At the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, it was truly la vie en rose — Lady Gaga‘s pink feathers and all.
The world-famous singer made a sartorial splash along the Seine at Square Barye in Paris as she performed among a sea of pink feathers during the elaborate opening ceremony for the 2024 Olympics on Friday. Having recently wrapped up her latest Jazz & Piano shows in Las Vegas, the Oscar winner brought her showgirl style overseas to the City of Light. She aptly sang “Mon Truc en Plumes” and danced while dressed in a Dior Haute Couture ensemble featuring a black feather jacket, satin bustier, black and pink skirt embroidered with feathers and sequins, gloves, and a matching headpiece. The Joker: Folie à Deux star was joined by a group of dancers dressed in black toting pink feathered pom-poms and fans.
The 38-year-old 13-time GRAMMY winner is no stranger to singing in French. She has frequently performed another French classic, Édith Piaf’s “La Vie en rose,” including in the 2018 remake of A Star Is Born.
“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 theatre,” she wrote on Instagram of the performance. “This song was sung by Zizi Jeanmaire, born in Paris a French ballerina, she famously sang ‘Mon Truc en Plumes’ in 1961. The title means ‘My Thing with Feathers.’ And this is not the first time we’ve crossed paths.”
Lady Gaga noted that Jeanmaire performed in Anything Goes, which she and Tony Bennett covered in 2014. “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,” she continued. “We rented pom poms from Le Lido archive — a real French cabaret theater. We collaborated with Dior to create custom costumes, using naturally molted feathers. I studied French choreography that put a modern twist on a French classic. 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!”
As she concluded her post, Gaga shared a message to all in France celebrating the Summer Olympics. “I hope you love this performance as much as I do. And to everyone in France, thank you so much for welcoming me to your country to sing in honor of you — it’s a gift I’ll never forget! Congratulations to all the athletes who are competing in this year’s Olympic Games! It is my supreme honor to sing for you and cheer you on!!” she said. “Watching the Olympic Games always makes me cry! Your talent is unimaginable. Let the games begin!”
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