A great organizer of the music that has continued to mark the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the 42-year-old arranger and composer Victor Le Masne recalls the success and impact of this summer soundtrack which features, Paradethe official anthem of the event, which will be published online on the platforms on Friday, September 13.
With “Parade”, do you feel like you have composed your first hit?
Yeah [rires] I have already had success composing for artists such as Juliette Armanet, Justice or with my own group, Housse de Racket, but it was disproportionate to the reception it received. ParadeThis piece became something that surpassed me. Its strength is to associate itself with emotions, sensations that are now part of the collective memory.
What was the genesis of this piece?
It was born in February 2023, right at the beginning of my composition work for these Games. I didn’t start out thinking that this was going to be the Olympic anthem. I had exchanged a lot with Tony Estanguet. [président du Comité d’organisation des Jeux olympiques et paralympiques Paris 2024] The song is about the emotions of an athlete before, during and after a competition. I was carried away by a sports narrative. The first notes came on the piano. I liked the idea of a simple melody, not simplistic, but recognisable, singable, that could unite people. By changing the chords, the rhythm, the orchestral colour, while repeating the same melody, I felt I could illustrate the different emotions of sport and of the fan. Starting from a symphonic beginning, then evolving with a crescendo and an acceleration, I wanted to indicate that the Games were coming to France and to our lives. The pop and electronic part, more danceable, synonymous with jubilation, could be taken up in chorus.
Had you previously studied the relationship that pop repertoire could have with sport?
I am a sports fan and also a big fan of concerts, Queen, Michael Jackson, Johnny Hallyday… They have in common the public and the stadiums. I thought a lot, almost analytically, “ solfegical »to try to understand what could musically unite and become an anthem. The title also left a deep impression on me in my childhood. Barcelona [1987]by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé, which served as the anthem at the opening ceremony of the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992.
You were simultaneously musical director, programmer, arranger, composer… Which of these roles was the most rewarding?
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