COMME D'HABITUDE: Lyrics Translation French Lesson of this CLAUDE FRANÇOIS song (free + online) (2025)

PART ONE

Je me lève et je te bouscule

Je = [I] (Personal pronoun - JE form - Subject case) Open this table of Personal Pronounsand keep it open in another tab for the rest of the lesson. Locate je within it.
me = [myself] (personal pronoun - JE form - reflexive case) Again, using the identifiers within the parentheses, locate this particular mewithin the table I just asked you to keep open. What, you didn't open it like I said! FACE-PALM. well, do it now.
lève = [raise/ rise] NOTE: me lève is the JE form of the pronominal verb se lever [to rise/ to arise/ to get up/ to stand up/ to get out of bed] in the PRÉSENT. Look at this conjugation table of se lever. Locatemelève within it using the two co-ordinates I just gave you in block capitals. Confused? Look for the PRÉSENT box (top left) then within that box look for the line beginning with JE. See, not so hard now was it. Each time I ask you to do this for the verbs that will arise below, try to see how the forms differ within each box. Try to look for repeated patterns. Here's one for you: the TU forms almost always end in

in all the simple tenses (the first column of boxes)
je = [I]
te = [you] (Personal pronoun - TU form - Direct object) Locate te within the PP table using these identifiers
bouscule = [jostle/ shake up/ give a prod/ push/ shove/ to give a stir] JE form of bousculer in the PRÉSENT. Look at this conjugation table of bousculer and locate bouscule within it.

MEANING: 'I get up, I give you a stir'

Tu n’te réveilles pas

Tu = [you] (Persnal pronoun - TU form - Subject case) Locate...
n’ = [no (first part of dual negative system)]
te = [yourself] (Personal pronoun - TU form - Reflexive case) Locate...
réveilles = [wake/ wake up/ awaken] te réveilles is the TU form of the pronominal (reflexive) verb se réveiller [to wake oneself up]in the PRÉSENT. Look at this conjugation table of se reveiller. Locate te reveilles within using the method already described.
pas = [not]

MEANING = 'you don't wake up'

Comme d'habitude

Comme = [like/ as]
d' = [of]
habitude = [habitude] NOTE: the phrase comme d'habitude is the set phrase for 'as per usual.' You will often hear the abbreviated form comme d'hab which is pronounced similar to 'kom dab'
NOTE: D'habitude on it's own means 'usually/ normally' as in 'd'habitude, je suis plus vite' [normally I'm faster]
NOTE: This phrase gets repeated through out the whole song.

MEANING: 'as per usual' OR 'as usual'

Sur toi je remonte le drap

Sur = [on] Though here you have to read it as 'over.'
toi = [you] (Personal pronoun - TU form - Emphatic/stressed case) Locate...
je = [I]
remonte = [pull up/ lift up/ wind up (as in clock)/ go back up/ climb back up/ go up/ fly up/ ride up (as in skirt)/ be on the rise] JE form of remonter in the PRÉSENT. Look at this conjugation table of remonter. Locate this particular remontewithin.
le = [the]
drap = [sheet] NOTE: this word is not as wide as the English word sheet in that it won't apply to a sheet of paper or ply etc. It only applies to a bed sheet. NOTE: the 'p' at the end is not pronounced, and, like the p in the words camp, champ and loup, never forms a liaison. In the plural from neither the

nor the

of draps are pronounced.

J'ai peur que tu aies froid

J' = [I] This is je which has lost it's

due to forming an elision with ai. It does this because je termainates with a vowel sound and ai begins with one. Thus the two kinda get sucked together. Well, that's the simplified rule but that'll do for now.
ai = [have] JE form of avoir [to have] in the PRÉSENT. Locate ai in this conjugation table of avoir. Notice how avoir is quite irregular, in that it's forms change within the table in quite an unpredictable way at times. Look how within even the PRÉSENT box the forms don't always seem to be of the same ilk. This really sucks because being familiar with the different forms of avoir is essential as it is used as an auxilliary to form the composed tenses of a LOT of other verbs. Ps, keep this table open as there is another form of avoir just below (yep, it's common as well)
peur = [fear]
que = [that] NOTE: avoir peur que is a set phrase meaning 'I fear that/ I worry that/ I'm afraid that'
tu = [you]
aies = [have (subjunctive sense)] TU form of avoir in the SUBJONCTIF. It may be preferable to read as 'may have'
NOTE: this time I have put the link for the conjugation of the verb on the verb itself (saves time) I'm not going to hold your hand anymore. Each time we meet a verb, press the link look at the table and locate the form using the co-ordinates provided.
Ps, don't kill yourself trying to understand what exactly is the subjunctive for the moment. Just accept that it exists and understand that we have to translate it using a number of English tenses according to context (Present, conditional... etc) due to the fact that the English subjunctive is nigh on extinct and thus unfamiliar to us as having a separate meaning.
NOTE: the

