Rugby World Cup 2023: why this hit from Joe Dassin is a hit with supporters

Released in 1978, In Emilie’s eyes finds a second youth on the occasion of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Joe Dassin’s song has even become a real anthem among Blues supporters. Explanations.

During major sporting competitions, bridges with music are regular. We remember the tube I Will Survive taken up as the anthem of French footballers during the 1998 World Cup. A quarter of a century later, it is this time In Emilie’s eyes, an old hit by Joe Dassin which surprises the 2023 Rugby World Cup, while the French XV is among the favorites. A title which dates back… to 1978 and which resonates in the bars and stands of the stadiums, against New Zealand and even Uruguay!

Rugby World Cup 2023: In Emilie’s Eyesthe surprise anthem of the competition

For oval ball aficionados, the tune of Joe Dassin’s famous song is well known because often chanted by supporters of Stade Toulousain. The spectators present at the Stade de France were notably able to hear certain fans of the Red and black hum the song during the Top 14 final, won down to the wire by Toulouse against La Rochelle on June 17, 2023. The club’s supporters then exported it to the south-west fairs. Taken up by street brass bands (the bandas), the title has even become a call to party. And since the start of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the title is finally gone viral on some social networks like TikTok where content using the title has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times.

Julien Dassin, son of Joe Dassin: “This title is an anthem!”

Faced with this phenomenon, Sony Music even thought of a more modern cover of the title. The band Lous Earthenware covered the melody of the singer who died in 1980. With a well-chosen release date: September 8, the day of the opening match of the 2023 Rugby World Cup between France and New Zealand. “I can not understand. I heard that, the first time 5-6 years ago I was amused. But here, I’m impressed. It’s magic, it’s incredible. I am amazed to see this world in the images. It’s an anthem” said Julien Dassin, the interpreter’s son, at the RTL microphone.

Joe Dassin already celebrated by the French football team

The wild rhythms of the singer-songwriter born in New York have already posthumously accompanied the careers of certain football players. We particularly remember the newly retired Franck Ribéry, former glory of Bayern Munich, the club with which he won the Champions League in 2013 and ten German championship titles. Star in Bavaria, the one the supporters nicknamed “Kaiser Franck” in homage to “Kaiser” Franz Beckenbauer had the right to his song. After each goal from the native of Boulogne-sur-Mer, the announcer at the Allianz Arena sounded in the stands the tube Champs-Elysées by Joe Dassin. During the 2018 World Cup, it was again this song that was remixed to honor the most discreet of world champions, Ngolo Kanté. Decisive in the round of 16 won against Argentina (4-3), the midfielder muzzled Lionel Messi, number one threat and star of the opposing team. Which had earned a famous “He’s small, he’s nice, he stopped Léo Messi…” to the tune of the iconic title of Joe Dassin, new star of the sporting world.