Paris Olympics closing ceremony review – Gallic cool upstaged by LA glitz

Many people wondered if the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games would be able to make up for the disappointing opening ceremony. There was a lot of negative feedback and even threats towards the executive and artistic directors following the opening ceremony. Some viewers misunderstood a scene as a satire of the Last Supper and were upset.

Reboul seemed frustrated with the situation and wanted it to be finished. He mentioned that he had made changes to the script many times and promised a moment of unity. However, he acknowledged that no matter how well it went, it wouldn't alter people's opinions of the opening ceremony.

When it came to music, he was correct. The music was the one part of the opening ceremony that everyone could agree on. It was daring to include a French death metal band, Gojira; Zizi Jeanmaire's song Mon truc en plumes was both cheesy and captivating, despite questioning why Lady Gaga was chosen to perform it; the emotional peak of the opening ceremony was seeing Céline Dion on the first level of the Eiffel Tower, back from retirement and in great health to sing an old Edith Piaf song in a truly classy manner.

During the final event, music didn't seem to be a priority. France's major impact on modern pop music, Daft Punk, is no longer active. The duo, who are considered to be extremely influential in current pop music, announced their breakup in 2021. Additionally, Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, the members of Daft Punk, are known for being very difficult to work with and unlikely to reunite, even with a large global audience.

With the Versailles quartet missing, Phoenix had to take on the main responsibilities. Their slightly ironic version of soft rock is well-executed and quite popular, but they are not well-known outside of France. This was highlighted when the BBC announcer had to introduce them to the confused audience.

Their performance included surprise appearances from electronic duo Air and Vampire Weekend's frontman, Ezra Koenig. It was interesting to see Air perform a track from their soundtrack to The Virgin Suicides instead of their popular album Moon Safari. The appearance of Ezra Koenig added to the chaotic yet appealing nature of their set, especially following a serious segment about an alien learning about the history of the Olympic Games.

Clearly eager for a celebration, the athletes who had previously filled the Stade de France unexpectedly rushed onto the stage. This resulted in the band performing their most popular songs – such as Lisztomania and If I Ever Feel Better – surrounded by a crowd of excited fans dressed in tracksuits and sweating profusely. Some might argue that this event was much cooler than usual Olympic closing ceremonies: compared to London 2012, which featured acts like The Spice Girls and Liam Gallagher, this felt more like something curated by the team at the music website Pitchfork. However, there was also a sense of disappointment lingering in the air: not to discredit Phoenix, but it felt like a moment that called for big, universally recognizable singalong songs rather than critically acclaimed alternative rock.

The beginning of the show was just a warm-up for the exciting part when Los Angeles officially took control of the Olympic flame for the 2028 event. With HER playing energetic music in the background, Tom Cruise descended into the arena on ropes and then rode out on a motorcycle with the Red Hot Chili Peppers performing "By the Way." Claire Balding enthusiastically announced, "Hollywood is here!" thrilled to see a familiar face before the focus shifted to Venice Beach.

The Red Hot Chili Peppers showed up and played at the beach. They looked funny, with Flea wearing big yellow shorts and Anthony Kiedis in a tank top. Their performance wasn't as cool as Phoenix's, but everyone knew who they were without any need for explanation.

Just like Billie Eilish, who sang "Birds of a Feather" by a lifeguard station, and also Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, who performed with a unique female dancer next to a fancy trike. The US seemed to have the musical showmanship down pat, which may not have been exactly what the organizers in Paris had in mind.