at the end ofaiesis not pronounced. The word sounds a bit like 'ay' in

to Anglophonic ears. (
froid = [cold] In the French language, you 'have' cold/ hot/ hunger/ thirst etc, rather then the English way of 'being' cold/ hot/ hungry/ thirsty.

MEANING = 'I fear that you may be cold'

Comme d'habitude

(see above)

Ma main caresse tes cheveux

Ma = [my] (possessive adjective - JE form - feminine singular) Look at this table of possessive adjectives and locate ma within. Keep this table open for the rest of the lesson.
main = [hand]
caresse = [caresses/ strokes/ pets/ fondles/ ruffles/ skims (as in 'just touches')] IL/ELLE/ON form of caresser in the PRÉSENT
tes = [your]
cheveux = [hair] NOTE: a single hair is cheveu. Cheveux is actually this word in its plural form: 'hairs'

Presque malgré moi

Presque = [almost]
malgré = [despite/ inspite of]
moi = [myself/ me] (Personal pronoun - JE form - Emphatic case)

MEANING: 'Amost despite myself'

Comme d'habitude (see above)

Mais toi tu me tournes le dos

Mais = [but]
toi = [you/ yourself] (Personal pronoun - TU form - Emphatic/Stressed case)
tu = [you] (Personal pronoun - TU form - Subject case)
me = [to.me] (Personal pronoun - JE form - Indirect object case)
tournes = [turn] TU form of tourner [to turn/ to go around (as in corner)/ to function/ to run (as in engine)/ to turn sour/ to turn over (as in page)/ to film/ to act in] in the PRÉSENT
le = [the]
dos = [back]

MEANING = 'But you, you turn your back to me'

Comme d'habitude (see above)

PART TWO

Et puis je m'habille très vite

Et =[and]
puis = [then]
je = [I]
m' = [myself] (Personal pronoun - JE form - REFLEXIVE cas)
habille = [dress] JE form of habiller [to dress/ to adorn/ to buy clothes for] in the PRÉSENT.
NOTE: m'habille is infact the JE form of the Pronominal (reflexive) verb s'habiller [to dress oneself/ to dress oneself up/ to buy oneself clothes from] in the PRÉSENT
très = [very]
vite = [fast]

MEANING: 'And then, I quickly get dressed'

Je sors de la chambre

Je = [I]
sors = [go.out/ leave/ exit] JE form of sortir [to go out/ to come out (as in book)/ to get out (as in from a pocket etc)/ to take out (as in dog)] in the PRÉSENT
de = [of]
la = [the]
chambre = [bedroom/ room (as in bedroom)/ chamber]

Comme d'habitude

Tout seul je bois mon café

Tout = [all]
seul = [

/ sole/ only/ single/

]
je = [I]
bois = [drink] JE form of boire [to drink] in the PRÉSENT
mon = [my] (Possessive Adjective - JE form - Masculine singular) Locate in appropriate table.
café = [coffee]

Je suis en retard

Je = [I]
suis = [am] JE form of etre [to be] in the PRÉSENT
enretard = [late] NOTE: not much point taking apart this set phrase. Just accept it for what it is.

Comme d'habitude

Sans bruit je quitte la maison

Sans = [without]
bruit = [noise/ sound/ rumeur (figurative)/ news (figurative)]

je = [I]
quitte = [leave] JE form of quitter [to leave/ to quit/ to abandon] in the PRÉSENT
la = [the]
maison = [house]

Tout est gris dehors

Tout = [all]
est = [is] IL/ELLE/ON form of etre[to be] in the PRÉSENT
gris = [grey]
dehors = [outside]

Comme d'habitude

J'ai froid, je relève mon col

J' = [I]
ai = [have]
froid = [cold]
je = [I]
relève = [lift up/ raise up] JE form of relever [see wordreference] in the PRÉSENT
mon = [my] (Possessive adjective - JE form - masculine singular)
col = [

/ pass (as in mountain)/ neck (as in bottle)/ cervix]

Comme d'habitude

PART THREE: CHORUS ONE
NOTE: I not going to translate comme d'habitude [as usual/ like always/ as per usual] each time.

