Musique

Voyage, Voyage

This year marks the 40th anniversary of ‘Voyage Voyage’, one of the ultimate French 80s hits, by Desireless. From this blog: ‘A beautiful number about travelling the world. Literally translated to ‘Travel Travel‘, the lyrics encourage eternal travel to beautiful, wonderful, breathtaking places and sacred destinations around the world. Written by Dominique Albert Dubois and Jean-Michel Rivat, and recorded by Claudie Fritsch-Mentrop who went by the stage name ‘Desireless’ and released it in 1986 as the first single from her album ‘François‘, the song became a huge hit all over the globe. Despite being sung entirely in French, it broke through language barriers on music charts and featured in the top slots internationally between 1986 and 1988. (Ironically it missed the number one spot in France, peaking at second position for four weeks, behind Elsa Lunghini’s ‘T’en Vas Pas‘.) The music video was directed by Bettina Rheims, and premiered in France in December 1986.’

As you’d expect, the song was covered many times. Recently, by former Eurovision Songcontest staple Barbara Pravi, for a movie soundtrack, the song gets a pop flamenco make over:

Thanks to reader Victor, I got hold of this sulty piano version by ESTL:

Also on piano, but with a totally different vibe, this wailing version by Libanese duo Soap & Skin:

Among the more odd versions, is this Russian metal make over, this Spanish translation, and this Hungarian take. And of course, links to the covers by Bananarama and Kate Ryan need to be in this blog.

There are more piano-covers, and dance-remixes. This Spanish rework is something different, classical:

And of course, this must include the gentle, angelic version by FS-regular Meimuna:

A slightly different live version by Meimuna:

Speaking of regulars, La Bronze added her vocals to this danceable duet:

A spacey indiepop version by Puzzle:

There are more, but did I miss a really really good version? Drop a comment.

Fanny

  • Posted on 17/03/2026
  • /Under Musique

Fanny Luzignant, she resembles Clara Luciani, but she is the singer of La Femme. Monstres du soir is her first solo single, that floats on a driving bass, disco strings and some spoken word:

Leonie Pernet

  • Posted on 16/03/2026
  • /Under Musique

Yet another great song by the magnificent Leonie Pernet. “A manifesto for the earth or a cosmic prayer, ‘Contre Terre’ stands as an act of faith and perseverance.”

Pataugeoire

  • Posted on 02/03/2026
  • /Under Musique

A new song by Pataugeoire (Agathe Dupéré), who says about this slow, atmospheric indie track that it’s ‘hope in hell, a perfect song to ward off your seasonal depression’.

Lady Lola

  • Posted on 23/02/2026
  • /Under Musique

More sultriness on the new album by Lady Lola, released in December 2025. Some very interesting songs on it, some with beats and fx, some more ethereal and floating tank-ready, like this one:

Naïka

  • Posted on 23/02/2026
  • /Under Musique

Only French song on the most recent album of upcoming French-Haïtian singer Naïka, is the very sultry Soleil. The album, Eclesia, has modern R&B, reggaeton and other new styles, but also this jazzy bolero:

Meimuna

  • Posted on 13/02/2026
  • /Under Musique

Meimuna (Cyrielle Formaz, from Switzerland) is a current fave on this weblog. And when she (again) teams up with Dutch producer/arranger Ella van der Woude, it’s a pretty safe bet the outcome will be great. And it is. This song, about existential doubts & fears, has the right atmosphere, the bassline, the choirs, the synth strings, that add up to a track one could float on for days on end.

Aurélie Muller

  • Posted on 09/02/2026
  • /Under Musique

Saw this on the Facebook-page of Françoiz Breut, so you know this gotta be good. Aurélie Muller is NOT the French swimmer, but a fellow Bruxelloise (not sure if that’s a word) composer. She’s made the soundtrack to an imaginary film. It sounds pretty orange, breezy and Air-like, at least on this track:

From her Bandcamp: ‘The Bande originale du film imaginaire d’Aurélie Muller is conceived as the soundtrack to a film that endlessly rewrites itself in the listener’s mind.

The album unfolds through warm instrumentals and songs, blending organic textures, real-life sounds and gentle melodies. Light is omnipresent: seaside landscapes, heat, slow movements, even the night feels warm.’

Thais, Super Plage, Pierre Lapointe

Been gushing about Thaïs on this blog, so when she’s part of a fun project I am all ears. Super Plage, maker of sexy French electronic beach massage music, asked Thaïs to join him on a cover of Pierre Lapointe’s storming Deux Par Deux Rassemblés. ‘The only album me and my mom loved to listen to together’, SPwrites on his insta. Canadien big shot Lapointe is a Quebecoise force for 20 years now, and Deux Par Deux Rassemblés is probably his biggest hit. Super Plage and Thaïs added some fx, but the effectivity of the original is still in tact.

Emily Loizeau

Ah, dear Emily. In 2006, this blog agreed that Em was a mix of ‘veiled melancholy, and a particular mix of smiles and sorrow’. Comparisons to 70s singer-songwriters were drawn, to Shivaree, to Blossom Dearie. L’autre bout du monde was, and still is, a very good debut album. That now celebrates its 20th birthday. And because of that, Emily released a modular mix version of the title track, which is very very nice:

This is the more acoustic first version:

Not the first time Emily revisited her song:

And a live version:

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