Watch Gojira, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion & more perform at the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony
Officially kicking off the 2024 Paris Olympics is today’s Opening Ceremony, which is happening outside a stadium for the first time in the history of the games. Athletes are riding in boats down the Seine and past Paris landmarks, including the Notre-Dame and the Louvre. French metal staples Gojira were on hand to perform outside the Conciergerie, which was formerly a prison that housed Marie-Antoinette, among others. Stationed on platforms across the building’s facade, they played “Ça ira,” a song of the French Revolution, with opera singer Marina Viotti, who also sang a portion of Carmen. Watch video clips below.
Lady Gaga was joined by a troupe of dancers to perform “Mon truc en plumes.” In a statement following her performance, she wrote, “I feel so completely grateful to have been asked to open the Paris Olympics 2024 this year. I am also humbled to be asked by the Olympics organizing committee to sing such a special French song—a song to honor the French people and their tremendous history of art, music, and theatre. This song was sung by Zizi Jeanmaire, born in Paris a French ballerina, she famously sang ‘Mon Truc en Plumes’ in 1961. The title means “My Thing with Feathers.” And this is not the first time we’ve crossed paths. Zizi starred in Cole Porter’s musical Anything Goes which was my first jazz release. Although I am not a French artist, I have always felt a very special connection with French people and singing French music—I wanted nothing more than to create a performance that would warm the heart of France, celebrate French art and music, and on such a momentous occasion remind everyone of one of the most magical cities on earth—Paris. We rented pom poms from Le Lido archive—a real French cabaret theater. We collaborated with Dior to create custom costumes, using naturally molted feathers. I studied French choreography that put a modern twist on a French classic. I rehearsed tirelessly to study a joyful French dance, brushing up on some old skills—I bet you didn’t know I used to dance at a 60’s French party on the lower east side when I was first starting out! I hope you love this performance as much as I do. And to everyone in France, thank you so much for welcoming me to your country to sing in honor of you—it’s a gift I’ll never forget! Congratulations to all the athletes who are competing in this year’s Olympic Games! It is my supreme honor to sing for you and cheer you on!! Watching the Olympic Games always makes me cry! Your talent is unimaginable. Let the games begin!” Watch video of that below, as well.
UPDATE: Celine Dion also appeared, giving her first performance since her diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome. She sang Edith Piaf’s “Hymne A L’Amour” under the Eiffel Tower, closing out the Opening Ceremony. Watch video of that below, as well.
Aya Nakamura also performed, and ahead of the ceremony, Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams were among the torch carriers.
