Gojira made a splash last month with their energetic performance during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. They presented their version of the traditional French Revolution song, “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça ira!)”. Opera singer Marina Viotti joined the performance. Now, this version has been released as a single and can be heard on digital platforms.
For the first time, a heavy metal band participated in an Olympic opening ceremony. Gojira brought enormous pyrotechnics and Marie Antoinette . The performance took place in the Conciergerie building, a former prison and courthouse on the banks of the Seine River. While opera singer Marina Viotti floated in a wooden boat, the band stood on platforms extending out of the building's windows.
Impact of Gojira's performance
Later, in an Instagram , drummer Mario Duplantier said: “What a tremendous honor to be part of this ambitious and epic ceremony in Paris. I have to admit that headbanging in front of a billion people, banging as hard as I could on a revolutionary stage made of fire and blood, was a very rewarding experience! A great step for the metal community as well.”
Furthermore, in the comments, Mario received praise from the metal community, such as Slayer and Exodus Gary Holt : "Practically the coolest thing that's ever been done in metal, I'd say." While Korn Ray Luzier added, "Man... I got chills!! So proud of you guys!! Can't wait to rock the stage with you soon!!" referring to Korn's upcoming tour with Gojira as support.
Gojira vocalist Joe Duplantier stated in an interview with the New York Times about the chosen theme: “It was a very bloody era in French history, so it was very metal,” adding that he felt pressure to represent “the entire metal community on the world stage.” Check out the official single below.
READ ALSO : Gojira performs at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics
