The pont des Arts is now the « Pont d'Aya »

The Pont des Arts in Paris, once symbolic with its love locks, has recently transformed into something even more mythical. On July 26, 2024, during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, Aya Nakamura, the French pop star, captured the hearts of spectators. Despite the displeasure of far-right supporters, her performance sparked a wave of virality on social media, unofficially renaming the famous bridge as “Pont d'Aya”.

It is a Friday evening in July, and the whole world has its eyes on Paris. The Olympic Games begin with great pomp, but the true star of the evening is Aya Nakamura. Standing on the Pont des Arts, dressed in a shimmering golden dress that seems to capture the light from every spot, she starts a performance that will go down in pop culture history. First, she effortlessly performs her global hits “Djadja” and “Pookie”, modern anthems of youth and urban culture. Then, unexpectedly, she revisits the timeless classics of Charles Aznavour, “For me, formidable” and “La Bohème”. Accompanied by 60 musicians from the French Republican Guard, the blend of urban pop and traditional French chanson creates an artistic shock. The magic works immediately. Social media ignites. TikTok, the arena of trends, sees thousands of videos of people from around the world replicating her choreography. Within hours, the clip of the star singing “Je ferais mieux d'aller choisir mon vocabulaire pour te plaire dans la langue de Molière” goes viral. It's the obsession of the moment. The numbers speak for themselves: millions of views, hundreds of thousands of likes, and an army of new followers of the Nakamura-mania. Statistics reveal a 40% increase in listens to her tracks abroad, according to Spotify. In France, this increase reaches 36%.

The Pont des Arts, traditionally adorned with locks left by couples seeking eternity, is transformed. Hordes of fans now flock there to recreate the iconic moment and more. Mathieu Maucourt, the interministerial delegate for youth, also joins in the fun. His video, where he mimics Nakamura's performance with a touch of humor, reaches nearly two million views in 15 hours. And the digital community wants more. “Forget the Pont des Arts, it’s now the Pont d’Aya”, jokes a user in a video where she dances between the Louvre and the Institut de France. The impact is such that Nakamura's fans can't get the remix out of their heads, becoming an omnipresent melody, colonizing minds and timelines. The irresistible refrain resonates in every corner of the digital sphere, creating a generalized musical addiction. “POV: me, morning, noon, night, since Aya Nakamura’s performance for the Olympics”, writes a user on TikTok. In his video, he sings the remix on repeat, even in his sleep. This humorous scene garners more than 390,000 likes. The covers keep coming. Users cover the song on piano, guitar, and even a cappella. Videos multiply, each adding their personal touch. “But see how it gets stuck in your head to never get out!!!”, notes a content creator, illustrating the hypnotic power of this performance. Some even film themselves in their cars, singing the cult passage and addressing Nakamura directly: “Aya, what’s this magic? What did you put in it? (…) Since yesterday, the day before yesterday, I can't take it anymore! It’s in my head (…) And every 3 TikToks, there’s always a girl doing a lip-sync”. Fans also compete in creativity. Among the most notable tributes is a Lego animated reenactment of the performance viewed more than 800,000 times.

The enthusiasm around Aya Nakamura’s performance shows no signs of slowing down. Listens to her tracks continue to rise, solidifying her position as one of the most influential French artists on the current music scene. With nearly 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Nakamura reigns over the charts and the hearts of her fans. The burning question remains: when will the remix officially be released on platforms? The demand is high, and we eagerly await to add this unique version to our summer playlist.