The Cannes Film Festival is famous for its glamour, its premieres, and its often-bustling promotional circuits. Yet, in May 2016, during the chaotic press junket for the animated film Trolls, a simple, unamplified musical performance by stars Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake momentarily froze the noise, creating a stunning moment of shared emotional connection. Watch Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick stop the bustling 2016 Cannes Festival cold with a stripped-down “True Colors” that left the entire room breathless.
The Venue: The Busy World of Film Promotion
The two co-stars, who voice the lead roles of Princess Poppy (Kendrick) and Branch (Timberlake) in the film, were on stage promoting the upcoming DreamWorks animated feature. The atmosphere was typical of the festival’s high-energy social interviews. Justin Timberlake, already a globally renowned musician, was also serving as the film’s Executive Music Producer, having just introduced the film’s first major hit, “Can’t Stop The Feeling!”
The Surprise: A Capella Simplicity
In a move that caught the audience off guard, Timberlake and Kendrick decided to perform a stripped-down cover of Cyndi Lauper’s 1986 classic, “True Colors.”
Timberlake, who had arranged and recorded the song for the film’s soundtrack, first picked up an acoustic guitar. He then turned to Kendrick, who, despite her musical background in the Pitch Perfect franchise, jokingly expressed nerves, introducing themselves as “Anna and Garfunkel.”
The moment transcended promotional fanfare:
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The Song: Choosing “True Colors”—a heartfelt ballad about seeing the beauty in others’ vulnerability—was a profound choice.
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The Delivery: The performance was delivered with acoustic purity and a cappella harmonies. The simple, raw quality of their voices resonated deeply, cutting through the typical Cannes noise. Kendrick later revealed they were both “really, really sick” during the performance, adding to the raw, vulnerable nature of the moment.
The Data of Emotion: A Collective Hush
Videos of the spontaneous performance quickly went viral, capturing the magic of the moment. The most telling “data” was the live reaction: the audience, initially restless, fell into a complete hush. The performance was hailed by critics and fans alike as a genuine, emotional highlight of the 2016 festival, with outlets claiming it would “reboot your soul” and was enough to “melt even the most cynical of hearts.” The recording of the song, featuring Timberlake and Kendrick, would go on to be certified Gold in the UK and Platinum in New Zealand, underscoring the universal appeal of their simple, acoustic rendition.
The collaboration at Cannes was a testament to the unexpected power of two gifted performers uniting to create a moment of authentic, moving simplicity amid the chaos of global celebrity.