Alpha Blondy: TV5 Monde Acoustic session

Who doesn't love a bit of French reggae?

Great to see a session at the weekend on TV5Monde's Acoustic show by Alpha Blondy, one of the biggest names in the genre.

Blondy, originally from the Ivory Coast, has been one of the biggest reggae stars in France since the early 80s. His new album Human Race is classic reggae with a modern edge.

It's an interesting session, with the focus on his recently released Human Race album. Of particular note is his performance of Serge Gainsbourg's Je suis venu te dire que je m'en vais that appears on the album as well as in this session.

While Gainsbourg was a big fan of reggae, with two of his 70s albums landmarks of the genre, the original version of this song pre-dates his Jamaican period. Nice to hear it getting a sympathetic cover. If you're a fan of Gainsbourg, you'd be well advised to investigate it.

Other songs in he performance are Human Race, Life, Les Paiens as well as two brief interview segments.

Yannick Noah: Ma Colère

A new track Ma Colère from reggae star (and former tennis star) Yannick Noah.

It's easy to read a political message in Noah's song, and he's always been a politically involved performer.

The song's already been criticised by  Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front party whose politics are referred to in the lyrics ("My anger is not a front, and it's not national...my anger had the honour of fighting theirs")

It comes ahead of a new album. Noah's last release was the 2012 Hommage collection, an album of covers of Bob Marley songs, and it was a hugely successful release that caught the public's affection for both the music of Bob Marley and for Noah himself.

His last album of original songs, entitled Frontières, came out in 2010.

 Yannick Noah's new album is expected at the end of May

Yannick Noah: Redemption song

This week sees Jamaica celebrate the 50th anniversary of its independence, and for a country of under three million people it certainly punches above its weight in terms of its international status in the world of music.

As a genre, reggae remains hugely popular, and while the 'classic' reggae sound of the 1970s still resonates, its various mutations and adaptations, whether dub, dancehall or ragga have had a vital influence on contemporary hip hop and R'n'B.

As with pretty much everywhere else, reggae found a place in France, Gainsbourg's work in the genre in the 70s putting it squarely in the mainstream. His reggae albums remain fine examples of the genre, choosing as he did some of the best musicians at what many regard as the peak of their skills.

In subsequent years the torch has been passed to other generations, and it continues to burn brightly in their hands.

Yannick Noah is now a widely-known French singer, despite initially coming to public prominince as a tennis player in the 80s and early 90s.

He's had several number one hit albums, the song Aux arbres citoyens from his Charango collection giving him a number one single.

This track comes from his recently released 2012 album Hommage, where he pays tribute to Bob Marley by covering some of his best-known songs including Buffalo Soldier, War and I shot the Sheriff as well as Redemption song.