Paris-24: singer opening performance turns into political crisis – 04/04/2024 – Sport

French President Emmanuel Macron defended, this Thursday (4), that Franco-Malian star Aya Nakamura sing during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, despite criticism from the far right regarding this possibility.

“Her place is guaranteed at an opening or closing ceremony of the Games”, as she “speaks to many of our compatriots”, assured Macron, during the inauguration of the Olympic Aquatics Center in Saint-Denis, north of Paris.

Aya Nakamura is the author of hits with a mix of French and other languages, such as the song “Djadja” —almost a billion plays on YouTube— and released her fourth album, DNK, last year.

However, the hypothesis that he would perform a song by French icon Edith Piaf during the opening ceremony scheduled for July 26 on the banks of the Seine caused outrage on the French far right, which denounced a “humiliation of the French people”.

Aya Nakamura responded to criticism in her latest song “Doggy”: “I don’t have enemies, they’re the ones who don’t like me. A lot of enemies, but I don’t even know them. I don’t need their approval, I’m on the covers of magazines .”

The center-right head of state said, however, that it was up to the artistic director of the ceremonies, Thomas Jolly, to decide on the participation of the most listened to French-speaking singer in the world.

“I won’t reveal the details here, but if you are part of this ceremony along with other artists, I think it would be a good thing”, he insisted.

The Olympic and Paralympic Games will take place in France from July 26 to August 11 and from August 28 to September 8, respectively, and at least 10 million spectators are expected.