chanson
Lyrical French ballad
A chanson is a French song, particularly one in the cabaret or art-song tradition.
The term appears in English contexts when referring to French popular music or classical vocal works: Édith Piaf's chansons defined mid-century Parisian nightlife.
The plural is chansons, pronounced with or without the final s.
Narrative poem or song
- taleSpoken or written narrative
- refrainAbstain from acting
- stanzaPoem's line grouping
- verseMetered poetic passage
lament · complaint · chronicle · legend · epic · romance · aubade · satirical
Medieval Provençal lyric poet
- minstrelTraveling performer of songs
- balladePoem with repeated refrain
- rondeauFrench poem with refrain
- manuscriptOriginal text before publication
lute · jongleur · monophonic · motet · plainchant
Romantic liaison, often illicit
- sentimentalExcessively emotional about memories
- heartbreakCrushing emotional pain
- yearningIntense prolonged craving
- passionIntense emotional drive
tendresse · nostalgia · longing · bittersweet · intimate · wistful · devotion · seduction
French cabaret legend
- BarbaraWoman's name, Greek-derived
- cabaretLive entertainment venue
- MontmartreHilltop artists' district in Paris
- ParisFrance's chief city
Successful contact or strike
French impressionist composer
- liederArchaic word for songs
- recitalSolo musical performance
- sopranoHighest female voice range
- baritoneMid-range male voice
Ravel · accompaniment · Baudelaire · conservatoire · salon
ballad
Narrative poem or song
verse · lament · complaint · chronicle · legend · epic · romance · aubade · satirical
troubadour
Medieval Provençal lyric poet
- minstrelTraveling performer of songs
- balladePoem with repeated refrain
- rondeauFrench poem with refrain
manuscript · lute · jongleur · monophonic · motet · plainchant
amour
Romantic liaison, often illicit
- sentimentalExcessively emotional about memories
- heartbreakCrushing emotional pain
- yearningIntense prolonged craving
passion · tendresse · nostalgia · longing · bittersweet · intimate · wistful · devotion · seduction · regret
Piaf
French cabaret legend
- BarbaraWoman's name, Greek-derived
- cabaretLive entertainment venue
- MontmartreHilltop artists' district in Paris
hit
Successful contact or strike
radio · mainstream · Mitchell · cover · duet · playlist · anthem
Debussy
French impressionist composer
Ravel · baritone · accompaniment · Baudelaire · conservatoire · salon
- music genresblues, pop, jazz, rock, classical
- songssong, songs, tune, folk ballads, melody
- FranceParis, Notre-Dame, Lyon, croissant, Toulouse
- French Culturebaguette, baguettes, beret, berets, brie
- literary formsnovel, novels, novella, poetry, poetry collections
- French EntertainmentFrench cinema, French theater, French music, French ballet, cabaret