Quintessentially French music is on the program for the opening ceremony, along with more modern styles from across the French-speaking diaspora. Cabaret, chanson and classical Impressionism will have their moments; tributes will be paid to the cherished French singers Edith Piaf and Charles Aznavour.
The lineup also includes disco, French hip-hop, zouk from the French Caribbean, and heavy metal mashed up with opera. The ceremony will provide a worldwide showcase for Aya Nakamura, who was born in Mali, grew up in France, and is a superstar in Europe, with 25 Top 10 singles in France, including the smash “Djadja,” which denounces a man who claims he had sex with her; it has been streamed more than a billion times.
Ms. Nakamura has more than 20 million followers on social media, though she is unfamiliar to many American listeners. Announcements of her Olympic appearance drew opposition from France’s far right, objecting to the fact that she sings in Arabic, English and African languages along with French; there were also openly racist comments. “You can be racist, but not deaf,” she responded on X.
Widespread news reports that Celine Dion and Lady Gaga would perform were not confirmed in advance, although the program leaves room for unnamed “international” performers, notably in the ceremony’s opening and closing moments. Dion revealed to her fans that she had been living with a rare neurological condition called stiff person syndrome in December 2022 and chronicled her illness in the documentary “I Am: Celine Dion.”
From accordions to cancan dancers, France will be flaunting its eccentricities. Other confirmed performers include the French singer-songwriter Juliette Armanet and the pianist Sofiane Pamart who are expected to duet “Imagine”; the metal band Gojira; the French rapper Rim’K; the D.J. Barbara Butch; Cerrone, the disco hitmaker; the Choir of the French Army; and Jakub Jozef Orlinski.
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