Was it too good to be true? The exceptional performance of Céline Dion, interpreting The Hymn to Love from the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, during the opening ceremony, will remain one of the defining moments of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“You can’t sound that clean live”
But according to several specialists interviewed by Liberationthe Canadian star did not sing live, contrary to what several members of the organization, such as Thomas Jolly or Victor Le Masne, have claimed.
« It was 100% playback, you can hear it from the first notes. You can’t have such a clean vocal sound live.”said a sound engineer who preferred to remain anonymous. “ What we heard on TV was a corrected playback”estimated the composer Etienne Guéreau. Other specialists contacted by Liberation assure that Celine Dion has, “ without a shadow of a doubt », sung in playback.
The national daily’s investigation does not simply share the opinions of various specialists. It also relies on the analysis of several audio tracks. That of July 26, first, but also that of a rehearsal organized on the Eiffel Tower. The two would be identical, according to musician and YouTuber Wings of Pegasus. “ If they weren’t the same tape, it would be impossible for two live, uncorrected performances to overlap perfectly even once, let alone over the entire length of the song.he says.
Another version of The Hymn to Lovesung by Céline Dion in 2015 has been compared to the two tracks from the 2024 Olympics.
The title is available for streaming
Members of the organization refused to answer questions from Liberationfor questions of confidentiality clauses.
Playback or not, Céline Dion’s performance – the first since she announced that she had stiff person syndrome – left its mark. It is also available for streaming since Thursday, October 10.
The recording of this performance is made available on a symbolic date, for the 61st anniversary of the death of Edith Piaf, who died in 1963 at the age of 47.
