A chansonnier (; female: chansonnière, ) was a poet songwriter, a solitary singer, who sang their own songs (chansons) with a guitar, prominent in francophone countries during the 1960s and 1970s. Unlike popular singers, chansonniers need no artifice to sing their soul poetry. They performed in "Boîtes àChansons" which flourished during those years. The themes of their songs varied but included nature, love, simplicity and a social interest to improve their world.
Canada
In Canada, the chansonnier tradition played a prominent role in the development of Quebec's social and political awareness during the Quiet Revolution, (la Révolution tranquille) that led to the affirmation of national identity of Québécois people. One prominent chansonnier, Robert Charlebois, transformed the province's musical culture when he moved from traditional chansonnier pop to a more rock-oriented sound with his fourth album, Lindberg, in 1968.
French-Canadian chansonniers
(listed alphabetically by surname)
References
- The reference used here is an exhaustive work on women songwriters in Quebec, which cover the period of 1960 to 1976. The female names that are listed above are those found in the chapter 9 'Les chansonnières', page 95 to 119, which correspond to the period of the cultural phenomenon). ëLa chanson écrite au fémininû. An extensive research in musicology written by Cécile Tremblay-Matte.ëLa chanson écrite au féminin de Madeleine de Verchères àMitsou 1730-1990û, ÃÂditions Trois, 2033 avenue Jessop, Laval, Québec. Diffusion pour le Canada, DMR, 3700 A boul. Saint-Laurent, Montréal, Québec, et pour l'Europe, Les Diffusions du Solstice, 363 B Chaussée de Waterloo, Bruxelles, Belgique. Données de catalogage avant publication (Canada) .ëLa chanson écrite au fémininû, Collection Trois Guinées dirigée par Anne-Marie Alonso. Dépot légal- BNQ, BNC troisième trimestre 1990, contient 391 pages.
Notes