From Aya Nakamura to Oasis, the Republican Guard has been making increasing incursions into pop culture in recent years

Aya Nakamura performed a medley of her hits “Pookie”, “Djadja” and a Charles Aznavour standard, “For me Formidable”, at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, accompanied by musicians from the Republican Guard and the French Army Choir.

“There is no subculture” for the head of the Republican Guard music: from Aya Nakamura to Oasis, via Daft Punk and Jacques Martin, military musicians have been multiplying their forays into pop in recent years. During the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games last Friday, viewers were able to see Commander Frédéric Foulquier and his men alongside Aya Nakamura on the Pont des Arts.

The most listened to French-speaking singer in the world performed a medley of her hits Pookie, Djadja and a standard by Charles Aznavour, For me Formidableaccompanied by musicians from the Republican Guard and the French Army Choir. An unexpected duo that left no one indifferent.A very great moment and a strong symbol“, rejoices the 57-year-old policeman.

“Obviously, our first activity is the protocol of the Republic, military ceremonies and major commemorations. But it is also to propagate music, all forms of music.” explains Frédéric Foulquier.

“The musicians of the Republican Guard are musicians like any other, they do not spend their time playing military marches at attention. They all have classical training and have very eclectic tastes.” he continues.

“We are a drum and marching band that can tackle almost any musical genre imaginable.“, assures the commander, a clarinettist by training and violist in his spare time.

As proof, before venturing into urban pop fueled by the Afro-Caribbean sounds of Aya Nakamura, the Garde républicaine had already distinguished itself with the cover of Don’t look back in anger by the British rock band Oasis during the France-England football match at the Stade de France in June 2017, in tribute to the victims of the attacks that had occurred in Manchester two weeks earlier. A performance noted around the world that inspired the organizers of the Bastille Day parade a few weeks later.

On this occasion, the musicians of the Republican Guard, but also those of the Air Force, the Army and the Navy, sang a medley of hits by the star duo of French electronic music Daft Punk, with meticulous choreography, under the surprised eye of American President Donald Trump, guest of honor of the parade.

A new milestone which was nevertheless far from being the first incursion of the Republican Guard, charged with missions of honor and security for the benefit of the highest authorities of the State and the public, into popular culture.At the beginning of my career, we often participated in television shows.“, recalls Frédéric Foulquier, who joined this branch of the National Gendarmerie in 1988. With his comrades, he notably went to the sets of Sunday Martinhosted by Jacques Martin, or Holy nightpresented by Jean-Pierre Foucault.

Music, television and even cinema, the Republican Guard is present in all areas of pop culture. In April, it participated in two symphonic concerts dedicated to Hayao Miyazaki’s films (My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke) given by Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi at Paris La Défense Arena. She has also collaborated regularly with the group Indochine since 2019 and notably took part in their major tour for the group’s 40th anniversary in 2022, with a notable appearance at the Stade de France.

It is clear that “military music ultimately belongs somewhere a little to pop culture“, concludes Commander Frédéric Foulquier with a smile.