[Brett Robinson]

oh oh i know- jean louis costes!

[Bertrand]

Originally Posted by Rupert 'Stiles' Stilinski

I'm trying to learn to speak French and heard that music can be a great, easy, and fun way to learn it.

Does anyone know of any French speaking bands that are heavy on lyrics?

I like Stereolab, but I could use a few more. I've been into more folksy type stuff, so that could be a potential direction.

Thanks

For the folksy direction Georges Brassens was a really good advice.
For tough (& stuffed with language twists) lyrics Serge Gainsbourg.
I don't dig that much their music.
My fave French band was les Calamités. Guess it's gonna be hard to find them in the US as in France it took me a while to grasp their only album.
There's a site devoted to them that is quite enjoyable. You'll have the lyrics of their songs, some short stories too. Click on every song : you'll find some mp3 (from other bands only, alas, but as some of them covered les Calamités, you'd get an idea - 2 covers from Toutes les nuits if you don't know where to start from). Don't hesitate & click on the English ones also, as they covered the Who, the Isley Brothers. When you click on With a Boy Like You (the Troggs), make sure to listen to Johnny Hallyday's cover and try to figure out how he changed the lyrics.
Johnny Hallyday is French with Belgian roots (the French who don't like him tend to say he's 100% Belgian). Can't recall who said he was to France what Gary Glitter was to the UK : an anomaly.
Which leads me to this : finding a 60's compilation from French artists could be fun, as most of them, in love with rock'n'roll, mostly covered US & UK hits with French lyrics.
Enough said : http://www.calamiteux.com/chansons.html

[bloom]

the one that SY worked with, the one and only BRIGITTE FONTAINE...

[Savage Clone]

Originally Posted by Brett Robinson

oh oh i know- jean louis costes!

Costes!
Learn French whilst peeing on your friends!

[Rupert 'Stiles' Stilinski]

Costes would make for some interesting conversations with the French locals.

I was once accosted by Costes at a concert... he wiped his doody soaked body on mine...