BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'

Subject: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: olddude
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 09:43 PM

That pretty little girl that sang "Oh Canada" in the opening ceremony .. Wow what a beautiful voice ... blew my socks off. by the way ... this yank thinks that is the best national anthem on the planet .. such a beautiful song

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: 3refs
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 09:48 PM

Well............Thank You...Thank You Very Much!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: Ed T
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 10:01 PM

Now I know why someone started the thread, Is it snowing where you live?
It was the Vancouver Olympic organizating folks, looking for new sources of the white stuff:)

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: olddude
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 10:26 PM

Its Buffalo, it is always snowing

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: olddude
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 10:28 PM

Oh that was Nelly Furtado Dah, thought she looked familiar

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 10:39 PM

Sarah's singing now. So help me if they show an abused dog during this I'm going to send the Canadian Organizers death threats.........

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: Jeri
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 10:44 PM

Nelly Furtado (and the male singer whose name I don't know) sang Bang Your Drum. Don't know who sang Oh Canada.

So far, the opening ceremony has been incredible. I'm most impressed by the focus on the First Nations. (And of course, the special effects.)

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: Jeri
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 10:48 PM

LOL, Spaw.
They finally got to the fiddlers and step dancers.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 11:03 PM

He hangs from life by two wires now.............

What the hell was that supposed to represent?


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 11:15 PM

I walked out to use the can.......So who was the fat fuck with the beret and wacko beard extolling the virtues of something or another? Canada I suppose.............

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Feb 10 - 11:42 PM

Brian Adams was who sang with Furtado. I could do without all of the songs except for the First Nations, but I could listen to them all day. Sorry, Dan, but neither my Rog nor I cared for that rendition of Oh Canada which we both really love.

Whoever the snowboarder is who came down the mountain to go through the hoop was really neat!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: olddude
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 12:00 AM

coolest thing ever, missed a bit though, ended up in the ER room with crushing chest pain ... no issue, heart is fine, just a chrons attack, I am fine now and home ... dang right during the opening ceremony though

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: olddude
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 12:01 AM

my luthier buddy take care of all of Nelly's guitars ... she is easy on the eyes also ... lucky guy

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 12:07 AM

I am glad you are okay!!

I want to know HOW they are doing these special effects. Incredible!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: olddude
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 12:12 AM

I will write it up and tell you ... it is some very very cool software programming Kat. It is the same technique used in flight simulators and virtual reality

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 12:17 AM

I didn't particularly care for that version of O Canada. Too slow, not very anthem-like. That's a song I like in a more robust performance.

I like Bryan Adams but I turned away for an hour to watch another program. All of this will probably end up on YouTube.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 12:36 AM

NOW they've got it! k.d. lang singing Leonard Cohen! Gorgeous!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: ragdall
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 01:57 AM

k.d. was fabulous! I didn't like that arrangement of O Canada, -- too slow. The singer was Nikki Yanofksy. I think they did well in their choices of the final five to light the indoor flame. Too bad the hydraulics failed.

Very sad about the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 06:45 AM

Well it was a different and welcome change. I always find the winter games so mush better including the openings. This one had some ups and downs but overall was pretty fair.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 07:49 AM

I suppose tastes differ. For me that rendering of O Canada by that young woman in a red dress was cringemakingly dreadful, both the singing and the accompaniment, which seemed to bear no relationship to each other.

I skimmed through a bunch of O Canadas on YouTube, and I couldn't find any as bad as that.

If anything it was even worse than the way Canada's neighbours South of the border always seem to do that kind of thing on these kind of occasions.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: 3refs
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 08:22 AM

I vever came off the ice or the floor and said "I played like shit" when someone said "Good game"! I just said "Thank You....Thank You very much! Thought I'd keep the "played like shit" part to myself and those who aready knew!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: 3refs
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 09:52 AM

I never....

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: olddude
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 10:21 AM

Well I like it, to each their own. I go to a lot of hockey games, I think the singing of "Oh Canada" and "The Star Spangled Banner" are wonderful before any event.   I thought the young girl did a great job with soulful rendition myself.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: PHJim
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 10:28 AM

I also hated that version of O Canada. It sounded way to affected. I don't mind some interpretations of national anthems. I like to do O Canada as a fingerpicked raggy tune. I liked Jimi Hendrix's version of the American anthem and Jeff Healy's version of O Canada, but Niki's version was bad. The rest of the show was fine. k.d. was a high point for me.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 10:30 AM

Too bad the hydraulics failed.

If I had a nickel every time one of the guys at Mudcat uttered this!

I agree with Kevin--I couldn't tell if she was actually supposed to pick up a tune or a pace to the music behind her.