Comme d'habitudetoute la journée

toute = [all]
la = [the]
journée = [day/ daytime/ daylong]

MEANING: 'All day long'

Je vais jouer à faire semblant

Je = [I]
vais = [go/

] JE form of aller [to go] in the PRÉSENT. Aller is the third most important verb after etre and avoir, and like these two, is irregular (or as I like to put it: changes unpredictably in form)
jouer = [to. play] INFINITIF form. See conjugation table for jouer
à = [at]
fairesemblant = [to pretend/ to fake/ to put on/ to make pretend]
NOTE: faireis a verb (INFINITIF form) and means'

'NOTE: semblant is related to the verb sembler [to seem/ to appear to be/ to appear/ to look]

MEANIGN: I am going to play at 'making pretend'

Comme d'habitude je vais sourire

je = [I]
vais = [go/

]
sourire = [to.smile] Verb - INFINITIF

Comme d'habitude je vais même rire

je = [I]
vais =[go/

]
même = [even]
rire = [to. laugh] Verb - INFINITIF
NOTE: have you noticed in the last few lines that after the verb aller the second verb that follows is always in the infinitif. This is because aller is acting, in these circumstances, as a semi-auxiliary verbin what some call adual verb construction. In this way it is acting a bit like an English model verb only that there are more of the French kind and that the system of dual verb constructions much more indoctrinated into the French lanuage. Look at the following example of the English model verb 'want' in action to get an idea of how the similar French semi-auxiliaries work: 'I want

.' You can see here that want is acting as the model verb and is thus followed by the infinitive of the verb

. See below for lots of examples of the French way of doing it.

HERE IS A LIST OF ALMOST ALL OF THE SEMI-AUXILIARY VERBS (I may have forgotton one or two) AND EXAMPLES OF THEIR USE IN DUEL VERB CONSTRUCTIONS.

MODEL VERB EXAMPLE TRANSLATION
Vouloir/souhaitre Jevoulais/souhataisdonner.. I wanted/wished to give…
Aimer/Preferer Nousaimons/preferonsdancer We like/prefere to dance
Pouvoir/Devoir Ilpeut/doisvoler He can/must fly
Aller Vousalleztuer? (are you) going to kill
Esperer Tuesperespasser ? You hope to pass?
Faillir J’aifaillicasserle vase I nearly broke the vase
Faire Tu mefaitchier (You annoy me) - rude
Laisser Laisemoisortir. Let me leave
Partir/Sortir T’esparti/sortichercherle pain You left to search the bread
Savoir Ilsaitgrimper He knows.how to climb
Adorer J’adorechasserles cerfs I love hunting stags
Falloir Ilfautinterdirela chasse Hunting should be banned

Comme d'habitude, enfin je vais vivre

enfin = [atlast/ finally/ atleast/ at any rate] NOTE: it is rare that I'm not sure of an interpretation. This maybe one of those moments. I'm gonna say that it is the 'at any rate' interpretation that was intended.
je = [I]
vais = [go/ am.going]
vivre = [to.live/ to.exist/ to.be.alive/ to.live.through/ to.carry.on.liveing] Verb - INIFINITIF

MEANING: 'As per usual, I'm going to continue existing at any rate'
NOTE: ((I have some doubts about my translation here as one could argue that it be 'as is always the case, I am at last going live my life'))

Comme d'habitude

PART FOUR

Et puis le jour s'en ira

Et = [and]
puis = [then]
le = [the]
jour = [day]
s'en ira = [will go away/ will run along/ will be off] NOTE: I've spent too much time on this song and I'm not in the mood to explain this one (can of worms dude, can of worms) but I will say that it is the IL/ELLE/ON form of s'en aller in the FUTUR

MEANING: 'And so, the day will draw to an end'

Moi je reviendrai

Moi = [me/ myself] (Personal pronoun - form of JE - STRESSED case
je = [I]
reviendrai = [will.return/ will.come.back] JE form of revenir [wordreference] in the FUTUR.

