Learn French With Shy'm with these 10 Song Recommendations (Full Translations Included!)

Shy'm
LF Content Team | Updated on 2 February 2023
Learning French with Shy'm's music is fun, engaging, and includes a cultural aspect that is often missing from other language learning methods. It is also great way to supplement your learning and stay motivated to keep learning French!
Below are 10 song recommendations by Shy'm to get you started! Alongside each recommendation, you will find a snippet of the lyric translations with links to the full lyric translations and lessons for each of the songs!
CONTENTS SUMMARY
Il Faut Vivre (We Must Live)
Sous une pluie d'étoile
J'ai hurlé mon amour
Je l'aimais comme si
Plus rien n'existait autour
Under a shower of stars
I screamed my love
I loved him as if
Nothing else existed around

Shy’m’s “Il Faut Vivre” is a burst of starlit determination. The French pop star plants us under a pluie d’étoiles where she screams her love so loudly that the rest of the world fades away. Even when darkness creeps in, her heart races forward, powered by a stubborn spark of hope. She admits to mistakes, sees her partner slipping away, yet still believes a rescue is possible. The verses swing between raw confession and breathless pursuit, painting love as both battlefield and beacon.

The chorus – “Il faut vivre ! / Before the night falls” – is a rallying cry to seize every heartbeat. Shy’m urges us to “lose time” in order to truly live, to gamble precious moments on passion, adventure, and self-discovery. Whether we are chasing romance, conquering personal goals, or simply outrunning regret, the song shouts that the real tragedy is not heartbreak but letting life slip by unwitnessed. So, before night settles, crank up the volume, feel the sky of possibilities overhead, and live as loudly as Shy’m sings.

Ensemble (Together)
Dans les doutes, tu peux compter sur moi
Tout au long de la route
On en croisera de ceux qui ne croient pas à ces choses là
Sans doute, qu'ils ne voient pas ce qu'on voit
In times of doubt, you can count on me
All along the road
We'll run into plenty who don't believe in these things
No doubt, they don't see what we see

Need a shot of motivation in your playlist? Shy'm’s “Ensemble” is an uplifting anthem that shouts “you’re never alone!” The French pop star reminds us that even when doubts creep in and critics surround us, we can lean on the people who truly see us. The song paints a vivid picture of two friends marching side by side, refusing to bow to negativity. Together they look past the naysayers, keep their heads high, and trust that time will reward their honesty and courage.

Under the catchy beat, Shy’m delivers a powerful message of unity, resilience, and acceptance. She repeats “Rien n’est gagné” – “nothing is won yet” – to show that victories aren’t guaranteed, but when we embrace our differences and stand ensemble, we become unstoppable. It’s a celebration of friendship that defies boredom, leaves no scars, and proves that “nous” – “we” – is stronger than any obstacle in the way.

L'Effet De Serre (The Greenhouse Effect)
J'ai mal à l'âme
J'ai mal à l'homme
Je suis solitaire
Je suis claustro-homme
My soul hurts
Mankind hurts me
I'm lonely
I'm claustrophobic

“L’Effet De Serre” plays with the image of a greenhouse to talk about emotional suffocation. Shy’m sings that her soul and her body hurt, hinting at a relationship or a society that feels cramped and air-tight. While the sun is shining outside, she and the people around her keep locking themselves in, choosing discomfort over freedom. The repeated question “Pourquoi on s’enferme ?” (“Why do we lock ourselves in?”) exposes the absurdity of staying trapped when fresh air and light are so close.

The chorus is a rhythmic gasp for life: “Respire l’air !” (“Breathe the air!”). Each repetition is a push to step out, inhale, and let go of the heaviness that builds up inside the greenhouse of our own making. Whether you read it as the need to escape a toxic love, a crowded city, or even the literal climate crisis, Shy’m’s message is clear: open the doors, get outside, and reclaim the space where your heart and mind can finally breathe.

Olé Olé
Et alors, ça y est, ils me croient mort, fané
Faux sac Dior, jamais, j'suis là pour gagner
Veulent me voir, noyée, j'ai d'l'or au poignet
Laisse-les aboyer, ils n'payent pas l'douanier
So what, that's it, they think I'm dead, wilted
Fake Dior bag? Never, I'm here to win
They want to see me drowned, I got gold on my wrist
Let 'em bark, they don't pay the customs man

Olé Olé is not your typical fiesta chant — it is a rallying cry. Over a swaggering beat, Shy'm joins forces with Kayna Samet and Chilla to slam shut every rumor that labels them weak, superficial, or past their prime. The repeated hook "J'suis pas une fille olé olé" flips the Spanish expression on its head: instead of a flirty show-off, they present themselves as strategic, resilient women who collect trophies, not clichés. Diamonds on the wrist, passports stamped, doors kicked open — each line lists another victory scored through hard work, not hand-outs.

Beneath the bravado sits a clear message of self-worth, financial independence, and sisterhood. Haters may bark, bankers may doubt, but these artists refuse to shrink or apologize. They have learned from past naivety, turned pain into profit, and now steer their own futures like seasoned CEOs. The chorus unites them in a single mantra: keep grinding, get paid, stay authentic. In short, the song is a power-packed reminder that true success is earned, worn proudly, and never diluted just to fit someone else’s storyline.

En Apesanteur (Weightless)
J'arrive à me glisser
Juste avant que les portes ne se referment
Elle me dit 'quel étage'
Et sa voix me fait quitter la terre ferme
I manage to slip in
Just before the doors close again
She asks me, "Which floor?"
And her voice lifts me off the ground

Imagine this: you dart into an elevator just before the doors shut and suddenly find yourself face to face with someone whose very presence makes gravity feel optional. En Apesanteur - literally “weightless” - captures that electrifying moment when attraction flips the ordinary into the extraordinary. Shy’m paints the scene with ticking floor numbers that blur into a dreamy dance while every second stretches like an hour. The singer’s heartbeat is “just at the edge of her eyes,” and even without direct gazes, a silent, sizzling conversation fills the cramped space.

This song celebrates the magic of unexpected connection - a fleeting encounter that makes time slow down and lifts both strangers off the ground. The elevator becomes a tiny universe where only two souls exist, suspended between floors and reality. It is a playful ode to longing, anticipation, and the hope that the ride never ends, reminding us that sometimes the most ordinary settings can launch us into the stratosphere of emotion.

Amiants (Asbestos)
T'es mon bonheur et mon malheur, mon pire et mon meilleur
Mes silences et ma douleur, tu fais couler mon eye-liner
Mais bon maintenant tu sais, maintenant tu sais
Maintenant tu sais, ce que j'ressens dans mon cœur
You're my happiness and my sorrow, my worst and my best
My silences and my pain, you make my eyeliner run
But anyway now you know, now you know
Now you know what I feel in my heart

Amiants – a made-up word that blends amis (friends) and amants (lovers) – dives into the electric moment when friendship starts sparkling like romance. Over a silky R&B groove, Shy'm and Jok'Air admit that the person who comforts them also keeps them awake at night. One minute they feel invincible in each other’s eyes, the next they are wiping away tears and smudged eyeliner. The song paints love as both “bonheur et malheur” – happiness and heartache – showing how powerful and disarming real feelings can be.

Throughout the lyrics they keep asking the same nervous question: “Amants, ennemis ou amis pour la vie?” Will they let their lips meet and risk everything, or stay safely in the friend zone? This tug-of-war between heart and reason turns the track into a relatable anthem for anyone who has fallen for a best friend. Amiants captures that thrilling cliff edge where one choice could turn two companions into lovers, strangers, or soulmates for life.

Caméléon (Chameleon)
Toi, douce monotonie
Je te vois, je te sais, je t'évite, je te fuis
Toi, petit brin de folie
Tu m'animes, m'exaltes, m'éloigne de l'ennuie
you, sweet monotony
I see you, I know you, I dodge you, I run from you
you, little hint of madness
You fire me up, exalt me, pull me away from boredom

Feeling stuck in the same old routine? Shy'm’s "Caméléon" is an uplifting anthem about shaking off everyday monotony and rediscovering yourself through constant change. The French singer compares herself to a chameleon, a creature that survives by blending with its surroundings. In the song, she turns this natural trick into a life philosophy: each time boredom creeps in, she reinvents her colors, her mood, her outlook. From “red, green, yellow, sky-blue” to “gentle, strong, or rebellious,” every shade represents a new chance to breathe fresh air and feel inspired again.

Behind the catchy beat lies a simple yet powerful message: adaptability equals freedom. By embracing little sparks of folie (madness) and allowing new ideas to “glaze her lungs with pure air,” Shy'm shows that renewal is not a one-time event but a joyful habit. Whether it is a change of scenery, a new passion, or simply a different attitude, "Caméléon" invites listeners to welcome change, step into the sunlight of new possibilities, and celebrate the colorful spectrum of who they can become.

Et Alors ! (Et Alors!)
Parlez-moi de ceux, qui osent
Qui incarnent la différence
Ceux qui posent sans qu'on leur dise
Mais comme ils le pensent
Tell me about those who dare
Who embody difference
Those who pose without being told
But the way they mean it

Shy'm’s “Et Alors !” is a vibrant shout of self-expression. Right from the first verse she salutes the people who dare: the ones who mix styles, break rules, and parade their originality without waiting for anyone’s approval. Each punchy refrain asks, “Et alors ? Qu’est-ce que ça te fait ?” – “So what? What does it matter to you?” – sweeping away old protocols, copy-paste ideas, and fashion dictates. With playful name-drops (bow ties, Derby shoes, haute-couture corsets) she turns the runway into a playground where creativity is king and conformity is out of style.

At its core the song is an anthem of freedom: musical, cultural, and personal. Shy'm hops between punk, rock, street, pop, and bohemian vibes to prove every universe can coexist when passion is the common thread. Her message is simple and contagious: celebrate what makes you different, experiment boldly, and let critics talk while you dance. If you’ve ever felt pressured to fit in, “Et Alors !” hands you a sparkling permission slip to be unapologetically you.

Et Si
Si c'est oui aujourd'hui
Ce sera peut-être demain
Si c'est peut-être aujourd'hui
Ce sera sûrement non demain
If it's yes today
It might be tomorrow
If it's maybe today
It'll surely be no tomorrow

What if love could freeze time? In “Et Si,” French pop star Shy’m wonders how fragile or forever a relationship can be. She flips through hopeful yeses, hesitant maybes, and heartbreaking nos, just like turning the pages of a photo album. Every verse asks the big “What if…?”—What if feelings never faded, seasons never changed, and a single snapshot could hold two people together for life?

Yet beneath the dreamy questions lies a gentle reality check. Leaves fall, links break, and tomorrow’s answers are never guaranteed. Shy’m’s voice balances nostalgia with optimism, reminding us that even if we cannot stop the clock, we can still treasure each shared moment. Listen closely, and you will hear both the ache of impermanence and the thrill of possibility—perfect fuel for practicing English while pondering love’s timeless “ifs.”

On Se Fout De Nous (They're Making Fun Of Us)
Et passent, passent, passent
Passent, passent, passent les jours
Et rien, non rien
Rien ne change sur le parcours
And they pass, pass, pass
Days pass, pass, pass
And nothing, no nothing
Nothing changes along the way

Shy'm paints the picture of a love that has fallen asleep with its eyes open. Days "pass, pass, pass" in a loop like an old film we keep rewinding. The couple recites the same lines, offers the same automatic "Bonjour, Bonsoir, Chéri", and clings to the remnants of what used to be passion. The repetition in the lyrics mirrors the routine that is slowly grinding them down; they hold on, they fight, they get hurt, yet nothing really moves forward.

In the chorus, the stark refrain "Puisqu'on se fout de nous" ("Since nobody cares about us") captures their shared apathy. It is both a complaint and a wake-up call. If everything feels meaningless, why not flip the script? Shy'm invites the listener to become "excessivement libres, intensément fous" : excessively free, intensely crazy. The song swings between resignation and rebellion, ultimately encouraging us to break the cycle, rediscover our spark, and refuse to let routine write our love story.

We have more songs with translations on our website and mobile app. You can find the links to the website and our mobile app below. We hope you enjoy learning French with music!