The Z - Z of French female artists

What exactly is it with French female artists with the letter Z at the start of either their surname or in their single name?

I've disqualified Alizée as although she's close, she'd need a touch of Verlan to begin with a Z

Zeuhl is a genre, and Stell Vander's a major figure, but still not quite there.

Also close is Zizou, with a Mogwai soundtrack, but let's be honest, he's a footballeur.

Zaho 

Hindi Zahra 

La Zarra

Zaz

Zazie

Zouzou

But who was first? My money is on French actor and dancer Zizi Jeanmarie...

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.

Review: Ça (C'est vraiment nous)

Today sees the release of  tribute album to French new wave legends Téléphone entitled Ça (C'est
vraiment nous), with a selection of artists interpreting the work of the seminal French act.

Recent years have seen similar albums spotlighting Renaud, Jean-Jacques Goldman and Jacques Dutronc.

Songs on the new collection include La bombe humaine, interpreted by Gaëtan Roussel, Hygiaphone by Zaz and Anna by Tété.  The album was preceded by the single Un autre monde, performed by Superbus

Whatever your feelings on the artists involved, these projects stand or fall on the strength of the songs. In the case of Téléphone, that's  pretty strong start. Most of Téléphone's best songs are here.

 But the interpretations throughout seem a bit polite.  This certainly isn't Téléphone  re-invented as Rage aganst The (answering) Machine.

The version of Argent trop cher for example loses its sense of injustice, too much reverence, not enough venom.  Still,  Zaz's take on Hygiaphone and Gaëtan Roussel's La bombe humaine retain the edge of the originals.

If the purpose of the album is to get people thinking about Téléphone and their songs, then job done.

But if its purpose is to suggests these artists should be held in the same regard as Téléphone, not so much.

Zaz: Si jamais j'oublie

A new single - Si jamais j'oublie - has emerged ahead of a new album by Zaz.

It follows the success of her Paris album that was released in 2014, an album of interpretations of vintage songs in tribute to the French capital.

Her new live collection Sur la route on October 30 will be preceded by a limited showing of a film that goes behind the scenes of the tour that followed the release of the Paris album.

Her film Sur la route is being shown on October 15, and the album comes out on October 30.

Zaz is continuing to play live, with shows in eastern Europe and Japan before the end of the year, and shows at L'Olympia in Paris on January 30 and 31 next year.

60 years of Europe 1 concert

An impressive line up for a free show at the Zénith in Paris to mark the 60th anniversary of Europe 1.

The commercial radio network was set up in 1955, and has since then become one of France's leading broadcasters.

The show in Paris features Calogero, Zaz, Thomas Dutronc and Loane, as well as The Avener, Cats on Trees, Charlie Winston Black M and others.

The show will, of course, be broadcast on Europe 1.

Zaz: Live in London

A London date tonight from Zaz, the singer whose latest album Paris could almost have been
designed to fulfill the musical requirements of the francophile music fan.

It's an easy and jazzy collection, every song  a cover of an old time number that praises Paris.

While still not a household name in the UK, she's been one of France's biggest sellers in recent years, and this album, her third, has continued to reinforce her reputation.

Yeserday saw her answering questions from fans at Facebook's London HQ. Her album's recently been released in the UK.

She's no stranger to playing in the UK, and was over in 2013 when she played the Scala as well as a low key session at the Institut Francais.

Zaz plays at Under The Bridge in Fulham tonight.

Awards: Globes de Cristal 2015 shortlist

Another French award ceremony for your diaries, with the shortlist published for the Globes de Cristal 2015 ceremony next month.

It's the tenth anniversary of the award,  which has categories across the world of arts and entertainment, including cinema, theatre, literature, music, television, exhibition  and style.

There are two music shortlists, for best male artist and best female artist.

The male artists are Alain Souchon and Laurent Voulzy for their eponymous release, Black M for Les yeux plus gros que le monde, Calogero for Les feux d'artifice, Johnny Hallyday for Rester Vivant and Kendji Girac for Kendji.

The female list features Brigitte for A bouche que veux-tu, Carla Bruni for A l'Olympia, Christine and the Queens for Chaleur Humaine, Indila for Mini World and Zaz for Paris.

Last year's winners were Ayo and Stromae.

The Globes de Cristal 2015 is held on April 13.

Zaz: Sous le ciel de Paris

A third track from Zaz’s new album has been released, with the song Sous le ciel de Paris getting the spotlight with a new video.

It comes from her 2014 Paris album, and it follows the songs Champs-Élysées and Paris sera toujours Paris

Her album is a collection of songs paying homage to the French capital.

The new single was originally from the soundtrack of a 1951 film of the same name, and was originally performed by Jean Bretonnière.

Zaz is one of France's biggest selling artists in recent years, her last collection, Recto Verso establishing her name. Her music is an interesting modern take on French chanson and it certainly found a receptive audience.