MEANING: 'Me, I will return'

Comme d'habitude

Toi, tu seras sortie

Toi = [you/ yourself] (Personal pronoun - form of TU - STRESSED case)
tu = [you]
seras = [will.be] TU form of etre [to be] in the FUTUR
sortie = [out]

MEANING: 'and you, you will be out and about'

Pas encore rentrée

Pas = [not]
encore = [yet/ still]
rentrée = [re-entered/ returned into/ come.back into again/ come.in.again] NOTE: these are the literal translations but often you just have to use the nearest English equivenents (returned/ come.back/ even if some of the literal sense is lost. ((I'm making a hash of this now 'cus Im tired)) Related to the verb entrer [to enter]

MEANING: 'Still not returned home' OR 'still not home'

Comme d'habitude

Tout seul j'irai me coucher

Tout = [all]
seul = [alone]
j' = [I]
irai = [will.go] JE form of aller [to go] in the FUTUR
me = [myself]
coucher = [to put to bed] NOTE: me coucher is the JE form of the pronominal (reflexive) verb se coucher [to go to bed/ to put oneself to bed]

MEANING: 'all alone, I will put myself to bed' OR '...will go to bed' OR '...will go up to bed'

Dans ce grand lit froid

Dans = [in]
ce = [this/ that]
grand = [big]
lit = [bed]
froid = [cold]

MEANING: 'In that big cold bed'

Comme d'habitude

Mes larmes, je les cacherai

Mes = [my]
larmes = [tears]
je = [I]
les = [them]
cacherai = [will.hide]

MEANING: 'My tears, I will hide them'

Comme d'habitude

PART FIVE: CHORUS TWO

Comme d'habitude, même la nuit

même = [even]
la = [the]
nuit = [night]

MEANING: 'As per usual, even at night'

Je vais jouer à faire semblant (see above)

Comme d'habitude tu rentreras

tu = [you]
rentreras = [will.return (home)]

Comme d'habitude je t'attendrai

je = [I]
t' = [you]
attendrai = [will.await/ will.wait.for] NOTE: in fact, the sense here is better translated as 'will be waiting'

MEANING: 'as always, I will be waiting for you'

Comme d'habitude tu me souriras

tu = [you]
me = [for.me/ to me]
souriras = [will.smile]

MEANING = 'As always, you will smile at me'

Comme d'habitude

PART SIX: HALF CHORUSEY TYPE THING ((look, I'm not a frig*in' musician))

Comme d'habitude tu te déshabilleras

tu = [you]
te = [yourself]
déshabilleras = [will.unclothe/ will.undress]
NOTE: tedéshabilleras is the TU form of the pronominal (reflexive) verb se déshabiller [to get undressed/ to undress oneself] in the FUTUR

MEANING: 'As per usual, you'll get undressed'

Comme d'habitude tu te coucheras

tu = [you]
te = [yourself]
coucheras = [will put to bed]
NOTE:te coucheras is the TU form of the pronominal (reflexive) verb se coucher [to go to bed/ to put oneself to bed/ to retire (as in for the night)]in the FUTUR

MEANING: 'as per usual, you will come to bed' OR '...you will go to bed' OR '...you will retire to bed.

Comme d'habitude on s'embrassera

on = [one (we)]
s' = [oneself (ourselves - as in 'each other)]
embrassera =[will kiss/ hug/ embrace (beings AND ideas)]
NOTE: s'embrassera is the IL/ELLE/ON form of the pronominal verbs'embrasser in the FUTUR
NOTE: this is what I wrote elsewhere concerning this peculiar verb:

"there can be some confusion with this verb, being that it can stands both for kissing and for hugging. Well, technically it's not a hug, it is the arms open, walk towards each other, then kiss on both cheeks (sometimes returning to the original cheek for a third, and even on for a fourth) reserved for people you know well when you greet them (not having seen them for a bit) or saying goodbye (if you are separating for a bit). The 'embrace' is not a close one as in 'British' hugs, as this would make the kissing of both cheeks quite difficult. The arms don't go all the way round and it is often just each placing there right hand on the opposing shoulder (particularly between men). So why the confusion between embrace and kiss? It is damn rare that an embrace is done with out a kiss on the cheeks of some sort: thus the association between the two.
In fact, the real problem came in when this verb became associated with a romantic kiss on the lips. When? God knows? Ask a linguistic historian if you can find one. The result is, when meeting this word in speech and in writing, you have to use context to determine if it is the romantic embrace and kiss on lips or the non romantic embrace and kiss on cheeks.By the way, if you think this is bad, try the difference between the nounbaiser,meaning a kiss, and the verbbaiser,meaning, quite literally,to f*ck."

