France: Madonna performs impromptu gig in memory of Paris attack victims

On 9 December, Madonna gave a surprise performance at the Place de la République in Paris. It is a spot where people continue to offer tributes of flowers and candles to the victims of the city's terrorist attack that resulted in the death of 130 people.

Earlier the same evening, the artist performed at Bercy arena as part of her Rebel Heart world tour. During her performance she took a moment to speak about November's attack. "I think of what happened almost four weeks ago now. The heart of Paris and the heart of France beats in the heart of each city," she said.

"We are one heart and our heart can beat as one... The power of love is greater than the love of power. I came here when I was 20 and it was here, in Paris, that I decided to make music. Thank you Paris for planting that seed in my heart." She went on to sing La Marseillaise, the French national anthem which got the crowd to their feet.

Post the sold-out concert the singer posted her plans to sing a couple of songs at the Place de la République on Twitter and invited people to attend. She was joined by her son David Banda and guitarist Monte Pittman.

The Material Girl sang a few of her popular hits like Ghosttown and Like A Prayer along with John Lennon's Imagine for the small group present. During her impromptu performance she told the crowd, "Everybody knows why we're here ... we just want to sing a few songs about peace, just to spread love and joy, and to pay our honour and respect to the people who died almost four weeks ago."

During a show of hers in Stockholm, Sweden in November, Madonna broke down in tears while talking about the victims of the Paris terror attack before singing the French song La vie en rose in tribute to the families who had lost loved ones.