Léo Ferré

Although little known in English-speaking countries, Léo Ferré (1916-1993) is a monument of French chanson, revered throughout the francophone world. A singer, songwriter, author, composer, and even orchestra conductor, he is mostly remembered for songs like "Avec le Temps," "Les Anarchistes," and "Jolie Môme." His lyrics alternate between love topics and a social commentary that grows more and more bitter. Ferré's career began in the cabaret and took him through four decades and a number of styles, but his best material and his popularity peak happened in the ‘60s and early ‘70s, as the generation of May 1968 adopted him as an anarchist figure. ~ François Couture