MEANING: 'As per usual, we will embrace/kiss'

Comme d'habitude

PART SEVEN: OUTRO

Comme d'habitude on fera semblant

on = [one (we)]
ferasemblant = [will make pretend/ will pretend/ will fake it] IL/ELLE/ON form of faire semblant in the FUTURE

MEANING: 'as per usual, we'll make pretend'

Comme d'habitude on fera l'amour

on = [one/ we/ they]
fera = [will.make]
l'amour = [love]

Comme d'habitude on fera semblant (see above)

Author's Note
"Confession: I hate every song this artist ever did except this one which was truly achef d'oeuvre. After being seen on TV by a Canadian artist, the song was bought and its lyrics re-written in English, the song having been given a totally different theme. The finished product was then sung by Frank Sinatra and thus was born 'I Did It My Way.'
It is a strangephenomenonfor one melody to have procured two setsof lyrics in two languages, each with different meanings, yet each having such success (though perhaps not represented by sales for the French version) and... most important of all, each of these lyrics having such a 'meaningful' narratives, particularly since English language songs normally give such little importance as to what is actually being sung.
The irony is that Comme D'habitude was originally written to English lyrics (Original Title:For Me) but that CloClo (as Claude Francois isaffectionatelyknown as by the French public), to whom the song was proposed just after having split up from France Gall (well known artist in her own right) induced a change in the theme of the song into that of "the daily life of a couple which is crumbling apart." (as translated from the French Wikipedia Page)
And the song perfectly succeeds in describing the way that people in couples simply go through the routine of being in a relationship, doing things 'as per usual' [comme D'habitude] with only the memory of love now behind those said actions. The separate lives, the empty bed, the fake smiles, the small gestures, thepretensethat all is functioning..."
SOURCE: USED WIKI A LOT (SO KILL ME!)

Just to remind you: I own nothing. Quite literally I'm skint. That aside, I have no rights to the music nor the words though the lesson worksheet is all mine, I tell you, ALL MIIINNNEE! (Here are some others I've done)

• Stromae's Alor On Danse
• Serge Gainsbourg's Je T'aime (moi non plus)
• Edith Piaf's Je Ne Regrette Rien
• Malicorne's Le Luneux
• Zaz's Je Veux
• Indila's Derniere Danse

For the restclick here.

Je me lève et je te bouscule
I rise and I give you a stir

Tu n’te réveilles pas
You don't wake up

Comme d'habitude
As per usual OR
As usual OR
like always OR
As is habitually the case OR
((I think you get the point))

Sur toi je remonte le drap
Over you, I pull up the sheet OR
I raise the sheet up over you OR

J'ai peur que tu aies froid
I fear you are cold OR
I'm worried you're getting cold

Comme d'habitude
As per usual...

Ma main caresse tes cheveux
My handcaressesyour hair

Presque malgré moi
Almost inspite of me

Comme d'habitude
As per usual

Mais toi tu me tournes le dos
But you, you turn your back to me

Comme d'habitude
As per usual

Alors, je m'habille très vite
And so, I quickly get dressed

Je sors de la chambre
I leave the room

Comme d'habitude
As per usual

Tout seul, je bois mon café
All alone, I drink my coffee

Je suis en retard
I am late

Comme d'habitude
As per usual

Sans bruit, je quitte la maison
Without noise, I leave the house OR
Silently, I leave the house

Tout est gris dehors
All is grey outside

Comme d'habitude
As per usual

J'ai froid, je relève mon col
I'm cold, I raise my collar OR
I'm cold, I flip up my collar

Comme d'habitude
As per usual

Comme d'habitude, toute la journée
As per usual, all day long

Je vais jouer à faire semblant
I'm going to play at 'make pretend'

