The Paris Olympics closing ceremony was full of surprises on Sunday and featured performances by Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, H.E.R and Phoenix.
Phoenix, originally from France but now based in the U.S., kicked off the show with their 2009 hit “Lisztomania,” as athletes danced and sang along to the indie classic. Their set featured surprise appearances from French synthwave artist Kavinsky and Belgian singer Angèle for a rendition of “Nightcall,” known from the Drive soundtrack (the original version featured CSS singer Lovefoxxx instead of Angèle).
Rapper VannDa joined in for “Funky Squaredance” and fellow French indie icons AIR performed their song “Playground Love” with Phoenix. Another surprise was Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig, who performed “Tonight,” his collaborative track with the band. The set ended on a sweet note with frontman Thomas Mars jumping off the stage to mingle with the Olympians in the crowd.
After the handover for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, H.E.R. took the stage to perform the national anthem. Tom Cruise made a dramatic entrance, diving from the Stade de France onto the stage and shaking hands with athletes as H.E.R. played a bluesy guitar riff. Simone Biles, who won gold during her triumphant return to the games, then handed Cruise the U.S. Olympic flag, which he placed on a motorcycle before driving away.
A pre-taped clip, soundtracked by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, showed Cruise riding his bike through Paris, boarding a plane to L.A., and skydiving to the Hollywood Sign. As previously reported by The Hollywood Reporter, The segment was shot by Fulwell 73, the production company co-run by James Corden and known for Hulu’s The Kardashians.
To commemorate the handover to Los Angeles for the 2028 Olympics, some of the city’s most renowned artists performed live from Will Rogers Beach. The Red Hot Chili Peppers played their 2002 track “Can’t Stop,” and Billie Eilish performed “Birds of a Feather” from her recent album Hit Me Hard and Soft. Snoop Dogg, who has been helping NBC with primetime coverage throughout the Games, marked his homecoming by performing two of his biggest hits, “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and “Gin & Juice,” with a guest appearance by Dr. Dre.
The ceremony concluded with French singer Yseult performing “My Way,” popularized by Frank Sinatra but originally performed by Claude François and translated to English by Paul Anka.
