Lady Gaga feels “grateful” for the opportunity to perform at the Olympics opening ceremony.
The 38-year-old singer performed a rendition of Mon Truc En Plumes on a set of stairs along the River Seine on Friday, and Gaga subsequently took to social media to explain her sense of pride.
She wrote on Instagram: “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 theatre.
“This song was sung by Zizi Jeanmaire, born in Paris a French ballerina, she famously sang Mon Truc en Plumes in 1961. The title means My Thing with Feathers.
“And this is not the first time we’ve crossed paths. Zizi starred in Cole Porter’s musical Anything Goes which was my first jazz release. (sic)”
Gaga also explained that she was determined to “celebrate French art and music” with her performance.
She said: “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.
“We rented pom poms from Le Lido archive—a real French cabaret theater. We collaborated with Dior to create custom costumes, using naturally molted feathers. I studied French choreography that put a modern twist on a French classic. I rehearsed tirelessly to study a joyful French dance, brushing up on some old skills—I bet you didn’t know I used to dance at a 60’s French party on the lower east side when I was first starting out! I hope you love this performance as much as I do. (sic)”
Gaga also expressed her support for the athletes at this year’s Olympics.
“Watching the Olympic Games always makes me cry! Your talent is unimaginable. Let the games begin!”
