Emerging from behind a plume of pink feathers, Lady Gaga put days of rumours to rest with a history-making performance on the banks of the River Seine.
The international superstar took the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony by storm with a “magnificent” rendition of Zizi Jeanmaire’s Mon Truc En Plumes, descending a golden staircase straight into a chorus line and stint on a floating piano.
“I feel so completely grateful to have been asked to open [Paris 2024],” Gaga later wrote to her 56.4 million Instagram fans, revealing how her unexpected show secretly came to life behind-the-scenes.
Watch the video above.
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“I am also humbled to be asked by the Olympics organising committee to sing such a special French song – a song to honour the French people and their tremendous history of art, music, and theatre.”
Gaga explained her connection to Paris-born ballerina Jeanmaire, who also starred in Cole Porter’s Anything Goes, which happened to be 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,” Gaga wrote.
“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.”
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Gaga revealed her costume was custom Dior, with naturally moulted feathers, and the pom poms had been rented from French cabaret theatre Le Lido’s archive.
“I rehearsed tirelessly to study a joyful French dance, brushing up on some old skills,” the Bad Romance singer continued, noting how she used to dance on Manhattan’s Lower East Side at ’60s French parties at the beginning of her career.
“I hope you love this performance as much as I do,” she said, revealing how watching the Olympics “always” makes her cry. “And to everyone in France, thank you so much for welcoming me to your country to sing in honour of you – it’s a gift I’ll never forget!”
It was a highly-anticipated moment that came after intense speculation among fans, and even though Gaga – whose real name is Stefani Germanotta – was snapped rehearsing mere hours before 7000 athletes sailed down the river, her performance was not 100 per cent confirmed until she put the microphone to her lips.
Gaga’s performance – which also featured a troupe of dancers from the revered Moulin Rouge cabaret – was the first of many musical acts dotted along the banks of the River Seine in the first-of-its-kind outdoor opening ceremony.
It’s her biggest performance to date, topping her half-time show at the 2017 Super Bowl.
It was originally rumoured Gaga would sing La vie en rose by French songstress Édith Piaf, as she performed the hit in the Oscar-winning film A Star is Born, though she proved the punters wrong.
Mon Truc En Plumes quite literally translates to “my thing made of feathers”, making Gaga’s set of pink feathers – and black feathered headpiece – extremely apt.
Olympic officials largely kept the details of the opening ceremony under wraps ahead of the actual show, with many acts and elements a complete surprise when they happened.
Joining the 7000 athletes on the River Seine was more than 3500 actors, dancers and musical performances, all working together to bring a vision from artistic director Thomas Jolly to life.
Viewers were taken through 12 tableaux encapsulating all-things Parisian excellence, with the scenes set all throughout Paris’ historical sites, bridges and rooftops.
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