Comme d'habitude je vais sourire
As per usual, I'm going to smile

Comme d'habitude je vais même rire
As per usual, I'm even going to smile

Comme d'habitude, enfin je vais vivre
As per usual, at any rate, I'm going to go on living my life

Comme d'habitude
As per usual

Et puis, le jour s'en ira
And then, the day will draw to a close

Moi, je reviendrai
Me? I will return

Comme d'habitude
As per usual

Toi, tu seras sortie
You? You will have gone out OR
You? You will be gone out OR
You? you will be out and about

Pas encore rentrée
Not yet home OR
Not yet returned OR
Still not have come home

Comme d'habitude
As per usual

Tout seul j'irai me coucher
All alone, I will go to bed OR
Alone, I will retire for the night

Dans ce grand lit froid
In this big cold bed

Comme d'habitude
As per usual

Mes larmes, je les cacherai
My tears, I will hide them

Comme d'habitude
As per usual

Comme d'habitude, même la nuit
As per usaul, even at night OR
As usual, even atnight-time

Je vais jouer à faire semblant
I'm going to play at 'making pretend'

Comme d'habitude tu rentreras
As per usual, you will come back home

Comme d'habitude je t'attendrai
As per usual, I will await you

Comme d'habitude tu me souriras
As per usual, you will smile at me

Comme d'habitude
As per usual

Comme d'habitude tu te déshabilleras
As per usual, you will get undressed

Comme d'habitude tu te coucheras
As per usual, you will come to bed

Comme d'habitude on s'embrassera
As per usual, we will embrace each other OR
As per usual, we will kiss

Comme d'habitude
As per usual

Comme d'habitude on fera semblant
As per usual, we will make pretend

Comme d'habitude on fera l'amour
As per usual, we will make love

Comme d'habitude on fera semblant
As per usual, we will make pretend

THE END

DO YOU WANT TO LISTEN TO
My Spotify Playlists
of French Language music?
Now for a musical interlude.I've done aSpotify (French Lesson Songs) playlistwhich containsall the songs from which I've based all my free French language song lessons. Listen to the playlist then do the lessons. That might help.
You can also listen tomy Spotify playlist of all the French language songsthat I listen to when I'm working on this site, just to get me in the mood. It's a long one so listen to it on shuffle mode and you'll get the best French music radio station that never was. Not signed up to Spotify yet? Its free and you can listen to pretty much any music out-there so why dawdle. I basically live on it when writing. See also mySpotify Playlist of Spanish Language Songs.andMy playlist of the top 100 French Language Songs of All Time

FREE FRENCH LESSON
Intermediate-Advanced
Brigitte
A Bouche Que Veut-Tu
(2014)
If you were to ask me who I'm mostly listening to these days my honest answer would be Brigitte. This pair of super hipsterfemmes fatales found success late in the game but there making up for it now. This particular track never fails to hit the sweet spot.

FREE FRENCH LESSON
Intermediate Level
Charles Aznavour
La Bohème
(1965)
If ever I'm feeling down there is always one song guaranteed to sooth my soul. This one. The song so beautifully describes the life of poor Parisian artists scraping a living together and finding comfort in each other and their own art that you'll feel like you are sharing the experience with them. Aznavour himself was born to Armenian immigrants but has attained legendary status to the point that you'll find him written within the DNA of every French man, woman and child alive.

FREE FRENCH LESSON
Intermediate Level
Charles Trenet
Douce France
(1947)
It may be old but despite the age gap many of you will will be familiar with this song, particularly the melody. Hands up, I find many of the songs from this period a bit samey but a few by Charles Trenet stand out from the crowd. The reasons you should get to know this particular song yourselves are two fold. First, this song is almost a national anthem packedwith nostalgia enriched images of France at it's most chocolate box period. Second, despite hisidiosyncraticsinging style, Trenetenunciates well so you'll be able to follow what he's singing with ease.

FREE FRENCH LESSON
Beginner-Intermediate Level
Gilbert Bécaud
Et Maintenant
(1961)
Be prepared for pain, passion and anger... and then some. If you watch the clip I chose of Bécaud singing this song live, then you'll find it hard to believe that he hasn't just come straight from a mental asylum. However, when you start to understand the bitter words spat forth you'll come to realize his genius in capturing the feeling of utter rejection that most of us have experienced at least once in our lives.
Watch the madness in the eyes...

