A French playlist for Bastille Day, s’il vous plait

My apologies, America. Because of the weird, knotted wormholes through which prewritten journalism travels, I completely forgot two weeks ago to write a column acknowledging the Fourth of July

The 240th anniversary of our country’s adventurous experiment in self-government and democracy would have provided the perfect opportunity to compile a listicle-style tribute to patriotic music. Now, that ship has sailed, but my desire to honor independence — and to write an easy column — is even stronger.

Today, then, let us tip our collective hats eastward toward France, where they are celebrating Bastille Day, aka La Fête Nationale, a commemoration of French revolutionaries’ seizure in 1789 of a Paris fortress-prison. Think of it as their Fourth of July, just 10 days late.

Despite France being one of the world’s great artistic cultures, its music hasn’t made as profound a splash in America as might be expected. Still, there are a few French. artists and songs that should be on your Bastille Day playlist.

› Most likely, you know Patti LaBelle’s cover of “Lady Marmalade” by The Eleventh Hour. Chances are even better that you totally butcher the lyrics when you sing the French chorus: “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?”

› Technically, Jeanne Deckers, aka Soeur Sourire (“The Singing Nun”), is Belgian, but her 1963 single “Dominique” is one of the most recognizable French- l anguage songs to hop t he pond.

› I l ove t he entirety of French pop group Phoenix ’s Casey Phillips 2009 album “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.” Admittedly, it’s all sung in English, but you should still check out “Lisztomania” and “1901.”

› Guitar virtuoso Djano Reinhardt is Belgian, too, but he, along with French swing violin guru Stephane Grappelli, founded Quintette du Hot Club de France. They are the undisputed masters of gypsy jazz. Lay ears on “Minor Swing” and see why.

› For a quick survey of other French musical greats, I also suggest “Aquarium” from Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Carnival of the Animals,” Les Yeux D’La Tete’s “I Don’t Speak English,” Edith Piaf’s “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien,” Zaz’s “Je Veux,” Yelle’s “Completement Fou” and Claude Debussy’s “Clair de Lune.”

Too few Americans celebrate the emergence of democracy in the wake of our own war of independence. To honor the events of Bastille Day and the French quest for freedom, queue up a playlist with these songs, shoot off your leftover fireworks and chant “Vive la France” to your confused neighbors. Sure, they may call the cops, but no revolution starts without a little disobedience, right?