Contemporary, vs Historical Masterpieces

Pardon moi, (because I really don't know 10 words of French,) but lately I am having the time of my life listening to all of these fantastic artists that most Americans don't know about.

Eventually, I will have to go back to France, and I figure this is about the best way for me to get interested in learning the language before making the move. Naturally, I haven't a clue as to when these songs were written, but some artists, (like Keren Ann,) are easy to spot.

Thanks to a friend of Amélie Veille, Here are some of the best I've found so far. (Please let me know who I am missing!) :

Groupe #1, Contemporary-Pop:
Alfo Rococo
Amelie Ville
Axelle Red
Alan Braxe
Carla Bruni
Chimeme Badi
Nadiya
Francis Cabrel
Enrique Ingelesias
Les Rita Mitsouko
Mme K
Gerald De Palmas
Laura Pausini
Patrick Normand
Pauline (France)
Pauline Croze
Stephanie Lapointe
Yannick Noah
Alain Souchon - Vanessa Paradis
Arno
Bruno Pelletier
Cali
Calogero
Camille
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Christophe Maé
Etienne Daho
Farah Kenza
Francis Cabrel
Garou - Natasha St-Pierre
Jane Birkin
Jenifer Bartoli
Julie Zenatti
Laura Pausini
Marie Mai
Marie Carmen
Marie-Chantale Toupin
Michel Rivard
Marisa Monte
Nicole Croisille
Olivia Ruiz
Patricia Kass
Stéphanie Lapointe
Sylvain Cossette
Teri Moïse
Zazie

Groupe #2: TRADITIONAL:
Linda Lemay
Maxime le Forestier
Daphne
Francesco Renga
Isabelle Boulay
Cesaria Evora
Hélène Segara - Bruno Pelletier
france d amour
Jane Manson
Jean-Louis Aubert
Lara Fabian
Yves Simon

also:
{Garou} - Natasha St-Pierre
{Calogero} - Julie Zenatti
Carla Bruni
Claude Barzotti
Marie Carmen
Nicole Croisille
Patricia Kass

How about:
Jacques Brel - can't go wrong with Jacques...
Claire Pelletier - she's a bit like Loreena McKennitt (Canada) or Kate Bush (UK)
Tri Yann - Breton folk group who rock - sing in Breton and French.

Comtemporary:
Daniel Boucher - French Canadian singer songwriter. Witty lyrics....
Andree Watters - French Canadian.

Thanks for the tips. I think of Jacques Brel as truly old school, someone everybody knows about. I don't find myself glued to his work.

Daniel Boucher I stumbled upon, possibly through Star Academie -ie: mainstream. Canadians interest me, and I will probably be even more optimistic once I figure out the differences in french-dialects.

My '5-star' list has grown to include, (in order of my fondness

Dumas
Francis Cabrel (...plays daily!)
Claude Dubois & Natasha St-Pierre
Corneille
DobaCarocol
Alain Bashung
Alain Souchon
Alex Britti
Annie Blanchard
Arno
Autour de Luce
BazBaz

..Dany Bedard

(sorry, I don't have time this am to do the whole alphabet.)

If you want some help with French try this excellent website:

http://www.ielanguages.com/french6.html#quebec

That's the link to Quebecois section - whole site is good though.....

Great link! I was able to download a folder filled with françois audio files, and a heaps of categorical reading material to parouse. I need to keep trying to visualize myself fluently speaking french !

Vous savez ce qu'ils disent

La pratique rend parfait -

Je ne suis pas, mais j'essaie

Je suis tout à fait disposé à reconnaître que je ne dois jamais partir à la maison sans mon guide de conversation français.

Je suis tout à fait disposé à admettre...

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LOL !
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J'apprécie beaucoup d'artistes parlants français, surtout ceux avec quelque chose d'unique pour ajouter à l'histoire de pop.

(via PROMPT, -I know 'that's cheating!')