Celine Dion's 'live' performance at the start of the Paris 2024 Olympics was pre-recorded, it was claimed in France today.
Millions were brought to tears when the 56-year-old Canadian superstar sang Hymne à L'amour (Hymn to Love) in front of the Eiffel Tower.
It was the culmination of a lavish Opening Ceremony held mainly along the banks of the River Seine – a ceremony that President Emmanuel Macron said was the “emotional highlight” of the sporting extravaganza.
But on Friday, the highly respected newspaper Liberation cited several music industry experts who said the July 26 performance was “without a shadow of a doubt” pre-recorded.
Celine Dion performing at the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Millions were brought to tears when the 56-year-old Canadian superstar sang Hymne à L'amour (Hymn to Love) in front of the Eiffel Tower.
A video capture shows Canadian singer Celine Dion performing at the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
In turn, representatives of the Paris 2024 organizers refused to answer questions about the scandal, despite previously insisting that the performance was in fact live.
“What we heard on TV was a corrected reproduction,” composer and performer Etienne Guéreau told Liberation.
In comments republished in French media, a sound engineer who asked to remain anonymous said: “It was 100% reproduced, you can hear it from the first notes.”
Others said it was “without a shadow of a doubt” pre-recorded, just like a Dion performance in rehearsals.
A YouTuber musician who goes by the name Wings of Pegasus said that the rehearsal and actual performance also sounded exactly the same – something that is technically impossible, as there will always be variations between any two live versions of a song.
The Olympics performance was intended to be a triumphant return for Dion, who has been battling the incurable stiff person syndrome.
Hymne à L'amour was chosen because it was originally sung by the late French music icon Edith Piaf.
Thousands of fans took to social media to praise Dion, whose biggest hits include 'My Heart Will Go On', the theme song from the film Titanic.
The cauldron, with the Olympic flame lit, takes off attached to a balloon, during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
Celine Dion performing at the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games
One said: 'Ok, I'm so moved by Celine's performance, just wow!', while another said: 'Queen Celine is back and she looks fantastic'.
It was in 2022 that Ms. Dion revealed that she had been diagnosed with the neurological disorder stiff person syndrome, which causes muscles to stiffen and spasm.
She then promised to return to the stage 'even if I have to crawl', adding: 'My goal is to see the Eiffel Tower again!'
Around 104,000 people paid for tickets to watch the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony live, with the best seats costing more than £2,500.
Despite the heavy rain, many watched several acts, including a pre-recorded Lady Gaga performance, which was shown on several big screens along the river, as well as around the world.
But Dion's performance was supposed to be live and was just released as such on several streaming platforms.
Dion announced on Instagram on Thursday that the 'live' recording was available on sites including YouTube and Spotify.
Fans take photos of Canadian singer Celine Dion outside Le Royal Monceau in Paris on July 27
The presentation was the culmination of a sumptuous Opening Ceremony held mainly along the banks of the River Seine.
The Olympic cauldron is lit during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics
“God brings together those who love each other”, wrote Dion in reference to the song’s lyrics.
These are Piaf's words to the love of her life, the French-Algerian boxer Marcel Cerdan, who died in a plane crash in October 1949.
French President Emmanuel Macron spoke about Dion's Olympic performance in an interview with Variety magazine this week, saying it caused the “greatest emotion” of all at Paris 2024.
