My 33 Famous French Songs 60s

Q: What style of pop music was popular in 1960 French?

French rock and "yéyé" was popular in 1960 French. The first distinct French pop music styles that emerged were the French rock and the yé-yé, which originated in France during the 1960s. They were influenced by the American rock & roll of the 1950s. The term "yéyé" was derived from the English "yeah! yeah!", popularized by British beat music bands such as the Beatles.

Louise Simon

Born in Cameroon and adopted at 1 year in France. I spent all my childhood in Alsace before studying in Paris. I like to defend my beautiful country with its strengths and weaknesses. Find me on Linkedin and CV.

Table Of Contents

French Singers Of The 60s
Best French Songs 60s (Official Source)
What style of pop music was popular in 1960 French?
What is that one famous French song?
What is the old French famous song?

Bonjour bonjour my friends !

I’m Louise, a young (?) fan of old french music of seventies (70s), eighties (80s) or most recent : nineties (90s) !

Today I would like talk about the sixties in French music.

The songs of the 60s rocked the childhood of my adoptive parents (hi mum Christine !)

…and mine too! 🙂

Sometimes I like to go back to those old French songs from the 60s with famous French singers.

Thanks you Spotify !

— Louise xx

Listen Also : Top 15 Most Popular Frenchs Songs Of 2022 (Official Sources)

French Singers Of The 60s

The most popular and famous French singers from the 60s were (male and female) :

Dalida
Edith Piaf
Johnny Hallyday
Richard Anthony
Françoise Hardy
Claude François
Sylvie Vartan
Charles Aznavour
Salvatore Adamo
France Gall
Enrico Macias
Sheila
Georges Moustaki
Joe Dassin
…etc

Best French Songs 60s (Official Source)

My ranking is from the data of French IFOP : Institut Français d’Opinion Publique.

Since 1938 IFOP is a market research firm specialized in national and international polling.

I manually selected the best singles each year from 1960 to 1969 according to the data of IFOP :

1. T’aimer follement – Dalida

Released: 1960
Summary: A heartfelt love song from Dalida, one of France’s most beloved pop icons.
Style: Pop, Chanson
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

2. Mustapha – Bob Azzam

Released: 1960
Summary: A catchy, vibrant tune by Bob Azzam, blending elements of pop and world music.
Style: Pop, World Music
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

3. Itsy Bitsy Petit Bikini – Dalida

Released: 1960
Summary: A playful, upbeat song from Dalida about a tiny bikini.
Style: Pop
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

4. Non, je ne regrette rien – Édith Piaf

Released: 1961
Summary: One of Piaf’s most famous songs, an anthem of personal defiance and resolution.
Style: Chanson
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

5. Les Fiancés D’auvergne – André Verchuren [fr]

Released: 1961
Summary: A folk-inspired tune capturing the spirit of love and tradition in the Auvergne region.
Style: Folk
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

6. Viens Danser Le Twist – Johnny Hallyday

Released: 1961
Summary: Hallyday’s enthusiastic invitation to embrace the dance craze of the Twist.
Style: Rock and Roll
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

7. Retiens la nuit – Johnny Hallyday

Released: 1962
Summary: A romantic ballad from French rock and roll star Johnny Hallyday.
Style: Rock, Ballad
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

8. Un clair de lune à Maubeuge – Pierre Perrin

Released: 1962
Summary: A charming song about a moonlit night in Maubeuge, Northern France.
Style: Chanson
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

9. J’entends siffler le train – Richard Anthony

Released: 1962
Summary: Richard Anthony’s haunting melody about the sound of a departing train.
Style: Pop
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

10. Tous les garçons et les filles – Françoise Hardy

Released: 1962
Summary: Hardy’s debut song about the bittersweet feelings of young love.
Style: Chanson, Pop
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

11. L’Idole des jeunes – Johnny Hallyday

Released: 1962
Summary: An upbeat song showcasing Hallyday’s status as the idol of the youth in the 1960s.
Style: Rock
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

12. Pauvre Petite Fille Riche – Claude François

Released: 1963
Summary: Claude François sings about a rich little girl living a lonely life in a golden cage.
Style: Pop, Chanson
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

