Monday Mixed Playlist: A few French Songs from different eras
A little bit of everything—unexpected tracks from different corners of French music.
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.*
Here are some French tracks I’ve liked recently—not a deep dive, just a quick look at what makes them interesting. Sometimes, the most fascinating songs aren’t the biggest hits but the ones that bend genres, defy expectations, or come from unexpected places.
I’ll be covering some newer music soon, but today, I went with three tracks from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s—because it just felt right. I am trying to keep it light and weird and to not focus on other news of the day. And for that, Nino Ferrer’s song is just fun.
Give these tracks a listen, embrace the weirdness, and drop a comment—I'd love to hear your thoughts!
K
Nino Ferrer Les Cornichons (1966)
In the 1960s, Italian-born Nino Ferrer gave France a funny groovy picnic song songs with Les Cornichons (1966). A funky, surreal ode to picnic food, it blended French chanson with American soul and jazz, standing out in an era of more sentimental ballads. Ferrer, influenced by R&B and rock, made a career of mixing humor with catchy melodies, and this song captures the playful side of French pop perfectly.
The classic:
The official video & a fine way to practice your French, at least for snack foods. I’m a sucker for animations.
Martin Circus O’ Secours, Bob (1971)
Martin Circus is considered by some to be France’s first rock band.
Released on the album Acte II, O’ Secours Bob is a tense, theatrical rock (?) track that blends psychedelia, prog, and spoken-word elements. It’s a bit weird—but then, so is Martin Circus, who are more known for their later Beach Boys covers and disco tracks than their early stuff. They seemed to have changed musical styles radically with each album.
It’s impressive.
Weird, but impressive.
O’ Secours, Bob is kind of creepy, but I like it, reminding me of early Pink Floyd or Genesis (Peter Gabriel era) a bit. It’s a strange, hypnotic artifact of early French rock, eerily fitting alongside modern post-punk and art-rock influences.
Les Rita Mitsouko Marcia Baïla (1984)
The 1980s brought a completely different kind of genre-mashing with Marcia Baïla (1984) by Les Rita Mitsouko. Inspired by Argentinian dancer Marcia Moretto, this dramatic fusion of New Wave, rock, and tango is a unique songstands as one of the most artistic and avant-garde French pop songs of its time.
It's a beautiful and bizarre relic of the mid-80s, showcasing the strength of lead singer Catherine Ringer’s voice. Sadly, even some of their other hits don’t quite capture the same powerful, almost Siouxsie Sioux-like intensity of this track.
I love this song, but many of their other tracks lean into that mid-80s pattern of one standout hit per album, making for some tough listening at times.
*Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas 1971