BS: Olympics opening ceremony

Subject: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: EBarnacle
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 07:58 PM

I can't believe they just did Danny Boy. With so much better music available, how could they use something so trite?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 08:10 PM

Are you sure they weren't singing "Danny Boyle" ?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Lizzie Cornish
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 08:11 PM

It was FABULOUS, from start to finish....Well done, Danny Boyle, and everyone concerned..

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: EBarnacle
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 08:33 PM

I got a real kick out of the QE 2 stand in doing the parachute entrance. The corgies looked sort of sad at being left out, tho.

Why did her majesty look so grim during "God Save the Queen?" She sure lit up immediately after, though.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: EBarnacle
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 08:45 PM

Definitely enjoyed the salute to Brit kiddy lit but where were the hobbits?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: gnu
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 09:15 PM

I got a laugh out of Atkinson.

The bit with Beth and 007 was "good with anticipation" to start with... I was pleased to see her play along with it.

I don't think the TV captured it well. For me, anyway. I spent a fair bit of time wondering what was actually going on. The general theme was good but the small screen just didn't display the details clearly... men in top hats and tails dancing to music that didn't seem to fit struck me as odd, among others.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 09:26 PM

The first part on rural Britain and the Industrial Revolution was brilliant. Perhaps a bit more on marine exploits could have been added.

Danny Boy is universally appreciated. The perfect selection.

Hobbits- I would have preferred a salute to Tolkien rather than Rowling.
He said so much that is memorable. Two lines that would apply to England as portrayed in Danny Boyle's evocation:

The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 09:36 PM

Happily I missed it all, as I will the rest !

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: EBarnacle
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 10:01 PM

Definitely enjoyed the Brit history of rock. Rock on. The commercials definitely detracted from the proceedings.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: EBarnacle
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 11:26 PM

It is driving me nuts that neither the TV commentators nor members of the organizing committee seem able to pronounce the names of people or nations as the people being named would be pronouncing them.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: EBarnacle
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 11:48 PM

That torch was magnificent.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 11:49 PM

the lead singer in Snow patrol did their song quite well, but he couldn't stay in key for Come together - allover the place. the guitar was a bit iffy as well. Should have got Macca - at least our generation sung in tune occasionally.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: ollaimh
Date: 27 Jul 12 - 11:51 PM

my wife made me watch. what was with the big grassy hill where the speakers podium was? was that a hill fort replica? maybe be hobbitton? or a piece of england's green and pleasant land?

it was silly either way. the whole thing was pretty silly. glad i was drinking sparkling wine and relaxing after a concert preceeded y a twenty kilometer bike ride. i was nodding off

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: open mike
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 02:25 AM

the hill represented Glastonbury Tor.
Were any mudcats involved?
What? no Morris Dancers?!
During the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, there was a spot light on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Berners-Lee,said to be the "inventor of the World Wide Web" I did not know about him, did you?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,.garg
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 02:40 AM

www.guardian.co.uk/sport/london-2012-olympics-blog/2012/jul/27/olympics-2012-pictures

Did a good job of coverage...combined with good tweeters...the slum -dog atmosphere was certainly captured.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle
   from the sheep shagging to the pickpockets they portrayed that green turf called England in an honest light.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 03:08 AM

"the lead singer in Snow patrol did their song quite well, but he couldn't stay in key for Come together"

Ummmm, maybe that's because it wasn't Snow Patrol. It was Sheffield's finest, Arctic Monkeys, Al!

But you're right, he missed the key completely in 'Come Together' (maybe someone switched his in-ear-monitoring off?).

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Little Robyn
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 04:01 AM

I thought the ending was a bit weak - on telly anyway - when Paul stood up to conduct the whole arena, they may have heard it but he vanished from TV - soundwise.
I really enjoyed Rowan Atkinson!
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 04:23 AM

I caught a glimpse of members of Team GB (sic) running towards the camera shot, screaming and girning, as I popped my head in to say goodnight to the staff.
I do love the way we show our best dignified side to the world, don't you?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 05:37 AM

Wonder why they always insist on dragging McCartney out for this kind of thing? He's so over the hill, embarrassingly so - I cringed all the way though his spots at the Jubilee concert and last night. Awful, absolutely the low-spot of an otherwise excellent Opening Ceremony.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 05:47 AM

Re #OlympicCeremony on #BBC2012, Beijing: 90% Chinese culture/London: 90% everybody else's culture - as I feared http://walkaboutsverse.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/walkaboutsverse-143-of-230.html

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 05:58 AM

Her Maj. had a face like thunder all night - I wonder why. Even her announcement of the opening of the games had the tone of "I really don't want to be here."

You can see the 007 clip at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19008471

Use ExpatShield if overseas.

The Rowan Atkinson skit is on YouTube - but the clips keep getting blocked. When available can be downloaded using any number of YouTube downloading apps.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 06:02 AM

well of course Macca is over the hill - but he usually has enough sense to have people round him who can rise to a guitar riff - rather than wobbling about in mid competence.

If they're dragging in the industrial revolution, what better than a piece of archaeology like Macca. Perhaps they should have got Jimmy Tarbuck to tell some jokes - then the whole world would see the true depth of suffering for England's huddled masses.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 06:07 AM

""Happily I missed it all, as I will the rest !""

So, why not take your negative attitude with you, as you now have nothing of interest to add.

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: theleveller
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 06:26 AM

To be honest, I found it cringe-makingly embarrassing. I kept covering my face and shouting "What will people think of us when they see this?" Really, is that the perception of Britain that we want other countries to have of us? And what was all that about the NHS when this uncaring government is destroying it. The part that really rang true was when there were two children sleeping in each hospital bed - said it all for me. The whole thing was like The Goodies in Tellytubby Land (what was that Tellytubby hill all about?).

The part I found very moving was the actual parade of competitors - especially the small, poor countries that had such pride even though there was only two or three of them. But why was the USA team dressed in Paramilitary gear - definite overtones of Nuremberg there?

The torch at the end was AMAZING!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 07:18 AM

#OlympicCeremony on #BBC2012, and the worst dressed award goes to..?..like their collars, starts with G...

I agree about the cauldron, though.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 07:23 AM

The 'torch' [I take it you meant 'cauldron'] was the work of the gifted Thomas Heatherwick, whose "B Of The Bang" sculpture was so striking at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, but unhappily proved to be unstable & a bit dangerous and had to be, first isolated, and then destroyed. This piece should last out its scheduled life, though.

Don T ~ No use using logic on the likes of whoever posted that stupid negative remark, alas. Such idiots genuinely believe we are all agog to know what they are going to be spending the next fortnight, not doing; the conceited oafs!.

~Michael~

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 07:32 AM

Interesting comment Wysywyg, I don't agree with you therefore I am not welcome to put my point of view, I seem to recall a similar state of affairs bludgeoning in Germany in the 1930's.

If people want to watch the Olympics that fine by me, however I do find the constant reference to the event in everything from the BBC news to adverts for washing up liquid tedious.

My point of view is, I believe, as valid as anyone elses' or perhaps you consider that I should be shot because I have not gone along with all the hyperbole that has lead up to the games.

Cue Jessie Owens.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GloriaJ
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 07:37 AM

I've never seen any of the previous opening ceremonies, but I thought this was great.It avoided the cliches of Henry VIII, etc and at times seemed to be a dramatisation of "The Making Of The English Working Class". The music I thought really effective was Evelyn Glennie and her 1000 drummers - must have been really powerful live.The whole thing seemed very english ( in spite of the n.irish,welsh and scottish contributions) and I thought they achieved a good balance between the acceptable face of patriotism and good humour.
I quite like these sporting spectaculars ( as long as its not f..ing football) because I've recently taken up the cello and I know I'll progress in leaps and bounds over the next few weeks.I always play while such things are on - The Tour de France is always good in this repect - hours of it every day.There's six hours of cycling today - what's not to like?!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 07:40 AM

Watch or don't watch what you like, Tash. But why do you imagine we should be interested? Your post didn't agree or disagree with anything or put any point of view in any meaningful sense. It merely told us what you won't be doing for the next couple of weeks ~~ info, as I said above, we were all agog [nay positively wetting our knickers] for!