The video presents a modern twist on traditional street images of Paris, and with its jazzy and retro feel it’s the kind of track that will immediately appeal to any  Francophile listener.



 

Zaz: Champs Élysées

A new album out today by Zaz,  the collection entitled Paris seeing her focus on Paris and all matters
Parisian.

The album, her third, finds her covering classic songs about Paris including the new single Champs Elysées, a song originally by Joe Dassin.

Dassin was an artist who released music from the early 60s until his death in 1980. Les Champs-Élysées featured on his 1969 album.

The new single follows the previous single, Paris sera toujours Paris, which was originally recorded in 1939 by Maurice Chevalier, a singer who throughout his long career sang many songs in praise of the French capital.

Zaz's previous collection, 2013's Recto verso was one of the biggest selling albums in France last year.

 Her new work is likely to find favour not only with a domestic French audience but with a certain kind of nostalgic francophile whose idea of French music this pretty much encapsulates.

Zaz: Paris sera toujours Paris

The clip has emerged for the new Zaz single Paris sera toujours Paris.

It's a modern take on traditional Franch chanson, the kind of song that will warm the hearts of Francophiles around the world,

The video, complete with its English subtitles, certainly suggests its aimed at a wider audience beyond France itself.

Zaz is one of France's biggest selling artists in recent years, and her last collection Recto Verso - released 18 months ago - sold almost half a million copies.

The track comes from her forthcoming third album  which features a selection of old-time covers,  all centred on the theme of Paris.

Paris sera toujours Paris was originally recorded in 1939 by Maurice Chevalier, a singer who throughout his long career sang many songs in praise of the French capital.

The new Zaz album is released on November the tenth.

Zaz: Paris sera toujours Paris

A new single has been announced by Zaz, with a version of the song Paris sera toujours Paris.

The song was originally recorded by Maurice Chevalier in 1939, and comes ahead of her new album which features her covers of old songs that pay tribute to Paris.

The new album comes 18 months after the release of Recto verso, and both it and her self-titled debut have been massive sellers in France.   Recto verso has sold over  half a million copies since its release.

Songs like Je Veux and On Ira have established her as a major star with a likeable jazz-infused take on French chanson.

Other songs reported as being on the album alongside  Paris sera toujours Paris include Yves Montand's A Paris, Les Champs Elysées by Joe Dassin, Sous le Ciel de Paris by Edith Piaf and Paris Canaille by Léo Ferré.

Production duties for some of the songs on the new album fell to Quincy Jones, one of America's most legendary producers. His previous work includes the likes of Michael Jackson's Thriller.

The new single comes out on September 12, and the new album is released on November the tenth.

Zaz: Gamine

Another track from Zaz released as a a single, the song Gamine coming from her Recto Verso album.

The album was one of France's biggest selling releases last year.

It was the singers second album, and it saw her nominated at the Victoires de la Musique awards last month, and while not a winner, it was another significant step in her career.

She's got a number of arena dates coming up across France, including shows at the Zenith in Paris on May 16 and 25.

Zaz: Live in London

French singer-songwriter Zaz plays in London tonight, following a debut UK album release.

She played in the UK over the summer, witha  show at the Scala in London as well as a number of sessions. She'd earlier played at the Royal Albert Hall supporting Cara Emerald.

Her 2010 debut album Zaz was a number one in France, and her studio follow-up, this year's Recto Verso has been one of 2013's biggest selling albums in France, with over 200,000 copies sold so far.

A special edition of the album was released earlier this month, with a 28 minute documentary and nine bonus tracks.

The UK market got a different release, with the album Zazi being released in September, a 12 track collection featuring tracks from her two studio  releases so fat.

Zaz plays at Heaven in London, and her tour continues with dates in mainland Europe including two sold-out nights at the Casino de Paris at the beginning of December.

Zaz: Si

A new single from Zaz, another track from a singer who seems to be on course to being a major league star
in France.

The clip has emerged just weeks after the clip for the song Comme ci, comme ça came out.

The song, which features on her second album Recto Verso, was written by legendary French songwriter Jean Jacques Goldman

She's already had a major hit with the song On Ira from the Recto Verso collection, and she's been one of France's biggest selling artists in 2013.

Her debut album, which was released in France in 2010, has recently been released in the UK.

Zaz is beginning an extensive French tour, and will be on stage throughout the country until spring 2014.

Zaz: Je Veux (live at the Institut français in London)

A great little clip of French singer Zaz at the Institut français in London for a private concert on the terrace of
the French corner of the UK capital.

She performs the song Je Veux, a track from her 2010 self-titled debut album.

The album was a number one hit in France, several of the songs including Je Veux going on to make a mark on the charts. The track La fée made it into the top ten.

Since then, she's released a live album and a follow up  studio collection entitled Recto Verso, which was  realeased in France earlier this year, with the song On ira giving her another hit single.

Her debut UK album,  entitled Zaz is released this week on Dramatico.