At the peak of the summer vacation season, the closing show was probably displayed in front of the largest audience this year. There were more people than usual in the bleachers when I arrived there around 8:30pm. In the morning, I had realized that Michel Lacroix was on-air since the sunrise to describe some Olympic golf competitions (he later said in front of me that Paris 2024 is his 20th Olympic Games!), and so I was afraid that he would not be on stage for the award ceremony. Fortunately, his position is based in Montreal and he managed to combine these assignments.
While that ceremony followed the same script than in the past (Loto-Québec vice-president Benoît Lefrançois and La Ronde president Sophie Émond basically read the same speeches than in 2023), there were two differences. First, the competition director Marianne Lemieux spoke for the first time on that stage. Her speech was intended to highlight the 36 years of service of La Ronde senior pyrotechnician François Léger, who was celebrating his 70th birthday that same day. The crew member who sports a signature white beard went on stage to receive a commemorative plaque. I wonder if this could be a cue that he won’t be back next year... Second, there was a departure from the standard protocol as representatives left the stage immediately after going up to receive their prize, including the guys from Arteventia. As a consequence, the French national anthem was displayed without any Arteventia (and other winner) representatives on stage, which was odd.
At 10pm, Michel Lacroix introduced his countdown with a slightly different (and more appropriate) wording: “Que tombe la nuit, que la fête continue!”
That 30-minute show on Coldplay’s musics was very enjoyable. I agree with the content of Paul’s review of the show, in particular about the vividness of the colours, which my video does not do justice to (e.g., the different shades of yellow on the song of the same name). I was surprised at the height the nautical shells reached before falling and producing very visible splashes on the lake! But more surprising – and delightful – was the appearance of a number of Japanese shells that did not burst during the show of the Omagari Hanabi consortium. These shells have been highlighted by being displayed at key points of the closing show.
The laser segments have been organized differently and they fit better into the show. First, some of their movements and changes of colour were more synchronized with the musics. Second, the 5-minute laser presentation was partly combined with pyrotechnic effects, so the actual length of the “laser-only show” last approximately 4 minutes. Third, the 5 minutes were divided in three segments over two songs. Indeed, Fix You began with pyros, then 2 min 20 seconds of lasers were followed with more pyros, and another 28 seconds of lasers ended the song (with a Japanese shell).
Tributes
As I wrote in my comments of the closing show in 2023, the series “Finale des étoiles” has been introduced to the competition in 2010 and it has become the label of the closing show since 2011. So far, it has emphasized international English-language performers (The Beatles, Queen, U2, Pink Floyd, Madonna, Elton John, James Bond, Metallica, and now Coldplay), with the exceptions of Céline Dion in 2010, Serge Fiori/Harmonium as part of the Montréal 375th anniversary in 2017, and a soundtrack made of Québec musics for the Loto-Québec Casino de Montréal 25th anniversary in 2019. In addition, opening shows have been dedicated to Abba (2018) and Prince (2022), with other soundtracks made almost exclusively of English-language songs in 2019 and 2024. I strongly feel an obvious lack of balance and cultural sensitivity with these choices.
Early this summer, I wrote that La Ronde could have decided to acknowledge the 50th anniversary of the first album of Beau Dommage or the contribution of the Cowboys Fringants whose lead performer passed away last fall. Answering a question from Paul Marriott about the latter, the competition technical director Paul Csukassy reportedly answered that it would be difficult to make a successful pyromusical with it. So I do have other suggestions!
1. As the very successful television show Star Académie is scheduled to return on air next January, I imagine a 2025 opening display based on the musics of the performers who became famous thanks to this reality show, as well as the well-known annual theme songs of the program. These artists cover a range of music genres and the theme song of Star Académie debut edition, Et c’est pas fini could make a very climactic finale! I am sure that a such concept would please the competition sponsor Vidéotron, whose parent company TVA broadcast the show. Marketing possibilities are endless...
2. Luc Plamondon has composed countless famous songs for various musicals including Starmania and Notre-Dame-de-Paris, and many performers. His work is well-known throughout the Francophone world.
3. Marjo has popularized rock music in French since more than 40 years. Her repertoire is extremely popular and it has diverse beats to make a great pyromusical. Moreover, only two women have been celebrated by this series : Marjo could be the third one.
And I am sure there are many others ideas to be considered.
Fred | 
