At the end of the ceremony, Celine Dion, who had been battling a rare illness, made a dramatic comeback by performing from the top of the Eiffel Tower.
In an effort to boldly present French culture with a contemporary twist, Lady Gaga, Celine Dion, and French-Malian singer Aya Nakamura joined dancers, an opera diva, and even a heavy metal band during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony. The inaugural event, which took place on the Seine River instead of a stadium, was beset by intense rain, which created a dismal atmosphere throughout the City of Light. The renowned French theatrical director Thomas Jolly designed a fast-paced, multi-location ceremony with the goal of stunning both those who braved the rain and severe security to see live and the worldwide TV audience.
“This is the moment. Everyone is observing us. With style, let’s kick off the Games!” President Emmanuel Macron of France posted on X while he and other leaders observed the event from a VIP stand.
US pop sensation Lady Gaga performed “Mon truc en plumes” (including the famous Zizi Jeanmaire’s song “My Thing With Feathers”), a tribute to her love of French culture, while hidden behind a fan of pom-poms held by her dance company.
Following the performance, Gaga posted on social media, stating, “It is my supreme honor to sing for you and cheer you on,” adding that she has always “felt a very special connection with French people and singing French music.”
Aya Nakamura, the most popular French-speaking singer globally, is a Franco-Malian R&B artist who recently celebrated her 100th birthday. She sang a medley of two of her classics, “Djadja” and “Pookie,” together with Charles Aznavour’s iconic song, “For me Formidable.”
The extreme right in France reacted negatively to rumors that she was going to perform, and a barrage of racist comments appeared on social media. However, she performed with musicians from France’s Republican Guard, a powerful symbol.
At the culmination of the program, Canadian singer Celine Dion, who had been battling a rare illness, made a triumphant comeback by singing a stirring rendition of Edith Piaf’s “Hymn to Love” from the Eiffel Tower.
“All of humanity united”
Jolly claimed that the narrative of the 12 distinct parts of the ritual depicted a nation rich in “diversity,” “inclusivity,” “not one France but several Frances,” and a celebration of “the whole world united.”
Renowned novelist Leila Slimani and screenwriter Fanny Herrero, who wrote the critically acclaimed casting agency comedy “Dix pour cent” (“Call My Agent”), are among the writers supporting him.
Another highlight was Guillaume Diop, the star “etoile” dancer of the Paris Opera, who gave a rooftop performance in Paris.
The highlight for many French onlookers was the unexpected arrival of heavy metal band Gojira, who exploded onto platforms built atop the Conciergerie, a crucial structure in the French Revolution that housed the court of ousted queen Marie-Antoinette. They sang “Ah! Ca ira,” the revolutionary slogan, while a mannequin depicting a headless Marie Antoinette following her guillotine execution was present for good measure.
The French-Swiss mezzo-soprano Marina Viotti, who is open about her love of both classical and metal music, joined them in an unexpected partnership.
Combining his two abilities, Polish counter-tenor and breakdancer Jakub Jozef Orlinski performed an aria from Jean-Philippe Rameau’s opera “Les Indes Galantes”.
The nearly four-hour-long event began with a video of French actor Djamel Debbouze carrying the Olympic flame into the Stade de France, the country’s stadium, only to realize he should have gone to the river.
With the assistance of legendary French football player Zinedine Zidane, he then takes the torch on an underground journey through Paris and passes it on to a group of kids who are led by an enigmatic man wearing a mask. This person then transfers the flame to the cauldron’s final relay.
