Dion performed “Hymne à L’amour” (Hymn to Love) at the Eiffel Tower. Her performance marked the grand finale of the opulent Opening Ceremony, which predominantly took place along the River Seine. French President Emmanuel Macron even referred to the performance as the ’emotional highlight’ of the entire event.
However, on Friday, the reputable newspaper Liberation cited several music industry professionals who claimed, with certainty, that the July 26th performance was pre-recorded.
In response, representatives of the Paris 2024 organizers declined to address inquiries regarding the controversy, despite their earlier assertions that the performance was live.
Composer and performer Etienne Guéreau, speaking to Liberation, stated, “What we heard on TV was a corrected playback.”
In widely republished comments throughout French media, an anonymous sound engineer asserted, “It was 100% playback, you can tell from the first notes.” Other experts corroborated this, insisting the performance was “without a shadow of a doubt” pre-recorded, as was Ms. Dion’s rehearsal.
A YouTuber and musician known as Wings of Pegasus added that both the rehearsal and the live performance sounded identical—a technical impossibility, as there are always subtle differences between live renditions of the same song.
The Olympic performance was intended to mark a triumphant return for Ms. Dion, who has been battling the incurable stiff-person syndrome. “Hymne à L’amour” was chosen due to its original rendition by the late French music legend Edith Piaf.
Thousands of fans praised Ms. Dion on social media, lauding the performance of the singer, whose hits include “My Heart Will Go On” from the Titanic soundtrack.
