Gojira delivered an explosive performance during the Paris Olympics opening ceremony tonight (July 26) alongside experimental opera singer Marina Viotti.
The heavy metallers performed ‘Ah, Ça Ira!’ (which translates to ‘It’ll be fine’), a song that was popular during the French revolution, during a segment titled ‘Liberté’ (in reference to France’s famed motto ‘Liberté, égalité, fraternité’) that celebrated one of the most famous events in French history, as well as the nation’s emphasis on freedom.
Gojira appeared on the side of a castle surrounded by fire and bursts of red streamers to represent blood, with Viotti later appearing on a moving prop boat. Their performance followed a portion dedicated to Les Miserables and came just after a beheaded Marie Antoinette was shown singing.
They have now become the first metal band to ever perform during an Olympic opening ceremony.
This part of #OpeningCeremony with French band Gojira was badass 🤘pic.twitter.com/v6dWDorPM0
— Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) July 26, 2024
Gojira #paris2024 #ceremoniedouverture #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/9TYBMMjiCE
— joh (@johjohbat) July 26, 2024
Earlier in the ceremony, Lady Gaga performed the French cabaret classic ‘Mon truc en plumes’.
The artist performed Zizi Jeanmaire’s French cabaret number (whose title translates to ‘My thing with feathers’) on some steps by the river Seine, accompanied by a troupe of eight dancers carrying pink feather fans. She later moved to the piano in the back half of the song.
Gaga’s mother is half-French and she previously has said that she has grown more confident speaking (and singing) in the language with practice.
The opening ceremony is the first in Olympic history to take place outside of a stadium, with the athletes travelling down the Seine on 85 boats on a four-mile parade.
Gaga is expected to appear again later in the ceremony. It has been confirmed that she will duet with Celine Dion on the Édith Piaf classic ‘La Vie en Rose’.
The performance will mark Dion’s first time taking to the stage in over four years, following her being diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome – a rare, chronic neurological disorder that causes muscle stiffness and intense spasms.
