All About Phoenix and Their Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony Performance (2024)

The organizers of the Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony are taking viewers back to the aughts with their inclusion of the French indie-pop band Phoenix.

After a whimsical creation of the Olympic rings, the band took the stage to perform their hit song "Lisztomania" as athletes sang to the song around them. After a brief joint performance withAngèle, the band performed yet another famous song, this time "If I Ever Feel Better."

The group previously teased their performance on X, formerly known as Twitter, sharing a pic of themselves posing on a Parisian rooftop. "Bonjour Paris! It’s so special seeing the city host this year’s@Olympicsgames, there is still so much more to come!" they captioned the photo.

Phoenix's performance was the perfect way to cap off the Summer Games and build anticipation for the Olympic's return to Los Angeles in 2028. The group is from France but found mainstream success in the United States with their songs "Lizstomania" and "1901."

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"Today, where we look at the history of music, it’s certainly the French music style and the artists behind it, who have had the biggest resonance in the world. So it was important for us to acknowledge it,” Thierry Reboul,the event’s executive director, toldVarietyof the decision to recruit the band.

Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig, Air, and Vannda Take the Stage

All About Phoenix and Their Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony Performance (1)

French rock band Phoenix perform with US singer Ezra Koenig (R) during the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France, in Saint-Denis, in the outskirts of Paris, on August 11, 2024. Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images

The band was joined at the Stade de France by musicians Angèle, Ezra Koenig, Air, and Vannda.

Vannda is a rapper from Cambodia, which used to be a French colony before gaining its independence.

Angèle, meanwhile, hails from France's neighbor Belgium and is a popular artist in France.

Phoenix was later joined in their performance by American artist and Vampire Weekend singer Ezra Koenig. The pop group collaborated with the Vampire Weekend frontman on their recent albumAlpha Zulu, in which he sings on their song "Tonight."

The Members of Phoenix

All About Phoenix and Their Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony Performance (2)

Christian Mazzalai, Deck d'Arcy, Laurent Brancowitz and Thomas Mars from the group 'Phoenix' attend the "Priscilla" Premiere as part of Sofia Coppola's Retrospective At La Cinematheque Francaise on December 11, 2023 in Paris, France. Photo: Marc Piasecki/Getty Images

The French group hails from Versailles, the same town where the French royal family and their court once lived, and is comprised ofsinger Thomas Mars, guitarists (and brothers) Laurent Brancowitz and Christian Mazzalai, and bassist/keyboardist Deck D’arcy.

They first began playing together in 1995, recording their demos in the garage of Mars' parents' Versailles home, according toGQ. They've come a long in the years since they were teens,releasing seven albums since the band's inception: United (2000); Alphabetical (2004); It's Never Been Like That (2006);Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix(2009);Bankrupt(2013);Ti Amo(2017); andAlpha Zulu(2022).

Notably, their latest albumAlpha Zulu — inspired by a terrifying and turbulent flight in which Mars heard the pilot shout, "Alpha Zulu," according toGQ —was recorded at the Louvre Palace at the height of the pandemic, allowing the group to take in art and other French artifacts while laying down their tracks. "We tend to suffocate in the walls of a professional studio, but for my experience we were more inspired by these things," Mars toldGQ.

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All About Phoenix and Their Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony Performance (3)

Robin Coudert, Thomas Mars and Deck d'Arcy of Phoenix perform in concert during Tomavistas Festival on May 25, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. Photo: Mariano Regidor/Redferns

Why does Phoenix perform in English?

Mars has said that Phoenix didn't necessarily decide to sing just in English, that's just the way it happened. "When I started writing, the first thing that came out was in English," he explained toNew York Magazinein 2010.

Plus, the band's influences are largely American and British, with the members citing Prince and The Talking Heads as their inspirations.

And while the band primarily sings in English, Mars has said that the lyrics are distinctly French. "We’re singing in English but singing about stuff that probably makes very little sense to Americans because it’s thought in French. We love that it’s weird and there is something very French about it," he explained in the same interview.

For example, the popular song "Lisztomania" features lyrics like "Do let, do let, do let/Jugulate, do let, do."

Mars' Relationship with Director Sofia Coppola

All About Phoenix and Their Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony Performance (4)

Sofia Coppola and Thomas Mars attend the 3rd Annual Academy Museum Gala at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on December 03, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Kevin Winter/WireImage

When Mars and his bandmates are not working on new music, the lead singer often collaborates with his wife, Sofia Coppola.

He and the director, whose father is famed filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, first met when Mars collaborated with the band Air — another Closing Ceremony performer — under the pseudonym Gordon Tracks in 1999. The group's song "Playground Love" is featured in Coppola's filmThe Virgin Suicides, starring Kristen Dunst.

Since then, Mars and Phoenix have made small cameos in Coppola's other projects, includingMarie AntoinetteandA Very Murray Christmas. And their songs continue to pop up in her films, including Lost in Translation, Somewhere, The Bling Ring and The Beguiled, with the band often creating original music to complement the soundtracks.

Don't Miss

The drama and good vibes in Paris aren't over yet. The 2024 Paralympic Games kick off August 28 with the Opening Ceremony and run through September 8. Stay up to date with a comprehensiveschedule of events, including where to watch.

"It’s hard to differentiate the work from the private life,” Mars previously told Dazedof their work together,“but I’ve always felt a really strong connection watching her movies or anything by her brother (Roman)."

