2024 Olympics: Metal Band Gojira Shocks With Marie Antoinette Moment

2024 Olympics: All the Must-See Moments from the Opening Ceremony!

You could say Gojira started a new French revolution at the 2024 Paris Summer Games.

As the first-ever heavy metal band to perform at an Olympic Opening Ceremony, the head-bangin’ quartet delivered a fiery performance of “Ah! Ça Ira,” a song popularized during the French Revolution, at the Conciergerie on the banks of the Seine river July 26.

Not only did their show light up the city with pyrotechnics, it literally turned heads when a performer dressed as a decapitated Marie Antoinette popped up on screen to sing along.

“Y’all the Olympics just took off Marie Antoinette’s head while playing French metal music?” one viewer wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “This is the craziest s–t I’ve ever seen.”

Meanwhile, another social media user joked, “One thing about the French, they’re gonna remind you they guillotined tf out of marie antoinette in the name of liberation.”

And that was the whole point, according to Gojira frontman Joe Duplantier.

“It was a very bloody era of French history,” he told the New York Times of the French Revolution ahead of the Opening Ceremony, “so it was very metal.”

In fact, Joe—who performs in the band alongside brother Mario Duplantier, Christian Andreu and Jean-Michel Labadie—was insistent on making a strong impression.

Explaining how he felt pressure to represent “the whole metal community on the world stage,” the 47-year-old added that the performance is meant to be “in your face.”

ZHANG YUWEI/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

But Gojira weren’t the only musicians who had the internet buzzing. Lady Gaga channeled the Moulin Rouge with a sultry performance of Zizi Jeanmaire’s “Mon Truc En Plumes”—complete with pink, frilly pom-poms—while Céline Dion made a triumphant musical comeback after a yearslong struggle with stiff-person syndrome.

To close out the ceremony, the “My Heart Will Go On” singer belted out Édith Piaf’s “Hymne à L’Amour” from the balcony of the Eiffel Tower—a powerful moment that led NBC Olympics coverage commentator Kelly Clarkson to break down in tears on camera.

“I’m so happy to be celebrating these amazing athletes, with all their stories of sacrifice and determination, pain and perseverance,” Céline wrote on Instagram after the show. “All of you have been so focused on your dream, and whether or not you take home a medal, I hope that being here means that it has come true for you!”

Keep reading to see all the jaw-dropping moments from the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Red, White and Blue

The Eiffel Tower and Opening Ceremony stands are illuminated with color in honor of the French flag.

Miguel Tona/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Burning Bright

The Olympic Cauldron takes flight after being lit at the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony.

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Iconic Night

Céline Dion closes out the show with a powerful performance atop the Eiffel Tower.

Screengrab by IOC via Getty Images

Comeback Moment

The singer beautifully belted out “Hymne A L’Amour” during her return to the stage.

YOAN VALAT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The GOATs

Serena Williams, Carl Lewis, Nadia Comaneci and Rafael Nadal light up the night with the Olympic torch.

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Sporting Greats

French soccer star Zinedine Zidane passes the Olympic torch to Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal.

Loic Venance – Pool/Getty Images

Laser Focus

The Eiffel Tower lights up the night.

François-Xavier Marit – Pool/Getty Images

Let the Games Begin

Athletes from around the world gather in front of the Eiffel Tower for Opening Ceremony.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Wave Your Banner

The mystery horse rider carries the Olympic flag to the Place du Trocadero.

AP Photo/Petr David Josek, Pool via Getty Images

Light Up the Night

The Parade of Nations travel along the Seine river.

Stephanie Lecocq – Pool/Getty Images

The World Stage

Flags from countries competing in the Olympics fly high.

Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Sharing All the World

Pianist Sofiane Pamart and singer Juliette Armanet perform “Imagine” from a float on the Seine.

Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Athletic Spirit

The Refugee Olympic Team—which is made up of 37 athletes representing millions worldwide who have been forcibly displaced—share a loving message.

Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Play On

Musicians at the Opening Ceremony keep dry in their rain ponchos.

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

Race to the Finish Line

The Olympic flag is carried down the Seine on a galloping metal horse.

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Scenes From the Seine

Team Australia is all-smiles as their boat passes by the Eiffel Tower.

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Fanning the Flames

The masked torchbearer runs along the Musee d’Orsay during the Opening Ceremony.

Hector Vivas/Getty Images

Can’t Rain on Their Parade

Despite the wet weather, Team Spain marches forward to the Place du Trocadero.

Nir Elias – Pool/Getty Images

Smile for the Camera

Team Italy’s flag bearers Arianna Errigo and Gianmarco Tamberi snap a selfie together.

BRIAN INGANGA / Contributor / GETTY IMAGES

Heart of Paris

The Eiffel Tower is decorated with the Olympic rings.

Maja Hitij / Staff / GETTY IMAGES

Hej!

Swedish athletes greet the crowd during the Parade of Nations.

Kevin C. Cox / Staff / GETTY IMAGES

Making Memories

Team Liberia captures all the sights and sounds from their boat.

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

The City of Lights

The Eiffel Tower awaits the arrival of the world’s athletes.

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Teamwork

Jordan’s Rama Abo-Alrub and Saleh Elsharabaty bear their country’s flag together. 

Steph Chambers / Staff / GETTY IMAGES

Hometown Pride

The Bahamian flag waves atop the country’s boat on the Seine river. 

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Ready for the Competition

Switzerland is ready to bring the heat to this summer’s Games. 

Maja Hitij/Getty Images

Here Come the Red, White and Blue

Team USA makes their debut on the Seine. 

Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Raindrops Keep Falling on Their Heads

But that didn’t stop these rooftop dancers from turning out a spectacular performance. 

John Walton – PA Images / Contributor / GETTY IMAGES

When It Rains it Pours

Yet the Cabo Verde Olympic team didn’t let it dim their joy. 

Naomi Baker/Getty Images

Fine Art

Reproductions of some of the most famous paintings from Paris’ Louvre Museum decorate the River Seine. 

Watch the 2024 Paris Olympics daily on NBC and Peacock until the summer games end with the Closing Ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m. ET/PT.