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London fireworks

110 replies

Mummytotwonow · 01/01/2022 01:02

I thought the fireworks were amazing but was confused half the time with what was going on. It felt a bit all over the place - nevertheless I still enjoyed it but was just wondering if it was me that found it confusing?

OP posts:
Moolia · 01/01/2022 10:35

I really liked the fireworks and the drones. Especially the lion and the way they made it look as if someone had kicked a football of fireworks across the river.

I didn't like the cringey poetry, voice-over or ABBA songs. It somehow felt very BBC virtue signalling. Didn't find it engaging or inspiring at all.

(Also, the introduction was "ladies, gentlemen and non-binary folk" 🙄)

Mumdiva99 · 01/01/2022 10:45

I loved it. I wasn't listening closely to all the talk.....but the drones were amazing. I wanted to be there....

ineedsun · 01/01/2022 10:45

@mydogisthebest

I didn't like the choir. Why Abba songs? The rest though I thought was brilliant.

So many miseries. I bet the miseries would never be happy no matter how great the fireworks were or how much were spent on them. Always got to be cynical

Au contraire!

Ours are normally fantastic, this years were absolute shite.

ineedsun · 01/01/2022 10:46

@mydogisthebest

I didn't like the choir. Why Abba songs? The rest though I thought was brilliant.

So many miseries. I bet the miseries would never be happy no matter how great the fireworks were or how much were spent on them. Always got to be cynical

Also I presume Abba because they’re doing a come back although why that’s specific to England I don’t know
Newyearoldyou · 01/01/2022 10:46

I also couldn't understand the significance of abba in the globe? It felt like the Olympics. I liked it but could not understand it but that's OK. The drones were amazing

BlowDryRat · 01/01/2022 10:49

It was cringeworthy. So much virtue signalling in the voiceover. The cut-away to the choir was just odd. The actual fireworks and drones were great. It should have been:

  • poetry
  • fireworks & drones
  • Auld Lang Syne
Volterra · 01/01/2022 10:51

We all enjoyed it but are easily pleased.

SoupDragon · 01/01/2022 10:55

I enjoyed it. I just can't get my head round how they do the drone stuff, even though I watched a "behind the scenes" type thing last year explaining it. It's incredible.

I think they are scaled back as they were not sure they would be going ahead. It would have been a spectacular waste of money if they'd gone all out and had to cancel.

SoupDragon · 01/01/2022 10:56

I do agree that Abba in the Globe was odd.

TheVanguardSix · 01/01/2022 10:58

First thing I said was “this stinks of A level project”.

Grin Grin Grin

The underground stops... wtf was all that about?
It was all a disheveled, underwhelming mess. The fireworks and drones, fine. The rest, just weird and reaching for god knows what... it had a sort of 'supply chain issues' vibe going on. Our local bonfire night's display was more thrilling this year.

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 01/01/2022 11:06

The actual fireworks and drones were ok, but the whole thing was weird and disjointed.

Like many others when it cut to the choir we thought it was over. I suspect many of the most negative opinions are from people who turned off/over at this point.

The timing was off, the poetry was a bit in the wrong place, the choir should have been saved for Auld Lang Syne at the end. The voice over and stations stops were odd, a bit like they started a concept and didn't see it through. It wasn't clear what they were trying to do and it felt incomplete. Very odd.

ArblemarzipanTFruitcake · 01/01/2022 11:12

It wasn't that the choir were bad from a technical point of view, it was just the timing of the Abba songs spoiled the firework experience and unless you're a huge Abba fan, why would you want to hear their songs at that point in time - they had no relevance to bringing in the new year.

SoupDragon · 01/01/2022 11:15

I agree - the choir were excellent, it was just a case of why?

HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 01/01/2022 11:16

Choir singing auld lang syne followed by the ABBA songs for the party vibe would have made sense, but in the middle of the display was just bizarre.

stevalnamechanger · 01/01/2022 11:23

I thought it was amazing 🤣🎆👌

ArblemarzipanTFruitcake · 01/01/2022 11:23

Yes - it should've been:

  • Remembering 2021 poem
  • Cut to countdown and bongs
  • Fireworks
  • Auld Lang Syne
  • ABBA
LadyGAgain · 01/01/2022 11:24

@BellaChagall

I thought it was great. A positive start to the year.

We can always find something to criticise but sometimes it's just great to smile and look forward.

I agree!! Thought they were amazing. For those not getting the ABBA bit, it was the west end choir and Mamma Mia has been running for a very long time plus 2022 sees the opening of a brand new arena for the ABBA show which is global and set to bring millions into the city.
marchingtotheend2021 · 01/01/2022 11:28

@Mummytotwonow

I thought the fireworks were amazing but was confused half the time with what was going on. It felt a bit all over the place - nevertheless I still enjoyed it but was just wondering if it was me that found it confusing?
Same It was all so confusing and didn't seem very well put together the women's voice throughout was annoying and the stations what a load of rubbish. Not the same as it used to be too much techy nonsense going on. Bring back the old traditional fireworks. Whoever done the display needs talking to!! Grin
Whitefire · 01/01/2022 11:31

I thought the man on the bridge was going to be it. It started on the back foot as that was just strange.

User2638483 · 01/01/2022 11:33

Oh so were the shapes in the sky drones? I wasn’t sure and wondered if it was just computer generated.
I think that’s the problem with watching it on tv, we’re so used to special effects.

QueenFool · 01/01/2022 11:36

We really liked watching them, love the drones.

Has anyone ever been to see them in person? We have teenagers and are thinking of maybe making a trip down. I can't imagine if it's better or worse in person!

scurryfunger · 01/01/2022 11:55

For everyone confused about the ABBA connection. They reformed and made a comeback in 2021. I guess in a pretty non-eventful year this was a highlight - so playing ABBA songs was a nod to that.

SoupDragon · 01/01/2022 12:02

Hardly a nod, more of a full on head butt 😂

I still think the reformation of a Swedish pop band is an odd thing to celebrate in the London NY display.

LetsGoFlyAKiteee · 01/01/2022 12:03

@ArblemarzipanTFruitcake

Yes - it should've been:
  • Remembering 2021 poem
  • Cut to countdown and bongs
  • Fireworks
  • Auld Lang Syne
  • ABBA
Yeah agree. The display itself was pretty good but it seemed a bit all over the place.
Fairunibutterfly · 01/01/2022 12:11

Thank you kickupafuss. That makes senseSmile