You conceited booby!

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: theleveller
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 08:11 AM

Cauldron, eh? Maybe we should have had a reading from Macbeth rather than The Tempest (or maybe the Mabinogion).

Just asked my son when the rugby is on and he says it isn't included. WHAT!!!!%&*()*&^%$£"!!!. The most civilised game in the world and it's been left out! However, a little research indicates that 7s will be included again in 2016 - and that, in 1924, it was won by the Americans!!!! Damn travesty, I say :)

I won't be watching much as I'm not a very sporty person, but what I am quite looking forward to is seeing sports which don't usually get much coverage, especially fencing and archery.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 08:36 AM

Polo isn't included either. We will watch our recording with finger poised on fast forward!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 09:03 AM

Agree with TheLeveller about the 7s and different sports being broadcast. But find Polo cruel - http://walkaboutsverse.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/walkaboutsverse-146-of-230.html

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 09:14 AM

Sorry ~~ I suppose I shouldn't have been so rude in my last post. Apologies to all for bringing down the tone of the thread.

But I am constantly exercised by this compulsion some appear to suffer:

to open threads on topics in which they are not interested, for no purpose except to assert their uninterest in tones of priggish self-satisfied superiority, and thus implicitly to sneer at those low enough to find of interest something so much beneath the notice of their imperious mightinesses;

which is what it seemed to me that Raggy was doing.

Why, though? What is the point? what possible satisfaction does anyone get from any such perverse procedure?

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: artbrooks
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 09:17 AM

The US team in paramilitary gear?? The ones I saw were wearing blue blazers, white trou or skirts and blue sissy berets...didn't resemble any military that I know of.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Stu
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 09:21 AM

I loved it. Thought it was representative of ordinary people, the music was brilliant, Branagh quoted my favourite verse from Will and McCartney is God, and whilst not in the first flush of youth is still the man.

Great to watch Cameron sat there why the NHS was celebrated so passionately, whilst he's trying to destroy it. It might begin to dawn on him now . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 09:41 AM

"McCartney is God" SJ...as an Englishman, he has put a lot of time and effort into copying an aspect of American culture - pop - and become good (NOT God!) at it. I admire, rather, those who are good at their OWN native culture.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 09:41 AM

@artbrooks ~~ berets here, especially with badges, as those had, are associated here with the military; are indeed the standard headgear of most arms of the service. Hence the military look to us.

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: EBarnacle
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 10:10 AM

Actually, the blazer started out as naval gear, when the captain of HMS Blazer mandated the style for his officers. This was in the era when uniforms were not uniform.

Ralph Lauren did design rather handsome outfits. It's a shame they were made in China.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Andy Shandy
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 10:21 AM

Come on admit it.
At least half you old goats only watch the women's events
for the ever increasingly tight stretched competitive sports fabrics
giving the vaguest hope for zoomed in close up camel toes.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 10:47 AM

I don't watch any sports at all.
I think the opening ceremony should have been hanging Mitt Romney by his tongue!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: melodeonboy
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 11:04 AM

I thought the rural to industrial bit was fairly imaginative.

The NHS bit I found slightly bizarre, although well-intentioned.

The massed drummers were really powerful.

What was that droning electronic music in the first part for? It seemed to go on for ever!

The paucity of traditional British music was a disappoinment for me.

I watched it until they started that "medley" of naff 70s pop songs, then reached for the off button!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: MikeL2
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 11:33 AM

hi

I thought that most of the presentation was very good. Many of the cast were volunteers and whilst maybe occasionally the odd mistake could be detected, I thought that added to the charm.

I agree with others about Paul McCartney's spot. Did nothing for me. I thought he appeared very nervous and the band did not seem together. As someone said earlier there was some problem with the sound systems.

Enjoyed the torch arriving from the river and then the lighting of the Cauldron was magnificent. And nice touch choosing a group of potential future athletes was a good one.

I thought it was a good idea not to try to outdo the Beijing performance. Well done by all.

I like sport but will choose carefully the parts that I want to watch.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Andy Shandy
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 11:37 AM

QUOTE "I like sport but will choose carefully the parts that I want to watch."

QUOTE "Come on admit it.
At least half you old goats only watch the women's events
for the ever increasingly tight stretched competitive sports fabrics
giving the vaguest hope for zoomed in close up camel toes."



Hmmmmm ?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Penny S.
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 11:39 AM

I thought the special effects transformation of rural to industrial was brilliant, and I wish that films still used more of that sort of thing than CGI.
Didn't see all of it, though, as I was at a colleague's farewell do, with vision but no sound - I can't describe what music was on during the memorial to 7/7 instead of Abide with Me, but it was NOT appropriate. (I gather NBC cut that bit for some reason.)
I thought the choice of Danny Boy was odd (but hadn't noticed the pun), but I suppose it would have come up if people were asked "What do English, Irish, Scots and Welsh sing?" which would explain "Guide me" instead of "Gwlad, gwlad). Liked the Giant's Causeway choice, though, but that's the geologist strand of my brain.
Did you notice Ratty and Mole up on the headwaters of the Thames? A tiny brief glimpse - I had to rewind, pause and get really close to the screen to confirm them. A foretaste of the literature section - no E. Nesbit, no Just William, no Jennings, no Stevenson, no Lewis, and as someone else has said, no Tolkein.
Someone reported on the radio that a Tory MP has complained it was too left wing. Twit.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jeri
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 11:42 AM

What I remember...
Chimneys, chimney sweeps and imagining Dick Van Dyke would pop up somewhere. Multiple Mary Popinses with umbrellas and imagining Dick Van Dyke would pop up somewhere.
Sheep and maypoles, some molten iron and guys with hammers, drums, shirtless image of Bowie, black & white harlequin patterned spandex onesies, some couple and a cell phone lost and found, then they danced, and all the while some music was playing. The music involved a couple bars of a couple hundred songs, in rapid succession.

..and then, as George Takei wrote on Facebook "A ring was forged and bound the other rings above a smoke-laden waste before the Eye of Sauron rose."

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 11:47 AM

Given that London is in England, there should have been a lot more of this - http://davidfranks.blogspot.co.uk/p/some-english-dances-instruments.html

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: SINSULL
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 12:16 PM

I watched parts of the finale. Interesting to see how some countries seemed overwhelmed and unable to just relax and smile while others romped thru the proceedings. The doves of peace on bicycles was a bit much.
Could they not find a more dignified way to include Mohammed Ali? It was painful to watch his wife trying to get him to salute. Shameful.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 12:46 PM

It was a mixed offering.... Like others, I thouroughly enjoyed the first parts, was bemused by the NHS section, though it WAS well done.... and unimpressed by the pop music section.

I have no idea why Muhammed Ali needed 'one more tribute'...but *shrug*

I had no sound problems with the McCartney performance. It came thru fine, and I was surprised at MYSELF for thinking it was quite moving. (NBC commentators said he was genuinely moved himself, and was a bit 'off' for the first few notes.)

Now... the one thing *I* didn't understand was the inclusion and length of the "Mr. Bean" segment. It has been years since I had seen him at all.. (he simply is not an icon in the US). It was vaguely cute... but impressed me as a simplistic version of a Victor Borgé routine. Ah, well... I suppose it is just a UK thing.

