ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Music history of France

Okay kiddo, let's talk about music history in France.

Music is a way people can express themselves and tell stories. And in France, like in other countries, people have been making music for a very long time.

In the olden days, there were people called troubadours and trouveres who would travel around singing songs and playing instruments like lutes and harps. They were like the rock stars of their time.

Later on, in the 17th and 18th centuries, classical music became very popular in France. People like Jean-Baptiste Lully and Francois Couperin wrote music for the royal family and other rich people. This was the time of kings and queens like Louis XIV, who lived in fancy palaces like Versailles.

Then, in the 19th century, things started to change. Paris became a center of art and culture, and new types of music started to emerge. People like Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel created music that was inspired by nature and impressionist paintings.

And of course, we can't forget about French chanson, which is a type of popular music that tells stories through lyrics and melody. Singers like Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel became famous all over the world for their emotional and powerful songs.

In more recent times, French music has continued to evolve and change. There are now more genres and styles than ever before, from hip hop to electronic music to indie pop.

So, that's a brief overview of music history in France. From troubadours to chanson to modern music, French musicians have been making beautiful sounds for centuries.