Are you looking for good French bands?
Regardless of genre, contemporary French music is known for its distinct stylized and sophisticated character.
From the emergence of new wave in the 1990s to the dreamlike electropop of the early 2000s, French bands have dominated the airwaves, playlists, and soundtracks around the world.
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Whether as background music, a film score, or a party anthem, artists such as Indochine and Stereolab provided us with songs that served as an introduction to modern French pop culture.
Their songs are also entertaining ways to learn a little bit of the language. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best French bands to listen to.
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13 Famous French Bands That You Should Listen To
Electropop French Bands
1. Agar Agar
It was in 2015 that the two members of Agar Agar, Clara Cappagli and Armand Bultheel, came together to form a French electro-pop band in Paris.
Following the great success of their single “Prettiest Virgin” in 2016, they have been dubbed “the future of French electro” by the specialist press.
2. Yelle
Yelle is a French band that sings exclusively in the French language. It was started by lead singer Yelle (Julie Budet) and GrandMarnier (Jean-François Perrier), who were later joined by Tepr (Tanguy Destable).
In September 2005, the band posted an early version of the song “Je veux te voir” on MySpace.
The song eventually charted in France’s top five. The success of the song got the attention of a record company, and they soon began work on their first album, Pop Up, which was released in 2007. The group’s most recent album, L’ere du Verseau, was released in 2020.
Indie French Bands
3. Juniore
The 1960s throwback band Juniore is based in Paris and was formed in 2013. Their music is described as having “contemporary indie-pop flavour with retro French pop influences, with a vocal style that’s like Cat Power meets Françoise Hardy.”
Ouh là là, is Juniore’s self-titled debut album, is produced by Le Phonographe, a label Jean co-founded with Samy Osta, who previously produced albums for La Femme and Feu! Chatterton.
4. Luke
Luke is distinctly a more sentimental band, albeit the tones differ according to the record. The band got its name from the American film “Cool Hand Luke”, and is known for its electrifying live performances.
Luke has undergone numerous lineup changes which in ways helped with the evolution of their sound. Their tunes are melancholic and certainly not appropriate for dancing, but they are good as a background or if you’re feeling mopey.
Alternative Rock French Bands
5. La Femme
Most listeners would call La Femme’s sound “psyche punk-rock,” with elements of synthesizers and hypnotic music. There is a lot of emphasis placed on the vocals in each song, with many of them being in French.
However, the majority of their lyrics are simple enough for even a complete French language novice to grasp. If you’re into music that is perfect for dancing, La Femme wouldn’t disappoint.
6. Granville
Granville is an indie rock band that performs entirely in French. The band primarily wanted to recreate a 1960s French pop ensemble.
The majority of the music they perform is from the 1960s, which they characterize as a fusion of “Anglo-saxon rock-garage music and rediscovered yéyé mélodies.”
Others define their music as “disc pop with an unmistakably American flair, a dozen sentimental and sweet ballads.” Their 2013 debut album, “Les Voiles,” helped them establish a following among the general public.
7. My Diet Pill
This is a French band that performs music in both English and French. Since the band’s inception, the members have done everything themselves, including recording and booking gigs.
My Diet Pill has released three studio albums and three EPs to date. My Diet Pill is more well-known outside of their native France, and thanks to the internet, they are gaining a global following.
8. No One Is Innocent
No One Is Innocent released ease La Peau, a French anti-racist anthem, shortly after their hit “Killing In The Name.”
For almost 40 years, their music is pretty much a party staple in France – from weddings to Friday night student gatherings, and even Bar-Mitzvah, alongside Slade and Queen.
However, even if No One Is Innocent may seem too pop for some, this Rolling Stones-influenced quartet of three males and one girl was quite brilliant.
9. Noir Désir
Noir Désir was a band that originated in Bordeaux, and were active from the 1980s to the early 2000s. The band disbanded in the early 2000s as a result of the lead singer’s manslaughter conviction.
While the lyrics of this alternative rock band convey elements of darkness, each of their albums features a diverse range of sounds and subjects. It contains everything for everyone, including a truly horrific backstory, which is not surprising.
10. Stereolab
You’ve probably heard of this rock-pop band if you followed the ’90s alternative scene. They have impacted generations of musicians, both French and English. Despite the band being founded in London, England, their vocalist is from Paris.
Since their songs are sung in both French and English, they are an excellent band to listen to for those learning French.
Metal French Bands
11. Sortilège
Sortilège, despite its brief existence from 1981 and 1986, may be France’s most significant contribution to the metal scene. This band is excellent for both metalheads and aficionados of rock music.
Whoever said the French didn’t rock, probably has never heard of this band. Since many of the lyrics are screamed, they may be more appropriate for those who truly appreciate the genre.
12. Gojira
Gojira is a heavy metal band from Ondres, France. The band emerged from the woods surrounding the Basque area to fight and follow their dreams.
The band was originally called Godzilla, and their sound initially took inspiration from the Mets, Morbid Angel, Meshuggah and Sepultura.
Since 2001, the band’s lineup has been unchanged. Eventually changing their name to Gojira, the band is recognized for its progressive and technical death metal sound, as well as its spiritual and environmental lyrics.
The band evolved “from relative obscurity in the first half of their career to international recognition in the second.”
New Wave French Bands
13. Indochine
This new wave era band has released a wealth of pop songs between 1981 and the present. Their years in the industry have not been without challenges.
They were chastised for resembling The Cure. They also overcame the devastating loss of a band member and years of flopped albums.
While they retain major parts of the new wave era in their music, their sound somewhat evolved over the years, providing both old and new listeners with an extensive discography to sort through.
Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries and lived in 4 continents in the last 10 years, including France. A self-proclaimed Francophile, I love everything France.