All-in-all, I was quite happy and delighted with the feeling & creativity and the way the whole ceremony expressed the essence of the UK.... and as for the queen? "Her Maj. had a face like thunder all night - I wonder why. "...well, she had just parachuted from a helicopter! *grin*... but there was just a hint of a smile as children from all over the UK finished singing to her!


Well done Britain!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Arkie
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 01:29 PM

My impression was that Brits should be proud of the way they were represented. The opening of the Olympics is usually an opportunity to give the world a taste of the host country and I thought that was done creatively, with drama and with humor and respectfully. I particularly liked the opening and the transition from rural to industrial. But also enjoyed the Queen parachuting into the stadium and Mr. Bean's appearance. Also liked the portrayal of Great Briton's contribution to children's literature and the fact that the country should be proud of its medical system and there was much more. Even made me a bit proud of my English, Welsh, and Scots ancestry.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 01:44 PM

Overall an A-, but I realize I am in a minority when it comes to current pop music. My favorite English groups are The Tallis Scholars and the like.

I watched again the opening rural to industrial revolution segment, and still found it brilliant.
The casting of the 5th ring fitted the theme excellently.
Glennie and the drums were a good selection to back up the rapid evolution of UK life.

I remember airlines (American and Canadian) that regularly showed short skits with that Mr. Bean as "entertainment". I thought they were bad then, and he has gone downhill.

The UK did much to advance nursing and the modern hospital, and NHS. Many of the billion who watched around the world would not be aware of this and may have wondered at the segment.

I am not a fan of modern poplar music, so I dozed during much of this segment, but I realize that I am totally out of step with that aspect of current culture. The Beetles and similar groups from UK took an American form and developed it into something more personal, but confinement of this segment to pop and ending with that talky-talk naval-gazing complaint leaves me stone cold dead in the market.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: EBarnacle
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 02:44 PM

I would much rather that Sir Paul had stood there while a band played his song. It would have avoided the embarassment of displaying what has happened to his voice as he aged.

Ali's appearance was as unfortunate as Dick Clark's New Year's Eve appearances. Especially as boxing is a featured sport, showing the potential consequences of participation in that sport was not a good move.

Neither Ali nor Sir Paul should have allowed themselves to be in the positions they were in.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: EBarnacle
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 03:10 PM

Anent my 11:26 posting above, the French announcer got the pronunciation right, followed immediately by the English announcer saying what sounded like "Jack Rog."

If you wish to see the arrival and its excellent but somewhat subtle effects, copy and paste the link below.

http://www.alternet.org/hot-news-views/6-most-awesome-things-come-out-olympics-opening-ceremonies?akid=9140.154686.t-UnWz&rd=1&src=newsletter682566&t=1

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 03:50 PM

""My point of view is, I believe, as valid as anyone elses' or perhaps you consider that I should be shot because I have not gone along with all the hyperbole that has lead up to the games.""

Well Raggytash, if you feel that your opinion of something which you know nothing about (since you proudly state that you didn't watch it), is going to add something useful to the debate, be my guest.

I have no problem with anybody whose opinion differs from my own, but I admit to wondering why anybody would enter a discussion simply to profess his total ignorance of what is being discussed.

Seems pointless, but if that's what turns you on..........?

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Andy Shandy
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 04:10 PM

Well here's my more serious contribution to this debate - infer what you like -

All the vast million spent on producing & televising the next few weeks of Olympics
will provide me with an invaluable positive opportunity
to catch up on a huge backlog of recorded TV shows & Movies
clogging up my Humax hard drive.

Many many thanks BBC schedulers.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 04:16 PM

On the contrary, I feel spoilt for sporting choice.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 04:24 PM

We recorded the opening ceremony in HD - can we watch it? No because the BB fucking C decided to broadcast it in 3D!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 04:59 PM

The Beeb's small screen transmission missed out loads detail of the 'green and pleasant tubby land' shots. Where were all the animals - I only saw the shire horses? And where were the maypoles - I only saw one? AND one newspaper report said that there were even some morris dancers!!!!

Her Maj and 007 can be seen again at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19020220

Mr Bean can be seen again at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19021660

The Cauldron is at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19031028

If these do not work from overseas try using ExpatShield first.

====

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Bonzo3legs - PM
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 04:24 PM

We recorded the opening ceremony in HD - can we watch it? No because the BB fucking C decided to broadcast it in 3D!

I am sure that they'll be loads of torrents available for p2p downloading.

====

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: SINSULL
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 05:24 PM

Blocked "in my area". Ah well.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 05:39 PM

According to the news this is the first olympics where the flame/cauldron/etc can only be seen from inside the main venue;

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 05:50 PM

If the Beeb access is blocked try ExpatShield first.

Or download one of these and open into uTorrent:

http://isohunt.com/torrents/?ihq=opening+ceremony+2012

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 28 Jul 12 - 09:23 PM

I enjoyed it. I was among those pleased to see Evelyn Glennie.

The US team uniforms reminded me of those worn by flight attendants on major airlines at about the middle of the last century, but I like them. I, too, am dismayed they were made in China.

I won't be watching the games but will listen to results on the news. The athlete I am most interested in, Elizabeth Biesel, just won a silver medal in a swimming event. I think she'll compete in just one other event. I'm interested in her because she is from my state, Rhode Island, and very few RI-ers compete at the Olympic level. Also, she attended schools in the town where I worked, North Kingstown, although she was never at my school.

Now I am looking forward to the next part of the Oympics that I will watch: the closing ceremony. I love seeing the athletes mingle with those from other nations.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Andy Shandy
Date: 29 Jul 12 - 03:43 AM

Still no medals for the host nation. Everyone pinning their hopes on the Blonde Swordfish today. The thing that nobody really said about Rebecca Adlington is that she looks pretty weird. She looks like someone who's looking at themselves in the back of a spoon

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GloriaJ
Date: 29 Jul 12 - 04:59 AM

Talking to my good friend Gary Boyle last night (at a wonderful Keighley folk-mafia party) I said" You were in the Olympics ceremony Gary - they played My Boy Lollipop" and he said " Oh yes, well I was in it twice because I played on David Bowie's Starman as well" - bloody name-dropper!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 29 Jul 12 - 05:11 AM

well that Andy Shandy [Date: 29 Jul 12 - 03:43 AM ]
is a fake.

How do I know, same as some of you mods most likely know,

cos Today just for the daft hell of it
it was the first name that came to my head as a post specific silly pun.

Of course it's not an original name, google is full of "Andy Shandy"s.


So I guess there is the vagueset possibility one of the other Andy Shandy's
by miraculous coincidence chose to post on the very same thread ????

So please don't delete any of us.

just in case one of us is the genuine article.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 29 Jul 12 - 05:12 AM

and I know fuck all about swimming
apart from the wet clinging camel toes.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 29 Jul 12 - 05:13 AM

Great game, but the Olympics table tennis is a farce, frankly: because so many of the top 100 are Chinese, they meet against each other representing almost every nation under the sun - if you'll pardon the pun.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jim McLean
Date: 29 Jul 12 - 05:23 AM

Danny Boyle said he drew his inspiration for "Our isles of Wonder" from Caliban's Dream " …. this isle is full of noises …..". At the end of the play, The Tempest, Prospero and his entourage cannot wait to abandon the island as soon as possible and leave it to Boris/Caliban.
Just a thought.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 29 Jul 12 - 06:26 AM

I seem to have been getting the wrong end of the stick - having gained most of my information from the radio, I thought the Isles of Wonder were 'aisles of wonder', though I wasn't sure whether it was in a church or a supermarket.

