It's a fixture on Paris's concert scene. Tucked away in the Parc de la Villette, the Zénith de Paris opened its doors in the mid-1980s, propelled by Daniel Colling. Built initially as a provisional replacement for the Pavillon de Paris, the Zénith de La Villette would over the years become a must-visit for live music fans. Since its inauguration on January 12, 1984, the Zénith de Paris has welcomed a long list of artists on its stage, from Johnny Hallyday, Michel Berger, Metallica, Céline Dion, Lady Gaga, Prince, Rihanna, Amy Winehouse, Nirvana, Björk, the Cranberries, Limp Bizkit, to more recently Ed Sheeran.
This autumn, Taratata has decided to travel back in time and mark the "Zénith - 1984" during a special broadcast. Recorded live on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, this exclusive evening of over two hours offered a celebration of the eighties with timeless hits that we’ve all sung along to at least once.
More than 50 artists, both French and international, answered Nagui’s call for this new charity music night, organized to benefit the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM), which fights cancer. When tickets went on sale, the 5,000 seats sold out in just seven minutes. A total of 200,000 euros will be donated in full to the FRM.
So, who was on hand on September 23 at the stage of the Zénith de Paris for this unprecedented 80s‑themed night? Who joined forces for duets? Which songs did the artists perform as covers? We were there, and here are all the details!
Once again, Nagui pulled together a stellar lineup for this XXL concert, with regulars such as Zazie, Claudio Capéo, Julien Clerc, Hoshi or Pierre de Maere and Mentissa.
Renaud, the first artist to perform at Paris’ Zénith in 1984, also joined in to perform "En Cloque" with Hoshi, and to sing "Dès que le vent soufflera" alongside Julien Clerc, Claudio Capéo, Cali, Gauvain Sers and Noé Preszow. The performer of "Laisse Béton" also received a lovely surprise from the audience, who together performed an a capella rendition of his hit "Mistral Gagnant."
Many other guests were also on hand for the September 23 broadcast of the special program "Taratata fête le Zénith - 1984". Cali and Louis Bertignac notably revived Téléphone’s "Cendrillon", while Camélia Jordana and Ebony electrified the Paris venue with a gospel-tinged take on Madonna’s "Like a Prayer," accompanied by a gospel choir. Meanwhile, Michael Jones and Michaël Gregorio kept the crowd moving with Jean-Jacques Goldman’s "Je Te Donne."
Audience members were also transported back to the 80s thanks to Lio and her hit "Banana Split," performed with Jennifer Ayache of Superbus and Bilal Hassani. And Axel Bauer delivered a standout moment, revisiting his signature track "Cargo" from 1983.
We also enjoyed Jeanne Added and Bertrand Belin on Eurythmics’ "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)", Selah Sue and Mentissa brilliantly revisiting Michael Jackson’s "Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’", and a surprising pairing between guitarist-singer Paul Personne and actress Béatrice Dalle performing Alain Bashung’s "Vertige de l’amour."
To close the evening, Taratata spotlighted a leading Swedish hard rock group, Europe! For the occasion, Joey Tempest and the band didn’t hold back, delivering their signature "The Final Countdown" before being joined by all of the night’s guest artists.
For those who missed it, note that this episode "Taratata fête le Zénith - 1984" will air in prime time at 9:10 p.m. on France 2 and on the france.tv platform on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
