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 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.

Klô Pelgag

I was first drawn to Klô Pelgag, my second foray into French Canadian music, by an intriguing album cover. It wasn’t long before I came to enjoy her talent as a musician. Pelgag paints unique soundscapes with instrumentation ranging from piano, to traditional orchestral instruments, to more synthetic sounds in her most recent work. She likewise creates rich and interesting imagery as a songwriter. Fortunately, I’ve noticed her enunciation makes her easier than most for a non-native speaker to understand. She’s even begun to see some success outside of French Canada, becoming oddly popular in online communities like Rate Your Music.

Listen to: “Mélamine” off Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Douleurs

Émile Bilodeau

Émile Bilodeau is most impressive as a songwriter; he sings songs driven by their lyrics, often accompanied only by his guitar. He’s refreshingly young, having released his first album as a 20-year-old college student. It comes across in the way he writes, using informal Quebecois language to talk about everyday subject matter.

Listen to: “Ça va” off Rites de Passage

Pierre Lapointe

Pierre Lapointe’s lengthy catalog is chock full of piano ballads and spirited orchestral lines, all somewhere within the realm of pop. And in case you like sad songs, this is a man who loves to lament. Listen to: “Sais-tu vraiment qui tu es” off La science du cœur

Cœur de Pirate

With 1.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Cœur de Pirate is the most popular artist on this list. She’s a singer and pianist, often accompanying herself on the instrument and releasing some solo piano material as well. Writing in French and English, she’s been able to reach quite a few listeners outside of French Canada — I’m pretty sure I’ve seen her face in Times Square. Listen to: “Berceuse” off Cœur de Pirate

Philippe B

Philippe B is another fantastic songwriter with a discography I would probably describe as “folk” and definitely as “calm.” If you speak French, his lyrics are nothing but poignant. If you enjoy classical music, a few of his albums contain noticeable classical influences, including some songs directly inspired by iconic pieces.

Listen to: “Je t’aime, je t’aime” off La Grande Nuit Vidéo

Galaxie

Galaxie performs garage rock with lyrics that are compelling yet straightforward, ideal for a non-native speaker like myself to understand. In any case, the band has a high energy and punk spirit that couldn’t possibly get lost in translation.

Listen to: “Magie Magie” off Super Lynx Deluxe

P’tit Belliveau

Likely the most distinctive artist I’ve encountered, P’tit Belliveau mixes folk and electronic elements, traditional and original songs, French and English. He describes his music as “country bluegrass with Casio keyboard demo tracks as the rhythm section.” P’tit Belliveau is also an outsider to Quebecois culture, even singing in a different dialect. He’s from Nova Scotia and is Acadian, descending from members of a separate colony of New France. Listen to: “Income Tax” off Greatest Hits Vol.1

Lisa LeBlanc

Lisa LeBlanc is another Acadian singer who succinctly describes her music as “folk trash,” a statement I’m happy to agree with. LeBlanc hails from New Brunswick and has released material in both French and English. Although better established than P’tit Belliveau, she’s worked with him in the past, proving the existence of a French Canadian musical network beyond Quebec. Listen to: “Aujourd’hui ma vie c’est d’la marde” off Lisa LeBlanc

Les Cowboys Fringants

Les Cowboys Fringants are an undeniable fixture of French Canadian culture. Combining rock, traditional folk instruments, and Quebec separatism, this band is the most “Quebecois” on the list.

Listen to: “Saint-profond” off Antipodes

Philippe Brach

Of all of my musical discoveries, French Canadian or otherwise, Philippe Brach is my proudest. In fact a different man than Philippe B, Brach combines a genre-bending blend of rock, folk, and orchestral sounds. He doesn’t hold back from the profanity Quebec is known for and approaches diverse topics like drugs, war, and religion. There’s clear purpose behind his musing ballads and heart-pounding tracks alike. It’s a treat to pick apart their lyrics, although their figurative language and Quebecois slang make translation a challenge. Listen to: “Heroïne” off Portraits de Famine