It was a performance that was the center of attention. Aya Nakamura surprised the audience during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games.
Accompanied by the Republican Guard, she offered a medley of her greatest hits, ending with the song For
me formidable by Charles Aznavour. A performance that has become iconic and which was unanimously appreciated. This Thursday, November 27, Aya Nakamura was the guest on the show C to you. The opportunity for her to look back on this evening but also to reveal behind the scenes of a “confusion” which took place a few weeks before the Olympics. But what happened?
Aya Nakamura is a highly sought-after artist. On June 23, she performed at Vogue World Paris, Place Vendôme. An event that she absolutely did not want to miss and it was thanks to the help of Anna Wintour, high fashion lady, that she was able to participate. Indeed, the singer reveals that there was a conflict of interest between the Paris Olympic Games and this event.
“Before doing this event, Vogue World Paris there was a bit of a mess with the Olympics because I had to be a bit of an outcast to do the Olympics because it was in Paris.” , she first explained. However, it was out of the question for Aya Nakamura to refuse to participate in one of the two events.
Aya Nakamura: “I wanted to do it anyway”
AYa Nakamura was in high demand for these two events.
“The Olympics didn’t want me to do it”,
she continued, specifying that she had been able to count on the support of Anna Wintour. “So, she talked a little with the Olympics because I had to do it.”assures the singer. Two performances which were able to take place in the best conditions and Aya Nakamura declares to be very grateful for the support of the boss of the fashion magazine. “So I wasn't supposed to do this thing at all, but I wanted to do it anyway, it's Vogue World.”
she said, delighted with these two performances.
Aya Nakamura had been expected to be present at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games for several months. She had shared publications which could suggest that she was going to perform La vie en rose by Edith Piaf, an emblematic song. However, this was not the case. But what happened? She reveals that it was during Vogue World Paris that she was supposed to take up this title. “Basically, I had to sing Edith Piaf at that moment, it was not at the Olympics that I had to sing that”she declared before specifying that she had changed her mind: “When there were controversies, I said: ‘Well if I do this thing, I’m not singing Édith Piaf, I’m doing a piece of my own like that for the Olympics, we’re happy’”.
Aya Nakamura: she responds to the criticism she received
When
Aya Nakamura's participation in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games was confirmed, tongues were loosened.
There is in particular Matt Pokora who expressed his sadness at not having been contacted to perform on stage. Four months later, Aya Nakamura wanted to return it to him in all honesty. She said she was quite disappointed by the behavior of the singer as well as other artists who may have attacked her. “I'm still the first from my background to do what I do. I'm starting the ball rolling. You can't arrive like that, being a renoi who comes from Aulnay-sous-Bois, and directly you sing at the Olympics”, she recalled.
Aya Nakamura is proud of her performance and she intends to make it known. “In France, it’s every 100 years! I felt like I was in a movie,” she confides. Following this performance, she received praise from many artists and she is very proud of it, despite the criticism. “Especially since I saw a lot of artists who wanted to have me as a feat saying: 'I can sing too, I'm legitimate'… It wasn't fair play on their part to say that, especially in these moments- there. I found it a little disappointing,”
assures Aya Nakamura who concludes by simply stating:
“But I did it anyway, I was the one who sang!”