The director and musician worked together for many years and even welcomed two daughters together, Romy and Cosima, prior to their Italian wedding onAug. 27, 2011. The nuptials were a small but star-studded event with Coppola's cousin Nicolas Cage and director George Lucas in attendance, according toPeople.

Unsurprisingly, Mars' and Coppola's talents have rubbed off on their children, especially their eldest daughter Romy, who released two singles earlier this year.

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All About Phoenix and Their Paris Olympics Closing Ceremony Performance (2024)

FAQs

Who's performing at the closing ceremony in Phoenix? ›

“We reached out to a few people, and for some it didn't work out because they were on tour,” says Mars. Eventually they successfully recruited Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig, the French duo Air, Cambodian rapper VannDa and French-Belgian pop singer Angèle.

What happens at the closing ceremony of the Olympics? ›

The ceremonies will also include the traditional parade of flags and athletes, speeches, a final medal ceremony and the extinguishing of the Olympic flame before the Olympic flag is ceremoniously handed over to Los Angeles, which will host the summer games in 2028. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass will attend the ceremony.

Who is the band at the Olympic closing ceremony? ›

French indie band Phoenix took the stage to play "Lisztomania," which had the whole crowd singing. The band also played "If I Ever Feel Better" and "1901," bringing out Vampire Weekend lead singer Ezra Koenig. More artists, like Belgian singer Angèle, also took the stage.

Who sang with Phoenix at the Olympics closing ceremony? ›

Vannda is a rapper from Cambodia, which used to be a French colony before gaining its independence. Angèle, meanwhile, hails from France's neighbor Belgium and is a popular artist in France. Phoenix was later joined in their performance by American artist and Vampire Weekend singer Ezra Koenig.

Who are the singers in the closing ceremony? ›

Snoop, Dr. Dre, Billie Eilish, Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Who rapped with Phoenix at the closing ceremony? ›

With Kavsinky and Angèle they performed “Nightcall” (from the Drive soundtrack) and with Cambodian rapper VannDa they did old Phoenix faves “If I Ever Feel Better”/”Funky Squaredance.” Weeks after Mars joined Air on the roof of the Paris Aéroport for their first performance of “Playground Love” together in 20 years, ...

Do athletes attend the closing ceremony? ›

Many athletes attend the ceremony (although usually less than the Opening Ceremony), often marching through the stadium with their medals.

Is the Olympic closing ceremony live? ›

The Olympics Closing Ceremony will broadcast on NBC and stream live on Peacock, the official streaming home to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

What happens at the end of ceremony? ›

After hearing all about Tayo's ceremony, Ku'oosh pronounces that Ts'eh was in fact A'moo'ooh, who has given her blessings to Tayo and his ceremony; the drought is ended and the destruction of the whites is stopped. Tayo spends one last night in Ku'oosh's house to finish off the ceremony, and then he returns home.

Who is performing at the Olympics closing ceremony in 2024? ›

Variety reported that the segment, titled the LA28 Handover Celebration, would feature performances by American artists and Los Angeles County natives Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snoop Dogg, and Billie Eilish, and include a live stadium appearance by American actor Tom Cruise.

Who sang with Phoenix at closing? ›

The indie rock band, which features Thomas Mars taking the lead, was a major highlight of the event as they performed on a few of their hit singles. They were later joined by Ezra Koenig, who has been a part of another band, Vampire Weekend.

Where is the band Phoenix from? ›

What songs did Phoenix perform at the Olympics? ›

Phoenix performed a rousing “Lisztomania” to kickoff their set during the Olympics closing ceremony in Paris on Sunday. The French band from Versailles appeared in the middle of the Stade de France, surrounded by the athletes and included the song “If I Ever Feel Better” and “Funky Squaredance” featuring VannDa.

How long is the Olympics closing ceremony? ›

How long is the Closing Ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics? The Closing Ceremony is expected to last for a bit longer than two hours, with NBC's live coverage running for three hours.

Who sang the last song at the Olympics? ›

By Brendan Brightman • Published August 11, 2024 • Updated on August 11, 2024 at 5:56 pm. French singer-songwriter Yseult had her fill at the Paris Olympics' Closing Ceremony where she performed a stellar rendition of Frank Sinatra's iconic "My Way" in front of the world.

Who is performing at the Olympics 2024 closing ceremony? ›

Variety reported that the segment, titled the LA28 Handover Celebration, would feature performances by American artists and Los Angeles County natives Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snoop Dogg, and Billie Eilish, and include a live stadium appearance by American actor Tom Cruise.

Who is singing "My Way" at the closing Olympics? ›

Yseult's Rendition of My Way at Olympics Closing Ceremony Was Mesmerizing. French singer and model Yseult said it was an "honor" to close out the 2024 Paris Olympics with one final hauntingly beautiful song. Paris did the 2024 Olympics their way—and the final moments of the Olympics' Closing Ceremony were no exception.

Who is hosting the closing ceremonies on NBC? ›

Expected are special and, perhaps, surprise appearances, as well as hundreds of performers and entertainers. "Tonight Show" host Jimmy Fallon will emcee the televised event on NBC. Fallon will be joined by NBC sports commentator Mike Tirico, a veteran NBC Olympics announcer.

Will the closing ceremony be live? ›

The Olympics Closing Ceremony will broadcast on NBC and stream live on Peacock, the official streaming home to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.

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