27-7-2024 (PARIS) Canadian superstar Celine Dion made an emotional return to the live stage on Friday, delivering a stirring rendition of Edith Piaf’s timeless classic “L’Hymne A l’Amour” to conclude the Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
The performance marked a significant milestone for the 56-year-old singer, who had been absent from live performances since March 2020 due to her battle with stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder. Dion’s appearance at such a high-profile event came as a welcome surprise to fans and fellow artists alike, who have been eagerly anticipating her return to the spotlight.
Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the ceremony, revealed the carefully considered decision behind Dion’s inclusion. “In the ceremony we have a love anthem and that’s L’Hymne A l’Amour. We all wanted to finish the show with this song and our first idea was very simple and clear. We wanted to ask the best singer to sing love and this is Celine Dion,” Jolly explained to Reuters. “It was obvious for us to ask her to do that to close the ceremony.”
Let the games begin!????Sending love and luck to all competitors.
– Celine xx… #paris2024 #openingceremony pic.twitter.com/84aJP9AGjw— Celine Dion (@celinedion) July 26, 2024
The choice of song was particularly poignant, not only for its message of love and resilience but also for its connection to French cultural heritage. Dion, who began her illustrious career singing in French, demonstrated her linguistic versatility and deep respect for her francophone roots with this performance.
The singer’s appearance at the Olympics came after she had cancelled all her tour dates for 2023 and 2024 due to her health concerns. Stiff-person syndrome, which causes muscle rigidity and increased sensitivity to various stimuli, had posed significant challenges to Dion’s ability to perform. Her triumphant return, therefore, was all the more meaningful, symbolising her determination and the power of the human spirit.
The impact of Dion’s performance resonated far beyond the Olympic stadium. Quebec Premier Francois Legault expressed his pride on social media platform X, stating, “How proud we are! Our Celine singing Edith Piaf’s L’hymne à l’amour at the Opening Ceremonies of the Paris Olympic Games.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also shared his admiration, tweeting, “A proud Quebecer from Charlemagne is on stage at the Opening Ceremony! Celine Dion is a Canadian icon, an incredible talent, and she overcame a lot to be there tonight. Celine, it’s great to see you singing again.”
