Nolwenn Leroy: Quelque chose de Tennessee

Ahead of the release later this week of a various artists tribute album to French rock legend Johnny Hallyday, a clip of Nolwenn Leroy performing her version of the Hallyday classic Quelque chose de Tennessee has emerged.

It's more or less the title track of the collection, named On a tous quelque chose de Johnny, which features contributions from a cross-generational collection of artists including Thomas Dutronc, Florent Pagny, Benjamin Biolay, Calogero and Patrick Bruel.

Some of Johnny's best known works feature, including Noir c'est noir, Ma gueule, Marie and Que je t'aime.

This kind of album has been a fairly constant feature of the release schedule in the run up to the Christmas season, with collections in recent years featuring work originally by Telephone, Daniel Balavoine, Jacno and - probably the most commercially successful - Jean-Jacques Goldman.

Some have been better than others, most stick to a pretty successful commercial format - get some young reality TV stars to perform a song by an act from a previous generation - and it's an item for fans of the young acts or for fans of the older act curious to hear the new versions.

Leroy's no stranger to the works by the Grand Fromage of French rock, and has performed alongside him repeatedly over the years. She appeared with Johnny during the 2002 season of Star Academy she later went on to win, and has since  featured on other TV shows alongside Johnny.

With a cast featuring some of France's big name recent pop stars and a heritage,  reputation and fan following as large as Johnny's, the only surprise is that this hasn't been released already.

Florent Pagny: La vie ne m'apprend rien

A new verion of the Daniel Balavoine song La vie ne m'apprend rien by Florent Pagny, from the forthcoming tribute album.

The album Balavoine(s) pays homage to the much loved singer songwriter who died in a helicopter crash on January 14 1986, 30 years ago.

The original of the song was performed by Balavoine on his 1980 album Un Autre Monde.

Pagny's new track follows others from the new collection including the cover of Tous les Cris de SOS by Zaz and Sauver l'Amour by Zaho.

The album also features performances by Shy'm, Nolwenn Leroy and Jenifer.

Balavoine(s) is released on Friday.

Zaz: Tous les cris les SOS

A new track by Zaz, with a cover of the song Tous les cris les SOS originally by Daniel Balavoine.

The track comes from a tribute album  entitled Balavoine(s) that sees a variety of artists re-interpret his works.

It includes Raphaël,  Nolwenn Leroy, Christophe, Florent Pagny and  Jenifer.

The tribute album format has been particularly successful in France in recent years,  with the La Bande à Renaud and Géneration Goldman collections both massive sellers that produced successful second volumes.

The interest in coincides with the 30th anniversary of his death, Balavoine dying in a helicopter crash in January 1986.

TF1 broadcasts a programme dedicated to Daniel Balavoine recorded at the Zénith in Paris on January 9 next year.

Meanwhile, France 3 has a programme on December 30 dedicated to Balavoine featuring contributions from La Grande Sophie, Christine and the Queen and  Orelsan.

 Balavoine(s) is released on January 8 2016.