VA - The Greatest Songs Ever: France (2006)

Tracklist

01. Charles Trenet - Douce France
02. Edith Piaf - La Vie En Rose
03. Gilbert Becaud - Et Maintenant
04. Charles Aznavour - Emmenez-moi
05. Julien Clerc - Femmes . . . Je Vous Aime
06. Renaud - Mistral Gagnant
07. Les Innocents - Colore
08. Liane Foly - La Vie Ne M'Apprend Rien
09. Francoise Hardy - Puisque Vous Partez En Voyage
10. Henri Salavador - Jardin D'Hiver
11. Raphael - Caravane
12. Alain Souchon - La Vie Ne Vaut Rien

The French volume in the Greatest Songs Ever series is a stunner. With 20th and 21st century tunes by the likes of Charles Trenet, Edith Piaf, Gilbert Becoud, Julien Clerc, Charles Aznavour and Henri Salvador, it's tough to argue. Still the absence of immensely popular singers like modern-day chanteuse Patricia Kaas, the great French hero Serge Gainsbourg, or icons like Jacques Brel are puzzling – unless the licensing department was simply lazy. In the cases of the latter two, they might say that the two men were not born in France (but both literally made careers there), but even then the omission of the French- born Kaas would be unexplainable and inexcusable. Thus, this is imperfect and incomplete, but the songs that are here are wonders unto themselves. ~ Thom Jurek

Other posts from this collection:

VA - Cuba The Greatest Songs Ever (2009)

VA - Greatest Songs Ever: Chile (2006)

VA - Greatest Songs Ever: Italy (2006)

VA - The Greatest Songs Ever: Gypsyland (2006)

VA - The Greatest Songs Ever: Ireland (2006)

VA - The Greatest Songs Ever: India (2007)