Chansonnier (singer)


A chansonnier was a poet songwriter, a solitary singer, who sang their own songs 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 "Les Boites à Chansons" 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, 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