Lady Gaga kicked off the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony in dazzling fashion on Friday, but her performance was actually pre-recorded. Despite appearing to power through technical difficulties and inclement weather, Gaga’s set along the Seine River was filmed hours earlier.
The Grammy Award-winning artist performed a tribute to French star Zizi Jeanmaire with her rendition of “Mon Truc en Plumes.” According to the Associated Press, Gaga was seen warming up onstage about three hours before the ceremony began and performed for about an hour before exiting the stage and waving to fans. The performance was a vibrant celebration of French art and culture, featuring intricate choreography and stunning visuals that captivated viewers around the globe.
Mon Truc en Plumes 🩷🖤 @Olympicshttps://t.co/8shm2QFsy1pic.twitter.com/RoG9zkzXvO
The decision to pre-record Gaga’s performance was not taken lightly. Olympic and Paralympic opening ceremony choreographer Maud le Pladec explained the reasoning behind the pre-recording to Variety. “For safety reasons, we had to pre-record late in the afternoon, once we knew for sure that it was going to rain – we had minute-by-minute updates, we had never watched the weather forecast so closely in our lives,” said Pladec.
“We assessed that it was going to be too dangerous for performers, even with a few drops of rain. [Gaga] wanted to do it absolutely so we preferred to pre-record it rather than cancel it,” Pladec continued. “The soil would have been slippery. She was wearing heels, very near the water, there were stairs… We had to be extremely cautious.”
Safety concerns were paramount in making this choice. The slippery conditions posed a substantial risk to both Gaga and other performers involved in the elaborate ceremony.
. Filming in a controlled environment allowed for the grandiose vision of the performance to remain intact, ensuring both artistic integrity and the safety of world-renowned artists.
Following the performance, Gaga watched the ceremony from her dressing room before returning to her hotel. She later shared a heartfelt statement about the experience on social media. “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 culture,” Gaga wrote in a post that quickly gained widespread attention.
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
“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 added.
Her emotional testimony resonated with fans and attendees alike, solidifying her role as a key figure in the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony. Gaga’s pre-recorded performance did not subtract from the excitement or the grandeur of the event. On the contrary, it added an element of surprise and meticulous attention to detail that only further celebrated the artistry and culture of France.
The strategic move to pre-record ensured that audiences around the world could see the performance as intended, free from any disruptions caused by the unpredictable weather. This blend of technology and tradition, combined with Gaga’s unwavering dedication to honoring French culture, underscored the ceremony’s broader theme of unity and celebration.
The 2024 Paris Olympics aims to merge the spirit of sportsmanship with cultural expressions that honor the host city. Gaga’s set piece was a vibrant emblem of this mission, seamlessly integrating the worlds of music, fashion, and athletics in one breathtaking performance.
As viewers continue to discuss and dissect the multifaceted opening ceremony, one aspect remains undeniably clear: Lady Gaga’s pre-recorded performance struck the perfect chord in kicking off what promises to be an unforgettable Olympic Games.