And those doves on bicycles, which I am now told were doves of peace, I took to be 'bluebirds' as seen over the White Cliffs of Dover - symbols of peace maybe, but only after victory.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Les from Hull
Date: 29 Jul 12 - 06:41 AM

Back to blazers - it was the boat crew of the captain's gig that were rigged out, officers did have uniforms.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: banjoman
Date: 29 Jul 12 - 06:47 AM

I was forced to watch the whole shebang by my family, but actually enjoyed it. The queen looked as if she really had just parachuted in in a howling gale. The transition from the rural to the industrial scene and the forging of the rings was great. After that it seemed to go a bit flat. Why do we have to suffer the artic monkeys and paul mccartney. Surely there are better people to represent the music scene.
My overall view is that we certainly matched, if not surpassed, the Bejing opening ceremony.
Well done but a few Morris Dancers would have completed the rural scene

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Edthefolkie
Date: 29 Jul 12 - 07:52 AM

I thought most of it was great because Sir (next Jan.) Danny Boyle TOOK CHANCES. It was like some huge stewpot with lots of good things bubbling inside.

So many cultural references that nobody could spot them all. For instance I missed Ratty and Mole but spotted the tiny clip of David Niven and Kim Hunter in "A Matter of Life and Death".

Apparently a big influence was the mighty Humphrey Jennings who made "Listen to Britain" during WWII - eg the foundry workers in goggles and masks forging the Olympic rings. And there's your Tolkien reference too, not to mention Wagner!

I see some US journalists missed the point. "For the life of me, I am still baffled by NHS tribute at opening ceremonies. Like a tribute to United Health Care or something in US," tweeted clearly confused Los Angeles Times sports writer Diane Pucin. La La Land indeed.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: theleveller
Date: 29 Jul 12 - 10:33 AM

"I thought most of it was great because Sir (next Jan.) Danny Boyle TOOK CHANCES"

It just goes to show how different peoples' perceptions can be. I thought it was embarrassing because he DIDN'T take chances but, instead, relied on banal, stereotyped images of what our country isn't any more. Like the steel industry - amazing in its time but destroyed by Bloody Thatcher; like the NHS - destroyed by Bloody Thatcher and every government since. Where was the celebration of our wonderful, diverse countryside - all we saw wasit being ripped up to create the Industrial Revolution; as an island nation where was the celebration of our coastline and all that happens there? I could go on. The impression I was left with was one of dark, satanic mills rather than a green and pleasant land (apart from Tellytubby Hill).

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,CJB
Date: 29 Jul 12 - 11:00 AM

He he - during the kissing scenes of the Opening Ceremony - incl. Wills & Kate on the Buck House balcony - there was the brief glimpse of the first lesbian kiss on British t.v. from soap 'Eastenders.' Bet that was a first for a number of homophobic countries taking the transmission including the Arab States.

===

To America's shame the NBC censored out the appearance of the first (and only) woman athlete from Saudi Arabia in the parade of athletes.

Also NBC censored out the homage to the 7/7 victims of Islamic terror on British (London) spoil.

===

Did anyone realise that the forging of the rings was inspired by Tolkien's LOTR. It is reputed that the ring actually forged in the stadium was the 'one ring.'

===

Huge anger amongst many athletes and the public for the numerous blocks of empty seats both in the Opening Ceremony but also in the MANY venues during the first two days. These apparently are likely to have been due to 'freeloaders' aka corporate sponsors (you know who they are) not turning up. Many athletes were refused tickets for their close relatives, and the general public generally still feels disenfranchised from the whole Shen. having been refused tickets from the get-go.

===

THE main black and Asian newspaper The Voice was refused media accreditation to all Olympic venues. This has been considered a slap in the face for not only for British multiculturalism (as portrayed on the Opening Ceremony), but also has caused huge offence amongst Britain's many ethnic minorities.

===

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jul 12 - 11:25 AM

There was a little skirmish with the police outside the Opening Ceremony when Critical Mass cyclists protested about the lack of provision for cyclists due to the Olympic 'Zil lanes' squeezing them off the roads.

http://criticalmasslondon.org.uk/main.html

The police reacted with physical abuse and violence towards the peaceful cyclists. The police used pepper spray and are rumoured to have use tasers. One disabled cyclist unfortunately got caught up in the protest and was so physically assaulted by one policeman that the copper had to be dragged away by colleagues.

The news of this has gone viral, including being picked up and broadcast many times by Russia Today.

Apparently now over 180 cyclists have been arrested.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19036212

Appalling behaviour by the police, who after the Tomlinson affair obviously now think that that its OK to physically assault anyone and everyone.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 29 Jul 12 - 12:06 PM

The Voice was granted media accreditation to all Olympic venues on 18th July.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 29 Jul 12 - 12:08 PM

It has to be said(/sung)

Oh Danny Boyle, that start was a sensation.
It 'raised the bar' for any future games.
You showed the best of our island nation,
There was no need to employ famous names. (the Queen excepted!)
You showed our nightmares with the 'Child-Catcher'
Safe in their beds, the children were not caught.
A wave from Churchill, not from Maggie Thatcher.
And so our only other dread was Voldemort!

You raised a scene of England in its idyll.
Maypoles & cricket on the village green.
Then, up above, you built a 'dark satanic mill'.
Ideas too broad to fit a tv screen.
But come you back, at last, when games are ending.
We hope Kim Gavin* does as well as you.
As onto Rio our goodwill we're sending.
As we all stop, and pause, and bid the Games "Adieu!"

*Artistic Director for the closing ceremony.


Cheers
Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 29 Jul 12 - 08:17 PM

"" And there's your Tolkien reference too, not to mention Wagner!""

Nice one EdtheFolkie!

I've been waiting since Friday to see if anybody else made that link.

Not even all that subtle either.

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 29 Jul 12 - 08:24 PM

""These apparently are likely to have been due to 'freeloaders' aka corporate sponsors""

Well, according to the games organisers all the seats reserved for games sponsors were taken up and the bulk of the empties were reserved for various national olympic organisations, with a few taken by non sponsor corporations.

So you are wrong in almost every detail.

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Penny S.
Date: 30 Jul 12 - 05:47 AM

I only linked the ring to Tolkein on re-watching, thinking it was better to use Milton's Pandemonium than Tolkein's Orthanc (which I have discovered to be a quite respectable Old English word allied in meaning to the Greek polymechan which was one of Odysseus' labels. Cunning artificing.) But the scene did look like Orthanc in the films.

I hadn't linked the flame to Sauron's eye, though. I thought that waas the light on top of the Shard.

Penny

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Songwronger
Date: 31 Jul 12 - 06:22 PM

I missed all that but saw some photos of the tall creature standing over the hospital beds. Does that sound accurate? The huge figure looming over kids in hospital beds? Some kind of "tribute" to the National Health Service in Britain?

Made me think of Moloch, the old god that kids were sacrificed to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moloch

The British royal family is occultic. So are all of the old European ruling families. The opening ceremony may have been a glorification of child sacrifice.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 31 Jul 12 - 07:50 PM

The tall figure was Voldemort, from the Harry Potter stories.

And the Royal Family as witches and warlocks.........NAAAH!

Just another dollop of Songwronger tinfoil hat Bollocks!

Won't some kind soul get him some psychiatric help?

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: akenaton
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 03:57 AM

What had it to do with the Olympics, or the ideals thereof?

It seemed to me, from what I could be bothered watching, a media exercise, complete with hysterical sycophantic presenters.

An advertisement for "multiculturalism", "human rights", the media perception of "freedom" and all the other sleights of hand which they think persuade us that we have any meaningful form of society.

It made me feel a bit queasy really.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Musket
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 08:06 AM

Absolutely stunning.

It summed up Great Britain better than I could ever attempt to describe. Of course, we have the Cannock Chase MP, Colonel Blimp, The Scottish head Catholic bloke, Akenaton and a few dozen others out of a population of 60 million who perhaps don't feel The UK is the melting pot it is, but no matter. Society is society, and I think most of the world knows society means inclusion not exclusion.

