As a Francophone Studies major, I have decided to take it upon myself to spread the good word of music from across the Francophonie, or the French-speaking world. Since Radio Radio, an Acadian hip-hop duo, was my fifth most-listened to artist in 2024 according to Spotify, I figure we can start in Acadia.
Acadia doesn’t exist as a region anymore as it was one of the five regions of New France, consisting of the modern-day Canadian maritime provinces and parts of Québec and Maine. It was distinct from other French colonies in North America, including Canada as it existed as a colony, and as such evolved a unique ethnic group, culture, and language.
Acadians were frequently caught between Britain and France during conflicts between the two, such as the French and Indian War, eventually leading to Le Grand Dérangement, or the Great Expulsion, where British forces deported thousands of Acadians. Many of them died as a result of drowning or disease. Some eventually ended up in Louisiana, where they gradually became what is now Louisiana’s Cajun population. Some ended up managing to make it back to their original lands in Maritime Canada, where they are currently still mostly concentrated. Note that this is an incredible oversimplification of a terrible event; I can’t do it justice in a short article that’s mostly meant to be about modern Acadian music. I encourage further reading if you’re at all interested.
Acadian French is a fascinating language with seven dialects, including Chiac, which is the dialect that Radio Radio uses. It retains features from French that Metropolitan French eliminated in the 19th century and borrows from Eastern Algonquin languages and English. It’s a beautiful language used to sing some beautiful songs, which I will finally talk about!
OISEAU’S ACADIAN RECOMMENDATIONS
As mentioned earlier, Radio Radio is one of my favorite hip-hop groups at the moment. Their music has an incredible groove and playfulness to it, an electro flair, and has been a personal favorite for setting the vibes when power walking across campus. Songs you should check out: Last Call, Ej Feel Zoo, Jacuzzi.
Another group that sings in Chiac, Les Hay Babies are a folk trio with gorgeous vocals, banjo twang, and a power that you can feel in your chest. If you listen to my show, you know I’m big on birds, and their music has an avian vibe to it. This is a massive compliment. Songs you should check out: Obsédée, Fil de téléphone, Dernière mais non la moindre.
Maybe you’ve heard of a small, underground artist called Beyoncé? She’s a descendant of Joseph Broussard, an Acadian leader who was one of the first to end up in Louisiana. Sings pretty well, if I say so myself. Songs you should check out: DESERT EAGLE, Love On Top.
Natasha St-Pier grew up in New Brunswick and represented France at Eurovision in 2001, with a powerful yet delicate voice and a ballad style following very much in the footsteps of Céline Dion, who is Québecoise and represented Switzerland and won Eurovision in 1988. She does have a distinctly 00s vibe to her music, though, if you like specifically 00s ballads. Songs you should check out: Je n’ai que mon âme, Un Ange Frappe À Ma Porte, Tu jetteras des fleurs.
Howdy, I’m Oiseau! You pronounce Oiseau like wah-zoh! Oiseau means bird in French, and Nighthawks is a painting and also my radio show. In an ideal world, we have fun and chill times. In the real world, we have fun and chill times, but we also occasionally go a little insane from life’s inevitable longing and melancholy. If this is a surprise, you should go to the Art Institute of Chicago and stand in front of Nighthawks for a little while; perhaps then you’ll understand. Also I talk about birds, because my greatest goal in life is to be a bird. Music happens also.