French Female Musicians
Throughout history, there have been many French female musicians who have made significant contribution to the field. The list includes many familiar and great French female musicians such as Avril Lavigne, Vanessa Paradis, Kathie Lee Gifford, Nadia Boulanger, Germaine Tailleferre.
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1
Jane Birkin
(Singer, songwriter and actress)
Birthdate: December 14, 1946
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Marylebone, London, England
2
Christine and the Queens
(Pop Singer Known for Her Unique Fusion of Music, Art, and Performance)
Birthdate: June 1, 1988
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Nantes, Loire-Atlantique, France
Hélöise Letissier, also known as Christine and the Queens and Chris, often challenges gender stereotypes through her music. The queer electropop and indie artist was inspired by drag queens in London, after she quit theater school following a break-up. Known for her chart-busting debut album, Chaleur humaine, she identifies as pansexual.
3
Ève Curie(Journalist and Pianist Best Known for Writing a Biography of Her Mother “Madame Curie”)
Birthdate: December 6, 1904
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: October 22, 2007
French and American writer, journalist, and pianist Ève Curie was one of the daughters of scientists Marie Curie and Pierre Curie. She was the only one in the Curie family who did not choose a career in science. She authored her mother’s biography and was actively involved with UNICEF, helping women and children in developing countries.
4
Indila
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: June 26, 1984
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Paris, France
Adila Sedraïa, or Indila, began her career as a composer and even wrote songs for artists such as Axel Tony and Admiral T. She earned a label deal after collaborating with Youssoupha on the song Dreamin’ and reached No. 2 on the French charts with her debut track Dernière danse.
Birthdate: February 7, 1992
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Toulouse, France
French singer-songwriter Jeanne Louise Galice is better known as Jain. She began her career posting videos on Myspace. The fact that she sings in English has made her quite a sensation across Europe and Canada. Her hit video Makeba earned her a Grammy nomination. She has also delivered hits such as Souldier.
6
Khatia Buniatishvili
(Georgian-French Concert Pianist)
Birthdate: June 21, 1987
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Batumi, Georgia
Khatia Buniatishvili is a Georgian-French pianist. Buniatishvili has been playing since the age of three and gave her first concert when she was just six years old. She then went on to play at an international stage at the age of 10. Buniatishvili is known for her association with Sony Classical, which has produced many of her solo piano albums.
7
Anggun
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: April 29, 1974
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Jakarta, Indonesia
8
Barbara Pravi
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: April 10, 1993
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Paris, France
Barbara Pravi is a French actress, singer, and songwriter. As a songwriter, she has contributed immensely to the success of popular artists like Jaden Smith, Julie Zenatti, Yannick Noah, and Chimène Badi. She also contributed to the success of Valentina Tronel, composing J'imagine which helped Valentina win the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2020.
9
Françoise Hardy
(French Singer-Songwriter Known for Singing Melancholic Sentimental Ballads)
Birthdate: January 17, 1944
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Paris, France
A major figure of the 1960s’ yé-yé movement, French singer-songwriter Françoise Hardy is known for tracks such as Tous les garçons et les filles. She also appeared in supporting roles in a few films. Following her diagnosis of lymphatic cancer and the subsequent radiation therapy, she pleaded for assisted suicide.
Birthdate: June 18, 1939
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
11
Mylène Farmer
(French Pop Singer and Songwriter)
Birthdate: September 12, 1961
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Pierrefonds, Montreal, Canada
French-Canadian singer Mylène Farmer is best known for her hits such as Libertine and Les Mots, and for her collaborative acts with Laurent Boutonnat. Born Mylene Jeanne Gautier, she later changed her name to Mylene Farmer in honor of Hollywood star Frances Farmer, who was her idol.
Birthdate: May 1, 1980
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Chambray-lès-Tours, France
Birthdate: December 22, 1976
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Auchel, Hauts-de-France, France
14
Nadia Boulanger(One of the Most Influential Teachers of Musical Composition of the 20th Century)
Birthdate: September 16, 1887
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: October 22, 1979
Born to a music instructor father, French composer and conductor Nadia Boulanger was no stranger to music as a kid. The first woman to conduct prime orchestras, she had the who’s who of the music industry, such as Elliott Carter, Roy Harris, and Quincy Jones, on her list of students.
15
Lou Doillon
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: September 4, 1982
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
Birthdate: April 7, 1999
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Paris, France
Birthdate: August 11, 1919
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: October 28, 1949
Birthdate: August 2, 1996
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Décines-Charpieu, France
Born to a flute-player mother, chanson and folk-rock singer Claire Pommet, better known as Pomme, had mastered the cello by 8. The lesbian singer mostly deals with the theme of love and is most noted for her successful debut album, À peu près, and the songs De là-haut and Pauline.
