One year ago today, the Paris Olympics began with a unique opening ceremony.

https://i.redd.it/rew31mci06ff1.jpeg

by MonsieurA

36 comments

  4. Then some of the world lost their shit over part of the opening.

  5. it was 50/50 for me Gojira’s opening was AWESOME. I even play it once in a while

  6. And I still didn’t watch it, thanks to memes were all around the internet

  8. It was so fucking good. Man. I thought we were cooking on a global scale. Then the US elected the boob again.

  9. It definitely was unique. Great? Not so much. A lot of wtf moments and kind of boring.

  10. Celine Dion’s performance was extraordinary and powerful. And what a location for this climax! Biggest stage an artist will ever step upon!

  11. Gojira being at the opening ceremony was the best part of the whole show

  13. No one died, no one turned gay or trans, the world kept going. Let people be themselves.

  15. The normie world got exposed some heavy-ass music during that ceremony.

    And I got a new favorite band.
    (I was already a metalhead though)

  16. All the people I know in real life just thought it was weird, and not in a good way.

    Judging by the comments it seems most people enjoyed it just because it annoyed some people.

    Not sure I would count that as a win.

  18. Ah…. My god DIONYSOS…. 😅
    Wild until the end of the Ceremony 😳

  19. All the people that enjoyed it because it made people that they don’t like mad are no better than the ones that do dumb shit just to “own the libs”… I’ve never expected better from conservatives, but seeing the apparent race to the bottom from progressives/liberals makes me really sad.

  20. Embarassingly, as a metalhead in my 30s, I had never heard of Gojira before that performance (I know, I know). Boy, have I deep dived them since! Now one of my favourite bands!

  21. As many things in France it was its own thing, incredibly memorable and unique. Very controversial but being controversial is very much in French spirit.

    The right wing outrage aside (allow artists to express themselves challenge: impossible), I wasn’t a fan of some performances, loved some others (Gojira!!). It definitely dragged on a bit. But the rain and the revolutionary idea to put it in the city on the river changed the Olympics forever. Any future opening ceremony will look pale in comparison if it’s just in the stadium.

    All in all I’m happy I could watch it live.

  22. Did not like everything about it, but some parts were really good

    Gojira’s part, the golden statues of great women of history, the Marianne singing La Marseillaise draped in the french flag, the horse running on water before crossing the trocadero bridge, followed by all flags.

    The mashup of Aya Nakamura with the Garde Republicaine’s orchestra was fun

    The last part, with the olympic flame and Celine, was great

    I’m not sure this was the “best ever”, but for sure it’s one that will remain in memories, and it marks a turning point in the history of the Olympics as it was not limited to a stadium.

    What I was less fond of was the use of boats, which IMO made the presentation of delegations a bit bland.
    Not a fan of the Lady Gaga part either : I feel like it would have been better to have another french or francophone artist.

  23. The ‘woke bad’ folks got ragebaited hard that day.

  24. I guess unique is the best description.

    They took a gamble on the Seine and it had its advantages and disadvantages. Rain didn’t help ofc.

    Best moments were imo Gojira and Céline Dion as most said.

    Spreading out the athletes parade was also a good move.

    Sadly, some things that were good ideas dragged on for way too long (the horse, catwalk, buildup to the flame).

    Worst ideas, while I don’t mind her, was putting Lady Gaga as one of the first acts. She seemingly has/had no special connection to Paris/France + that Dionysus stuff, which I guess was fun if you’re French but for international viewers it was just confusing and out of place.

  30. I was at the banks of Seine for over 8 hours, starving and soaking wet because of the rain. I wore a France shirt and had a Comoros’ flag and it was one of the best moments of this summer. The start of an outstanding party.

  31. And on that day there was plenty outrage over nothing.

  32. Sometimes I listen to this bit with Aya Nakamura, its really great.

  33. Probably one of the greatest cultural moments I’ll ever experience.

  34. I remember Americans going nuts because they thought it was a drag last supper when in fact it was feast of dionysus

  35. Absolutely fabulous spectacular! Enjoyed every minute!

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