Can't Not Mention the Olympics

I really enjoyed the Olympics opening ceremony.  Some people have been saying the music was Danny Boyle's music collection, which is okay by me, as his is about the same as mine. (I would take the piss out of Chariots of Fire but be respectful to Elgar and end with a rousing Pink Floyd). Some complained about the rustic scenes giving way to smoking chimneys was far too lefty (if anything it's Tory Romanticism). 

Its history was the Industrial Revolution and All That, skipping imperialism - which seems fine for a showcase pageant.  The big part of Britain's view of itself, World War II, with its library of iconic images - St Paul's above a burning London, air-raid sirens, Chamberlain's umbrella, Spitfires - could not be done when celeerating a time when the nations are competing with games, not guns. Churchill turned up for the closing ceremony, but only to quote Shakespeare - no fighting on the beaches.

My favourite part was when the winged cyclists emerged.  In the heaven that I go to the cyclists will be winged, the geekier ones explaining to each other how they find realigning the feathers and using carbon instead of titanium struts makes for a better flight.  This marvellous, surreal spectacle was set against the Beatles song I love best, Come Together.  One thing though - the Arctic Monkeys were singing it slightly off key - or so it sounded. (Here - 3 hours 5 minutes in).

Compared to:-

 

At the end of the ceremony, after the seven young athletes had been handed the torches and lit that elegant cauldron I found myself quite moved - against all expectation, as I had groaned when London got the Olympics. I regard Olympics time as a fortnight of no news except for who got bronze in the shot-put.  Other Olympics haters I know have said the same, and we've even planned to catch something at the Commonwealth games when they come to Glasgow. One of the pleasures was the accidental beauty of the athletes - the beauty of youth, supreme fitness and dedication.

Also at the end of the opening ceremony, I thought:-

One plus - there was no Morris dancing;
One minus - there was no Ray Davies doing Waterloo Sunset - how could they possibly leave that out?

Both these omissions were fixed in the closing ceremony. 

Ray Davies performed but looked as if he felt his age.  I saw him a few years ago and he was in good trim, jumping up and down on the stage. 

Morris dancing - even if done ironically - is the silliest dancing on earth.  Maori Hakas, Scottish ceilidh dancing, Bollywood - all have their points.  But there's nothing to be said for Morris dancing, except that it looks ridiculous.

Comments

[Bob-B]

Morris dancing is great.