“I had to sing Edith Piaf”, the singer’s revelations on the Olympic Games controversy

More than a singer, Aya Nakamura has become a fashion icon. Last September, she stood out at the Dior fashion show at Paris Fashion Week and it was as a Lancôme ambassador that she was invited to the set of C to you this Thursday, November 28, 2024. If she no longer has the most listened to French-speaking song in the world, the artist is known internationally, including for her style. We were able to see her at the exclusive Met Gala dinner and she was one of the rare French women invited.

Her notoriety even increased during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games since she was at the opening ceremony. However, she suffered a flood of hateful and racist messages upon the announcement of her participation with a song by Edith Piaf, some claiming the bad taste of the lyrics of her songs or her overly urban style. Today she reveals behind the scenes of this event.

Aya Nakamura: her revelations about the Olympics

Facing host Anne-Elisabeth Lemoine, Aya Nakamura returned to the pre-Olympics. On June 22, 2024, the interpreter of Djadja a sung for Vogue World, Place Vendôme. And it is precisely this performance that sparked the controversy of the Olympic Games: “Before doing this event, there was a bit of a mess with the Olympics because I had to give an exclusion (…) because it was in Paris”. She explains that the Olympic Games did not want her to participate and Anna Wintour, of Voguehad to discuss with the organization to obtain their agreement.

“I wasn't supposed to do that at all!”, admits the singer, before revealing another piece of information. “Basically, I had to sing Edith Piaf”, she explains. After the controversy, she decided not to sing La vie en rose but a piece of hers, “like that, for the Olympics, we are happy”. Because they would have said to themselves: “It will spoil the controversy if you sing Edith Piaf”. And an arrangement was found but it was of course another classic of French song that she then sang at the opening ceremony: Formidable by Charles Aznavour, thumbing his nose at the critics.

The singer affected by the controversy

Later in the show C to youAya Nakamura returned to the controversy: “Obviously, I was touched (…) It’s my passion, we touched on something that makes me vibrate”. She says that at the beginning, accustomed to criticism, she only saw one more criticism but noticed that her family was affected and gradually realized the extent of the debate, as well as the support she received. She understands that this is even more serious.”international” et “out of the ordinary“.

But today she takes a step back: “I am the first from my background to do what I do”. Black, coming from Aulnay-sous-Bois and singing at the Olympic Games, which only take place every 100 years in the country, she “done anyway”. “I sang!”, she said proudly.

Editor for Aufeminin since 2022, Charlotte is passionate about cinema, French and international, and a fortune reader. Curious about everything, she talks as much about personalities as…