Whenever you look up French music, you’ll always find people mention the oldies. In fact, I find that French-language teachers rarely share cool songs that students want to hear! It’s a shame because listening to music everyday is a great way to improve your French.
While the classics are great, I want to listen to more modern stuff.
So here’s a list of the top most recent French songs from 2015 and 2016. If you like French music then you can also check our list of top 100 French songs you need to hear at least once.
NOTE: we also have a list with Top French music from 2017. Check it out.
On Verra – Nekfeu
Video released May 12, 2015
An anthem for the youth, Nekfeu’s iconic single is filmed in Paris. My favorite part is at 50 seconds.
This song reached #14 in France and the album, feu, reached number 3.
If you enjoyed this song then you’ll like his other song, Ma Dope.
Les Princes – MZ featuring Nekfeu
Video released February 19, 2016
This song has more of a “chill” vibe. The sort of stuff you’ll listen to while rolling around the Périph at one in the morning.
The beat drops at 20 seconds with the second verse and the rap by Nekfeu making it awesome.
Conmigo – Kendji Girac
Video released March 18, 2015
The dashing Kendji Girac won a competition known as the Voice. He later released this hit which was heard across French night clubs throughout the summer. The song reached number 7 in France.
The song is an interesting mix of French with a tiny bit of Spanish.
Le Chant Des Sirènes – Fréro Delavega
Probably one of the most relaxing French songs still played on the radio.
Cosmos – Soprano
Another mega hit by Soprano… The intro of this song alone made French night clubs go wild. You’d sometimes here this song two or three times during a night…
Jour 1 – Louane
You won’t hear this French song in a club, but it’s played on the radio somewhat often.
92i Veyron – Booba
Video released February 6, 2016
What do you get when you add Booba, auto-tune, and an exotic sports car? This song.
Fresh Prince – Soprano
Video released March 18, 2015
A popular club song which makes reference to the TV show “the Fresh Prince of Bellaire” by Will Smith. The chorus mentions Carlton as well as Jeffery the butler – common phrases that French teens would sing to the top of their lungs.
Rien qu’une fois – Keen’V
French song released December 2015
In this goofy video we see Keen’v act as a matchmaker to help a guy get the girl he likes. The first time I heard this song, I didn’t care for it. But it grew on me after a couple listens.
Andalouse – Kendji Girac
Another hit by Kendji, reaching #3 in France.
Je ne dirai rien – Black M.
Another popular French song by Black M. – you’ll hear this on the radio a lot.
Sapé comme Jamais – Maître Gims
Song released October 19, 2015.
I’m not a huge fan of this one, but I love his other song Je me Tire.
La C’est Die – RIDSA
French song released September 2015
One funny paradox I’ve found with French people is that many of them do not like “modern” French music. While French music is common in France, many French people wind up listening to American music… You’ll hear tons of Top 40 hits from the USA.
A popular American song can rack up BILLIONS of views on YouTube while popular French songs barely break 100 million views.
So with your help, we can make French music more popular. Feel free to share this list and add some French music to your day!
If you think any other songs deserve to be on this list of French songs that were popular in 2016, let us know in the comment section below.
If you’re looking for other ways to improve your French, try Frantastique for a month.
Yes I checked from your list :keen V rien q’une fois & cosmos my french students like these 2 songs and repeatedly I play in.my clasfor school students in india one has to take care that each scene is proper & not explicit not any form physical touch…..
Great thamks
Please can someone help me find a song?
It’s a french pop song I heard when I was on my honeymoon in Paris. I can’t remember the name of it but it had a clapping during the chorus and was set in a care home and they all ended up dancing.
Something called ‘Buenos Aires’ or something like that. Two male singers with mustaches I believe.
I’m not sure if someone replied by now but it was ‘Bruxelles’ by Boulevard des airs. Hope you enjoyed your honeymoon ;)
No doubt about it. I don’t like rap, it doesn’t “speak” to the modern age with any real depth of meaning but Grand Corps Malade reaches out to all age groups and everyone can empathise with his words. Good appropriate rhythm for all his “songs” example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcxRMikZrbY
It may possibly be ‘papa’ by Bigflo et Oly
I like Nessa ‘je suis la’. Heard it whilst I was learning French. Is she from France?
Thank you!!!
i love indila.. <3
so do I
I’m taking french 1 right now, we had a project on french songs. This helped very much!! Ty!!
My faves are Kenji Girac, Soprano, Indila, and Black M
Some french songs, i don’t know what kind of music you like then i took many style of music.
Peter Peter – Une version améliorée de la tristesse
Joyce Jonathan, Vianney – Les filles d’aujourd’hui
Emji – Lost
Cats on Trees, Calogero – Jimmy
Cœur De Pirate – Crier tout bas
Christine and the Queens – Jonathan
Christine and the Queens – Paradis Perdus
Christine and the Queens – Here feat. Booba
Maître Gims – Je te pardonne ft. Sia
Stromae – quand c’est ?