Well done Mr Boyle.



Ian

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 08:42 AM

The Tolkien reference - to the film rather than the book - was the uprooting of the tree, and the destruction of The Shire.

I rather hoped that when it came to the deindustrialisation of Britain we'd have had Fred Dibnah blowing up the chimneys...

But I imagine there was lots of stuff going on that the TV didn't pick up - for example in a press photo I saw a large Yellow Submarine which never showed up on screen.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 11:11 AM

Does anyone know if the spectators in the stadium had a programme which explained things for them?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 11:34 AM

I'd very much doubt it, Eliza given the advanced secrecy surrounding much of it.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 01:13 PM

It's just I'm reminded of the sort of thing you get when you go to the Opera - "Antonio discovers Amelia is disguised as Donata. They turn into swans and are rescued by Profondo representing Freedom. Everyone sings in triumphant celebration..." etc. At least you have a bit of a clue as to what's going on!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 01:30 PM

Does anybody read those in advance?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 01:33 PM

Well, they could have referred to it during the ceremony. But I suppose it would have to be in several languages (like NHS leaflets!)

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: theleveller
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 01:40 PM

Well, for once in my life I find myself in some agreement with Akenaton - it made me feel queasy, mainly because of the huge gulf between the representation and the reality.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 01 Aug 12 - 02:23 PM

Roger Ebert's take is an enjoyable read...

Here are the first couple of paragraphs:

As the world watched the incredible opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the same thought was on many minds: How in the world can London possibly top this in 2012? Faced with that challenge, director Danny Boyle seems to have been inspired by the title of a Monty Python film: "And now for something completely different."

I don't know if Boyle's opening ceremony was good. I don't know if it was bad. I know it was surely the sort of event for which the British invented the term "gob-smacking." It was truly, deeply, British. It was by the Brits and for the Brits. Poor Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira and Bob Costas labored heroically to soldier through their notes, helping clueless NBC viewers to identify a speech from Shakespeare's "Tempest," recognize the 19th century industrialist Brunel, and spot topics they might not have been familiar with, such as the Sex Pistols and the Industrial Revolution. I am not quite sure they ever quite explained Mr. Bean, although luckily Rowan Atkinson comes with his own explanation built right in.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 10:50 AM

The Queen sat with a very unhappy expression for most of the ceremony. I now know why. The entire Arena was filled with acrid smoke and dust from the industrial scene especially with the fumes from the forging of the ring(s), followed by the cascade of fire as the five rings were lifted up to the roof. Her Maj. was NOT amused. Maybe the NHS part was about the rise in cancer from our industrial and very polluted past.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 12:01 PM

We watched the ceremonies on NBC.com yesterday, basically to see what the fuss was about.

Some quick impressions. I have never seen so many shabby costumes and so much fake soot in a major international event.

I thought it impertinent, nay! Down right cheeky! when "Bond" cleared his throat to get the Queen's attention.

I thought it was really cool when they made the floor of the stadium look like the aerial view of downtown London for the parachute jump.

I was irritated that the NBC cameras spent a lot more time on the pretend US representatives (Mitt & Anne) that the real one Michelle Obama.

I liked the music thing but thought it could have used much more Dire Straights and Clash and a bit less eighties stuff.

I didn't understand the Danny Boy thing either and was especially confused that the team representing the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland marched to a banner reading merely Great Britain.

I think Danny Boyle was a good choice, though I did spend a little too much time looking for the Rage infested monkeys.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Musket
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 12:57 PM

Hello Sailor!

"Great Britain" is interchangeable with "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" by dint of the OED, custom and practice and common language. The technical difference is not one that upsets people, not even Ian Paisley and his band of bigots. Th reason being there is no statutory body that deals with just Great Britain, it is technically the mainland island rather than describing the three countries within or the countries without. If you were to be pedantic, you would have to include Isle of Man, Isles of Scilly, all the Channel Islands...

A bit like saying United States and Commonwealths of America, or plain USA, or even Dumbfuckistan.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 01:15 PM

I think it would be more akin to the US team marching to a banner saying "Lower 48 States" Or "Contiguous States of America."

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: akenaton
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 02:26 PM

Musket...you may regret insulting Jack's country of birth.
He is quite capable of teaching you some manners.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 03:01 PM

Or the Canadian team having a banner saying "All of Canada except Vancouver Island and Newfoundland because they are not part of the main land mass"

Or New Zealand's Banner saying "North Island of New Zealand"

Or Australia's saying "Australia: Not so fast Tasmania, just the continent!"

As you said, "Great Briton" is just the name of one island.

If this name is correct at the UN why not be as inclusive at the Olympics?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 04:37 PM

Sorry, we do not have "downtown London" - it's partly called the West End, and partly called Mayfair.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 05:48 PM

I realize that Bonzo, but the area depicted had three bends of the Thames with the areas north and south of it. Remembering the tube maps from my visit there at the time, that whole region did not have a name, it included at least six places with separate names, but included many iconic places. So, in my ignorance and laziness I hopefully chose a name that even the most ignorant and pedantic could comprehend.

Apparently I failed.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 05:49 PM

London Calling!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 06:01 PM

"was especially confused that the team representing the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland marched to a banner reading merely Great Britain."

Just one of these anomalys which arise in sport here. For some reason at the Olympics the UK has always competed under the name GB which of course is only part of the UK. Northern Irish people can choose to compete for either GB or Ireland. Cricket is another anomaly. The England cricket team actually represents England and Wales. At rugby union the touring side from the four home nations until relatively recently were called the British Lions. It has now changed to the British and Irish Lions which doesn't quite roll of the tongue so easily though I suppose it is more pc.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 06:04 PM

"The technical difference is not one that upsets people, not even Ian Paisley and his band of bigots."

Wouldn't they be much less likely to be upset at being classed as part of GB than the opposing lot of bigots would be?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 06:11 PM

"As you said, "Great Briton" is just the name of one island."

Not technically true. The political entity called Great Britain was a kingdom created by the union of the Scottish and English kingdoms in 1707. It constitutes numerous islands. Most of them in Scotland.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 06:12 PM

Anyway, if the Scots vote for independence all this stuff about "Great Britain" won't apply, because the term will revert to being purely geographic.

And it will mean goodbye to the Union Jack (which people pedantically seem to insist on calling the Union Flag these days.)

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 07:18 PM

Hypothetically if that happened, and it is a big if, what do you think the name for the new state would be McGrath? The United Kingdom of England, Wales and Northern Ireland perhaps? Or the United Kingdom of South Britain and Northern Ireland? Don't suppose the latter would be likely

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 02 Aug 12 - 11:49 PM

I hope anyone who needs to has already figured this out, but the whole shebang (from NBC's point of view) is available at their site (and YouTube): clicky. The event itself starts at about 15 mins. in.

They also have it broken up into segments, but I don't know if the segments cover the whole thing. page of opening ceremonies videos.

It would be cool to see the BBC take on it. Might have to borrow my son's laptop that has ExpatShield loaded.

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Musket
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 10:08 AM

Ah, McGraw. I was once told that it is the union flag unless it is being flown from on board a sea going vessel, then it is a union jack. Could be bollocks of course, but might be true?

Now then, it would appear Akenaton reckons Jack the Sailor could teach me some manners? I for one have never insulted gay dudes on this forum, so kettles and pots in Akenaton's general direction.

Allan, I went for the Paisley set of bigots on the basis that they would be most insulted normally if you forgot to mention Northern Ireland as being British. If anybody would feel left out by just Team GB, I am sure the indignation from parts of Belfast would be loud. As it isn't I am assuming Team GB is inclusive enough for most and the vast majority of us wouldn't get excited. In fact, I was only responding to Sailor Jack's sense of confusion.

