Lady Gaga was one of the biggest names to perform during Friday evening’s uniquely memorable Olympics Opening Ceremony in Paris.
Gaga took to a specially built stage on the bank of the River Seine to give a performance inspired by French Cabaret. She sang Mon Truc en Plume, a well known French circus song.
The Poker Face singer was the first musical act of the night, and appeared to experience some sound issues that fans on social media were quick to note were marring her performance once she sat down at her piano to sing. One also took issue with her vocals, calling her accent “French-adjacent.”
Events weren’t helped when one of her dancers fell off the stage, no doubt wet and slippery after the torrents of rain that fell early in the evening.
BBC footage captured the dancer falling backwards and landing on the floor behind a speaker, where he lay flat on his back for a few seconds before recovering and continuing the routine.
Gaga took to social media following the performance, writing on X how privileged she had felt to take part:
“I am humbled to be asked by the Olympics organising committee to sing such a special French song – a song to honour the French people and their tremendous history of art, music, and theatre.
“We rented pompoms from Le Lido archive – a real French cabaret theatre. We collaborated with Dior to create custom costumes, using naturally molted feathers. I studied French choreography that put a modern twist on a French classic. I rehearsed tirelessly to study a joyful French dance, brushing up on some old skills.
“I bet you didn’t know I used to dance at a 60s French party on the lower east side when I was first starting out! I hope you love this performance as much as I do.”
The star finished by wishing the athletes taking part all the best and saying, “Let the Games begin.”