The glamorous world of modern chanson is captured in a stunning book, which showcases an exquisite array of musical stars and a dazzling selection of photographs.
Virtually no other musical discipline is as closely linked with the culture and essence of a country as the chanson with France. With roots in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, this secular, lyric-driven form of song has been reborn throughout French history—and continues to influence today’s pop artists. Featuring the work of such celebrated photographers as Robert Doisneau, this fascinating history of the chanson profiles some of its most beloved artists, their music, and the cultural moments they represent. Readers will learn about Aristide Bruant—the red scarf-wearing subject of one of Lautrec’s most recognizable posters. It recounts the lives of Josephine Baker, Maurice Chevalier, and their contemporaries as it peeks inside the Folies Bergère and the Moulin Rouge. It introduces readers to the “Piaf Generation,” which produced the likes of Yves Montand and Georges Moustaki. And it explores the bohemian enclaves of postwar France, when revolutionary artists remade the chanson in their own melancholy image. In addition, this volume shows how classic songs of the all American song book, such as “My Way,” or “September Morning” have their roots in the chanson tradition. Whether you’re a fan of 1920s torch songs or prefer the electronica of ZAZ, you’ll learn how the chanson is important to just about every French musical tradition—and why this genre is the perfect expression of the country’s history and culture.
Biography
For over two decades, Olaf Salié served as editor-in-chief of the Deutsche Standards brand, most recently under the umbrella of the ZEIT publishing group. Since 2025, he has been editor of the ABOUT Germany series at Prestel Verlag, where his books Chanson and Traumfabriken were published. Olaf Salié is regarded as a creative originator and a well-connected project developer in the field of both print and digital media. Working with his long-time publisher Dr Florian Langenscheidt, he developed titles such as the Lexikon der deutschen Familienunternehmen (‘Encyclopaedia of German Family Businesses’). Alongside business-related topics, a particular focus of his work lies on the subject of artisan manufacturers. Olaf Salié lives in Berlin with his husband and their dog.
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