Ian.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 12:46 PM

""Ah, McGraw. I was once told that it is the union flag unless it is being flown from on board a sea going vessel, then it is a union jack. Could be bollocks of course, but might be true?>""

It seems quite likely Musket, particularly as the stern pole from which the ensign is flown is properly called the "Jack-staff".

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: akenaton
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 01:01 PM

Musket....all my views are backed by figures,
You on the other hand, designate a whole nation as "dumb fuckers".

Are you just bigotted against Americans,or have you any data to back up your assertions?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 01:28 PM

Akenaton, I don't think that someone who claims to know the mind of Ian Paisley and who calls a whole country, "dumbfuckistan" is ready to learn manners. He is lucky if he is able to dress himself I would think.

Having grown up singing "God Save the Queen" in a Canadian school, small examples of Imperial chauvinism by British people, such as leaving out Northern Ireland in the name of the team are hardly a surprise. Nor is the defense of such blunders with illogical pedantry. You are the people who killed the natives around Hudson's Bay Company forts with smallpox laced blankets "for their own good" I'm sure that the slavery imposed in the West Indies and The Americas, was also for the greater good of all, even though, like genocide, it was forbidden in common law.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Elmore
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 01:45 PM

I thought it mildly entertaining, and better than the Super Bowl half time shows.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 02:13 PM

Certainly more elaborate.

But maybe it would be better to make "opening ceremony display" an Olympic even and give medals for that. Make it kind of like the Rose Bowl parade. Have the floats do a 3/4 circle around the track dropping off the athletes on the way out. It would be cheaper for the host country and the extravagance and competition would be awesome!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Musket
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 03:14 PM

Hello Sailor!

Bugger me, got to apologise for something to do with Hudson Bay now. Hard life being superior. Anything other offences I should take into consideration? Dumbfuckistan is a country, it's inmates are on the whole decent people. Having right of residency, (not taken up mind) I do keep a watching brief and to be honest, I find the place rather worrying.

I haven't any manners, and like Akenaton, I can seemingly back up my delusions with facts & figures.

zzzzzzzzzzz

Dunno who claims to know the mind of Ian Paisley. I don't normally study bigoted homophobic quasi religious dangerous people. If you want to know more about homophobic attitudes, have a chat with your mate Akenaton. If this were a British rather than American hosted site, we have hate laws to protect decent people from disgusting views of people's life choices. You may choose your mates more carefully...

Oh, to everybody else. If you missed it. I liked the opening ceremony. Liked it a lot in fact.

Joe & elves. Sorry, but I didn't start it this time, honest!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 03:46 PM

"I don't normally study bigoted homophobic quasi religious dangerous people."

but yet you feel qualified to speak for them.


>>The technical difference is not one that upsets people, not even Ian Paisley and his band of bigots.<<

Of course it would be good manners to only express opinions based on some form of knowledge. But we have already discussed your lack of manners.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 04:03 PM

"You are the people who killed the natives around Hudson's Bay Company forts with smallpox laced blankets... "

I very much doubt if there are very many people around these days who have any responsibiity for doing that, Jack.   I'd even doubt whether there are many people here with ancestors who did that stuff - too busy slaving away in factories and farms.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 04:10 PM

Keep in mind we are talking about the opening ceremonies.

Yeah, MacGrath, just like a Brit, take credit for the industrial revolution but conveniently forget the pillage and exploitation that contributed to Britain's wealth.

Perhap's Danny Boyle's presentation should have started with the Beatles?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 06:53 PM

I don't like the practice of using nationality as an insult, Jack. But don't go assuming I am either "a Brit" or British.
............................

The ceremony, as I read it, wasn't so much about "taking credit for the industrial revolution" as about recognising the terrible suffering - includng the "pillage and exploitation" - it caused, and rejoicing in the fact that in spite of stuff like that, good people were able to come through and produce good things, such as the NHS (and the Beatles).

The way in which the presentation turned its back on the whole business of the British Empire, apart from the enormous benefit it brought Britain through Commonwealth immigration (symbolised by the Windrush arrivals) was, in its way, a powerful implied comment on that part of British history.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 03 Aug 12 - 07:35 PM

"I read it, wasn't so much about "taking credit for the industrial revolution" as about recognising the terrible suffering - includng the "pillage and exploitation" - it caused, and rejoicing in the fact that in spite of stuff like that, "

That is not the way the NBC people explained it. They said something about the "great advancements" and how "it all started" in the UK.


" McGrath of Harlow - PM

I don't like the practice of using nationality as an insult, Jack. But don't go assuming I am either "a Brit" or British."

LOL!! I thought you were "of Harlow" a town in Essex England, but a quick Google search shows that you could be "of Harry Harlow" a psychologist or "of Jean Harlow" an actress or perhaw "Harlows" a bar in Sacramento, California. Now that I know it is not the town, I am dying to know what it is. ;-p

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Musket sans cookie
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 02:48 AM

Hello Sailor!

Actually, hello everybody else and welcome to reality. Me just being a thick Brit and all that, enjoying the spoils of slavery and exploitation which every Brit obviously still supports and is grateful for etc etc.

In fact we look on in envy at a country where a black couple were barred from being married in their church on account of their colour the other week and we are positively green to the gills with envy of a country where creationism is taught as a science, where murder by dint of a court is a recognised sentence and where the term sub prime reared it's head, much to the disgust of the rest of the world. Throw in legal challenges to mosques being used, religious interpretation of a secular constitution and a wonderful track record in foreign policy...

All we have to offer is everything Danny articulated.

Keep banging the rocks together guys!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: akenaton
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 03:37 AM

The UK electorate has always been in favour of the death penalty for certain types of murder, so why are the US public more culpable?
Our foreign policy has a very bad history, right from the days of empire, to the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the intervention in Libya......Would you blame our complicity in Iraq on the British people?

As an Atheist, I cannot comment on how others conduct their spiritual lives. If you had sense or manners you would do likewise.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Allan Conn
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 04:13 AM

"I went for the Paisley set of bigots on the basis that they would be most insulted normally if you forgot to mention Northern Ireland as being British"

Aye right got you! whereas the other side would be most insulted if you suggested they were British :-) There does seem to be a bit of a debate about it over there right enough. Kate Hoey (former Sports Minister) suggested that the term "Great British" instead of just "British" was especially disliked when referring to athletes from NI. Though personally I've never heard anyone use the term "Great British". Perhaps she was meaning that plain old "Britain" is a better shortened form of the state's name than GB is? Though mind UK is even shorter!

I did notice that during Alan Campbell's race the BBC commentator did say from "Great Britain and Northern Ireland" several times rather than just GB.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: ChrisJBrady
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 04:42 AM

Now for the closing ceremony - its ALL about London apparently.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 08:23 AM

"That is not the way the NBC people explained it."

Well, you can't argue with them can you?
.............................

The point is, as Danny Boyle said in interviews afterwards, it was, and was intended to be, an event that could be interpreted in different ways, rather than one set into a single interpretation.

Some of the ways were wide of anything he intended - for example a suggestion that the Mary Poppins-to-the-rescue bit referred to Margaret Thatcher - but he still welcomed the fact that the work could be seen in such a range of ways.

It's the same thing as with songs, where different people will read them in widely different ways. The creative process is a collaboration between the creators and the listener/reader/observer.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Penny S.
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 10:32 AM

I think someone round here doesn't seem to recognise the roots of a name like McGrath.

And someone for whom we do not have enough name to be able to ascertain if he is actually writing as an indigenous American, though what we do have suggests not, but who is living in Canada, to imply that his ancestors are innocent of the misdoings of Europeans in dealing with those indigenes, while those still in Europe are not, seems a little biassed.

Most of our ancestors were being exploited by the ruling classes then, as were people elsewhere. Plus ca change.

