Nostalgie Arras

Nostalgie Arras trades in the French songbook, and it doesn't apologise for it. The playlist is built on chanson and variété: Serge Gainsbourg's murmured wordplay, Barbara's piano, Dalida's drama, plus the '80s pop that French radio never really retired. Nothing here is trying to be cool. That's the appeal. When you listen to Nostalgie Arras online, you get the same feed the city hears, ads and all, exactly as broadcast. The tone is easy, sentimental, occasionally cheesy in the way French variété has always been comfortable being. Presenters talk about songs the way people talk about old frien…