Watch Phoenix & Air Perform At Olympics Closing Ceremony

It’s been an exciting few weeks watching the 2024 Summer Olympics play out in Paris, particularly if you’re a fan of professional breakdancing (aka breaking), Lady Gaga, the French metal band Gojira, and Céline Dion, who made a much-anticipated return to live performance at the Eiffel Tower during last month’s opening ceremony. But all good things must come to end, and today they have, with Phoenix and Air (both French bands, naturally) closing out the Olympics in a ceremony put together by artistic director Thomas Jolly and executive director Thierry Reboul.

Performing six songs over 17 minutes (styled as a “mixtape,” as Thomas Mars told the New York Times), Phoenix and Air were also joined by Kavinsky, who broke out a rendition of “Nightcall” from the 2011 Drive soundtrack. Also on stage were Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig (whom Phoenix featured on “Tonight”), the Belgian pop performer Angèle (singing on “Nightcall”), and Cambodian rapper VannDa.

As for Phoenix’s set, they kicked it off with “Lisztomania,” “If I Ever Feel Better,” a duet with Koenig (the aforementioned “Tonight”), and “1901.” Air, meanwhile, played “Playground Love,” which some might remember from the 2000 Virgin Suicides soundtrack.

“It’s a giant playground for us to make music,” Mars told the Times. “There’s total freedom, and we were able to really add our experiences and try to make something unique for this unique moment.”

This extremely French moment comes just a few weeks after Mars joined Air on the roof of the Paris Aéroport for their first performance of the Virgin Suicides classic “Playground Love” in 20 years.

Watch Phoenix be swarmed by Olympic athletes below.

olympics had phoenix at their closing ceremony indie sleaze is back in full force omg pic.twitter.com/61R3YD69HU

— tom hardy’s slutty blonde wig (@jewelbundrn) August 11, 2024

Phoenix, Air, and Vampire Weekend. This portion of the 2024 Olympic Closing Ceremonies was designed specifically for emo kids circa 2008.#Olympics #ClosingCeremony pic.twitter.com/U84PvNJeaF

— B in the Netherlands (@BintheNL) August 11, 2024

Wahhh, watching the Olympics closing ceremony and see Vannda come out was crazy performing alongside Phoenix!!!

Cambodian based rapper! Khmer representation! pic.twitter.com/ChMTWZzQsa

— Jarney (@jarneysoak) August 11, 2024

PHOENIX, TROP FORT!!! 🎸🎶🇫🇷 This closing ceremony feels like a mix of a Jean Michel Jarre concert and an '80s Holiday episode with Cliff Mitchellmore! 🤪Leon Marchand is getting a shoutout, but he's still not at the venue—where is he? #ClosingCeremony pic.twitter.com/BxvTRXjWWi

— Bites Of Net (@BitesOfNet) August 11, 2024

Phoenix x Vampy Weekend’s Ezra sing Tonight! omg omg i live only about an hour away from stade de france by 🚆 i SHOULD have been there! quelle honte!! #ClosingCeremony pic.twitter.com/1tVfGRIelV

— Resty Woro Yuniar (@restyworo) August 11, 2024