“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.
(Man sucht mich)
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 760611
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 760530
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 760496
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 760478
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 747860
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 759477
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 759476
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 758657
Tod und Vergänglichkeit "Ich weiß nicht, ob ich tot bin"
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 746465
for: Fanfare
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1195820
Bedenkliches, Bedeutendes und Bedauerliches "Die Erde dreht sich wie am Spieß"
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 724872
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 757611
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 1354253
for: Piano
Songbook
Item no.: 487593
for: Voice, piano [guitar]
Book
Item no.: 618270
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 125859
for: Voice, piano [guitar/keyboard]
Songbook
Item no.: 1018332
for: Fanfare
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1704505
for: Brass band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1704506
for: Voice, piano [guitar/keyboard]
Songbook PVG (Piano/Vocal/Guitar)
Item no.: 642145
for: Harp or Harps
Score
Item no.: 340165
for: Guitar
Music score, CD
Item no.: 462003
A Tribute to Gilbert Bécaud
De Haske Pop Collection
for: Concert band
Score, Parts
Item no.: 678666
for: Violin, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1254136
for: Concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1269561
for: Voice, piano [guitar/keyboard]
Songbook PVG (Piano/Vocal/Guitar)
Item no.: 228919
for: Accordion
Music score
Item no.: 467714
for: Piano/Vocal/Chords
Item no.: 1529690
for: Voice, concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 1314605
for: Oboe, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1310769
for: Euphonium, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1310762
for: Violin, piano
Sheet music
Item no.: 1310761
for: Mixed choir, brass band
Sheet music
Item no.: 594451
for: Concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 592930
for: Concert band
Sheet music
Item no.: 592192
for: Voice, piano [guitar/keyboard]
Songbook
Item no.: 471939
for: Piano; voice ad lib.
Music score (anthology), online audio (playback)
Item no.: 694041
for: Voice, piano
Item no.: 208693
for: Salon orchestra
Piano part for conductor, Parts
Item no.: 404840
for: Accordion orchestra
Set of parts
Item no.: 432546
Love Song from "La Mer"
for: 5 brass winds
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1560825
Collection Crock'Music
for: Piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 1324130
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 480172
for: Voice, piano
Music score
Item no.: 587253
for: Voice, piano [guitar/keyboard]
Songbook PVG (Piano/Vocal/Guitar)
Item no.: 608211
for: Voice, piano [guitar/keyboard]
Single edition
Item no.: 555572
for: 2 violins, viola, cello (string quartet)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 169163
für 5 Saxophone (SAATBar)
for: 5 saxophones (SAATBar)
Score, Parts
Item no.: 613814