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Gojira’s thrilling performance during the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics earlier this summer was momentous on a global scale for both the band and heavy metal in general. We might be biased here at Heavy Consequence, but it clearly stole the show.
As a post-celebration of Paris hosting the Summer Games, Gojira’s performance of “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça Ira)” was projected against the famous Arc de Triomphe monument in Place Charles de Gaulle over the weekend.
Gojira themselves weren’t there this time around, as they are in the midst of supporting Korn on a North American tour (pick up tickets here). Instead, a striking visage of the band from the opening ceremony — performing outside the windows of the Conciergerie building overlooking the River Seine — was projected against the archway at night.
Really, the only thing missing from the reprisal was the band. As captured in footage by France TV, the lavish fire and spotlights from the original performance were recreated, and opera singer Marina Viotti was also present for the Arc de Triomphe spectacle.
Gojira went on to release “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça Ira)” as a single following the positive response to the opening ceremony rendition. Of course, there were some detractors, including far-right French politicians who claimed the performance’s theatrics — which referenced the violence of the French Revolution — bordered on “satanic.”
Gojira’s Joe Duplantier was quick to refute such nonsense.
“It’s French history,” he told Rolling Stone. “It’s French charm, you know, beheaded people, red wine, and blood all over the place — it’s romantic, it’s normal. There’s nothing satanic.”
We’ve had Gojira on the brain ever since the opening ceremonies, so we decided to revisit some of their best songs. Check out our freshly unveiled ranking of their greatest tunes.
Catch Gojira on their aforementioned tour supporting Korn, and watch video footage of Gojira’s performance of “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça Ira)” being projected against the Arc de Triomphe below.
"Ah ! Ça ira !" 🔥
Après l'avoir performée avec Gojira, la chanteuse lyrique Marina Viotti revient interpréter la chanson devant l'Arc de Triomphe ! #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/TLmCvm4PmV
— France tv (@FranceTV) September 14, 2024
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