Three of the biggest names of chanson in one picture, from left to right: Jacques Brel, Léo Ferré and Georges Brassens.
Chanson is actually the French word for "song", but it's also a musical genre ("chanson française"). Whenever music lovers refer to chansons they tend to talk about the classy singers who sing about broken hearts and the struggles of life. But outside of France, generally every artist who sings in the French language is categorized as "chanson", even if they are rock or pop artists, especially in Belgium and Quebec.
Do not confuse it with shanson, which is Russian criminal/urban romance music.
Examples of chansonniers:
- Charles Aznavour
- Pierre Bachelet
- Josephine Baker
- Maya Barsony
- Alain Bashung
- Gilbert Bécaud
- Daniel Beretta
- Michel Berger
- Benjamin Biolay
- Jane Birkin
- Bourvil
- Georges Brassens
- Jacques Brel
- Francis Cabrel
- Philippe Chatel
- Louis Chedid
- Matthieu Chedid (-M-)
- Maurice Chevalier
- Dalida
- Micheline Dax
- Michel Delpech
- Lou Doillon
- Jacques Dutronc
- Mylène Farmer
- Fernandel
- Jean Ferrat
- Léo Ferré
- Claude François
- Charlotte Gainsbourg
- Serge Gainsbourg
- France Gall
- Jean-Jacques Goldman
- Johnny Hallyday
- Françoise Hardy
- 1964 - Tous les Garçons et les Filles
- 1971 - La Question
- Jacques Higelin
- Kumisolo
- Guy Marchand
- Mireille Mathieu
- Mistinguett
- Eddy Mitchell
- Yves Montand
- Georges Moustaki
- Claude Nougaro
- Vanessa Paradis
- Édith Piaf
- Michel Polnareff
- Renaud
- Henri Salvador
- Sheila
- Emmanuelle Seigner
- Alain Souchon
- Stromae
- Charles Trenet
- Sylvie Vartan
- Zaz
