Before 1993, Alain Souchon released eight studio albums. He got a few hits, nice sales in elitist public but no widespread appeal. This all changed that year with C’Est Déjà Ca album that contained his iconic song Foule Sentimentale.
France best selling albums ever: Music Box by Mariah Carey (1993)
I would be lying if I tell you Mariah Carey was well known in France when Music Box was released in 1993. She was pretty much the opposite of a star – none of her albums charted, she received no certification and only one of her singles made the Top 20, I’ll Be There, mostly thanks to the original Jackson 5 song being famous.
France best selling albums ever: Rouge by Fredericks Goldman Jones (1993)
In 1990, Jean-Jacques Goldman already proved switching from solo albums to be a part of a trio was a brilliant idea as he repeated his past success easily. In 1993, at the time of releasing a second studio album, the trio Fredericks Goldman Jones target was proving themselves successful in the long run.
France best selling albums ever: Je Te Dis Vous by Patricia Kaas (1993)
In the same way several divas exploded internationally at the time, years 1988-1991 saw the first two female superstars in France emerge: Mylène Farmer and Patricia Kaas. They released two million selling albums each in those years. With 1993 record Je Te Dis Vous, Patricia Kaas was the first to face the three-peat challenge.
France best selling albums ever: Samedi Soir Sur La Terre by Francis Cabrel (1994)
If the period 1997-2002 saw many albums reach blockbuster status, in the first half of the 90s much less albums got really big, but they did it in an incredible fashion. First Patrick Bruel in 1990 with Alors Regarde, second Francis Cabrel in 1994 with Samedi Soir Sur La Terre, third Celine Dion in 1995 with D’Eux.
France best selling albums ever: No Need To Argue by Cranberries (1994)
First released in October 1994, the Cranberries album No Need To Argue was the follow up of an album that failed to make any kind of impact. It made itself no impact when issued, completely missing charts.
France best selling albums ever: The Lion King Soundtrack (1994)
In a year 1994 full of successful soundtracks – Pulp Fiction, Forrest Gump, Philadelphia, Farinelli – the album from Disney blockbuster movie The Lion King topped them all.
France best selling albums ever: Unplugged In New York by Nirvana (1994)
France was one of the countries where Nirvana explosion in 1992 was the most impressive. Even if their third album In Utero failed to sustain the newly gained status of the band with Nevermind, Unplugged In New York was a great come back in top form. Obviously, the passing of Kurt Cobain a few months prior this release surely helped, but it wasn’t only about the sad event.
France best selling albums ever: Pulp Fiction Soundtrack (1994)
Soundtrack success is often very binary – hit or miss. The hit may be tremendous during about a quarter along with the movie as it has been seen with Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Dirty Dancing or the Titanic soundtracks. Other soundtracks get ignored and disappear.
France best selling albums ever: Compilation Bleue by Richard Cocciante (1994)
The half French half Italian artist Richard Cocciante is undoubtedly most well known as the composer of blockbuster musical Notre-Dame De Paris.