Coeur de Pirate – Oublie-moi
Garou, Charlotte Cardin – Du Vent, Des Mots
Coeur de Pirate – Place de a république
Charlotte Cardin – Les Échardes
Louane – Maman
Kyo – Le Graal
Kyo – L’équilibre
Louane – Nos Secrets
Louane – Avenir
Sarah Riani – Comme Toi
Tété – A la faveur de l’Automne
Zaho – Tourner la page
M. Pokora – Le monde
Lilian Renaud – Pour Ne Plus Avoir Peur
Joyce Jonathan – Ça Ira
Fréro Delavega – Le coeur éléphant
Vianney – Veronica (Skydancers remix)
Pendentif – jerricane
Josef Salvat – Open Season (Une Autre Saison)
The Shin Sekaï – Je reviendrai
Joyce Jonathan – Je ne sais pas
Louane – Avenir
Fréro Delavega – Le Chant Des Sirènes
Indila – S.O.S
Youssoupha Ft. Madame Monsieur – Smile
Tenny – Le temps
Maître Gims – J’me tire
Stromae – Tous Les Mêmes
Stromae – Quand c’est ?
Stromae – carmen
Maître Gims – Est-ce que tu m’aimes ?
Black M – Sur ma route
Corneille – Le jour après la fin du Monde
Kristina Maria & Corneille – Co-Pilot
Corneille – Des Pères, des Hommes et des Frères
SHAKA PONK – Palabra Mi Amor
David Carreira – Rien à Envier (Clip officiel)
Julien Doré – Paris-Seychelles
Julien Doré – Chou Wasabi ft. Micky Green
Zaz – Eblouie par la nuit
Lilian Renaud – Promis Juré
Lilian Renaud – Pour Ne Plus Avoir Peur
Amir – Oasis
amir – j’ai cherché
Vianney – Pas là
Leïla Lanova Feat. Charlie Brown – Presque arrivés
Corson – Raise Me Up (Je Respire Encore)
Claudio Capéo – Un homme debout
French Cancan (Monsieur Sainte Nitouche)
Brigitte – Battez vous
Brigitte – A bouche que veux-tu
Zaho – Kif’n’dir
Zaho – Tourner la page
Zaho – Je Te Promets
Génération Goldman – Je te donne (Leslie & Ivyrise) CLIP OFFICIEL
Yoann Freget – Sauras tu m’aimer
Canardo « M’en Aller » feat. Tal
La Fouine – Ma meilleure ft. Zaho
Kevin Bazinet – Jusqu’où tu m’aimes.
Ben L’Oncle Soul – Petite Soeur
Ben L’Oncle Soul – Elle Me Dit
Youssoupha feat Indila & Skalpovich – Dreamin’ – Clip
Ben L’Oncle Soul – Soulman
NJ Feat Monsieur NOV – Elle ne voit que moi
SHY’M – Tourne
WILLY WILLIAM Feat CRIS CAB – PARIS
Pomme – Sans toi
TAL – Le Passé
Superbus – Whisper
Superbus – All Alone
TAL – Le Sens de la Vie
Kendji Girac – Conmigo
Louis Delort & The Sheperds – Je Suis Là
Louis Delort & The Sheperds – Outre-Manche
Guillaume Grand – Toi et moi
OrelSan – “SI SEUL”
Kendji Girac – Color Gitano
Pomme – Je t’emmènerais bien
Coeur de pirate – Adieu
COEUR DE PIRATE – Comme des enfants
Ridan – Ulysse
Olivia Ruiz – Elle Panique
Mika – Elle Me Dit
OrelSan – La Terre est Ronde
Youssoupha ft Ayna – On se connaît
Amir – J’ai cherché
OrelSan – Ils Sont Cools feat. Gringe
Coeur de pirate – Adieu
Sidoine – On Ne Vit Qu’Une Fois
Calogero – Le portrait
Calogero – J’ai le droit aussi
Coeur de pirate – Mistral Gagnant
Coeur de Pirate & Julien Doré – Pour un infidèle
Olivier Dion – Je t’aime c’est tout “Les 3
Mousquetaires”
Brigitte – A bouche que veux-tu
Zazie – Je Suis Un Homme
BB BRUNES – Aficionado
Margaux Avril – L’air de rien
Vanessa Paradis – Mi Amor
Vanessa Paradis – Divine Idylle
Julien Doré – Les Limites
Sidoine – On Ne Vit Qu’Une Fois
Megan – Sous ma peau
M. Pokora – Voir la nuit s’emballer
Nolwenn Leroy – Sixième continent (Some of her songs are not in french but in breton ( celtic ))
Marvin Dupré – La foudre
Dr. Beriz – A force
BAGARRE – Mourir au club
Axel Tony – Avec Toi ft. Tunisiano
Isleym – Avec le Temps
Navii – Ébloui par la nuit
Geronimo – Possédés
Jenifer – Donne-Moi Le Temps
Christophe Maé – Tombé Sous Le Charme
Christophe Maé – La Poupée
Keen’v – Petite Emilie
M.Pokora – Voir la nuit s’emballer
