Celine Dion Leads Music World in Mourning Paris

 

Celine Dion on Sunday led the music industry in an emotional tribute to the victims of the Paris attacks, as the American Music Awards heard appeals for a peaceful world.

The Canadian singer sang Edith Piaf’s classic “Hymne a l’Amour” (“Hymn to Love”) in French at the star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles, which went ahead barely a week after the assault on a concert hall and other civilian targets across Paris.

In front of a screen flashing images of Paris that culminated with the Eiffel Tower in the French flag’s tricolor, Dion sang the song of lost love as some members of the audience were seen in tears.

Dion was introduced by the actor and musician Jared Leto, who recalled playing with his band Thirty Seconds to Mars earlier this year at the historic Bataclan theater that saw the heaviest death toll in the November 13 attacks.

Leto said "Some 130 people died but “another seven billion will forever be scarred by this horrific and senseless tragedy.”

“France matters, Russia matters, Syria matters, Mali matters, the Middle East matters, the United States matters — the entire world matters. And peace is possible,” he said to applause.

Leto also took aim at anti-foreigner sentiment that has emerged in the wake of the Paris attacks, which was claimed by the Islamic State group.

 

Other music stars at the event like Ariana Grande also poured out their hearts in songs in respect for the victims of Paris attacks.