FREE FRENCH LESSON
Beginner-Intermediate Level
La Godinette
OR
Gael Lefevere +
Nicolas Quemener
J'étais Lassée D’être Jeune Fille
(????)
When Gael Lefevere, the guy responsible for introducing me to therealFrench music scene, had interpreted this traditional Breton song with fellow musician Nicolas Quemener, I remembered thinking to myself that it was possibly the most moving piece of French language music I had ever come across. Like all songs from this region of France, the lyrics are hard and biting, yet all the more interesting for it, and you'll see just how deep the Celtic roots run in listening to the original versionby La Godinette, a version that I have also come to love. Now it's your turn.

FREE FRENCH LESSON
Intermediate Level
Stromea
Alors On Danse
(2013)
This is the song that started it all off for Stromea. I used to flick on the music channels when drinking my bowl of coffee in the mornings and when this song came out, it was on EVERY morning for what felt like a year. It became one of those songs that would play in my head all day long. Be careful, it may have the same effect on you.
Ps. In the lessonyou'll witness how I trash almost every other translation of this song that exists!

FREE FRENCH LESSON
Beginner-Intermediate Level
Edith Piaf
Je Ne Regrette Rien
(1960)
Probably the only French song that the average Joe knows. Well, at least it's a good one. Emotionally charged and yet short and simple song, and hence good for beginners. No extremely metaphorical lyrics, just nice and direct, which helps.

FREE FRENCH LESSON
Beginner-Intermediate Level
Serge Gainsbourg&
Jane Birkin
Je T'aime...Moi Non Plus
(1969)
Very very naughty. The controversial French lyrical genius begat a controversial sexy French song. You all know this one so there's not much more for me to add... except, if you thought it was a tad risqué beforehand, just wait until you understand the 'ins and outs' (ha ha!/ lol) of the lyrics.

FREE FRENCH LESSON

FREE FRENCH LESSON
Beginner-Intermediate Level
IndilaDernière Danse
(2014)
This was on the free to view music channels every morning for the whole of spring 2014. A hit that came out of nowhere which now has 73 million YouTube hits. Vevo wouldn't let me use the official video so I used an excellent remix in place.(burn-Vevo-burn)

FREE FRENCH LESSON
Beginner-Intermediate Level
ZazJe Veux
(2010)
This was the song that led to Zaz becoming Frances top selling artist abroad in 2010 (or was it another year?) The album from which it came (called Zaz as it happens) ranked high in the charts all over Europe (except, of course, the UK). Simple but potent lyrics whose meaning hit home with me. Plenty of slang phrases within so if you need to work on that then this is your song.

FREE FRENCH LESSON
Intermediate Level
StromaePapaoutai
(2013)
Recent hit all over europe and the world (152 million YouTube Hits)by the now established king of electro-urban-geek music.This song is not the easiest of ones but has a very strong lyrical narrative, if not message (as do all his songs). Note that I've put in the phonetics for this lesson using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA).

FREE FRENCH LESSON
Intermediate Level
Benjamin BiolayTon Héritage
(2009)
Modern Classic chansonFrançaise.One man, one piano, one haunting tune, and a bunch of stirring lines. This one always gives me goose pimples when I hear it on the radio.The word for word translations are there but I have left it light on the grammar notes.

FREE FRENCH LESSON
Intermediate Level
Jacques BrelNe Me Quitte Pas
(1959)
This song is considered by many to be the all time greatest chanson françaisethat has ever existed. Always at the top of meta-critic polls and a personal favorite of my own (I only do songs that I like). It's an oldie (circa 1959) and yet so timeless...
P.s. I have done the phonetics for this one

FREE FRENCH LESSON
Intermediate-Advanced Level
MalicorneLe Luneux
(1977?)
From the album Almanach, this traditional French folk song reconstructed by the experimental headonism of Malicorne in the late seventies will make you shiver with delight. I'm not sure whether the melody came from another song, but who cares when it's this good. Some oldie style wording but my notes will help you understand it.

FREE FRENCH LESSON
Intermediate-Advanced Level
Olivia RuizLa Femme Chocolat
(2006)
Unique voice, unique style of music, unique lyrics and unique looks help this artist stand far out from the often sameynouvelle scenecrowd. This particular song demonstrates well her quirkiness with lyrics that are just damnright trippy.