They'd have done better to have the soprano who sang the Olympic hymn also sing the anthem.

I thought k.d. lang was stunning with that Cohen song.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: olddude
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 10:31 AM

KD always puts on a heck of a show, I would love to hear your finger picked version sometime Jim, Post if you can... that would be great.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: Jeri
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 10:39 AM

I thought she did great, too. ("Oh Canada" singer)

k.d. lang does my favorite version of Hallelujah, even if it was a sort of non-sequitar. But it is definitely Canadian, and Leonard Cohen definitely belonged in front of everyone's ears. When I saw her, I first though she should give the suit back to Wayne Newton, but the white worked, and it all made sense when the FX doves flew up through the audience. May have been religious or just universally understood symbolism. White, light and doves...

The FX, I think consisted of projection and LED lights. There were lights all over, I think and the audience members all had them, and the announcer said the person doing the lighting (can't remember his name) could virtually paint what he wanted with those lights. Amazing.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: pdq
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 10:44 AM

The one who sang "O Canada" was Nikki Yanovsky, who turned 16 last Monday.

Doesn't Canada have laws against truency? Perhaps laws against child labor?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: Raptor
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 12:55 PM

The whole thing was lip sinked badly starting with Bryan Adams coming in at the wrong time and the Bride of frankenstine singing the greek hymn oprastyle (she was scarey)

But we learned 2 things... 1 Nelly frutado should not wear a tight dress And 2 K.D. can't be a vegatarian anymore she looks like she consumed the whole cow.

I did like the weird poet though.

The orcas swimming in the floor was about the greatest thin I'd ever seen.

Raptor

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: Barry T
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 01:28 PM

> hated that version of O Canada

Add me to the list!

I think this style of free-form interpretation of the national anthem (both American and Canadian) began years ago when Whitney Houston blew the lid off a stadium with her rendition of 'The Star Spangled Banner'.

On that day Whitney nailed it, but since then a never ending stream of wannabees have been assassinating our most patriotic songs.

To me, last night's version sounded like something from an American Idol audition. Worst of all, Nikki ventured so far off the tempo and melody that she denied tens of thousands of proud Canadians the opportunity to participate in the singing of their own national anthem! :-(

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: pdq
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 01:43 PM

Linda Ronstadt sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" before one game in the 1977 World Series, to "mixed reviews".

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 03:33 PM

Oh dear. I do not watch TV by choice but reading this thread, I would LOVE to hear kd sing Hallelujah so if anyone can post a link to help me hear it, I would be most appreciative.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: Jeri
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 04:04 PM

k.d. lang/Hallelujah. The one of her from the Olympic ceremony was yanked off-line, but I'd guess it would pop up again somewhere.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 04:13 PM

Nikki ventured so far off the tempo and melody that she denied tens of thousands of proud Canadians the opportunity to participate in the singing of their own national anthem!

Precisely - the point of a solo singer at a sporting event ought to be to lead the rest of the crowd to sing it.

Maybe the problem is that there is this tendency to follow the example of the US in these things. The trouble with that is their national anthem is a little bit harder to sing than many, and too many Americans are (mistaekenly) frightened to risk it, which has led to the practice of treating it as a solo event, and as an occasion for showing off by singers - who at times unfortunately don't have too much to show off.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 04:23 PM

K. D. Lang and "Hallelujah" were on youtube for a few minutes, but it was quickly withdrawn.

Hear Leonard Cohen sing it on youtube. I don't like this particular effort; he has done it without the BOOMS of that support group which detract from the song.

The 2-cd set of K. D. Lang, "Recollection," has two versions by her. Or be a big spender and get 3-CDs plus a DVD, "Recollection" Deluxe. Two versions plus the one on the DVD.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 04:30 PM

lang has really made this song hers, hasn't she?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: olddude
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 04:37 PM

I never cared much for our national anthem I always preferred America the Beautiful myself. I agree it is too hard to sing. By the way it came about because of the first Olympics. At that time we didn't have one and the band just would play the "star spangled banner" sometime after it was adopted as the anthem. I always like Oh Canada, I thought the little girl did good myself but that is ok, it is the way music is suppose to be, some like it some don't.   Brian Adams has always been one of my favourite singers. Do you folks really think he lip synced it? I couldn't tell but I was under the weather at that time.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: 3refs
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 04:37 PM

"who at times unfortunately don't have too much to show off."

I have to change the channel when they show the Star Spangled Banner being performed by Carl Lewis.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: gnu
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 04:37 PM

Just wasted... ahhh... watched the whole deal on tape. Loved KD! Thought pretty much the rest was crap. Oh, there was SOME good stuff, but essentially, it was $40M to watch KD.

