French metal staples Gojira were bestowed a major honor when they were asked to perform at opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Friday’s performance marked the first time a band of the genre played at the Olympic Games. The band’s production paid bloody tribute to historical French icon Marie Antoinette. The group played a reworked version of Ça ira” with opera singer Marina Viotti and French composer and producer Victor le Masne.
“It was a very bloody era of French history, so it was very metal,” Gojira singer/guitairst Joseph Duplantier told The New York Times prior to the performance.” The song’s going to be in your face.”
Gojira are three-time Grammy nominees and two-time winners. The name of the band is inspired by the legendary kaiju Godzilla, and they were originally named Godzilla until 2001. While generally classified as metal, Gojira also incorporates different subgenres including progressive metal and groove metal.
Other acts to perform at the ceremony were of the more expected pop variety including Céline Dion and Lady Gaga. Footage of Gojira’s performance can be viewed below.
