Orelsan

From December 8 to 10, 2022, Orelsan turned Plenitude Arena into one of the epicentres of the French rap scene. As part of the Civilisation Tour, the Caen-born rapper took over the venue for three consecutive shows, welcoming nearly 120,000 spectators in total. A true tour de force to bring his XXL tour to a close, transforming Plenitude Arena into a giant playground filled with powerful lyrics, surprise guests and spectacular production.

His discography now includes several albums that have become essential works in French rap

When Orelsan Goes from Rap Phenomenon to Arena Headliner

At the time of the Civilisation Tour, Orelsan was at the very top of his game. Released in November 2021, Civilisation was a phenomenal success and quickly became one of the most significant albums of his career. Just a few months after its release, the album was certified Diamond, with more than 500,000 copies sold.

It was in this context that the rapper chose Plenitude Arena to bring his tour to a close. And not for just one date: three consecutive nights, on December 8, 9 and 10, 2022. A particularly symbolic achievement for an artist from the French rap scene, performing at the largest indoor entertainment venue in Europe, with a capacity of up to 45,000 spectators depending on the configuration.

© Apolline Cornuet

At Plenitude Arena, Orelsan was stepping into a whole new dimension. After selling out some of France’s most prestigious venues, he brought together nearly 40,000 people per night here. The challenge was a resounding success: all three shows sold out, making this series of concerts one of the major events of the end of 2022 at Plenitude Arena.

For the audience, the occasion was about much more than simply bringing a tour to an end. Plenitude Arena became a meeting point for several generations of fans, all united around an artist who had gradually established his own unique way of telling stories about everyday life, doubts, contradictions and small victories.

An Production Blending Cinema, Lights and Controlled Chaos

It is impossible to talk about the Civilisation Tour without mentioning its production. Designed alongside stage director Quentin Deronzier, the show’s production turned Orelsan’s tracks into true visual tableaux. Giant screens, lighting effects and carefully crafted staging complemented the lyrics without ever overshadowing them.

One of the most striking examples was Manifeste. For this nearly seven-minute track, the team initially imagined a very literal staging, with screens directly illustrating the lyrics. The final choice was instead to use symbolic lighting, with each character mentioned in the song associated with a different colour. This approach gave the track a powerful visual dimension while keeping Orelsan at the heart of the action.

At Plenitude Arena, this staging naturally took on a spectacular scale. The lighting structured the space, the screens extended the world of Civilisation, and the stage became a living backdrop. A review by Passion du Live described the show as featuring “stunning production design” and “magical lighting”, highlighting the impact of the spectacle on the audience’s experience.

And because Orelsan likes to blur the boundaries between music and cinema, the show was ultimately filmed at Plenitude Arena and screened in more than 400 cinemas in 2023. A way of extending the experience and taking this unforgettable night far beyond Nanterre.

© Apolline Cornuet

A Setlist That Takes Us Through Orelsan’s Entire Civilisation

For around two hours, Orelsan delivered a concert designed as a true narrative journey. Among the highlights of the show:

• Jour meilleur, Défaite de famille and Civilisation perdue
• Civilisation, Du propre, Bébéboa, La pluie and La quête
• L’odeur de l’essence, one of the standout tracks from Civilisation
• a long medley featuring Sous influence, Changement, Jimmy Punchline, Courez courez, Soirée ratée, Si seul, Si facile, À l’heure où je me couche, Bloqué, Christophe and Rêves bizarres
• Le chant des sirènes and Seul avec du monde autour
• San, Notes pour trop tard and La terre est ronde
• Basique, for an explosive finale
• Shonen and On a gagné, bringing the celebrations to an extended finish

The two evenings were also marked by different guests and special moments: Gazo joined Orelsan for Die on December 9, while the December 10 show featured Rapi Sati, Couli B and a moment dedicated to the world of Casseurs Flowters. The setlist therefore varied slightly from one date to the next, making each night feel truly unique.

Orelsan, the Phenomenon That Took French Rap to a Whole New Level

With more than fifteen years of career behind him, Orelsan has become one of the defining figures of the French music scene. From Perdu d’avance to Le Chant des sirènes, and from La fête est finie to Civilisation, each of his albums has marked a new stage in his artistic evolution.

His success is built on a unique combination: deeply personal writing, instantly recognisable humour, an ability to talk about everyday life, and musical production that goes beyond the traditional boundaries of rap. In 2022, Civilisation perfectly embodied this evolution: the album was certified Diamond just a few months after its release, before continuing its journey to become Double Diamond, according to SNEP certifications.

Even today, his catalogue continues to attract a huge audience. Spotify currently lists more than 2.5 million monthly listeners for Orelsan, while his discography now includes several albums that have become essential references in French rap.

At Plenitude Arena, this popularity took on an especially powerful dimension. The audience knew the lyrics by heart, sang them back in unison and turned every track into a shared moment. Orelsan has that rare ability to create a sense of intimacy with tens of thousands of people at once.

Two Nights, Three Shows, and a Lasting Mark on Plenitude Arena

On December 9 and 10, 2022, Orelsan firmly etched his name into the history of Plenitude Arena. By selling out the venue for three consecutive nights to close the Civilisation Tour, the Caen-born rapper reached a new milestone and confirmed his place among the artists capable of bringing huge audiences together around their own unique universe.

At Plenitude Arena, the tracks from Civilisation met the classics from his back catalogue, the lights brought his stories to life and special guests created unforgettable moments. But beyond the performance itself, what remains is the collective energy: thousands of voices coming together to sing Basique, La terre est ronde, Du propre and On a gagné.

A series of concerts that became a true event, giving Plenitude Arena one of its major rap showcases and Orelsan a fitting finale to an extraordinary tour.