“There’s nothing more than that? »: the disappointment of Celine Dion fans at the foot of the Eiffel Tower

“No, seriously? There’s nothing more than that.” It’s 9:20 p.m. this Monday evening, on the Pont d’Iena, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower (7th century). Under a freezing wind, the crowd begins to disperse. Some decided to laugh about it, screaming at the top of their lungs “So that you love me again” while dancing. Others have the mine closed. On the giant screen, a sentence scrolls tirelessly. “Paris, I’m ready.” In English, German, Spanish, Chinese. That’s all. No sound, no song, no appearance even on video for the resounding announcement of the return of Céline Dion, this Monday evening, on the occasion of her 58th birthday.

A video of the Quebec star is broadcast at the same time, but on France 2 and social networks only, announcing ten dates at Paris La Défense Arena, starting September 12. The suspense had been building for several days with the appearance of mysterious posters with the names of songs by the Canadian artist, almost everywhere in the capital. And the announcement of an event this Monday at the Eiffel Tower.

It’s up there, on the Trocadéro square, that the songs come together and the star’s message is broadcast. Communication problem? For the fans, who came on purpose under the Iron Lady, the disappointment is immense when they begin to understand that there will be nothing more, this evening, for them, in front of the monument.

“We extended our stay in Paris by two days”

“Céline, don’t do that to me!” says Camille, in her thirties, who came with friends. “We really expected something to happen, that we would see it, that we would hear it,” complains Romane, a student. “We extended our stay in Paris by two days, because we were told that something was brewing at the Eiffel Tower around Celine Dion,” explains Julie, a 36-year-old Belgian from Antwerp. We were expecting a real event, but this sentence scrolling, without sound, is rubbish. We are disgusted.” “Céline, if I have a cold, it will be your fault,” warns Eugénie, a student from Toulouse, currently on an internship in the capital, who is shivering under her little jacket. I learned some words in Chinese, but that’s not what I came for! »

Objective: obtain concert tickets

Half an hour before, however, the atmosphere was completely different. A group of friends start to warm up the atmosphere by launching “The Power of Love” on a phone, at high volume. “I love Céline Dion, she is a woman who crosses all generations, she has accompanied me in my life at all ages,” says Amandine, a 35-year-old hairdresser. Alison came from Versailles on purpose to attend what she thought was an event. “I listened to it when I was little, it’s an icon,” observes the student. A little further away, a glass of beer in hand, Valentine, 28, waits while chatting with a friend. “I’ve always been a fan,” explains the tall brunette, in charge of marketing, who put on a t-shirt bearing the image of the Canadian for the occasion. We listened to it as a family, it has a special place in our hearts. I really love her life, her journey, what she embodies.”

She will do anything to get concert tickets. “She’s the only artist I could spend a lot of money on,” says the Parisian. People don’t understand what’s happening, it’s historic. I’m so happy to be in Paris and to be able to experience this.” Her friend in the room: “you’ll see, she’ll cancel her visit two days before!” » The singer has been absent from the stage for six years. Postponed twice because of the Covid 19 pandemic and then twice due to her health problems, her six Parisian shows ended up being definitively abandoned, just like the 42 planned in Europe and her appearance at the Vieilles Charrues festival in the summer of 2024. “The fact of not having seen her for so long creates a myth around her,” assures Astrid, a law student. Like her, many fans are convinced that they are preparing to experience an important moment this Monday evening at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Which will ultimately never happen.