A chansonnier (French pronunciation: [ʃɑ̃sɔnje]; female: chansonnière, [ʃɑ̃sɔnjɛʁ])[1] was a poet songwriter, a solitary singer, who sang his or her own songs (chansons) with a guitar, prominent in francophone countries during the 1960s and 1970s.
Unlike popular singers, chansonniers need no artifice to sing their soul poetry.
They performed in "Les Boites à Chansons"[2] which flourished during those years.
The themes of their songs varied but included nature, love, simplicity and a social interest to improve their world.
In Canada, the chansonnier tradition played a prominent role in the development of Quebec's social and political awareness during the Quiet Revolution,[3] (la Révolution tranquille) that led to the affirmation of national identity of Québécois people.