The Pays de la Loire, these are groups and singers who have been exported all over France and around the world, but also a territory that has inspired many artists. From the Nantes residents of Elmer Food Beat to La Mancelle Leslie, here is a selection of songs that will take you on a journey through this beautiful region.
1. Christine and The Queens – People, I’ve been sad
Let’s start with one of the most famous, the Nantaise Héloïse Letissier, better known under the name of Christine and The Queens. She is one of the best-known French personalities abroad: the singer-songwriter has reigned supreme on the electro-pop scene since its emergence in 2014.
His song People, I’ve been sad, voted “Best song of the year 2020” by the magazine Time, perfectly illustrates the back and forth that it operates between English and French, in an impeccable flow.
2. Ultra Vomit – Metal sink
They proved that metal isn’t all about raucous screams and silent metalheads. The Nantes inhabitants of Ultra Vomit have made parody metal their specialty, with a lot of pop references, as can be seen in the titles Calogera, takeover of Calogero, or Kammthaar, song in which they parody the German group Rammstein. Metal sink, a French heavy metal reference, sums up the spirit of the band quite well.
3. KO KO MO – Personal Jesus
KO KO MO, c’est ” a family business “, we wrote in 2019 in West France . “At the wheel: Warren Mutton, 24 years old. Kind of guitar hero with frenzied footwork, follower of pie collar shirts, bottle-fed blues and rock from the 60’s and 70’s. At his side, Kevin “K20” Grosmolard, forty, twirling drummer fed on rock but also hip-hop and electro “.
An iconic group, which notably offered to the public a cover as aerial as it is disheveled of the title of Dépêche Mode Personal Yess. To go after Marilyn Manson and Johnny Cash, it had to be done. And they are largely at the level.
4. Elmer Food Beat – Martine at the beach
We know them for the willingly saucy register. After a sleep that will last 13 years, the group Elmer Food Beat, named in homage to Elmer Fudd, the hunter in the cartoons of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, has resumed service since 2006.
5. C2C – F·U·Y·A
We mainly know them for their single Down the road which swept over France and the world at the beginning of 2012. The C2C, short for Coup2Cross in reference to the crossfader, an element present on the double decks of DJs, met at the Lycée Saint-Stanislas in Nantes.
Since then, the four DJs have decided to take a break to return to individual projects, like 20Syl and Greem, who are also the creative members of the jazz rap group Hocus Pocus.
6. Jeanne Cherhal – A normal couple
She too is from Nantes: for twenty years, Jeanne Cherhal has been part of the landscape of French song, especially since her second album, Twelve times a year, released in 2004 and certified gold record.
His very narrative universe and his chiseled texts give well-felt songs, like Perfect stranger, The little neighbor Where A normal couple.
7. Barbara – Nantes
“It rained in Nantes, give me your hand / The Nantes sky makes my heart sad”. In this almost autobiographical song, singer Barbara recounts her visit to Saint-Jacques hospital in Nantes where her father died. Unfortunately, she will arrive too late, but will leave behind a heartbreaking song.
8. Emmanuel Moire – I make you my essential
Let’s change department to find the Sarthois Emmanuel Moire. Born in Le Mans, the forty-something is made known by playing King Louis XIV in the musical The sun King. His songs that smell good from the 2000s, like Be up to the task and I make you my essential, are still in many heads …
9. Leslie – I am and I will stay
Let’s stay in Le Mans with singer Leslie. The one that emerged with the show Star seeds on M6 found success in the early 2000s with his album I am and I will stay, and the single We never know in duet with Magic System in 2003.
10. Mannick – I know boats
“I know boats which stay in the port / For fear that the currents carry them too strong / I know boats which rust in the port / Never to risk a sail outside”.
A great song that we owe to Angevine Mannick, who has pursued a career for more than 40 years, between children’s songs and contemporary liturgical music.
Here is the complete list of titles in this selection:
1. Christine and The Queens – People, I’ve been sad
2. Ultra Vomit – Metal sink
3. KO KO MO – Personal Jesus
4. Elmer Food Beat – Martine at the beach
5. C2C – F·U·Y·A
6. Jeanne Cherhal – A normal couple
7. Barbara – Nantes
8. Emmanuel Moire – I make you my essential
9. Leslie – I am and I will stay
10. Mannick – I know boats
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