Olympics #4 - The ceremony that closes it perfectly
I just remembered that I didn't say much about the closing ceremony, which I watched and enjoyed. There was a lot in it that I really loved. Some stuff, not so much. Overall I thought it was great, though not as great as the unbeatable opening ceremony. This was more of a 'Britain's Greatest Music Hits' event.
Okay so the bad. I was not enamoured of the Spice Girls. Was a big fan back in the day, but now, I don't really think you can class in the same category as Lennon or The Who. Really, you can't. It just didn't feel right to me. And the bit with the models was weird. Great to have Bowie included, but adding models to present Britain's fashion industry, I just didn't dig it.
There was a lot of good though. I was surprised that I liked Russell Brand's segment so much. Not the world's best singer but the songs he sang - 'Pure Imagination' and 'I Am The Walrus' - suited him perfectly. And he did a great visual job with them. I didn't hate it, I actually enjoyed it a lot. I got super excited when I heard The Who's 'Pinball Wizard' starting and a huge crowd of mod mobiles in the arena. Then I realised that the Kaiser Chiefs were singing it and got less excited. Still, it's one of my favourite Who songs so it was great to see it and see the mopeds, the mod stylings reminding me nicely of Bradley Wiggins who cycles with a mod symbol on his helmet. Annie Lennox was divine - she sang one of my very favourite of her songs and she did it with fantastic eccentric style. And the street party section, which began with Del Boy and Rodney blowing up their car and Michael Caine's famous line from The Italian Job, was jolly fun with Madness singing 'Our House' and the Pet Shop Boys and the Brass Band playing Blur's 'Parklife.' Yeah, that's the kinda music we do play at celebrations over here. Totally smile-worthy.
My favourite bits? Oh Eric Idle, thank God you never change. A glorious Python performance of 'Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life' with a Roman chorus line, roller-skating nuns, and Bollywood dancers. Seriously silly and utterly British and brilliant. My husband and I could not stop smiling. It was perfect and we loved it. And The Who of course. I have loved them for a long time and few bands feel as British and blisteringly brilliant as they do. Their songs are still scorching. Roger's still got it - and my heart tends to flutter when I see him because I adored him as Fitz in Highlander: The Series. And it was perfect to hear so many sections of their epic songs. The best ending ever.
There were moments where I got weepy. I always do where these gentlemen are concerned. I loved that 'Imagine' was sung and that John Lennon was both heard and seen singing it after the choir had sung. I especially loved it because 'Imagine' is my favourite Lennon video and my favourite visual of him, as after he's finished singing, he turns to Yoko sat next to him and pulls a silly face before going in for a kiss and the video freeze-frames just before they touch. Never fails to move me. So, yes, that had me a little weepy. And I loved that they showed a terrific clip of Freddie Mercury getting a live concert crowd to sing back at him, which the crowd in the arena did. A crowd from today answering the call of a long-dead rock god performing years ago. There was something very moving about that. I was moved and I was happy and God, I wished he'd been there in person.
Okay so the bad. I was not enamoured of the Spice Girls. Was a big fan back in the day, but now, I don't really think you can class in the same category as Lennon or The Who. Really, you can't. It just didn't feel right to me. And the bit with the models was weird. Great to have Bowie included, but adding models to present Britain's fashion industry, I just didn't dig it.
There was a lot of good though. I was surprised that I liked Russell Brand's segment so much. Not the world's best singer but the songs he sang - 'Pure Imagination' and 'I Am The Walrus' - suited him perfectly. And he did a great visual job with them. I didn't hate it, I actually enjoyed it a lot. I got super excited when I heard The Who's 'Pinball Wizard' starting and a huge crowd of mod mobiles in the arena. Then I realised that the Kaiser Chiefs were singing it and got less excited. Still, it's one of my favourite Who songs so it was great to see it and see the mopeds, the mod stylings reminding me nicely of Bradley Wiggins who cycles with a mod symbol on his helmet. Annie Lennox was divine - she sang one of my very favourite of her songs and she did it with fantastic eccentric style. And the street party section, which began with Del Boy and Rodney blowing up their car and Michael Caine's famous line from The Italian Job, was jolly fun with Madness singing 'Our House' and the Pet Shop Boys and the Brass Band playing Blur's 'Parklife.' Yeah, that's the kinda music we do play at celebrations over here. Totally smile-worthy.
My favourite bits? Oh Eric Idle, thank God you never change. A glorious Python performance of 'Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life' with a Roman chorus line, roller-skating nuns, and Bollywood dancers. Seriously silly and utterly British and brilliant. My husband and I could not stop smiling. It was perfect and we loved it. And The Who of course. I have loved them for a long time and few bands feel as British and blisteringly brilliant as they do. Their songs are still scorching. Roger's still got it - and my heart tends to flutter when I see him because I adored him as Fitz in Highlander: The Series. And it was perfect to hear so many sections of their epic songs. The best ending ever.
There were moments where I got weepy. I always do where these gentlemen are concerned. I loved that 'Imagine' was sung and that John Lennon was both heard and seen singing it after the choir had sung. I especially loved it because 'Imagine' is my favourite Lennon video and my favourite visual of him, as after he's finished singing, he turns to Yoko sat next to him and pulls a silly face before going in for a kiss and the video freeze-frames just before they touch. Never fails to move me. So, yes, that had me a little weepy. And I loved that they showed a terrific clip of Freddie Mercury getting a live concert crowd to sing back at him, which the crowd in the arena did. A crowd from today answering the call of a long-dead rock god performing years ago. There was something very moving about that. I was moved and I was happy and God, I wished he'd been there in person.