An Outsider’s Introduction to French Canadian Music By Justin Berg The summer of 2019, my sister and I were walking through Quebec City, in tourist fashion, when we came across an open-air concert. The singer had admirable harmonica chops and a folksy charm, so I was more than happy to stay awhile. I put some lyrics into Genius, found the performer’s name — Tire le Coyote — and saved a few songs to the month’s playlist as a souvenir. So began a headlong plunge into the world of French Canadian music. It’s been a way to indulge the French-class kid in me, and to explore a place that’s different from the ones I know well. French Canada is most associated with the eastern region of Quebec, although French speakers in neighboring New Brunswick and a few other communities can’t be left out. Surrounded by a country of English speakers, Quebec’s government in particular tries to maintain the region’s cultural autonomy by promoting the use of French. What distinguishes French Canada is largely, of course, the French language, and that’s important to many of its people in terms of heritage and attracting tourism. I also recognize that it’s part of what makes the area’s music feel “different” and worth exploring to me. As a matter of fact, Quebec’s policies extend to music, with the government funding efforts to support francophone artists. Radio stations are also generally required to play majority French-language music, and music played in government buildings and on phone lines has to be Quebecois and mainly in French. Regulations like these are controversial among French Canadians and likely stifle plenty of indigenous and English-language music that’s just as “Quebecois.” In any 28
case, they’re part of what lets the region support such a rich ecosystem of francophone musicians. Some features of this community include music festivals like Francouvertes, which highlights emerging Quebecois artists, and FEQ, the festival I stumbled upon in 2019. Quebec also has ADISQ, a nonprofit which supports the Quebecois music industry and puts on an annual awards ceremony, the ADISQ Gala. The organization also posts a top sales chart for the region. Since coming across Tire le Coyote, I’ve explored French Canada’s musical culture with fascination. For a few years now, I’ve enjoyed discovering new music through lighthearted research, the ADISQ sales chart, and especially automated recommendations. It’s interesting to look into where each artist is from and who they’ve worked with in the past. I also get to keep up with my French, and it’s always fun to pick out the unique Quebecois obscenities (tabarnak!) and slang I never heard in school. There’s plenty I haven’t had the chance to embrace yet, including Montreal’s rap scene and many of the region’s most popular artists, like Céline Dion or Jean LeLoup. I also realize that viewing French Canada through awards and charts can’t fully represent the region or who lives in it. There’s so much to find from more marginalized voices, especially ones Quebec’s musical ecosystem doesn’t necessarily support. In any case, I hope what I have come across is worth something, whether as an incomplete window into another place or just good entertainment. For that reason, I want to share what I’ve found. Here are ten of my most treasured gems from the rich world of French Canadian music. Fleur-de-lis from Wikimedia Commons
