Charts and some rap

I aim to keep an eye over the Franch charts, but while charts used to be a fairly straightforward matter of seeing what was the biggest selling single each week, the situation has in recent years become just a little bit more fluid.

While the syndicat national de l'édition phonographique (SNEP) compiles the 'official' charts, there's no doubt that the likes of iTunes give a pretty accurate picture of what people are listeining to as well, and the two can be quite different.

For example, SNEP currently puts Justin Beiber & Ludacris 'Baby' at number one, and Stromae's 'Alors on Dance' at two, neither are in the iTunes French top 10, although Alors... is in the top ten or number one in ten other European countries, although not the UK obviously.

Meanwhile, Désolé by rappers Sexion d'Assaut is the iTunes number one, and they're got a second tune in the top 10, Wati By Night, at number nine.

Obviosuly both charts are pretty heavy on the old Anglo-American music (mostly American rather than Anglo) that we hear in the UK regularly - Katy Perry, Sean Paul, Taio Cruz, Lady Gaga (etc), but there's still plenty of Francophone talent being appreciated in France.

So here's a version of Désolé live on Paris hip hop/R&B radio station



I know rap's not everyone's cup of tea, but frankly I'm in awe of anyone who can do what French rappers can do with the language!