The Paris Olympics has become a pivotal moment in the success of the band Gojira. While the change isn’t astronomical, the versions of the band before and after Paris have evolved into two distinct dimensions—something the quartet themselves acknowledge. And why not? With the opening ceremony becoming the most-watched event on French TV, peaking at nearly 25.2 million viewers, it’s easy to see how this moment could have had a profound impact.

Recently, Mario Duplantier, the man usually seen behind the drums for Gojira took hold of the mic when he sat down for an interview with Heavy Consequence. And he threw his support behind this. He said the heavy metal band that has been around the country since 1996 did experience a surge in their renown and fandom. Even though it’s not a world of a change, fans are citing their Paris Olympics show, which testifies that the performance put their name on people’s lips and rooted it in their memories.

“It’s really subtle. Because we’ve been a band for 30 years and we already had a career and we were touring worldwide,” Mario Duplantier confessed. He then continued, “But, yeah, it’s a plus, it’s a bonus. You go to a store and some people are, like, ‘I saw you at the Olympics.’ But it’s not like a crazy change.” Their recognizability seems to have shot up. That too, not for a particular person of them four, but for the band name as a whole.

Mario Duplantier added, “We’re a band and an entity, so it’s not like one of us was the main guy with a name. It’s really Gojira performing over there, but many people don’t realize I’m playing in Gojira, as a band also. But, no, what we can tell it’s the overall respect for the band now, since we did that. And, as I said, we, we were very lucky to be able to do it and having this f**king bonus.”

November 2023, the band got a call extending a formal proposal to play at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony is July. Thus for the next 8 months, the Gojira rockstars had to craft their best work in collaboration with the writer of the ceremony music, but in silence. They kept the details hidden away from the public. But, what was weird was not getting to play any of their own songs. They were required to create something from scratch that matched the theme of the event. However, Mario confessed how that turned to be a blessing in disguise and a truly fun experience.

Gojira’s hit rendition at the Paris Olympics was hit by challenges

Days after the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, Gojira released the song they performed at the Concierge overlooking the banks of river Seine. Named Mea Culpa (Ah! Ça Ira), the song was performed in collaboration with opera singer, Marina Viotti. While spectators were shocked to see Marina pull a ‘beheaded’ and ‘bloody’ trick, the Gojira memeber Joe Duplantier set the record straight- “It’s French history. Beheaded people, red wine, and blood all over the place — it’s romantic, it’s normal. There’s nothing satanic,” he told Rolling Stone.

Well, if anything, putting together the song was hardly as easy. While putting a fresh song out there that matched the theme was already difficult, the Paris Olympics was the first stage that paired a metal band and opera together for TV. Moreover, singing in French was a challenge for Joe, whereas the fact that they had no on-site rehearsals added to the challenge. “I got to climb on that balcony just one time, for 10 minutes, three days before. I tried the harnesses and everything, but without my guitar…” Joe confessed.

Plus, they had no idea how tall the Concierge was. 100 feet high, on a rain drenched evening, it felt truly weird. Plus, the instruments were wet and so were the artists themselves, who showed up with hair and makeup on. However, the taller the challenge, the greater was the satisfaction when they pulled it off. And as confessed, the publicity ever since has been a much-welcomed bonus. What did you think of Gojira’s effort in Paris? Let us know below.