Paris 2024 Olympics: Lady Gaga's Seine-sational performance at the Opening Ceremony
Lady Gaga, with 10 dancers wafting pink feathers and a 17-piece band in tow, was the first artist to welcome the athletes to the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on Friday 26 July.
For an artist like no other, this is an opening ceremony like no other.
Instead of the confines of a stadium, 6,800 attending athletes boarded 85 boats and took to the River Seine for a 6km winding parade, east to west, to take in iconic Parisian landmarks-turned-Olympic-venues such as the Eiffel Tower and Esplanade des Invalides.
The American icon emerged from behind said feathers down steps on the riverbank to roars of surprise from the lucky fans who were able to secure some of the free tickets available for the general public to attend on docks along the way.
Many a traditional wrought-iron balcony was also filled with lucky Parisians, too, as the athletes progressed along the river to their final destination, the Trocadero, and the official lighting of the Olympic Flame and official delegations to welcome the world to the XXXIII Olympiad.
Lady Gaga embodied the cabaret and music-hall style that originated in France with her performance of 'Mon truc en Plume,' with her version of the song from iconic French revue artist Zizi Jeanmarie.
"Bonsoir! Bienvenue à Paris!" shouted Lady Gaga.
Indeed.
Let the Games begin.