David Carreira – Rien à Envier
Emmanuel Moire – Je Fais De Toi Mon Essentiel
Emmanuel Moire – Toujours Debout
Kendji Girac – Conmigo
Here are some french trap and rap……………………………………. :
MZ – Noir c’est noir
MZ – Les princes ft. Nekfeu
MZ – Brrr
Casseurs Flowters – 06h16 – Des histoires à raconter
Lefa – Quelques minutes
MZ – Lune De FieL ( #FumerTiserBaiser ) Feat Marlo
Lefa – 20 ans
Youssoupha Ft. Madame Monsieur – Smile
Nekfeu – Ma dope ft. SPri Noir
MZ – 3.5.7
Joke – On Est Sur Les Nerfs
Lartiste – Ciao Amigo
S.Pri Noir Ft. May Hi – La Nuit – Clip Officiel
Damso – Débrouillard
La Fouine – Quand je partirai
TiTo Prince – Boy Different
MZ feat. Marlo – Voldemort
Nekfeu – La ballade du fremont ft.Doums
SCH – Champs-Élysées
Kery James & Bene
Orelsan suicide social english subtitles
Sneazzy – Ouais mec
Niska – Maître Chien
Casseurs Flowters – 06h16 – Des histoires à raconter
Guy2Bezbar x Omzo JNR Ft. Niska, Madrane & trafiquinte – Ah non Cest terrible
Niska – Charlie Delta Charlie (Freestyle)
Shay – 1200
Shay – XCII
Niska Feat. Xvbarbar & La B – Carjack Chiraq
sadek – nrv
Gradur – Priez Pour Moi
Gradur – #LHOMMEAUBOB ft. Migos
BATARA GANG – Belek Au Loup
40000 GANG – SOSA
Vald – Bonjour
PANAMA BENDE – #AVÉ
La Confrérie – Foreign #PANAMABENDE
Bigflo & Oli – Nous aussi
NINO ICE – En Passant Par Les Autres
Kery James – Mouhammad Alix
Gradur – #LHOMMEAUBOB ft. Migos
The Shin Sekaï – Je reviendrai
Black M – Je ne dirai rien ft. The Shin Sekaï, Doomams
Mac Tyer, Maître Gims – Laisse moi te dire
SOPRANO – HIRO FEAT. INDILA
H Magnum Ft. Maitre Gim’s – Pourquoi tu m’en veux – clip officiel
Kery James – Contre Nous feat. Youssoupha & Médine – La Ligue
Lino – VLB ft. T-Killa
$-Crew – J’aurais pas dû
Bigflo & Oli – Je Suis
La Fouine – Papa
Diam’s – Enfants Du Désert
Nekfeu – On Verra
Could you tell, which of the songs from your list came out approx.end of2015-mid2016?
Who was that girl that sung now this not French spelling but say it how it spelled and that’s how you say it ready “shatair lair koo” please help me who is she
How About Anggun ?
Did You Recognize Her ?
Merci bcp, Earned my inscrition ^^
Hey!!! I’m french! I really love your job, I think french music is cool too and moreover it’s a beautiful language… If you wanna learn french you can also listen to musicals (I really love them) as Le roi soleil or 1789 les amants de la Bastille …
And now for some good french hip hop:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSHcJgup4Z4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mps059Dn_P4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-WS2i_tmOo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrHjDK7sZP0
Thanks Alev :))
Well, nice list John ! However most of these tracks are aimed at teenagers and the lyrics are sometimes…. well, you know. Anyway, here’s an artist who is not mainstream at all and whose lyrics are quite funny : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZl9gbTY9u4
Everything by Patrick Fiori. The most beautiful voice of all! And he can sing everything from opera to rock.
Anything by Christophe Mae & Zaz
Salut Judith :)
The reason you won’t find them here is because both Mae and Zaz have not produced popular music during 2015 and 2016. The last Christophe Mae song I enjoy listening to came out back in 2010!!
Don’t fret though! You’ll find Christophe Mae and Zaz both in my Top 100 French songs playlist.
Wrong MAE just releazed a new brand album :)
Ah bon ? I’ll have to give it a listen !!
Try Lara Fabian? She’s amazing
Cool! We’ll check her out :D