The Paris Olympics opening ceremony kicked off with a bang as metal band Gojira delivered an explosive performance alongside experimental opera singer Marina Viotti. The heavy metallers performed ‘Ah, Ça Ira!’, a song that was popular during the French revolution, during a segment called ‘Liberté’ which celebrated one of the most famous events in French history, as well as the nation’s emphasis on freedom.
Providing a stunning backdrop for the performance, Gojira appeared on the side of a castle surrounded by fire and bursts of red streamers to represent blood. Viotti later appeared on a moving prop boat, and their performance followed a segment dedicated to Les Miserables and came just after a beheaded Marie Antoinette was shown singing.
Their appearance at the opening ceremony marks Gojira as the first-ever metal band to perform at the Olympics, and fans were thrilled to see them on this prestigious platform. Social media platforms were abuzz with praise for the band, with many calling their performance “badass.” Lady Gaga also performed at the opening ceremony, singing a French cabaret classic called ‘Mon truc en plumes’.
The ceremony was unique and innovative as it was the first in Olympic history to take place outside of a stadium. The athletes travelled down the Seine on 85 boats for a four-mile parade. The opening ceremony was a brilliant display of the cultural significance of France and its history. Gaga is expected to perform again later in the ceremony, where she’ll duet with Celine Dion on the Édith Piaf classic song ‘La Vie en Rose’. The performance will be Dion’s first in over four years, having been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare, chronic neurological disorder that causes muscle stiffness and intense spasms
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