in your head, instead of simply floating back out the other ear. Plus, when you’re learning a language as romantic as French, there are a host of gorgeous songs to choose from, making this not only an effective way to learn French, but a highly enjoyable one.

One of the best ways to supplement your language studies is by listening to music. Not only is this a fantastic way to introduce yourself to new vocabulary, but the medium also helps these new words and phrases stick in your head, instead of simply floating back out the other ear. Plus, when you’re learning a language as romantic as French, there are a host of gorgeous songs to choose from, making this not only an effective way to learn French, but a highly enjoyable one.

So how should you go about using music to learn a new language? One helpful way is to use it to test your vocabulary. Listen to the song and write down as many words as you recognise. Then look up the lyrics, check how much you got right and study up on the words you didn’t know.

It’s not just about the words though. Sing along and practice your pronunciation and intonation as well. This is a quick way to become more fluent in French as you focus on the melody rather than getting hung up on individual words.

So what should you be testing your ears with? Here are 5 songs that will help get you started:

Pink Martini – Je Ne Veux Pas Travailler

Slow enough to catch all the words and catchy enough to make it stick in your head, this song by Pink Martini is perfect for learning some French. It may be a sad song lyrically, but its quintessentially French sound will evoke images of Paris, providing great inspiration to improve your language skills.

Edith Piaf – La Vie en Rose

Learn a real French classic by Edith Piaf (or enjoy it with a twist with versions by Grace Jones, Louis Armstrong and even Celine Dion). Beautiful, iconic, and plenty of new vocabulary for you to learn.

Serge Gainsbourg & Brigitte Bardot – Bonnie and Clyde

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY9PY4r83p8

Before Beyoncé and Jay-Z did their version, Serge Gainsbourg and Brigitte Bardot were the first to do a steamy song version of Bonnie and Clyde. Apart from the cool factor, the lyrics tell quite the epic tale of the two legendary criminals. The varied lyrics are good for expanding your crime-related French vocabulary., plus you can earn hipster points for knowing this version.

Stromae – Alors en Danse

If you’re looking for a French anthem for your 20s (or older, no judgement), then this is it. This catchy dance hit (even Kanye West did a remix) has great lyrics about the issues in the world and our solution – to just dance. Stromae has a number of other hits that are also great for practising your pronunciation and listening skills.

Coeur de Pirate – Place de République

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br_plcL-GCU

 

A contemporary pop singer, Coeur de Pirate has a number of wonderful songs to help you learn French. Her clear pronunciation, slower ballads and beautiful lyrics make it easy to follow along. What’s more, her great repertoire will have you adding her to your music collection, for studying and listening pleasure.

The great thing about using music as a tool to help you learn French is that you can choose the genre and artists that interest you, making it a much more enjoyable process! If you get stuck, there are great resources like Lyrics Translate to help you out. Of course, the best way to learn a new a language is with a qualified teacher. Find French lessons near you and start tuning your language skills with the help of one of our native-speaking teachers!