The Ballads of the Games - BBC Radio 2

Subject: The Ballads of the Games - BBC Radio 2
From: Rain Dog
Date: 28 Jun 12 - 03:09 AM

Monday 2nd July 22.00 BBC Radio 2

Olympia

Episode 1 of 6

Duration: 57 minutes

The Ballads of the Games is a six-part series for BBC Radio 2 exploring the agony and the ecstasy of the Olympics, in the words of people who were there and through songs inspired by their stories.

The series begins at Olympia in Greece, with great athletes receiving laurel wreaths when the Games were staged in a period of regional peace known as the Olympic Truce. Contributions from the British Museum's Olympia expert Dr Judith Swaddling and acclaimed German historians Professors Wolfgang Decker and Stephan Wassong help bring the ancient Games to life; while a visit to Much Wenlock helps cover the revival of the modern Games by Baron Pierre de Coubertin

The previous Olympics in London in 1908 and 1948 were benchmarks in Olympic history. 1908 was full of controversy, notably between the English and Americans; and the story of one gold medal winner, Wyndham Halswelle, is tinged with the tragedy that befell him later on the Western Front. Halswelle's Olympic story is recounted by the Glasgow Herald's legendary sports writer Doug Gillon, who covered every Olympics from Munich 1972 to Beijing 2008.

Bob Fox's fine vocal in The Make and Mend Olympics introduces London's last staging of the Olympics, when a bomb-ravaged city cobbled together sporting venues while rationing was still in force. Bellies Full of Air sums up the difficulties of being an elite athlete at these Games and there are some wonderful stories from 1948, told by author Janie Hampson and competitors Dorothy Manley, Tommy Godwin and Dorothy Tyler.

Song and speech combine to convey hugely powerful personal experiences through melody and memory, adding a delicacy and pace that words alone cannot convey. Manley raced against the great Fanny Blankers-Koen and her memories of that experience, embraced by Julie Matthews' singing of Give a Woman Wings, is a lovely moment where an athlete reflects on giving her all.

Jez Lowe, Julie Matthews, and Martin Simpson provide the music, with other singers and musicians including John McCusker, Nancy Kerr, Chris While, Barry Coope and Andy Cutting.

Two years in the making, this is the second series of Ballads from Smooth Operations for Radio 2 since executive producer John Leonard revived the ground-breaking Radio Ballad techniques of Ewan MacColl and Charles Parker from 50 years before.

The Ballads of the Games - BBC Radio 2

Subject: RE: The Ballads of the Games - BBC Radio 2
From: GUEST,Marianne S.
Date: 28 Jun 12 - 03:26 AM

Yes, it's impossible to get away from the damn thing. I am already bored, but also really annoyed that so much funding has been taken away from arts projects and poured into this tedious ego fest.

As far as I recall, the radio ballads of Ewan MacColl were about real people and issues and it's an insult to link this advertising stunt (they still haven't managed to sell all the tickets) to the radio ballads.

Subject: RE: The Ballads of the Games - BBC Radio 2
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 28 Jun 12 - 06:28 AM

Quite right Marianne,

If anyone believes that these games have anything to do with sport or music then they must live on another planet. It's purely and simply money and not for the locals.
Olympic truce? How does Sport help to create a truce when it's all about competition and who is the best, the greatest the most superior?

The whole thing is a joke as are many of the people involved.Incompetent freeloaders by the score. The phrase "piss up in brewery" comes to mind.

I can't imagine what these programmes will be like.

Hoot

Subject: RE: The Ballads of the Games - BBC Radio 2
From: Rain Dog
Date: 28 Jun 12 - 06:45 AM

Some more info can be found here:

Ballad of the Games info

and I believe Mike Harding played an extract on his show last night 27th June

Nancy Kerr— The Wenlock Olympian Games -Private Recording

Mike Harding 27th June

I have not listened to the Harding show yet.

Subject: RE: The Ballads of the Games - BBC Radio 2
From: Jack Campin
Date: 28 Jun 12 - 07:34 AM

Are they going to give us Carl Orff's music for the Nazi Olympics of 1936? It's the obvious parallel to Cameron's festival of state repression.

Subject: RE: The Ballads of the Games - BBC Radio 2
From: greg stephens
Date: 28 Jun 12 - 08:21 AM

I think it is rather sad that the very cherished name "Radio Ballad" is being dragged into this. I think that name should be left to describe Charles Parker's wonderful creations. If Smooth Operations want to make radio programmes about the Olympics that is their right, but I think they should have thought up their own name.

Subject: RE: The Ballads of the Games - BBC Radio 2
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 28 Jun 12 - 09:50 AM

The first series by Smooth Operations was very much in the spirit of the original broadcasts and was widely praised.

Each episode was featured on Radio 4's Pick of the Week. The series produced some memorable songs, won two Sony Awards and provided a splendid concert for Celtic Connections.

I'm looking forward to the second series. It starts with the Olympian Games of Much Wenlock in 1850. I'll reserve judgement until I've heard it.

Subject: RE: The Ballads of the Games - BBC Radio 2
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 02 Jul 12 - 05:40 PM

Ep 1 - playing now - I'm bored already. More like a documentary with musical interludes than a Radio Ballad per se. Who were the readers? Not enough interviews from real people. Disappointing. Doesn't bode well for the rest of the series. Two years in the making - sorry to me it seems more like two weeks.

Subject: RE: The Ballads of the Games - BBC Radio 2
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 03 Jul 12 - 12:49 AM

Well they did have some athletes who reminisced about participating in the 1948 Games. BUT THEY DID NOT SAY WHO THEY WERE!!!!!

Subject: RE: The Ballads of the Games - BBC Radio 2
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jul 12 - 07:34 AM

So - was anyone impressed with the first one?

Subject: RE: The Ballads of the Games - BBC Radio 2
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 04 Jul 12 - 08:11 AM

Songs about sport are anathama to me, and to use the Radio Ballad name is an insult to Ewan MacColl, Peggy Seeger and Charles Parker.

Dave H

Subject: RE: The Ballads of the Games - BBC Radio 2
From: The Sandman
Date: 04 Jul 12 - 08:24 AM

I agree,Dave

Subject: RE: The Ballads of the Games - BBC Radio 2
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 04 Jul 12 - 09:33 AM

I should have said any sport except fishing.

But we'll never get that in the olympics

Dave H

Subject: RE: The Ballads of the Games - BBC Radio 2
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jul 12 - 08:43 AM

Not impressed then?

Subject: RE: The Ballads of the Games - BBC Radio 2
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 09 Jul 12 - 02:37 PM

Episode two - Berlin - tonight (Mon) if anyone is interested).

Subject: RE: The Ballads of the Games - BBC Radio 2
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 09 Jul 12 - 03:26 PM

I recorded the first one and listened to it on Sunday ... or rather I realised I wasn't listening to it. Didn't hold myattention, I'm afraid. I didn't find it much like the Radio Ballads at all.

Subject: RE: The Ballads of the Games - BBC Radio 2
From: GUEST,Steve Nicholls
Date: 10 Jul 12 - 03:19 PM

There are some real miseries on this site. I thought they were very good and are helping to keep folk music, on national radio.

Subject: RE: The Ballads of the Games - BBC Radio 2
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 11 Jul 12 - 05:15 PM

But they are nowhere near the standard of the McColl / Seeger / Parker Radio Ballads.