La musique (the music) is a great way to keep practicing le français when you’re tired of doing drills and looking at vocabulary lists. For French learners, the catchier la chanson (the song) the better! Le but (the goal) is to sing la chanson for fun and forget it’s actually studying!

I’ve mentioned it a few times already, but la musique pop française (French pop music) is great for finding catching melodies and simple lyrics. Before la chanson ends you’ll be singing les paroles (the lyrics) or at least humming la mélodie as you try to remember the words. Even if you are not a fan of poppy music, you can’t help but smile and want to sing after hearing MIKA or YELLE.

Dans la même veine (in the same vein), la musicienne Joyce Jonathan is a French pop sensation with many fun and easy to understand chansons. Her career started in the late 2000s when she posted a few of her original songs on le réseau social (the social network), MySpace.

Grâce à (thanks to) being posted on le réseau social, ses chansons began to spread around the internet, which led to her being signed to a major label and becoming a breakout star in the French music scene. One of her songs, L’heure avait sonné (the hour had struck), was even featured on the popular television show, Gossip Girl!

Joyce Jonathan has produced many successful albums filled with amazing chansons since that first post on her MySpace. Ma chanson préférée (my favorite song) is featured on her second album, Caractère, and was un tube (a hit) soon after its release as a single:

Ça Ira
It’ll be fine

The song is a playful take on l’amour adolescent (puppy love, young love) and all the thoughts that fill young hearts when they first tombent amoureux (fall in love). La chanson is also hiding a fun little easter egg for anyone who loves French literature:

J’aime les airs assurés que tu empruntes aux plus beaux monuments
I like the self-confident look you borrow from the boldest monuments

Le vers (the verse) is a reference to La Beauté (the beauty), a poem by Chalres Baudelaire from his collection, Les Fleurs du mal (The Flowers of Evil).

Take a moment and listen to Ça Ira. It’s catchy and easy to follow, especially since she sings in a nice clear accent that is perfect for anyone learning le français.

Voici la chanson avec les paroles (et une traduction) :

Ça ira

It’ll be fine

Dis-moi que si tu es là ce n’est pas juste pour mes jolis yeux
Dis-moi qu’au delà de ça y a d’autres raisons qui te rendent heureux
Dis-moi si tu aimes biens bien nos paresses et nos matins d’amoureux
Dis-moi que c’est un début mais que tu vois déjà la suite à deux
Dis-moi que je suis la seule que tu n’aies jamais autant désirée
Je n’ai pas de rendez vous, plus de rencard que j’ai envie d’accepter
Avec toi c’est évident je suis prête à oublier mon passé
J’ai toujours aimé charmer mais peu importe qu’il n’y a qu’à toi que je plais

Tell me you’re not there just for my pretty eyes
Tell me you have a reason to be happy beyond that
Tell me if you like our lazy lovers’ mornings
Tell me it’s the start but you already see a the future in us together
Tell me I’m the only one you’ve ever wanted so much
I have no meetings, no appointments I want to accept
With you, it’s obvious I am ready to forget about my past
I’ve always liked to flirt, but who cares as long as you like me

(refrain)
Moi je me dis que c’est toi
Et je sais que tu y crois
Tu es celui qui rythme mes bonheurs,
Qui rythme mes humeurs
Juste comme ça
Et je me dis que c’est toi
Et pour la toute première fois
Pardonne moi mes doutes et mes colères
Le temps fera l’affaire
Et toi et moi
Oh ça ira

(chorus)
Me, I think you’re the one
And I know you believe it
You are the one who sets the tempo of my happiness
Who sets the tempo of my mood
Just like that
And I think you’re the one
and for the very first time
Forgive my doubts and my outbursts
Time will fix it
And you and me
It’ll be fine

J’aime les airs assurés que tu empruntes aux plus beaux monuments
Ton regard doux comme un secret tes caresses aux limites de l’indécent
Tu comprends tous mes silences chacun de mes petits moments d’absence
Si je vais au paradis j’suis pas sur de voir la différence

I like the self-confident look you borrow from the boldest monuments
Your look, soft like a secret, your caresses, almost indecent
You understand all my silences, all of my little blanks
If I went to paradise, I’m not sure I’d notice the difference

(refrain)
Moi je me dis que c’est toi
Et je sais que tu y crois
Tu es celui qui rythme mes bonheurs,
Qui rythme mes humeurs
Juste comme ça
Et je me dis que c’est toi
Et pour la toute première fois
Pardonne moi mes doutes et mes colères
Le temps fera l’affaire
Et toi et moi
Oh ça ira

(chorus)
Me, I think you’re the one
And I know you believe it
You are the one who sets the tempo of my happiness
Who sets the tempo of my mood
Just like that
And I think you’re the one
and for the very first time
Forgive my doubts and my outbursts
Time will fix it
And you and me
It’ll be fine

Je me dis prenons des risques et de toute façon c’est trop tard
Au pire on aura des souvenirs des jolis moments dans les tiroirs
J’ai peur de ta gentillesse elle promet tant de bonheur
Oh tu sais j’ai peur

I tell myself, let’s take risks, but it’s too late anyways
At worst we’ll have some memories, nice moments tucked away in drawers
I’m scared of your kindness that promises so much happiness
Oh you know, I’m scared

(refrain)
Je me dis que c’est toi
Et je sais que tu y crois
Tu es celui qui rythme mes bonheurs,
Qui rythme mes humeurs
Juste comme ça
Et je me dis que c’est toi
Et pour la toute première fois
Pardonne moi mes doutes et mes colères
Le temps fera l’affaire
Et toi et moi
Oh ça ira

(chorus)
Me, I think you’re the one
And I know you believe it
You are the one who sets the tempo of my happiness
Who sets the tempo of my mood
Just like that
And I think you’re the one
and for the very first time
Forgive my doubts and my outbursts
Time will fix it
And you and me
It’ll be fine

Translation from LyricsTranslate.