The playlist that will take you back to Paris 2024

From the very first notes, the Paris 2024 anthem instantly transports you back to the excitement of that summer! This track was composed by a young talent associated with the French Touch, French composer and producer Victor Le Masne, who served as the musical director of the Paris 2024 Games. This wasn’t his first time working on the Games—he also arranged the version of La Marseillaise played at the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. With Parade, he delivers an unforgettable tune that perfectly encapsulates the essence of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

They had previously covered an Oasis hit before a soccer match and played Daft Punk during a Bastille Day parade. This time, the Republican Guard joined forces with France’s most-streamed singer, Aya Nakamura, for the Olympic Opening Ceremony held on the Seine on July 26, 2024. Their performance on the Pont des Arts, between the Institut de France and the Louvre Museum, was a joyful fusion of urban culture, the grandeur of the Republic, and even a tribute to Charles Aznavour, as Nakamura sang a few notes from one of his songs.

What would Paris be without its cabarets, the Moulin Rouge, and its revue stars? International icon Lady Gaga embraced the Parisian spirit for the opening ceremony, delivering a spectacular performance of Mon truc en plumes, originally sung by Zizi Jeanmaire. On a stunning golden staircase by the Seine, she brought back the glamour of Parisian cabarets. Jeanmaire, in her time, famously performed the song in a feathered costume designed by Yves Saint Laurent.

The fiery turmoil of the French Revolution was brought to life through a striking collaboration between opera singer Marina Viotti and French metal band Gojira. The band, harnessed onto the façade of the historic Conciergerie—the prison where Marie Antoinette was once held—delivered an intense performance featuring a newly composed track inspired by a famous revolutionary anthem. While Gojira remains relatively unknown in France, where metal music has a limited following, they are widely recognized in the U.S., having opened for Metallica on multiple occasions.

Performing Édith Piaf on the Eiffel Tower—does it get more Parisian than that? Until the last moment, there was uncertainty: would Céline Dion, who had been battling a rare illness that prevented her from singing for years, actually take the stage? In a dazzling gown, standing on the first level of the Eiffel Tower, the Quebecois star amazed the world with her heartfelt rendition of Piaf’s love song, originally written for boxer Marcel Cerdan. Three legends—Dion, Piaf, and the Eiffel Tower—united in one unforgettable moment.

Performing Sous le ciel de Paris while dancing in front of the Louvre—a perfect tribute to the city of lights! Zaho de Sagazan, who had already captivated audiences at the Cannes Film Festival earlier in the year, once again mesmerized the world with her rendition of this classic French song, originally written for the 1951 film of the same name and later performed by Juliette Gréco, Édith Piaf, and Yves Montand.

When French DJ Kavinsky took the stage for the Olympic Games’ closing ceremony on August 11, 2024, at Stade de France, he kicked off Nightcall, the global hit made famous by the Drive movie soundtrack. But then came the surprise: French band Phoenix and Belgian pop star Angèle joined him on stage. As soon as the song began, it blew up online, becoming the most searched track in history on Shazam!

What better song to symbolize the Franco-American connection at the moment Paris handed over the Olympic torch to Los Angeles than My Way? Originally written by French singer Claude François as Comme d’habitude before being adapted into English by Paul Anka and immortalized by Frank Sinatra, the song was performed in a delicate and emotional rendition by French singer Yseult. The performance concluded with a spectacular fireworks display—pure magic!

A remarkable moment of unity took place during the Paralympic Games’ opening ceremony at Place de la Concorde on August 28, 2024. French DJ Myd, dressed in a grand blue, white, and red train, delivered an electrifying set that bridged generations. Among the standout tracks was Les Champs-Élysées by Joe Dassin—an absolute classic in France, often taught in schools. This tribute to the country’s most famous avenue resonated as French para-athletes entered the ceremony.

A rising French artist born without a left arm, Lucky Love delivered a stunning performance at the Paralympic opening ceremony. Singing a new version of his song Masculinity, retitled My Own Ability, he performed at the foot of the Concorde Obelisk, surrounded by a breathtaking ballet of dancers with disabilities. A moment of pure grace, frozen in time.

Taking on a song by the legendary Johnny Hallyday—what a bold move! The undisputed king of stadium performances, Hallyday originally recorded this track, co-written with his son David. Young French singer Santa, known for her work with the band Hyphen Hyphen, took on the challenge and delivered a powerful rendition at the Paralympic closing ceremony at Stade de France. A daring choice that paid off!

Who else but Jean-Michel Jarre to launch the epic electronic dance celebration of the Paralympic closing ceremony on September 8, 2024? At 76, Jarre remains a towering figure in French electronic music, a genre he pioneered in the early 1970s. It was only fitting that he opened the night with a medley of his greatest hits, transforming the Stade de France into a massive dancefloor.

A Malian duo performing Je suis venu te dire que je m’en vais, a song by Serge Gainsbourg inspired by a poem by Paul Verlaine—yet another example of the unique cultural blends that France is known for! Singing at the base of the Olympic cauldron, Amadou & Mariam were accompanied by a delicate violin ensemble. A particularly fitting choice for the Paralympic closing ceremony, as the blind duo has collaborated with many renowned artists, including Manu Chao and Mathieu Chedid.

Women behind the decks! The Paralympic closing ceremony, which celebrated the best of French electronic music, ensured that female DJs had their moment in the spotlight. Following sets by Chloé Thévenin and Irène Dresel, French clubbing legend Miss Kittin took over the turntables to play her electrifying track Forever Ravers. A refreshing and unforgettable finale.

Few tracks embody France and the French Touch movement as well as Signatune by DJ Mehdi. The brilliant composer and producer, who passed away in 2011 at just 34, collaborated with top names in French rap like Kery James, 113, and MC Solaar, as well as French Touch pioneers such as Cassius and Daft Punk. Here, his close friend Pedro Winter (aka Busy P.), founder of the legendary Ed Banger Records, takes the turntables to pay tribute, with a track edited by Daft Punk’s Thomas Bangalter.