A spectacular free concert will take place in Paris this Saturday night to mark World Music Day, highlighted by the return of the Olympic cauldron. The event, blending popular music and a message of peace, promises to be unforgettable despite the intense heat.
A massive free concert will celebrate World Music Day in Paris this Saturday, with a major highlight: the return of the Olympic cauldron. It will rise into the night sky to the sound of a new version of a classic Daniel Balavoine song, all under sweltering summer temperatures.
Forty years after its release, Sauver l’amour—a beloved French anthem—is being reborn in an electro version produced by Victor le Masne, musical director of the Paris Olympic ceremonies.
This new rendition will also be released on streaming platforms and is set to accompany the nightly cauldron lighting in the Tuileries Garden, taking place every evening through September 14.
The concert, starting at 9:00 p.m. in the Louvre gardens, will bring together 21 artists, including Abd al Malik, Alex Montembault (Starmania), Bernard Lavilliers, Jeanne Added, Kalash, the band La Femme, and rising stars like Solann, Max Baby, and Marine, winner of the latest Star Academy season.
International acts are also on the bill, including singer Camille—recently awarded an Oscar alongside Clément Ducol for their work on Jacques Audiard’s film Emilia Perez—and Christine and The Queens, the avant-garde project of Rahim Redcar that’s won over American audiences. Also performing: Major Lazer, the globally renowned DJ trio behind the mega-hit Lean on.
Roughly 35,000 people are expected to attend the event, which will be broadcast on France 2. The concert coincides with the peak of a major heatwave sweeping across France, with Météo-France forecasting temperatures above 95°F (35°C).
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has asked local officials across the country to exercise “extreme vigilance,” citing a “very high level of terrorist threat” and potential public safety risks.
“We’re coming”
This year’s World Music Day has sparked a particular buzz on social media, especially among international tourists—most notably from the UK.
Many British users on TikTok have posted videos explaining why they’re heading to Paris for the event, describing it as “the place to be.” British influencer Andrew Ola, who has 161,000 followers, declared: “Like it or not, we’re coming.”
Inspired by Victor Hugo’s quote “Music is noise that thinks,” the Paris concert aims to spotlight “the greatest hits of the past 40 years (...) to deliver a message of peace,” according to the French Ministry of Culture.
Songs on the setlist include The Partisan by Leonard Cohen, What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye, and Redemption Song by Bob Marley—a tribute to protest songs with strong social and political undertones.
The event marks the grand finale of the first-ever France Music Week, an international showcase promoting the French music industry.
With a total budget of €7 million, the week has featured conferences, showcases, and emerging artist performances since Monday, all aimed at celebrating the diversity and creativity of French music.
The French government also announced a commitment to invest €500 million in the industry by 2030 through the public investment bank Bpifrance. The funds will support international expansion projects and acquisitions within the sector.
By Fanny LATTACH / AFP
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