And now for something completely different:

I made you a Spotify playlist of French music.

Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash

(Note: Read to the end for the winner of this week’s giveaway).

Inspired by my dear friend Hannah, whose musical tastes are legendary and for whom spotify lists are just one of her many love languages, I decided to make you all a spotify list of my favorite French music.

Perhaps you could call my musical tastes eclectic, though it would be a stretch, especially compared to Hannah’s. My cellist son has offhandedly described them as a bit schmaltzy, and I gotta say, it fits. I make no apologies; they are what they are (though they certainly might make you wonder how I ever ended up creating a human being who is a musical connoisseur). Anyway, it’s not surprising then, that the playlist I made you of my favorite French music exhibits the same tastes. Pop/easy-listening/schmaltz. But I love it and it makes me happy. Maybe it will make you happy too. Maybe it will inspire you to create a playlist of French music of your own.

Let me explain the origins a bit. I discovered Claudio Capeo in my first semester French textbook. Our professor, Mme Adele, suggested that we listened to French music as an easy way to boost our learning and Capeo was highlighted in one of the first chapters. I looked him up and discovered I liked his easygoing, new-old French style.

I discovered Julien Dore when he guested on a particularly juicy plot-line on Call My Agent with the sublime Stefi Celma (a singer in her own right; I just haven’t had a chance to explore her work). Then I learned that the duet they perform so beautifully on the show was one of Dore’s hits, so I wanted to know what else he performed.

The iconic Edith Piaf speaks for herself. I wouldn’t be a Francophile if I didn’t already love her work, but my second year French class did a whole unit on her, which led me to the wonderful 2007 movie of her sad life, La Vie En Rose, with Marion Cotillard. Cotillard won an Academy Award for her portrayal, which was absolutely brilliant.

I threw in the Debussy because he is one of my son’s favorite composers, so I get to hear him a lot on the cello. And the Nat King Cole is there because it had to be: I have a serious fan of Cole’s since I was a teenager, listening to Darling Je Vous Aime Beaucoup my whole life. So it was a bit of a thrill when, not long into my French studies, the lyrics started to make sense in a new way.

Darling je vous aime beaucoup

Darling, je vous aime beaucoup
Je ne sais pas what to do
You know you've completely
Stolen my heart

Morning, noon and night time too
Toujours, wondering what to do
That's the way I've felt
Right from the start

Ah, Cheri
My love for you is très, très fort
Wish my French were good enough
I'd tell you so much more

But I hope that you compris
All the things you mean to me
Darling, je vous aime beaucoup
I love you, yes, I do

Wish my French were good enough
I'd tell you so much more

But I hope that you compris
All the things you mean to me
Darling, je vous aime beaucoup
I love you, yes, I do

I love you, yes, I do

Wishing you all a wonderful week, full of love. I realize this spotify list is a bit limited, so feel free to share any French artists you think we might enjoy in the comments. Those who like this post and post a comment this week will be entered to win a hardcover copy of Peter Mayle’s lovely Confessions of A French Baker: Breadmaking Secrets, Tips and Recipes with Gerard Auzet.

PS Congratulations to the winner of Home Sweet Maison, Meredith Bagby Fettes. Meredith, can you message me your address so I can send it to you?