Spaw... ah, yeah... WTF was that? and that? and...

Cool stuff with the First Nations... odd shit with the second and third...

And... NO close up camera on Ashley fiddling with the devil? Now, that was truly fucked up. Religious intolerance! I am gonna write a god damned letter! (Canuck joke.)

Oh... all that "Canucks" are so nice and soooo.... that was over the top. Embarrssing to any real Canuck. We are humble to a fault. >;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: Jeri
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 04:52 PM

A little bit of drift. I was visiting a friend in Toronto and we (Big Mick was there--we were headed to the 12th Fret) went down Danforth and into a record store. The whole time we were there, this beautiful music was playing. I went up the guy at the counter and asked who it was. Answer: k.d. lang and Hymns of the 49th Parallel, so I added that to my purchases. Great album, and a fortunate impulse-buy.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: gnu
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 04:56 PM

KD is the best singer I have ever heard, bar none... none.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 04:58 PM

Overall, I thought it was an excellent show.

And I thought Nellie Furtado looked good in that dress.

K. D. Lang has a great voice. Each time she sings "Hallelujah" it is done a bit differently- all excellent.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: olddude
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 05:03 PM

Nelly would look good wearing anything. That girl could put on a garbage bag and still look hot

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 05:12 PM

Hey Dan, since you like our anthem so much, maybe you could teach me the words sometime..... I know most of the original French and they didn't keep changing it...

from somewhere in VA.. 'there's snow place like Dixie'

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: olddude
Date: 13 Feb 10 - 05:14 PM

LOL, I watched the news my brother, south is getting a pile of snow that they never get ... oooh, didn't pick a good year to go south Ron

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: Mooh
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 06:28 AM

I wanted some classic rock. BTO would have been cool doing Blue Collar, Taking Care Of Business, or better yet, You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet.

Rush would have made my day.

It is completely beyond me why they would program the national anthem in a vocal style that others can't sing along with. I love the girl's voice, but the pseudo-r'n'b-lounge vocal stylings of one singer trying to out-do the next is irritating enough at hockey games. Setting it against an over-orchestrated accompaniment was pretty out there.

The opera singer's vibrato was so wide her intended pitch was indecipherable. I suspect this is a big reason that folks dislike opera to start with.

I am decidedly NOT a KD fan (unless it means Kraft Dinner), but she was fantastic. Great song too.

Nelly and Brian looked good, but I don't dig the styles, except for that dress.

The First Nations stuff was fantastic, and so appropriate. We sometimes go to Pow-Wows that make us feel the same way...a direct line to our past and a wake-up call to the present.

Young people aren't supposed to die at the Olympics. We send them to war for that. At least there was an acknowledgment of the young man's sacrifice. Pray there is no more.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 06:55 AM

yeah Dan, the North is the new South.... but snow don't last, the folks are warm...

ps.. will send you a link to the song that closed the '76 Games in Montreal... sang by my ex, I played 'coustic but wasn't on this video cuz she was prettier than me......

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: 3refs
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 07:35 AM

It's nice to hear all the positive comments about "The First Nations". Although, Inuit and Metis are not part of "The First Nations" and I'm pretty sure that big polar bear had something to do with the people way up north!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: gnu
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 09:07 AM

Innu?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: bobad
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 09:31 AM

Ron, I've been trying to locate that closing song from Montreal Olympics and am not having any luck even though I got to revisit some memories from the time.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: 3refs
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 10:14 AM

Yes Innu!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: 3refs
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 10:22 AM

No....I was wrong! Innu are part of The First Nation!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: 3refs
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 10:23 AM

Not Metis though!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: Bob the Postman
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 10:42 AM

But part of the Metis is part of the First Nations.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: olddude
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 11:55 AM

I thought it was really cool to have one of the Olympics actually include native people finally ... hopefully we will see more of that in any Olympics in the future no matter what nation.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: gnu
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 12:55 PM

Me too, Dan. I very much enjoyed the dress, dancing, imagery, and quotations.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: GUEST,bankley
Date: 14 Feb 10 - 04:36 PM

Bobad I sent you a link to the video on Youtube... an interesting back story... her name is Estelle Ste-Croix ... a wonderful singer, now retired..... R

Summersville SC

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics 'Oh Canada'
From: PHJim
Date: 11 Mar 11 - 03:06 PM

Just heard Niki Yanovski on CBC and I loved her. Ièm sorry that my introduction to her was the terrible version of O Canada and the Olympic song. I wish Ièd first heard her do one of the beautiful jazz standards that I heard today.