Penny (mongrel, probably some pre-conquest English, certainly some Huguenot, who knows what else from wherever else, as haven't had a DNA test. My aunt thought there might be some Irish. Other thoughts have been had by other people.)

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 12:09 PM

Its, not the McGrath that made me think of him as a Brit but the "of Harlow" Believe me, if it was Khan of Harlow or Suzuki of Harlow, I'd have made the same assumption, ann

I saw the presentation. I saw Kenneth Branaugh (not an ancient British surname) strutting proudly around while the grass was being removed in favor of smokestacks. I also believe that the NBC people were working with notes provided by the organizers. You are entitled to your own opinions.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 12:31 PM

I was born in Newfoundland, one of the most exploited parts of the Empire and the scene of a completely thorough genocide (the Beothic people) Having grown up as a subject of the Queen, I am proud of much of the accomplishments of the Empire but I am not blind to the costs of that progress.

I do not see "Brit" as an insult myself, I used it as a short form for "resident of Great Britain."

Also my observation about using "Great Britain" rather than UK was more of a fleeting impression rather than a serious manifesto. I don't care much what you call your team. I was just starting a conversation and discussing trivia. Now! Lets talk about what really matters, allegedly homophobic chicken sandwiches!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 01:48 PM

I do not see "Brit" as an insult myself

I don't think anybody does Jack.

McGrath, if I understand him, objected to the: "Just like a Brit...conveniently forget the pillage and exploitation"

Which I would object to as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 02:20 PM

I do not see "Brit" as an insult myself

It frequently is, like most such words.   It depends who's using it and why. After all "Yid" is just the Yiddish word for Jew.

One syllable abbreviations for nationalities tend to be particularly prone to be used as insults. That's why "Jap" sounds more offensive than "Japanese".
..............................

Did you really think, Jack, when the blokes in Top Hats stormed in and ripped up the landscape, that the message you were being sent was an unambiguous "What a lovely thing to happen, how proud we should all feel about it"?

I suppose that's one of the multifarious ways of reading it that Danny Boyle was talking about. Let a hundred flowers bloom.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 04:42 PM

"Did you really think, Jack, when the blokes in Top Hats stormed in and ripped up the landscape, that the message you were being sent was an unambiguous "What a lovely thing to happen, how proud we should all feel about it"?"

They sure looked proud, especially K.B.

Sure! Why not? According to the notes the NBC people were reading the industrial revolution, which started in England, ushered in unprecedented prosperity.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 05:53 PM

Of course the Fat Cats in Top Cats would have looked happy - it was bringing unprecedented prosperity for them all right.

All kinds of ways of reading and interpreting something like this, based on what you see before you. But what some presenter says, whether NBC or BBC for that matter, tends not to be worth taking much notice of.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Allan Conn
Date: 04 Aug 12 - 06:11 PM

"I saw Kenneth Branaugh (not an ancient British surname)"

Actually I think it is. Kenneth Branagh is from Northern Ireland. Of the Protestant persuasion and I imagine regards himself as British as well as Irish. Branagh is claimed to derive from 'Breathnach' which translates literally as Welshman. The progenitor seemingly being a Philip the Welshman who arrived in Ireland with Strongbow in the 12thC. You don't get many names much more ancient than that.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Musket sans cookie
Date: 05 Aug 12 - 03:18 AM

You know, one of the joys of ripping the piss when it comes to national stereotypes is seeing the traits in action in defence of not existing.

Ah. Akenaton. I suppose you are referring to the same majority who would put news of which celebrity has cellulite ahead of news on how the economy will affect them?

That's why, warts & all, we elect politicians to debate such matters. Although polls always suggest the majority of people find capital punishment barbaric, uncivilised and plain wrong. The politicians charged with debating the matter rely on facts such as how once capital crimes did not increase during either the moritorium or after the abolition.

A bit like peddling propaganda and piffle to support homophobic attitudes towards gay lifestyles. The people and amazingly enough the politicians see through veils of lies and right wing propaganda hence enlightened policies slowly but surely slip onto the statute book

Also explains why so many people here love Americans but remain amazed at how gullible the American electorate can be. Hence my somewhat insulting but occasionally accurate depiction of Dumbfuckistan.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 05 Aug 12 - 12:16 PM

I'm from the US, and I find myself amazed (and often demoralized) at how gullible the American electorate can be...

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: akenaton
Date: 05 Aug 12 - 04:01 PM

We are all gullible YY dont be too hard on yourself.
The UK electorate is just as gullible, it's only that we believe we are smarter than others, but we still managed to elect a supposed "Labour" politician who took us into an unjust war and continued to deregulate the financial system.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 05 Aug 12 - 04:24 PM

"Also explains why so many people here love Americans but remain amazed at how gullible the American electorate can be. Hence my somewhat insulting but occasionally accurate depiction of Dumbfuckistan. "

I think the main cause of that gullibility is arrogantly thinking that one is so much smarter and better than others that they don't think normal rules apply to them.

One way that this is manifested is the use of meaningless labels like , "liberal" as the Tea Party uses it, "Fascist" as liberals use it. and "Dumbfuckistan" as Musket uses it.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Musket
Date: 06 Aug 12 - 03:37 AM

If I felt it were meaningful, I wouldn't be waffling away to get debate going on a bullshit section of a folk music website... I'd be someone I wouldn't want to talk to in the pub.

Anything can be an insult. When I was a lad, calling someone "Sailor" was a derogatory term meaning gay. You see, use of words has to take into account a moment in time and place, and whilst many pillocks used that term in a bad way, the irony was that the same blokes were proud if their lads went in the navy. I can think of one old bugger in particular. He was so happy that his lad didn't join him working down the pit, and we laughed our heads off when the same day as he was telling us about a passing out parade he went to, we was shouting abuse at an overman and called him a sailor.....

Musket was my school nick name. I don't think it meant anything too bad and I answered to it, but who knows, it may have started by an insult?

Olympics opening ceremony.. Anybody got a view? I ask purely for information.........

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: gnu
Date: 06 Aug 12 - 05:58 AM

Read the thread?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 06 Aug 12 - 03:17 PM

"When I was a lad, calling someone "Sailor" was a derogatory term meaning gay. You see, use of words has to take into account a moment in time and place, and whilst many pillocks used that term in a bad way, the irony was that the same blokes were proud if their lads went in the navy."

That is really really fucked up. But it explains the way you have been addressing me on this thread. Private jokes, even regional ones don't translate well to an international forum.

"You see, use of words has to take into account a moment in time and place," Are you trying to say that there is some way that "Dumbfuckistan" is NOT an insult. I'd be interested to analyze that tortured logic.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Musket
Date: 06 Aug 12 - 03:36 PM

All logic is torture and no, it doesn't explain how or why I address you when replying to your latest indignation. I doubt that homophobic insults are or ever were part of my repertoire. It is a term that parrots are traditionally known to learn, which with one of your earlier thread comments was rather fitting, and as it irked you, I couldn't help carrying it on. A bit like Bridge calling me Mither, except in that case, I liked his insult and wore it with pride.

So, for the record;

Hello Sailor!

I have tried to read your comments on many subject and am sometimes amused, often bemused and to be frank, I enjoy your inconsistencies. The main difference is that you are being you and I am being whatever I want to be that day. Only my "above the line" posts relate to the real me. The rest is being, well, British, or taking the piss as our national sport is known.

Dumbfuckistan isn't always an insult. If people laugh at it, (and I certainly did the first time I heard Ian Hislop use it,) then it shows the subject isn't being taken seriously. I have used the term to applause at a conference in LA, because as I rightly guessed, many of our cousins don't take themselves seriously either. if they did, we wouldn't have The Simpsons or M.A.S.H. Gawd bless Americee!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 06 Aug 12 - 04:22 PM

I am sorry that I do not recall being "irked." I didn't even know what you were talking about until the previous post.

