Many people still remember the incredible opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. Thomas Jolly and his team had invited a number of prestigious artists to perform along the Seine, including Céline Dion and Lady Gaga, of course, but also Aya Nakamura, Gojira, Juliette Armanet with Sofiane Pamart and Rim'K. So many people were wondering what the artistic and musical directors of these Games were up to for the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games.
The answer was given to us on Wednesday August 28, at a ceremony also held outside a stadium. In fact, it was on the Champs-Élysées avenue and the Place de la Concorde that this great evening was organized. Although the festivities were less impressive than those of the Olympic Games, the ceremony did feature a number of artists, including pianist and singer Chilly Gonzales, who was the first artist to perform on the Place de la Concorde. In a tableau entitled"Discorde", the Canadian musician was surrounded by 140 dancers and 16 artists with disabilities. He played"Countdown" on the piano, a song composed by Victor Le Masne, musical director of the Games ceremony.
The singer Christine and the Queens was also present. Standing on a piano, the artist covered Édith Piaf's classic song"Non, je ne regrette rien".
Electro artist Myd mixed during the athletes' parade and got the Phrygians dancing, featuring hits from the Olympic Games, including Dalida's"Laissez-moi danser", Demon's"You Are My High", Sheila's"Spacer", Patrick Juvet's"Où sont les femmes", Joe Dassin's"Les Champs-Élysées", Johnny Hallyday's"Que je t'aime", M83's"Midnight City", Charles Aznavour's"Emmenez-moi", not forgetting his hit"The Sun".
Also in attendance were the Ensemble Matheus, Lucky Love with a magnificent version of his song"My Ability", Luan Pommier, a visually impaired artist from Guadeloupe, performing the Paralympic anthem, Sébastien Tellier playing his song"La Ritournelle" on the piano, and Christine and the Queens. The artist returned to the Place de la Concorde to bring the ceremony to a fitting close with his own rendition of Patrick Hernandez's"Born to Be Alive".
The evening was also punctuated by a choice playlist, including"Flat Beat" by Mr Oizo, aka Quentin Dupieux, and Maurice Ravel's"Boléro".
