The musical tribute to Peter Jackson during the opening of the Cannes Film Festival, hosted by actress Eye Haïdara, was supposed to be a highlight. However, the Beatles cover by Theodora and Oklou quickly divided the audience and online users. In the room, the performance of the two artists was accompanied by applause. But on social media, criticism multiplied after the broadcast of the ceremony of this 79th edition.
An ambitious tribute applauded on the Croisette
As every year, the opening ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival ended with a highly anticipated musical sequence. After the striking performances of Zaho de Sagazan in 2024 and Mylène Farmer in 2025, Theodora and Oklou had the daunting task of continuing this tradition. This time, the organization had envisioned a tribute to Peter Jackson, who came to receive a Palme d’honneur. The reference to the Beatles seemed obvious since the New Zealand director had signed the documentary “The Beatles: Get Back.” Eye Haïdara even introduced the number with an excerpt from the film showing the famous British group singing the opening notes of “Get Back” before abruptly stopping.
In continuation of this staging, Theodora and Oklou then appeared on the stage of the Palais des Festivals to perform the iconic 1969 track. Oklou played the electric guitar while Theodora sang the song to the Cannes audience. In the venue, the audience seemed captivated. Peter Jackson smiled during the performance and even hummed a few lyrics. In the atmosphere, the spectators kept the beat before warmly applauding the two artists at the end of the song. On paper, the setup seemed coherent and the tribute perfectly in line with the musical universe associated with the New Zealand director.
On social media, the performance triggered a wave of criticism
However, the atmosphere turned out to be quite different on social media after Franceinfo aired the performance. Quickly, negative comments piled up under the video. Some internet users did not mince their words. “What a massacre,” wrote one of them. Another drove the point home with an even more scathing review: “The worst cover of a Beatles song. A massacre.” Within hours, the musical sequence became one of the most commented-on topics of this Cannes Film Festival opening. Several users also lamented a lack of emotion or power in the interpretation offered by the duo. Others preferred irony to express their disappointment. “It looks like karaoke at the Blue Waves campsite in Palavas,” said one user, a phrase quickly picked up online. Some also compared this cover to previous versions of the song performed by Tina Turner, Ike Turner, or Paul McCartney. “When I think of the covers of this song by Tina Turner with Ike, with Paul McCartney, and then hear this, I think it was better before,” read one of the comments. This contrast between the warm reception at the Palais des Festivals and the harshness of digital reactions once again illustrates the gap that can exist between a live ceremony and its reception on the Internet.
