While the International City of the French Language is due to be inaugurated on Monday October 30, at the Château de Villers-Cotterêts by the President of the Republic, let’s return to the view of French artists on their own language.
It’s all there, in a few verses from Daniel Balavoine, who admits that he is kidding, that he is ashamed in front of François Villon, but that he loves the French language, and that he admires its power. This song dates from 1978, and the situation has not necessarily changed.
Well, yes anyway. Quotas for French-language songs were established in 1994 and, tomorrow, October 30, the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, will inaugurate the International City of the French Language at the Château de Villers-Cotterêts, in Aisne.
This confirms to us that the French language is undoubtedly more respected, or at least defended, than it was at certain moments in our history. You just have to listen again – between 1963 and 1980 and on the left as well as the right, what Léo Ferré, Alain Barrière or Jean Ferrat say about it.
In the second episode of These songs that make the news, broadcast this weekend, you hear excerpts from:
Daniel Balavoine, French is a language that resonates, 1978
Léo Ferré, The French language, 1963
Alain Barriere, Poor Francis, 1968
Jean Ferrat, To still be at the top of the bill, 1980
Yves Duteil, The language of our country, 1985
Robert Charlebois, Immensely, 1992
I AM, It comes from the street, 2005
Scoundrel, I’m hungry, 2011
Tunisiano, Nothing to worry about, 2007
Aya Nakamura, Pookie, 2018
Fally Ipupa and Mokobé, Square, 2023
René Depestre, Free praise of the French language, 1993
Guy Bontempelli, Of the French language, 1965
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And you can also find the podcast on this link Behind our voices, with the writing and composition secrets of eight major artists of the French scene, Laurent Voulzy, Julien Clerc, Bénabar, Dominique A, Carla Bruni, Emily Loizeau, Juliette and Gaëtan Roussel.