The Paris Olympics are officially underway, and Lady Gaga lit the event’s musical torch with a rousing performance on the River Seine at the opening ceremony Friday.
Gaga brought high-level camp to the River Seine, kicking off her appearance with a performance of the French song “Mon Truc En Plume” by Zizi Jeanmaire. The singer emerged from a cluster of pink feathers, dancing on a gold staircase in a chic black ensemble. Her performance channeled Jeanmaire’s appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in January 1965. Gaga was backed by a full band — including an enthusiastic horn section — plus a full crew of dancers.
Lady Gaga performing "Mon truc en plumes" at the #Olympics opening ceremony!pic.twitter.com/a1WOKzn2AV
— Lady Gaga Updates (@LGTourNews) July 26, 2024
And in true Gaga fashion — literally — she used a minor costume change to note a change in the set. As she moved to sit at the piano, the band paused for a moment while she played. When her dancers came back over, their pink feather shields covered her for a moment before she re-emerged, wearing a back piece covered in a poof of white feathers.
View this post on Instagram
Gaga shared her gratitude for performing at the Olympics on an X post on Friday, saying the moment with the Jeanmarie track was full-circle since Jeanmarie starred in Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes,” Gaga’s 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,” Gaga 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… pic.twitter.com/FMNyiosHUR
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) July 26, 2024
Gaga also shared that they rented pom poms from the cabaret theater Le Lido, collaborated with Dior for custom costumes, and used naturally molted feathers for her looks. “I studied French choreography that put a modern twist on a French classic,” she wrote. “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!”
Gaga also shared that they rented pom poms from the cabaret theater Le Lido, collaborated with Dior for custom costumes, and used naturally molted feathers for her looks. “I studied French choreography that put a modern twist on a French classic,” she wrote. “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!”
The Paris Olympic Games run 26th July to 11th August, followed by the Paralympic Games: 28th August to 8th September.
The competition will air on the Nine Network and on-demand across its 9Now streaming platform. Stan Sport will also broadcast all 329 Olympic events across 32 sports, ad-free.
