Celine Dion has been for quite some time dealing with a rare neurological disorder that has made it difficult for her to perform. Which makes her 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony performance in Paris that much more remarkable.
The world-renown singer belted out her unforgettable rendition of the popular French song, Hymne A L’Amour. Dion was raised in Canada and grew up speaking French.
Dion has given some incredible performances over the years. Her “My Heart Will Go On,” complete with wearing the heart of the ocean, at the Oscars — moments before she won an Academy Award for the song — comes to mind.
This performance, standing atop the Eiffel Tower, blew it away.
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On the American broadcast after Dion’s performance, Kelly Clarkson couldn’t compose herself. She was choking up, present with the health struggles Dion has experienced now for years.
Even minutes later, when Clarkson tried to compose herself to talk about what she’d just seen, she couldn’t.
Dion’s rendition of the song will go down as one of the great moments in the history of Olympic Opening Ceremonies. Muhammed Ali lighting the Olympic cauldron in Atlanta comes to mind.
While it wasn’t during an Olympics, Whitney Houston’s Super bowl rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner — revered as one of the best ever — comes to mind.
Dion’s voice has long been regarded as one of the best of her generation. That’s despite Rolling Stone inexplicably leaving her off their list of some of the great female vocalists of all time.
I imagine they’ll faced renewed criticism, given Dion’s performance tonight in Paris at the Eiffel Tower.
It. Was. Awesome.
And it was also awesome to see from Dion herself.
It was also the perfect cap to an Opening Ceremony that came across on television as a bit dull. Oh, and yes, a bit wet.
Still, audiences remember performances for their last note. And if Dion’s performance is any indication, viewers may walk away from this Opening Ceremony with a smile. Even if the Parade of Nations lacked the energy we’ve come to expect.
