24h Le Mans
Every year (when the health situation permits), there is a series of concerts during 24 Hours of Le Mans Race Week, with music from the stage accompanying the sound from the track. We have now concocted a special playlist to let you relive some of the musical highlights of Le Mans!
Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand played at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2019, the last time concerts were held at the circuit and a year after the release of their album “Always Ascending”. Its title track starts with a melancholy piano before bursting into pounding rhythm, reminiscent of their iconic tune “Take me out”.
“Cosmic Girl” is an unmistakeable disco-soaked Jamiroquai track, that is as much loved for its video showing a Ferrari F355, Ferrari F40 and Lamborghini Diablo racing along mountain roads through a desert landscape. Definitely one for Le Mans fans!
Somewhat unbelievably,“Inner Smile” was released 20 years ago! On this timeless track, Sharleen Spiteri demonstrates the full complexity of her instantly recognisable voice. Were you there on that Saturday evening in 2018 for the band’s concert at the 24 Hours of Le Mans?
“Get Down On It” is the ultimate Kool & The Gang track. Formed in 1964 by brothers Robert and Ronald Bell with a few of their schoolfriends, the American jazz/funk/disco group came to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2017 and were a big hit with the crowd.
In “J’ai cherché”, Amir alternates between French and English to voice some romantic and artistic soul-searching. This is a real feel-good track that will put you in the party mood for Le Mans week!
Everyone’s heard this track from 2009 in which British singer-songwriter Charlie Winston, coiffed with a trilby and sporting a waistcoat, sings about a vagabound lifestyle. The song has become something of a signature tune for the artist, who took to the Le Mans stage on the Saturday night in 2015, as Porsche was headed to its first win with the 919 Hybrid.
This year is the first time that the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been run in August. However, the race has twice (in 1968 and 2020) taken place in… September! A landmark track from Earth, Wind & Fire.
The French band scored a big hit with “My Name is Stain”, released in 2011. They took to the Le Mans stage in 2012 alongside fellow French artists Gérard De Palmas and Pony Pony Run Run.
UB40 came to the 24 Hours of Le mans in 2010. While Audi was pursuing the distance record on track, the group played this song about a break-up. Along with “I Got You Babe”, it was one of their biggest hits.
Yogan Le Fouler-Barthel and Jérémy Benichou, alias Diva Faune, came to the 2019 24 Hours of Le Mans and delivered an emotionally charged yet exuberant set. French music meticulously produced with love – highly recommended!
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is also set to music in video productions. For example this electro track was used as the background music for the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans teaser (recording over 500,000 views on YouTube) and its wild beat is a perfect match for the magic and intensity of the race.
Driving at Le Mans is a challenge. What better way to mark the start of the race than this powerful piece taken from the Rocky IV soundtrack? From the very first notes, spectators know that the 24 Hours of Le Mans is just minutes away.
