You can now see Gorjira’s Olympic performance from Paris via streaming sites. They performed with experimental opera vocalist Marina Viotti on July 26 at the Olympic opening ceremony, making history as the first heavy metal group to do so.
During a segment named “Liberté” (a reference to France’s famous motto “Liberté, égalité, fraternité”), the heavy metal band performed a popular song from the French Revolution, “Ah, Ça Ira!” (which translates to “It’ll be fine”). The segment celebrated one of the most famous events in French history as well as the nation’s emphasis on freedom. The song is now accessible on Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms, according to the band.
Viotti later made an appearance on a moving prop boat. The band made their appearance during the event on the side of a castle surrounded by flames and bursts of red streamers. Their performance came right after a scene from Les Misérables where a beheaded Marie Antoinette was seen singing.
“It’s French history,” frontman Joe Duplantier stated to Rolling Stone. You know, beheaded people, blood all over the place, red wine—it’s all part of the French charm; it’s normal and romantic. Nothing about it is demonic.
In spite of the uproar, Gojira’s streaming numbers skyrocketed; a week after their performance, their monthly listeners jumped by nearly 50% to just under 2.7 million. They will now be the headliners of the Bloodstock event in the following year, together with Machine Head and Trivium.
On Sunday, August 10, Gojira are scheduled to close out the entire festival.
“We can’t wait to play Bloodstock again in 2019,” frontman Joe Duplantier declared in a press release. “This is going to be rough, hold on to your socks!”
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