More than six decades after their first visit, The Beatles—represented now by surviving members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr—returned to Paris to thunderous applause, public celebration, and an outpouring of affection that stood in stark contrast to the cooler, more restrained welcome they received back in 1964.
This week’s tribute event, held at the historic Olympia Hall where the band played 18 shows in their early career, saw tens of thousands of fans crowd the streets, waving Union Jacks, vintage vinyl, and homemade signs reading “Merci, Les Beatles!” as McCartney and Starr took to the stage. The occasion marked the 61st anniversary of the Fab Four’s first Paris concerts—performances that were met at the time with mild reviews and mixed enthusiasm.
In January 1964, The Beatles arrived in Paris riding the early waves of Beatlemania, but the French press remained skeptical. Music critics called their sound “anglo-commercial,” and audiences, still enamored with chanson française and jazz, were slow to embrace the British rockers. McCartney later recalled that first trip as “a bit of a cold shower after the frenzy we’d left behind in Liverpool and London.”
But the France of 2025 told a different story. Aided by generations of fans, a global reevaluation of the band’s impact, and a modern culture more embracing of cross-border music, The Beatles have now been welcomed as cultural icons by the French public. President Élodie Laurent even issued an official statement, calling them “ambassadors of peace, innovation, and joy.”
This week’s celebration was part concert, part retrospective. McCartney, now 83, performed a heartfelt rendition of “Michelle,” his French-inspired ballad, to a standing ovation that lasted over five minutes. Ringo Starr joined him later in the evening for crowd favorites “With a Little Help from My Friends” and “Yellow Submarine.”
The duo also took part in a ceremonial unveiling of a commemorative plaque outside Olympia Hall, inscribed:
*”Aux Beatles – pour la musique, l’amitié, et le rêve partagé.”*
(“To The Beatles – for the music, the friendship, and the shared dream.”)
French fans of all ages attended the event. “My grandmother played Beatles records for me when I was little,” said 24-year-old fan Camille Bernard. “She told me they didn’t get the recognition they deserved here back then, but now—now it’s finally right.”
The event was capped with a spectacular light show featuring archival footage of John Lennon and George Harrison, reminding everyone in attendance of the band’s complete legacy. While time has passed and the lineup is no longer whole, the love in Paris was complete.
For McCartney and Starr, the evening was more than a tribute—it was a homecoming of sorts. As McCartney told the crowd in near-perfect French,
> “Parfois, il faut juste attendre un peu pour être compris.”
> (“Sometimes, you just have to wait a bit to be understood.”)