Chansonnier (singer)


A chansonnier was a poet songwriter, solitary singer, who sang his or her own songs with a guitar, prominent in francophone countries during the 1960s and 1970s. Compared to the popular singer, the chansonnier needs no artifice to sing his/her soul poetry. They performed in «Les Boites à Chansons». which were flourishing in 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, that led to the affirmation of Quebecers' National identity. One prominent chansonnier, Robert Charlebois, transformed the province's musical culture when he shifted from traditional chansonnier pop to a more rock-oriented sound with his fourth album Lindberg in 1968.

French-Canadian chansonniers