FREE FRENCH LESSON
Intermediate Level
Serge Lama
Je Suis Malade
(1973)
Possibly the most melancholic song in the history of mankind... and I love it. It's all about the words dude and Mr Lama paints such a stark yet poignant picture with them that you can't help putting yourself in his boots. Get a glass of whisky, light up cigarette and think of the lovers that have hurt you... you are now ready for this lesson.

​THE TOP TEN MOST INTERESTING
French Language Music Artists
Since 2000
French language music has always had a bit of a reputation for being naff among English speaking peoples. To rebuke those accusations I therefore present some shockingly good modern era music artists (Frenchies who still sing in French, who'd have thought..). The list is accompanied with individually playable YouTube videos so you can quickly sample and decide for yourselves.
I have also written a ditty on each artist, not that anyone reads now-a-days.​

​

​YOUTUBE VIDS LIST (WITH REVIEWS) OF
The 100 All Time Best French Language Songs (Chansons Françaises) Ever
See my list of what I believe, as serious connoiseur, to be the best French language songs ever (with learning the the French Language and Culture in mind) but which are specifically chosen to suite anglophone tastes. The list is accompanied with individually playable YouTube videos so you can quickly sample and decide for yourselves (god, I love copy and paste.)Slowlydoing write-ups for each.
Spotify and Deezer playlists on page.

THE WHY AND HOW:
Using Les Chansons Francaises(French language songs)to Learn French.
Read my article explaining why and how... oh... I've just said that. I may go off on a folly with this article but what I say within (when I eventually get to the point) could change your current methods of learning French for the better.
Also: detailed look at Irony vs atlantic drift.

​

ONE-STOPLINKS AND REVIEWS FOR
The BestFrenchRadio Stations for Learning French
Want to listen to French Radio Stations but don't know where to start? Want some advice on which is the best for you? Want a webpage that acts like a gateway and guiding hand at thesame time?Well,you've found the one link to rule them all, the one link to find them, the one link to link them all, and in cyberspace bind them.
Now that's what I call bad-ass poetry!
(Suck on that one keats)

HOW TO WATCH
Live 'Free to View' FrenchTV Channels OnlinefromAbroad
In the 21stCentury,language, culture and television are very closely associated. If you can't be therethen the next best thing is to see and hear what those that are are watching. Your ability to understand oral French will undergo a paradigm shift within just a few hundred hours of french tv watching. Yes, I know that sounds like Chinese water torture but there are a few gems to look out for so..
let me be your guide young padawan.

MY SPOTIFY AND DEEZER PLAYLISTS OF
Modern Era French Music Artists And Songs
Did you find my playlist of the top 100 French Language Songs of all time too old fashioned, toomelancholic? Here's the remedy. This is my personalplaylist of modern french language music and it goes from mainstream pop to left-field hipster. It's like what French music radio stations would be like if you took out all the 80's anglophone music and then gave it taste.
French music can be... good?

ALL BY MY SELF... DON'T WANNA BE...

Going it alone can be a daunting challenge so why not take a little advice from those that have already crossed that bridge. Stand on the shoulders of verticallychallengedpeople, that's what I say
No dwarfs were harmed during the writing of this article

CONJUGATE THIS FOTHER MUCKER
Rundown of the French Verb Tenses and Moods
I noticed that there was very little on the web giving a brief yet comprehensive rundown of these French verb tense-moods as I like to call them. Even less showing the use of them with examples.
Shall we consider this lacune filled now?

THE SLIPPERY FISH OF CONJUGATION RIVER
The French Imperfect Tense (l'imparfait)
There is one barrier left between you and near comprehension of French texts: L'Imparfait. ...and so welcome to my rule of thumb rule on how to translate this tense when you come across it in your readings.
Examples given will help you understand... hopefully.

THIS TIME, NOTHING TO DO WITH FRENCH
Hangman (my first ever short story)
Posted at Booksie.
I wrote this for English learners as I wanted to do a lesson based on a short story that wasn't one of those public domain classics, which although good, can be a bit complicated and old-fashioned. Once finished, and to my horror, I realized that my carefully crafted creation was rather old-fashioned and quite the bit complicated. Still, I think it's good but then again I would say that, wouldn't I.
Plot twist is free, but the broken fourth wall is non-refundable.