Why the Paris Olympics and Paralympics deserve a music album

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It’s been an incredible summer for sports, with the Paris Summer Olympics and Paralympics firmly in the center of attention. With the 2024 Summer Paralympics still in full swing, it’s time to revive the little tradition of the Olympic album as a way to celebrate theeuphoria of games through songs.

There hasn’t been an official Summer Olympics album since the 2012 Games in London. Two were released that year, “Isles of Wonder” and “A Symphony of British Music,” featuring music from the opening and closing ceremonies, respectively.

Let’s look back at some of the hits that have marked the Paris scene.

Two songs have been chosen as the official theme songs and anthems of this year’s Olympics. The first is a modern classical composition by Victor le Masne, entitled “Parade”. What starts out as a classical string-driven piece morphs into an electro-classical house-style explosion. This is no surprise, considering Le Masne has produced French electro legends Justice and Kavinsky.

“Hello World” by Gwen Stefani and Anderson Paak was the second official song of this year’s Olympics. Produced by Ryan Tedder and made in collaboration with sponsor Coca-Cola Company, this song is a bit more of a generic pop piece. However, it is a pleasant enough listen.

The Paris opening ceremony was a controversial affair. The first to take place outside a stadium in Olympic history, it divided critics over whether the Seine-centered event was a dull, rain-soaked festival or a subdued celebration of modern French culture.

Where the opening ceremony excelled was the musical selection. Packed with some of the biggest names in the industry, theevent included pop star Lady Gaga who performed the iconic song “Mon truc en plumes” by French classical dancer Zizi Jeanmaire.

Perhaps the most iconic moment of the ceremony was when the procession arrived at the Conciergerie, the prison that housed Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution. On the prison’s outer walls, performers sang in concert dressed as the last queen of France, with their heads in their hands, while Gojira made history as the first metal band to perform at the Olympics.

The Gojira were joined by the opera singer Marina Viotti for a rendition of the French Revolution song “Ça Ira” (Everything Will Be Alright), renamed “Mea Culpa” for the ceremony. Rock on.

Before the Olympics, the long-awaited performance of the Franco-Malian singer Aya Nakamura has come under fire from far-right figures, including National Rally leader Marine Le Pen.

Le Pen called Nakamura’s presence “not a nice symbol” and “further provocation by Emmanuel Macron.” Her comments were denounced as “foolishly racist” by the Paris Games organizing committee.

During the evening, Nakamura performed two of his songs, “Pookie” and “Djadja”, as well as a cover of Charles Aznavour’s “For me formidable”.

The opening ceremony also included the cover of “Imagine” by John Lennon performed by Juliette Armanet and Drag Race France host Nicky Doll’s performance of “I Had a Dream”. But the final moment, which really stole the show, will always be that of Celine DionThe Canadian singer has been fighting against her debilitating stiff person syndrome to sing gloriously “Hymne à l’amour” by Édith Piaf from the Eiffel Tower as the grand finale.

The closing ceremony was no exception when it came to the records that could be added to the Olympics album.

There French singer-songwriter Zaho de Sagazanwhich won both the Grand Jury Prize and the Public Choice Award at the Music Moves Europe Awards This year, he opened the ceremony with “Sous le ciel de Paris”, before a high-impact show featuring tons of contemporary music stars.

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THE Phoenix performed their huge indie hit “Lisztomania”, the Belgian singer Angelthe French electronic producer Kavinsky, the French ambient duo Air and Cambodian rapper VannDa.

In a nod to the 2028 games in Los Angeles, he also appeared Ezra Koenig of Vampire Weekendbefore a final segment featuring the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish and Snoop Dogg celebrating the move to California.

The closing ceremony was enriched by some classic hits, such as the interpretation of “Les Champs-Elysées” by Joe Dassin, “Emmenez-moi” by Charles Aznavour and, of course, the performance by the Orchestre Symphonique du Divertimento of the reworking of “La Marseillaise” by Victor le Masne.