Olympics 2024: Charli XCX teases performance with Billie Eilish at closing ceremony
With the end of the 2024 edition of the Olympic Games in sight, speculation is rising about which famous faces will be making an appearance at the closing ceremony – and now, Charli XCX has suggested that she may appear with Billie Eilish.
The events kicked off on July 26 with an epic opening ceremony along the river Seine, featuring Lady Gaga performing French cabaret song ‘Mon truc en plumes’ and Gojira performing French Revolution song ‘Ah Ça Ira!’ with opera singer Marina Viotti.
Celine Dion also performed for the first time in four years, taking on Edith Piaf’s ‘L’Hymne A L’Amour’ in her first show since she revealed in 2022 that she had been diagnosed with stiff person syndrome (SPS).
Now, with the Paris games set to come to an end this Sunday (August 11), rumours about the closing ceremony have started to get momentum, and people are speculating which artists may perform on the night.
According to a new report by Variety – which spoke to various sources related to the closing ceremony – one of those heavily rumoured to be appearing at the two-hour show at the Stade de France is Billie Eilish.
Not only would this be timely, with the singer recently sharing her critically acclaimed third album ‘Hit Me Hard And Soft’, but it would also be significant as the next instalment of the Olympic Games will be held in her native Los Angeles in 2028.
Charli XCX has also added fuel to the fire with this rumour too, sharing an update online suggesting that she may be appearing with Eilish on the night to perform their new collaborative single ‘Guess’.
Responding to a news update by PopCrave, the singer told fans “… you wanna guess ;)”.
… you wanna guess
https://t.co/vgAdEqmQh7
— Charli (@charli_xcx) August 9, 2024
Others speculated to be performing at the closing ceremony include Snoop Dogg and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Both would be fitting for the set – which symbolises the handing over of the Olympic torch to the 2028 host, Los Angeles – as Snoop has made countless headlines for his appearances at this year’s event and is synonymous with West Coast rap, while RHCP are one of the most famous bands to come out of LA and often refer to California in their discography.
For the event, producer Ben Winston (who has also worked on the Grammy ceremonies and Adele’s 2021 ‘One Night Only’ show) is said to be coordinating with French producers.
It has also been reported that the performance will be titled ‘Records’, and looks to depict a “futuristic world where the Games have disappeared”.
Previously, it was rumoured that French electronic artists Phoenix and Air would be taking to the stage at the event too, as would Hollywood Icon Tom Cruise.
For the latter, the Top Gun star is predicted to carry out some death-defying stunts around France, before a prerecorded package shows him parachuting down next to the iconic Hollywood sign.
Organisers of the closing ceremony have yet to confirm any details about those performing at the event, although Variety has revealed that they have increased safety measures following the recently foiled terror attack that was planned for a Taylor Swift show in Vienna.
As for the Olympics news this year, since the events began, both Beyoncé and Taylor Swift took part in promotional videos showing their support for Team USA, Snoop Dogg turned heads for his dapper appearance at the dressage event – despite being scared of horses – and Flavor Flav went viral as official ‘hype man’ for the USA water polo team.
It was also reported that, despite false claims of her earning $2million (£1.5million), Celine Dion did not receive any payment for her opening ceremony performance, and Gojira saw a mammoth spike in listeners following their set.
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Liberty Dunworth
NME
