We were at Julien Doré’s wild and poetic concert in Paris

Violaine Schütz.

Last November, the charming and talented Julien Doré released a covers album, Imposteur, which quickly became one of the best-selling records of 2024. Certified platinum within a month, the album has since sold 150,000 copies. A reissue reinforced its success in January 2025, and a whirlwind tour through France, Switzerland, and Belgium, which kicked off on March 1 in Aix-en-Provence and has seen nearly every date sell out.

A triumphant tour

The singer-songwriter can now boast having sold 500,000 tickets for 60 dates across arenas and Zénith venues, with the tour set to continue through 2025 and 2026. What’s behind this frenzy? Beyond being the voice behind several hits (Le Lac, Coco Câline), Julien Doré has proven time and again in recent years that he’s a born performer—a showman with few equals in the world of French pop.

Julien Doré performing in Paris to promote the album Imposteur

Labeled an impostor by some journalists early in his career (since he started out on the talent show Nouvelle Star), Doré opened up about his latest album, now the centerpiece of his tour: “It’s a sunny project—cool, joyful, simple. I didn’t put any pressure on myself. What matters to me is that I had fun and that I can make people smile. It brings back memories. So many people came up to me saying, ‘No way, L5? That’s my childhood. For me, L5 is my teenage years.’ That’s all I want. I unconsciously chose songs that match moments in my life. Each of them is like a carabiner, linking a song to a place in my life.”

And that’s exactly what happens on stage, on Sunday, April 6, during his concert at the Accor Arena in Paris (following another show in the same venue the night before). The radiant and unconventional 42-year-old artist hasn’t lost his childlike spirit. With just a few notes, he helps us rediscover ours. Every cover he performs that evening—from K. Maro to Mylène Farmer to Dalida—stirs up a shared sense of nostalgia.

Giant whales and furry Creatures… A show imagined to be a quirky celebration

To this euphoric setlist of covers, Doré adds his original songs—tracks that sway between emotional ballads tinged with melancholic romance and high-energy anthems powered by synths and racing guitars. Highlights include a luminous version of Sublime & Silence, lit by a sea of cellphone screens, and a raw, heartfelt take on Paris-Seychelles.

In a two-hour, non-stop spectacle, Julien Doré delivers an immersive experience, blending karaoke sessions, tropical forests, deep-sea scenes, a panda suit, furry bodysuits, a motorcycle ride, and giant whales flying overhead. Fans have affectionately dubbed the show “le pestacle,” borrowing a word used by Doré’s son in videos shared online. But make no mistake—this “pestacle” is as polished as it is whimsical.

The stage design is striking: veering from kitsch (think 1980s-style landscape visuals) to poetic and unabashedly fun, Doré and his band strike a nearly magical balance. The enchantment owes much to his voice and charisma (he’s also an actor), his sultry moves, and his disarming smile. He’s an artist who remains close to his audience, revels in self-deprecation, and radiates a rock’n’roll energy—all while being remarkably generous with the 20,000 “guests” packed into the Accor Arena.

Creating connection

And the crowd gives that love right back. Arms wave in sync to choreographies led by the singer, fans shout lyrics at the top of their lungs, and conga lines spontaneously break out at the end of the show. Ultimately, the artist discovered nearly 18 years ago on the cult talent show Nouvelle Star succeeds in drawing tears, sparking laughter—and most of all, bringing people together.

At a time when social media often isolates us, Doré’s music radiates a desire to reconnect, to spread joy and light in a world that hasn’t always been easy. (He’s also a committed environmental advocate.) Sometimes, happiness is as simple as a ukulele version of Femme Like U, whispered by a crooner in a white suit.

Imposteur (2024) by Julien Doré is available now. The artist is currently touring across France, Belgium, and Switzerland.