"Dumbfuckistan isn't always an insult. If people laugh at it,"

You are saying that it is not an insult when people laugh at it?? LOL LOL!

I'll bet the "pillocks" you talked about laughed when someone was called a sailor. Of course it is an insult when people laugh! That is the best kind of insult. Getting back to Akenaton's point, is very bad manners to insult someone to get others to laugh and just as bad to laugh at such insults. And yes, I realize that on this forum I do insult people for laughs but I try to keep that confined to people first who drop the insult bomb themselves. Getting back to my point, I don't think it is possible to teach you manners. Willful ignorance is the worst.

But I am at a loss. I think I will stop trying to insult you for laughs, not because it rude to do so but because I cannot think of anything as funny as the way you have acted and the things you have said on this thread.

I certainly can't top

"Dumbfuckistan" is not an insult because a few people at a conference laughed.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: akenaton
Date: 06 Aug 12 - 05:23 PM

Well said Jack...I dislike most of US and UK foreign policy, but our respective electorates have lost the power which they believed was invested in them by democracy. We are not stupid as Ian suggests, but have been conned by experts on divisive tactics.

When both sets of leaders and their smoke and mirrors have been removed from the equation, the American people are the ones who seem to have retained a sense of vison for the future.
They still see the basic good in humanity, have kept a sense of empathy and a dedication and pride in nation and family.

We on the other hand, have become bitter, cynical and hopeless.
I said years ago on this forum, that the American PEOPLE can be the saviours of humanity and I still believe that to be the case. they are not stupid and know the value of "social" conservatism.

Because we in the UK are no longer affected by insults to our nation or people.....It is a mistake to insult other peoples or nations who still hold some pride in themselves.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 06 Aug 12 - 05:38 PM

"Because we in the UK are no longer affected by insults to our nation or people."

I do not think that it true. Are you just talking about you and Ion Matters?

Also, he can say "Dumbfuckistan" all he wants while the electorate in his country chooses the likes of Cameron and Blair. Blair! He was a piece of work. At least we knew we were getting a warmongering ticket withe Cheney and Bush.

It rings pretty empty when a member of an industrialized democracy calls the whole electorate of another stupid. All western governments are different shades of the same color.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Aug 12 - 08:05 PM

I thought it impertinent, nay! Down right cheeky! when "Bond" cleared his throat to get the Queen's attention.

Huh! In an interview yesterday they said that the Queen loved the idea, that she has a wicked sense of humor and she didn't let her family in on the planned "arrival" so they all got to see it fresh with the audience. She's a fan of the James Bond films and I bet that was a lot of fun, and a gift to her family and the viewers, to let her hair down for the role. So to speak.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 06 Aug 12 - 08:56 PM

Yeah, SRS it was cool wasn't it? ;-) Would we expect less from a properly portrayed James Bond?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Musket sans cookie
Date: 07 Aug 12 - 02:58 AM

Keep it up chaps.

Haven't got a ruddy clue what your point is, although Akenaton's points are sometimes rather loud and clear, not to mention requiring to be dismissed without a second's thought.

Dumbfuckistan is a wonderful description of some of the attitudes that far from being vox pop are in fact the held views of many legislators and would be legislators. Playing the God card in order to scare people about other countries that play the God card does tend to have you wrestling in the same pit. Hence the name.

Better I suppose than calling the place USA and having the same view? USA is a place I am comfortable with, have right of residency albeit without taking it up and have many friends and for that matter a few family members. My concern about the fundamentalist wave that is taking over politics more than ever is a concern shared by many, and many who don't share that view might well reassess their stance if their news and media wasn't so parochial and "foxy."

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: akenaton
Date: 07 Aug 12 - 03:39 AM

I take it that is meant to serve as an apology?

Or is it just the usual waffle?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: theleveller
Date: 07 Aug 12 - 03:42 AM

Can I just point out that Yorkshire is 7th in the world ranking of medal-winning countries. Allus said we should 'ave 'ad t'games up 'ere. (There'd have been no need to try to recreate a steel works - there's still one in Rotherham that escaped Bloody Thatcher's devastation.)

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Musket
Date: 07 Aug 12 - 05:01 AM

Good Lord no.

Just the usual waffle if you don't mind. Not quite as obnoxious as your usual waffle, but it is difficult for you to link Olympic ceremonies with despising diversity, although your first attempt was a bit of an effort.

Leveller - I was pulled up for calling it God's own country the other night at a club. I was told it was God's own county... Mind you, 7th in the world makes it a country in one way, although its GDP has been dire since the abolition of the industrial revolution....

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Allan Conn
Date: 07 Aug 12 - 05:49 AM

"Can I just point out that Yorkshire is 7th in the world ranking of medal-winning countries"

Excepting that they wouldn't be. There is a similar story in the Scottish press today showing that Scotland would be even higher than Yorkshire. Though I'm afraid both claims are a bit off as they include golds won by teams. So for the four supposed Yorkshire gold medals only one was won by an individual from Yorkshire. The other three were won by GB teams which in each case consisted of only person from Yorkshire. Good fun story but doesn't stack up when you actually look at the facts.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Musket
Date: 07 Aug 12 - 06:41 AM

150

That was accurate enough eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: theleveller
Date: 07 Aug 12 - 08:19 AM

Well, that's another gold and a bronze for god's own country.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Allan Conn
Date: 07 Aug 12 - 08:28 AM

And it was a very well deserved gold. wouldn't fancy that triathlon lark myself :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Big Phil
Date: 07 Aug 12 - 01:48 PM

Amazing show from start to end.

Well done them that designed it, well done them that acted it out.

Phil*

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 12 Aug 12 - 12:01 PM

Just saw highlights of the Eisteddfod 2012, and kept hearing the phrase "unique to Wales"...wouldn't it be great to have more of what is culturally "unique to England" in the closing ceremony - given the lack of in in the opening one...

E.g: http://davidfranks.blogspot.co.uk/p/some-english-dances-instruments.html

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Musket
Date: 12 Aug 12 - 12:04 PM

We do have something quintessentially English;

McDonalds, Heineken.......

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 12 Aug 12 - 12:37 PM

And God knows how many times BBC Olympics presenters started a sentence with "You know what?". They might as well go the whole hog: "You know what? I'm like so Americanised I copy whatever they do - I get it!...it's the future, stupid!"

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: akenaton
Date: 12 Aug 12 - 03:58 PM

I was thinking exactly the same WV.

Glad I'm not the only one who finds all the hype and egomania disturbing.

Whatever happened to good conduct and respect for opponents in sport?

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 12 Aug 12 - 04:04 PM

...the ceremony has started not with one our great English folk songs but American soul...

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 12 Aug 12 - 04:15 PM

...closely followed by American pop.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 12 Aug 12 - 05:08 PM

#BBC2012 We can experience Sikh dhol drummers but not English Morris dancers at the #London2012 closing ceremony!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 12 Aug 12 - 05:09 PM

At least two morris sides were participating. Just not dancing morris by the look of it.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: WalkaboutsVerse
Date: 12 Aug 12 - 06:11 PM

...they just hot a minute or two - sharing the stage with catwalk models!

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Allan Conn
Date: 12 Aug 12 - 07:14 PM

"the ceremony has started not with one our great English folk songs but American soul..."

Emile Sande. She's Scottish! It was celebrating British popular music of the past few decades which of course is heavily influenced by American music. At least when she was singing her own song it was in the right key for here and performed well. In the opening ceremony Abide With Me seemed to be far too low for her voice.

Subject: RE: BS: Olympics opening ceremony
From: Musket
Date: 13 Aug 12 - 03:27 AM

Eyup dozy buggers!

There's a thread set up for the closing ceremony...