A French researcher claims that when your local wants to fill you with drink, it just needs to pump up the volume.

A preview of the French band's forthcoming album. "Twenty-One One Zero" reminds us of the States-slaying strategy of an Irish band. We're not keen on tracks with three-minute intros. Judge for yourself, though.

 

...but will Dublin hit back? Careful: the President of France is used to having his own anti-insult laws back home. Even his own son is not safe. And Neil Hannon had better not sing his Frenchiest song at an embassy soirée tomorrow night.

If you feel like celebrating France’s goodness on this 14 July, here’s a playlist of classic French tunes that’ll get your fête going. Feel free to add your own suggestions! And from our playlist, a video that's utterly cool and quintessentially French.

First they were afraid, they were petrified: Tonight all France will celebrate the tenth anniversary of its World Cup victory... by singing the trumpet break from "I Will Survive". Let us explain.

Well, here it is – the first album in pop history that will be reviewed by as many political correspondents as music journalists. It feels almost pointless to say that Carla Bruni’s new album is harmless MOR acoustic balladry which hardly merits the media hullaballoo it’s getting. Watch the video for first single ‘L’Amoureuse’.

The last day of the Paris music festival was a pop and indie extravaganza, where home-grown heroes like Rhesus and Yelle held their own against The Ting Tings and Foals. Beth Ditto stole all the attention, of course: watch her and The Gossip live at Solidays.

V for victory: two storming performances at the first big festival of the French summer. Watch Vampire Weekend perform 'A-Punk' live at Solidays in Paris.

All you need is Louvre: The cover of the new Coldplay album features a famous French painting which hangs on the same wall as another masterpiece - one that will be familiar to Pogues fans.

Well, let's be generous here - the new single by the smug Paris dancefloor fella is fine stuff. But do you prefer this 'C'est La Vie' to the B*Witched one?

Norman beats: Just back from Saint Lô in Normandy, where we gained a French family and had a memorable weekend. We also found a tune from a local band, Da Brasilians - watch them play their song 'Ocean'.

Acts from across France's music spectrum will be in Dublin for Let's French, a series of concerts that coincides with Fête de la Musique. Here's another video by the poptastic Plastiscines - and some French chat-up lines for any brave Irishmen intent on charming them. Prends garde à toi!

Dutch Gold: your Irish blogger celebrated with the orange order in watching last night’s sensational France-Netherlands match. We were joined in spirit by a Belgian singing about the port of Amsterdam; here’s Jacques Brel.

Blissed-out Americana, western shuffles, Beatles-y melodies - 'Cuchillo', the third album by French singer Barth, is lovely. Watch him drive through the States in the video for 'La Machoire Americaine'.

Euro 2008 starts today. To celebrate the upcoming month of football, let's remind ourselves of the greatest footie song ever. Then we'll proceed with caution to one of the most awful, a 1991 duet between Chris Waddle and Basile Boli.

Richie Egan hawks his brilliant new album at our favourite French-capital venue. Watch Jape playing their latest single 'I Was A Man' in a posh Dublin drawing room.

A disappointing result for Sebastien Tellier in the pan-continental MOR-fest last night.

Femmes fatales: Some of this blog's favourite French ladies will join forces in Ireland next month. Parisian she-rockers Plastiscines play the Andrew's Lane Theatre on 27 June, with support from Dublin-based French singer Lauren Guillery.

Verse, chorus, verse: The acclaimed Irish poet, appearing in Paris this week, plays guitar in a hard-working rock group. And he co-wrote a song with Warren Zevon which has been covered by The Boss. Listen to Bruce's version of 'My Ride's Here' (Zevon/Muldoon).

Meet the hyper-prolific French electro-pop dude who's just released his SEVENTEENTH album in 14 years. With all that practice, no wonder 'Don Lee Doo' is great. And he's just as busy making MySpace pages. And videos too!

Steve and Joe and the other fellas, playing in the French capital on 23 May. Plus, this blog's secret network of spies and informers revealed! This goes all the way to the very top. Trust no one!

Like clockwork: The electro pair are causing controversy with the video for 'Stress' - seven minutes of urban violence.

The Don Quixote of alt-rock played in Paris last night - next stop Ireland, for shows in Dublin, Belfast and Galway this weekend. Let's find out a little more about him (and a bit too much about your blogger).

The Israeli-born, Dutch-raised, Paris-matured, New York-dwelling singer will be at Crawdaddy on 21 June: the same date as France's national music day. Her albums are quiet, but she can rock out live, as proved by her performance of 'Lay Your Head Down' at a recent French awards show.

...and we're not digging it. The greatly-anticipated new album from the French vocaliser is a disappointment: too much self-consciousness, not enough songwriting, and some graceless slagging of other singers. What a pity.