The best French chanson and rock albums
The top 3 according to 7 votes from people: Osez Joséphine — Alain Bashung · Les Marquises — Jacques Brel · Homework — Daft Punk. (Updated Dec 14, 2024.)
The records that come up most in Rolling Stone France's 100 best French albums and in SensCritique readers' rankings, from Gainsbourg and Brel to Daft Punk and Stromae.
Automatically translated (original in Français). See the original
Top 22
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1
Osez Joséphine — Alain Bashung
1991. Ranked first among the 100 best French rock albums by Rolling Stone France.
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2
Les Marquises — Jacques Brel
1977. Brel's last album, recorded while gravely ill, with 'Orly' and 'Les Marquises'.
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3
Homework — Daft Punk
1997. 'Around the World' and 'Da Funk': the French touch conquers the world.
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4
Discovery — Daft Punk
2001. 'One More Time' and 'Digital Love', with animated videos by Leiji Matsumoto.
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5
Histoire de Melody Nelson — Serge Gainsbourg
1971. A 28-minute concept album with Jane Birkin and Jean-Claude Vannier's strings.
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6
Fantaisie militaire — Alain Bashung
1998. 'La nuit je mens'; often called Bashung's masterpiece.
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7
666.667 Club — Noir Désir
1996. 'Un jour en France' and 'L'Homme pressé'; 12th in Rolling Stone France's ranking.
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8
Moon Safari — Air
1998. Nicolas Godin and JB Dunckel, 'Sexy Boy' and 'La Femme d'argent'.
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9
Les Mots bleus — Christophe
1974. The title song and dreamy orchestral pop; 45th for Rolling Stone France.
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10
L'Homme à tête de chou — Serge Gainsbourg
1976. A concept album about a journalist driven mad by love for a shampoo girl.
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11
Puta's Fever — Mano Negra
1989. Rock, punk, raï and salsa sung in several languages by Manu Chao and his band.
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12
L'École du micro d'argent — IAM
1997. The classic of Marseille rap, with 'Petit frère' and 'Demain, c'est loin'.
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13
Racine carrée — Stromae
2013. 'Papaoutai' and 'Formidable'; a triumph across the French-speaking world and beyond.
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14
Tous les garçons et les filles — Françoise Hardy
1962. The debut album by the yé-yé icon.
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15
Clandestino — Manu Chao
1998. A nomadic album recorded on the road, with 'Clandestino' and 'Bongo Bong'.
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16
Tostaky — Noir Désir
1992. Bertrand Cantat's tense rock, recorded with Ted Niceley.
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17
L'Imprudence — Alain Bashung
2002. Bashung's darkest and most daring record.
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18
Polnareff's — Michel Polnareff
1971. Virtuoso baroque pop from the singer in the white glasses.
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19
Chaleur humaine — Christine and the Queens
2014. Héloïse Letissier, 'Christine' and 'Saint Claude'; a hit in France and then in the UK.
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20
Jane Birkin / Serge Gainsbourg — Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg
1969. The album of 'Je t'aime… moi non plus', banned in several countries.
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21
Prose Combat — MC Solaar
1994. Wordplay and jazz-rap, with 'Nouveau Western'.
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22
3 — Indochine
1985. '3e sexe' and 'Canary Bay', the peak of French new wave.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (1)
Melody Nelson en premier, chef-d'œuvre absolu de Gainsbourg.