There are many great French musicians that are know par tout le monde (by everyone). The greats like Jacques Brel, Edith Piaf, or even Stromae are known dans le monde entier (all over the world), but outside of these well known chanteur francophones (French singers), la Francophonie also has a thriving indie music scene.

Il était une fois (once upon a time) I wanted to be un musicien (a musician) and spent my days learning all about music theory. So when I started to learn French, I knew I wanted to learn about la musique française (French music) as a part of my studies.

While the great historical singers and modern pop stars provide more than enough music to sing along to, I like finding la musique beneath the surface. Knowing that there are ordinary people still making amazing music in French makes the language feel more alive to me.

Cette soif (this thirst) for la musique indépendante (indpedent music) is what led me to find artists like Baptiste W. Hamon, Bernard Adamus, and Les Sœurs Boulay. One of the other musiciens that I found on cette quête (this quest) is Chantal Archambault.

La musique de Chantal is very folksy and her songs paint a picture of her home au Québec (in Quebec). She has been making music since 2008 with son premier album (her first album) La collage (The collage).

Chantal may not have broken out into the mainstream, but she has a successful carrière (career) and has gained recognition over the course of her three albums. She has even had the chance to aller en chine (go to China) and play her music on an international stage!

Sa chanson (her song) that has always stood out to me is Toucher les cèdres (Touch the Cedars). It’s a simple song, which makes it easy to understand, but I find the melody and les paroles (the lyrics) stay in my head for hours at a time without getting annoying.

Une chanson qui reste dans ta tête (a song that gets stuck in your head) is an ideal way to practice French without staring at a textbook. Take a moment and try a sing along to the lovely chanson by Chantal Archambault.

Voici la chanson Touches les cèdres avec une traduction :

Je ne toucherai pas les cèdres même s’ils sont d’un vert très beau

J’y échauderais, y abimerais ma peau

Je ne traverserai pas les cèdres même si tes charmes transpercent ma robe

Ses mains seulement la déboutonnent

 

I will not touch the cedars even if they are a very beautiful green

I would scald myself there, I would damage my skin there

I would not cross the cedars even if your charms pass through my dress

Their hands only unbutton it

 

Même si ton parfum sent le vent

Et que tes lèvres en aimants

Pouvaient faire de toi mon amant

Mon cœur lui revient, ma peau est son butin

 

Even if your scent is in the wind

And your lips loving it

Could make me your lover

My heart comes back to them, my skin is their spoils

 

Sans que mes jambes touchent les cèdres

Sans que ma peau et son cœur saignent

C’est impossible et trop sensible

 

Without my legs touching the cedars

Without my skin and their heart bleeding

It’s impossible and too sensitive

 

Même si ton parfum sent le vent

Et que tes lèvres en aimants

Pouvaient faire de toi mon amant

Mon cœur lui revient, ma peau est son butin

 

Even if your scent is in the wind

And your lips loving it

Could make me your lover

My heart comes back to them, my skin is theirspoils

 

Je danse dans tes bras

Sous ton souffle sage et aimant

Ma robe effleurant les cèdres doucement

 

I danse in your arms

Under your wise and loving breath

My dress softly grazes the cedars