The 15 Best Olympic Musical Performances
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While the Olympics have consistently delivered some of the most epic sports moments, theyāve also had a rich history of unforgettable musical performances. Through empowering anthems and unrivaled collaborations between some of the best artists in the world, many of the opening and closing ceremony performances have remained highlights of the Summer and Winter Olympics over the years. From London to Rio to Paris, from Celine Dion to One Direction to Stevie Wonder, here are the best of the best.
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One Direction at the 2012 London Summer Olympics (Closing Ceremony)
Image Credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images One Direction was at the peak of their popularity during their performance at the 2012 London Summer Olympics. During the closing ceremony, the five band members delivered an energetic rendition of their 2011 hit āWhat Makes You Beautifulā while showcasing their awkward dance moves on a moving truck.
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Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso and Anitta at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics (Opening Ceremony)
Image Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images In 2016, Anitta had the opportunity to perform in her hometown of Rio with singer-songwriter and activist-turned-politician Gilberto Gil and songwriter and musician Caetano Veloso at the Rio Summer Olympics. The trio brought a vibrant marching band and threw a samba fĆŖte at the Maracana Stadium as they teamed up for an electrifying collaboration of “Isso Aqui, O Que Ć?ā
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Paul McCartney at the 2012 London Olympics (Closing Ceremony)
Image Credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images āHey Judeā is always a crowd-pleaser, but Paul McCartney had the entire crowd singing along to the beloved Beatles classic when he performed during the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. While it was standard fare for any McCartneyās concert, it was pretty epic to see the former Beatle on his home turf.
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KISS at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics (Closing Ceremony)
Image Credit: TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images In 2002, KISS rocked out at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. As they performed a blistering rendition of 1975ās āRock and Roll All Nite,ā figure skaters danced around them as fireworks lit up the Utah sky.
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Leona Lewis and Jimmy Page at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics (Closing Ceremony)
Image Credit: Andrew Milligan/PA Images/Getty Images The 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics finale prompted an unlikely collaboration to happen ā Leona Lewis and Jimmy Page. Together, the singer-songwriter and legendary guitarist performed the 1969 Led Zeppelin classic, āWhole Lotta Loveā atop a faux London-to-Beijing bus that turned into a stage. Alongside Pageās heavy riffs, Lewisā towering vocals are the star of the performance.
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Ā k.d. lang at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics (Opening Ceremony)
Image Credit: Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle/Getty Images In 2010, k.d. lang delivered a stirring rendition of Leonard Cohenās hymnal āHallelujahā during the opening ceremony of the Vancouver Winter Olympics. As langās hypnotic vocals echoed, the entire crowd seemed to sway with lighters in their hands.
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CĆ©line Dion at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics (Opening Ceremony)
Image Credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Joined by David Foster on piano and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, CĆ©line Dion performed the sweeping ballad āThe Power of the Dreamā at the opening ceremony of the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics. With Dionās stunning soprano lilt, the David Foster, Linda Thompson and Babyface-penned song served as a true empowerment anthem ahead of the games.
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Phoenix at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics (Closing Ceremony)
Image Credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images The French band brought some homegrown indie-pop magic to their performance, which featured several special guests, including fellow French legendsĀ Air, who joined Phoenix to deliver āPlayground Loveā together. There was also an appearance by DJ-producer Kavinsky, who performed āNightcallā with singer AngĆØle. Ā Ezra Koenig from Vampire Weekend also joined Phoenix for their collab āTonight.ā Phoenixās set concluded with their buoyant hit ā1901,ā which had the crowd jumping and culminated in a flurry of confetti.
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Kylie Minogue at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics (Closing Ceremony)
Image Credit: Pool JO SYDNEY 2000/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images Just one year prior to releasing her eternal hit āCanāt Get You Out of My Head,ā Kylie Minogue delivered a charming cover of ABBAās 1976 classic āDancing Queenā at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics. Clad in a hot pink showgirl costume, the pop icon demonstrated elite showmanship in her home country.Ā
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Queen and Jessie J at the 2012 London Summer Olympics (Closing Ceremony)
Image Credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images In 2012, UK pop singer Jessie J performed with Queen and Freddie Mercuryās hologram at the opening ceremony of the London Summer Olympics. Together, they did a raucous version of the sports-stadium standard āWe Will Rock You,ā with Jās throaty belt stealing the show.
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Spice Girls at the 2012 London Summer Olympics (Closing Ceremony)
Image Credit: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images Spice Girls fans were treated to a pop spectacle when the band reunited at the 2012 London Summer Olympics. The Olympic Stadium turned into the streets of London as the pop group pulled up in individual taxis before they launched into lovably kitschy medley of āWannabeā and āSpice Up Your Life.ā
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Gojira at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics (Opening Ceremony)
Image Credit: Zhang Yuwei-Pool/Getty Images As the first heavy metal band to play the Olympics, Gojira brought a spectacle to the opening ceremony with a headless Marie Antoinette and explosive pyro. Performing from the windows of the Court of Cassation, the French group delivered a blistering performance of āAh, Ća Ira!,ā which was popular during the French Revolution, with the opera singer Marina Viotti. It was perhaps the wildest performance the Seine had ever seen.
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Stevie Wonder at the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics (Closing Ceremony)
Image Credit: Barry Chin/The Boston Globe/Getty Images During the closing ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Stevie Wonder delivered a tearful rendition of āImagineā in honor of his late friend John Lennon. As if his performance couldnāt be any more striking, he was joined by a choir that elevated his bluesy spin on the idealistic anthem.
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CĆ©line Dion at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics (Opening Ceremony)
Image Credit: Screengrab/IOC/Getty Images In what was her first live performance since she was diagnosed with Stiff-Person Syndrome in 2022, CĆ©line Dion made her majestic return to close out the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics with a stirring take on Edith Piafās āāHymne A LāAmourā from the base of the Eiffel Tower. Amid the Paris rain, Dion delivered what was undoubtedly one of the most emotional comebacks of all timeĀ
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Bjƶrk at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics (Opening Ceremony)
Image Credit: Steve Christo/Corbis/Getty Images Bjƶrk turned her performance at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics into art. The Icelandic artist appeared in a crystal-emblazoned dress made of 10,000 feet of fabric that swelled over the athletes in the crowd as she sang āOceania,ā which was co-written with the poet, Sigurjon Birgir Sigurdsson and crafted for the Games. As Bjƶrk metaphorically appeared as the ocean, she was joined by dancers posing as Greek Gods.