The Paris 2024 Olympics have come to a close, with the closing ceremony set to take place on Sunday at the Stade de France. To help say “Au revoir” in true French style, local artists including Phoenix, Air and others performed.
Phoenix performed their hit “Lisztomania” to kick off the festive portion of the ceremony. Set up on a small stage in the center of the stadium and surrounded by a crowd of Olympians, the band performed a lively version of the 2009 classic, which received a warm response from the crowd. They then assisted DJ Kavinsky in performing “Nightcall,” before diving into their 2000 track “If I Ever Feel Better.”
From there, they welcomed a number of guests, including Air, who performed her 2000 song “Playground Love,” and Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig, who sang “Tonight” with the group. Phoenix then closed out his portion of the ceremony with another hit: “1901.” Watch videos of the performances below.
Later in the closing ceremony, Paris handed the Olympic flag to the next host city, Los Angeles, which hired Tom Cruise to deliver it to Hollywood in classic Tom Cruise style. The Red Hot Chili Peppers then kicked off a segment showcasing California music with performances by Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre.
Phoenix, which formed in the Parisian suburb of Versailles in 1995, released its most recent album, Alpha Zuluin 2022. This year, they celebrated the 15th anniversary of their seminal release, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenixand I recently spoke with Consequence on the album's legacy and impact. They have several upcoming live performances scheduled in Japan, France and the UK. (get tickets).
As for Air, they also formed in Versailles in 1995 and released a series of acclaimed albums between 1998 and 2012. For the rest of 2024, they will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their 1998 album. Lunar Safari with a series of live shows, including a North American tour that begins in September and stops in Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, Miami and many more cities. Get your tickets here.
The Olympics had Phoenix at the closing ceremony. The indie sleaze is back in full force. image.twitter.com/61R3YD69HU
— Tom Hardy's dirty blonde wig (@jewelbundrn) August 11, 2024
Phoenix + Air! Wonder photo.twitter.com/uFn3yV8aY1
— Cris Perez (@pixelperro) August 11, 2024
Air's Playground Love with Phoenix is the only thing I need in my life right now #Paris2024 #ClosingCeremony photo.twitter.com/xAhBr7aK7g
— Dan (@dan_Stereo) August 11, 2024
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