13. La Plus Belle Pour Aller Danser – Sylvie Vartan

Released: 1964
Summary: A light-hearted song from Vartan about being the prettiest girl at the dance.
Style: Pop, Chanson
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

14. Et pourtant – Charles Aznavour

Released: 1964
Summary: Aznavour reflects on the pain and longing left after a failed romance.
Style: Chanson
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

15. Vous Permettez Monsieur? – Salvatore Adamo

Released: 1964
Summary: A polite and chivalrous song where Adamo asks permission to dance with the lady.
Style: Chanson
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

16. Le Pénitencier – Johnny Hallyday

Released: 1964
Summary: Hallyday’s French adaptation of “The House of the Rising Sun”, telling the story of life in prison.
Style: Rock
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

17. Sacré Charlemagne – France Gall

Released: 1965
Summary: France Gall presents a playful critique of the school system, blaming Charlemagne for its creation.
Style: Pop, Chanson
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

18. Les Filles de mon Pays – Enrico Macias

Released: 1965
Summary: A poignant tribute by Macias to the women of his homeland, Algeria.
Style: Folk, Chanson
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

19. La Nuit – Salvatore Adamo

Released: 1965
Summary: Adamo serenades the night, expressing his deepest feelings and desires.
Style: Chanson
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

20. Aline – Christophe

Released: 1965
Summary: A passionate declaration of love from Christophe to the titular Aline, who has left him.
Style: Pop, Chanson
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

21. La Bohème – Charles Aznavour

Released: 1966
Summary: Aznavour sings nostalgically about the bohemian lifestyle he lived in his youth in Paris.
Style: Chanson
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

22. Le Cinéma – Sheila

Released: 1966
Summary: A light-hearted, catchy song by Sheila about the magic of cinema.
Style: Yé-yé, Pop
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

23. Ton Nom – Salvatore Adamo

Released: 1966
Summary: In this romantic ballad, Adamo expresses his longing for a woman by repeating her name.
Style: Chanson
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

24. Noir, C’est Noir – Johnny Hallyday

Released: 1966
Summary: A French rock classic, Hallyday describes a world turned dark after a heartbreak.
Style: Rock, Yé-yé
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

25. Les play boys – Jacques Dutronc

Released: 1967
Summary: Dutronc humorously critiques the playboy lifestyle in this catchy rock number.
Style: Rock, Pop
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

26. Hey Joe – Johnny Hallyday

Released: 1967
Summary: This is Johnny Hallyday’s powerful French adaptation of the American rock standard, originally popularized by The Leaves and Jimi Hendrix.
Style: Rock
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

27. Une Larme aux Nuages – Salvatore Adamo

Released: 1967
Summary: This melancholic chanson by Adamo is about a lonely tear shed to the clouds.
Style: Chanson
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

28. La Dernière Valse – Mireille Mathieu

Released: 1968
Summary: This powerful ballad from Mireille Mathieu speaks about a woman experiencing her last dance.
Style: Chanson, Ballad
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

29. Ma bonne étoile – Joe Dassin

Released: 1968
Summary: In this track, Joe Dassin praises his good fortune and the good times in life.
Style: Pop, Chanson
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

30. Le métèque – Georges Moustaki

Released: 1969
Summary: Moustaki’s iconic song narrates his experience as an immigrant, using the term “métèque” (foreigner).
Style: Chanson
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

31. Les Champs-Elysées – Joe Dassin

Released: 1969
Summary: This cheerful song from Joe Dassin celebrates love and joy on the most famous avenue in Paris.
Style: Pop
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

32. Que je t’aime – Johnny Hallyday

Released: 1969
Summary: One of Hallyday’s most famous songs, it is a heartfelt declaration of intense love.
Style: Rock, Chanson
Language: French
YouTube:

french song 60s

33. Dans la maison vide – Michel Polnareff

Released: 1969
Summary: Polnareff sings about the loneliness and emptiness experienced in a once vibrant house now devoid of life.
Style: Chanson
Language: French
YouTube: