What is a chansonnier?

Question

I was wondering if the term only applied to Middle Age music and not some modern artists as well. Perhaps, Benabar and Olivia Ruiz?

Could it also refer to classic french music like that made by singers like Jacques Brel and Charles Aznavour?

Answer 1

Today in France, we call "chansonnier" a person who sings sarcastic songs in cabarets or TV shows, people like them more for the funny lyrics they bring than for the music/voice

Calling Benabar or Olivia Ruiz a "chansonnier" would be an insult kind of "cheap" singer.

We can't neither call Brel and Aznavour "chansonnier" but they started singing in bars and restaurants that hosted "chansonniers" at that time (60's).

Answer 2

a chansonnier is a person who write and sing a song

Answer 3

I live in Quebec and speak french.

Here a chansonnier is a musician who play/sing music in bars/pubs....