19
Caterina Valente
(French-Italian Multilingual Singer and Guitarist)
Birthdate: January 14, 1931
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Paris, France
Caterina Valente is an Italian-French guitarist, multilingual singer, actress, and dancer. Valente, who sings in 11 languages, has worked with artists around the world. She has worked with international stars like Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Buddy Rich, and Chet Baker. One of her songs titled Bongo cha cha cha was used in the 2019 American film Spider-Man: Far From Home.
20
Cathy Guetta
(Socialite who became known as the wife of singer David Guetta)
Birthdate: March 27, 1967
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Dakar, Senegal
21
Elsa Lunghini
(Singer, Actress known for her 1988 album Elsa which achieved double-platinum status by 1993)
Birthdate: May 20, 1973
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Paris, France
Birthdate: August 21, 1893
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: March 15, 1918
Birthdate: November 14, 1978
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Valence, France
Birthdate: December 13, 1994
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Paris, France
25
Patricia Kaas(Singer Known for Her Debut Album 'Mademoiselle chante')
Birthdate: December 5, 1966
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Forbach, France
Patricia Kaas is a French actress and singer who has sold more than 17 million records all over the world. Kaas took part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2009 and finished eighth. Over the years, she has received several prestigious awards, such as World Music Awards and Golden Europa's Female Singer of the Year award.
Birthdate: June 12, 1977
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Lille, France
Birthdate: June 9, 1930
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: November 24, 1997
28
Yael Naim
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: February 6, 1978
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Paris, France
29
Louise Verneuil
(Singer–songwriter)
Birthdate: December 14, 1988
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Corsica, France
Birthdate: November 26, 1996
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Hénin-Beaumont, France
Louane is a French actress and singer best known for appearing in the popular reality singing competition The Voice: la plus belle voix. She has released successful albums like Chambre 12 which peaked at number one on Swiss Hitparade. Louane is also renowned for her acting skills; she won the prestigious César Award for her performance in La Famille Bélier.
Birthdate: December 24, 1984
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Poitiers, France
Birthdate: December 25, 1952
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Paris, France
Birthdate: May 6, 1968
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Vincennes, France
Birthdate: April 18, 1964
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Boulogne-Billancourt, France
35
Hélène Grimaud
(French Classical Pianist and the Founder of the 'Wolf Conservation Center')
Birthdate: November 7, 1969
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Aix-en-Provence, France
Hélène Grimaud is a French pianist whose recordings have earned her numerous accolades, such as the Cannes Classical Recording of the Year, Grand Prix du disque, Midem Classic Award, and Echo Klassik Award. Apart from being a virtuoso pianist, Grimaud is also a passionate human rights activist, wildlife conservationist, and writer. She is credited with founding the Wolf Conservation Center.
36
Clara Luciani
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: July 10, 1992
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Martigues, France
Birthdate: May 22, 1992
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bersillies, France
38
Nolwenn Leroy
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: September 28, 1982
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Saint-Renan, France
Birthdate: December 9, 1987
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Miami, Florida, United States
Uffie is an American-French rapper, singer, songwriter, DJ, and fashion designer. She is best known for her debut studio album Sex Dreams and Denim Jeans which peaked at number 18 in the UK Dance Albums Chart. Uffie's life and career inspired a documentary that was showcased at the 2019 FIPA film festival.
40
Cécile Chaminade
(Former Pianist, Composer who was awarded the Légion d'Honneur, a first for a female composer)
Birthdate: August 8, 1857
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: April 13, 1944
Birthdate: April 3, 1987
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Puyricard, France
42
Lizzy Mercier Descloux
(Musician)
Birthdate: December 16, 1956
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: April 20, 2004
43
Catherine Ringer
(Lead Singer and Co-founder of the Pop Rock Group 'Les Rita Mitsouko')
Birthdate: October 18, 1957
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Suresnes, France
Catherine Ringer is a French singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, dancer, actress, and choreographer. She is credited with co-founding the popular pop-rock group Les Rita Mitsouko which was one of the most acclaimed French musical acts in the 1980s and 1990.
Birthdate: April 19, 1892
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France
Died: November 7, 1983
It is believed French composer Germaine Tailleferre had started composing at the tender age of 5. She later grew up to be the only woman in Henry Collet’s Les Six, or The French Six. Among her many accolades are the Medal of the City of Paris and the Prix Italia.
Birthdate: February 26, 1971
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Six-Fours-les-Plages, France
46
Veronique Sanson
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: April 24, 1949
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Boulogne-Billancourt, France
Birthdate: July 15, 1973
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Grenoble, Isère, France
Birthdate: April 23, 2004
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, France
49
Marina Kaye
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: February 9, 1998
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Marseille, France
Birthdate: May 31, 1804
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Paris, France
Died: September 15, 1875