Billie Eilish as a super headliner, Lula acclaimed as a rock star and the name of Emmanuel Macron whistled: the concert-event for the planet at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in Paris took on unexpected political overtones Thursday, June 22 in the evening.
Given the number of T-shirts bearing the image of the 21-year-old Californian singer in the young audience (20,000 people in total), she was the attraction of the evening. But the most applauded first participant is not to be found between Lenny Kravitz, Jon Batiste, H.E.R. or even Finneas, brother and collaborator of Billie Eilish, who also performs solo.
Brazilian President Lula stole the show from the artists on display during a speech in favor of the planet, among the speakers scheduled between songs to defend the environment. Invited to the summit for a new global financial pact in the face of the climate challenge, organized Thursday and Friday in the French capital at the initiative of President Macron, Lula also took the stage at “Power our planet (alimente notre planet): live in Paris », the Parisian event on the sidelines. Dark suit and blue shirt, as a pugnacious tribune, he reiterated his goal of “zero deforestation” in the Amazon, to a standing ovation from the crowd. The public was able to come to this concert-event for free by registering in advance to obtain a ticket on the website of the NGO Global Citizen, by committing to relay actions for the planet on social networks.
Another speaker, Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, had the misfortune to mention the Parisian political summit organized by “Mr. Macron”. The name of the French president (not present) was then booed, before a “Macron resignation” was chanted several times by the public.
Another political tour of the evening, Camille Étienne, a French environmental activist, applauded Les Uprisings of the earth (SLT), a collective dissolved on Wednesday in the French Council of Ministers, accused of “calling” and “participating” in violence, decision challenged before the Council of State by the environmental group.
Actress Aïssa Maïga, who also made a documentary on the victims of global warming in the Sahel, pleaded for “an in-depth reform of the World Bank (which) could release 1,000 billion dollars and we could use this sum for the climate. “.
Musically, the first good note came from Common, figure of erudite American rap, surprise guest of Jon Batiste’s set, who improvised on the words “Paris”, “France” and “Power our planet”, accompanied on keyboard and sax .
Then Billie Eilish set the crowd on fire on the Champ de mars, a place that in 2021 hosted a slew of stars, including Elton John, under the aegis of the NGO Global Citizen, already. The planetary star performed in a short format, three songs, in a folk setting, acoustic guitar and keyboard, alongside his brother Finneas. The fans, in tears in the front row, took up his titles, including “Happier than ever”, at the top of their lungs.
Dressed in slacks, shirt and tie, Billie Eilish also called for “a complete system change for the planet, now.” “I mainly came for Billie Eilish, confides to AFP Sabrina, 17 years old. This is an opportunity to see it, because it’s free, all you had to do was commit to actions for the environment on the Global Citizen site to get your ticket. Only Leandro, 17, assures AFP that he is there first “for the environmental cause”. “I relayed tweets for Global Citizen in relation to the climate, it worries me the climate, it’s nonsense how it’s managed”.
Organized in partnership with the city of Paris, produced by Live Nation, the largest concert organizer in the world, the Parisian show was also broadcast online on several media.
