AIBU to think that there were far too many cringeworthy moments

[nittyclitty]

last night at the closing ceremony

Who decides who appears at these kind of shows? Why is it the same old crap that seems to churned out?

Aibu to think that it seemed totally disjointed and far too long?

i wonder how much they all got paid (and where the money came from!)

No idea?

YABU really. It was a good night's entertainment. Can't understand what people are looking for sometimes...
In general, with the fab lights and all, it probably didn't translate well to TV.

I thought the performers were doing it for free?

I loved the lighting displays, hats off to the technicians!!

I honestly thought it was absolutely awful. I kept thinking it'll start in a minute!

Yes Stacey I agree with you on that point

I agree. I went to bed early. It was a disappointment after a great opening ceremony and fabulous games. Too many off-key singers, including that.godawful Emily Sands or whatever her name is. Liam Gallagher was dire.

Yes Gallagher sounded awful.
Then videos of deceased artists? Russell Brand?
Darcey Bussell? Even the attempt at humour with Del Boy was not THAT funny.
I would honestly like to know what kind of thought process goes into it? Maybe none.

I agree but apparently the acts all got paid £1 each.

Well part of the fun is slagging em all off innit?!

Best for me were: The Who, Muse, Jessie J, Eric Idle and Elbow. OK were George M, Take That, Annie Lennox. Emili S. has a great voice but I find that slow stuff boring, ditto Ed Sheeran.

Yes the ceremony was a bit long, between speeches etc, but I'd say pretty entertaining for anyone there.

Thank God it's over - now the whingers can fuck off and we'll all get some peace from them.

(It will be interesting to see how many posts we get slating the Paralympics!!!)

I loved it and think it is only the british who would think to have Eric Idle and Darcy Bussell share the same stage.

I would love to know what the nay sayers would have liked to have seen or done differently if they couldn't find anything they liked in last nights show.

'Faid I was hoping for British folk songs (English, Scottish etc) like Lincolnshire Poacher, Annie Laurie, Minstrel Boy, Oh No John and so on. I thought it would have been marvellous if they'd finished with Land of Hope and Glory. I love it when crowds of people belt it out at The Proms. Tells the world who we are!

I was quite pleased with Spice Girls and Queen. The Welsh male voice choir was good to. Most of the others were totally unknown to me and most of them couldn't sing. Oh, and The Shadows could have been performing as well.

This link may help to explain the bonkersness of it all ;)

Problem with british folk singers is the rest of the world and even most of the uk wouldn't have a clue who they were.
If we had a grand finish of land of hope and glory we would be accused of too much nationalism when it is a party for the whole world.

Some of it was brilliant, Elbow, Annie Lennox, Kaisers on scooters, some was ok, Spice girls, the Who, George Michael etc. but some of it was utterly cringeworthy, Jessie J appearing to be half naked, the Eric Idle bit turing into Benny Hill with the tits-out angels, and especially the Russel Brand and Liam Gallagher rubbish.

Where the fuck was Bowie singing Heroes or Queen's "we are the champions" ??
Muse should have done "our time is running out" too - much more fitting for close to the end.

Well I would for one would have rather seen something that more theatrical and more of spectacle.
I loved the first part of the opening ceremony and all the games just not this and other equally nauseating crap like we had at the Jubilee.

This might have been fine if you like popular British Music but there was no cohesion just seemed like random acts chucked together.

waterlego

Thanks for that absolutely brilliant

Jessie j was not half naked. She had a full body suit on.

Got to be a bit more specific than more theatrical. What would you have liked to seen and bear in mind how it would come across in a 80,000 seating stadium with the middle packed with people so has to be performed in strips through them.

Where was Elton John? That's what I want to know.

Who knows maybe he refused to perform as it was a non paying gig, or maybe he couldn't make it or maybe he wasn't asked.

I didn't miss him as i get fed up of the same olds faces being dragged out and major events and was happy to have Eric Idle for a change.

1. Less of the type of dancing that looks good on a small stage or music video but crap in a stadium and more synchronisation using colour and props that would look spectacular from height and on TV in such a huge stadium. The audience lighting system was spectacular but a human version on the stage was lacking IMO.
2. Some sort of idea which could be followed understood and lead to a crescendo or an obvious finish. There was nothing of the sort last night. It just had a similar tempo through out and I don't mean speed of music I mean spectacle. I kept thinking that was the end and then a bit more was tacked on and on and on.
3. Perhaps a theme towards the Olympics as opposed to Britain (especially as the opening ceremony was all about us) would have been more fitting.
4. If it had to be a pop concert, all the singers should be able to sing in tune and not mime.

I haven't given it much thought but as you asked these are some thoughts off the top of my head.

The good:

The light show and fireworks. The beautiful torch.

Annie Lennox, Pet Shop Boys (bonkers and fab), Madness set a good, fun tone, Kaiser Chiefs, The Who, Ray Davies, Take That (bravo for making it, Gary), Stomp were fab.

Thought the dancers/non star performers were great, lovely to acknowledge the game makers. Liked the Indian dancing, wondered if that was a two fingers up to spoon faced Cameron and his recent derogatory comments (does he even know that Lord Coe is one quarter Indian?)

The bad:

My once beloved George Michael was rubbish, and really, whose idea was it to roll out a convicted druggie to a load of sports people ?)

Eric Idle, well I love him, but, "life's a piece of shit, when you look at it", not the best message, really.

The super models: WTF? Why do we need to celebrate British fashion at a sporting event, so much popular media is devoted to these people as it is. In a fortnight where some fantastic, strong female role models have come to the fore, why roll out these vacuous bints? Oh look, there's Naomi, the violent one, Kate the drug taking one (again!), er, who are the others....?

Talking of vacuous bints, the Spice Girls. Again, mostly known today for their various struggled with weight loss.

Del boy, why?

The Ugly:

Jacques Rogge. I know English is not your first language, Jacques, but you've been on the international stage for many years now. Injecting a little warmth, passion and humour into your speech would be nice; after all, you are on the international stage making a speech in celebration of the greatest ever Olympic Games, not giving a eulogy for your dead hamster.

nitty i dont think they would have space for anything like that as the stage area was just raised strip through the athelets.
I thought the bit on british fashion was a bit random but it was a show case for them so hopefully could lift the profile of british fashion houses.
I dont think Eric was telling us life is shit but for may at the moment life is shit and he is reminding us that there is always a bright side and we should look to that not the crap that gets us down.
And it is wrong to put down the likes of the spice girls was just various bints. You might not like them and if the trurt be told nor do i but they have their place in british music history.

rulebritannia "I thought it would have been marvellous if they'd finished with Land of Hope and Glory. I love it when crowds of people belt it out at The Proms. Tells the world who we are!"

Ummm...... have you ever read the words to 'Land of Hope and Glory'? Not absolutely sure a rendition of such a jingoistic song would have been that diplomatic in the circumstances!