Opening/Closing Ceremonies Discussion

[johnjimbc]

Being there in person, here were our highlights:

1. Snowboarder coming in while it snowed inside BC Place. Just a great spectacle standing there inside with "snow" falling all around you in a crowd of thousands and thousands.
2. KD Lang. Voice, Wow, what a voice. Always amazes me. Without close-ups it didn't matter that it was pre-recorded.
3. The "Prarie Dancer" while Joni Mitchell's Clouds played. That actually choked me up, perhaps because I can remember hearing that song when I was a little, little kid and even then thinking it sounded kind of sad. So hearing a more melancholy version with that imagery was just amazing in person.
4. Sarah McLaughlin. Just a great performance, came across well. And the imagery for that song was great as well.
5. The Whales. Just loved it. Was the most realistic image, inside. I looked at the floor at one point during the sequence and thought, "That really looks like whales swimming through water beneath me."

We had a great time. We figured out the malfunction, but partially because I knew from that image posted here that there were going to be 4 plus 1 flames. (4 Nations / 1 Canada). But we didn't realize it until a few minutes later. In retrospect, I think the malfunction could have been much, much more embarrassing. As it was, they skipped the music back to just the right point for lifting the other 3. Can you imagine if they hadn't been able to light the torch!!! When you consider the possibility, what happened looked great.

Sadly the symbolism of the death of an athlete today didn't escape me . . . a somber reminder / symbol.

I am too exhausted to think straight, but wanted to post our impressions while they were fresh.

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by JiminyCricket II

that floor was AMAZING. the lip synchronizing from the singers (or at least as it appeared on TV) was not so cool. I thought the tap dancing was the best part, as well as the orcas.

Upon close scrutiny, it appeared that Nelly Furtado and Bryan Adams were the only ones who lip synched.

[zivan56]

Originally Posted by JiminyCricket II

that floor was AMAZING. the lip synchronizing from the singers (or at least as it appeared on TV) was not so cool. I thought the tap dancing was the best part, as well as the orcas.

I didn't see any lip syncing. It was obvious in some that they didn't hit the right note for a second. I heard there were audio issues with the US broadcast, so that may have been the problem.
Yeah tap dancing was great...really got into it just from watching on TV.

[SpongeG]

if u watch the bryan nelly part bryan was singing before he raised his mic to and his lips didn't move until he moved the mic

[whatnext]

I can't believe mr.x hasn't weighed in. Is he verklempt?

[SpongeG]

hes stuck in traffic

[Yume-sama]

mr.x has been strangely absent. I think he has been overcome by Olympic-ness. He seems excitable

[NetMapel]

Obviously too busy facepalming himself. As much as I thought the ceremony was decent, it still was a bit embarrassing with the cauldron malfunction. With all the hype build up to the lighting and the fact that the lighting process is at the very end of the ceremony... it's pretty anti-climatic.

[Yume-sama]

It's really not that big of a deal. Worse would have been if it completely failed, like I thought it did at first

[nova9]

the glitch wasn't enough to dampen the great atmosphere set by the rest of the evening. i think one would have to be pretty crass to left one moment, albeit huge, erase the accomplishments of the 2 hours before.

[NetMapel]

Ultimately, the opening ceremony is overshadowed by the tragedy of Georgian luger's unfortunate death. Best wishes to all involved.

[vancityrox]

I didnt get to watch the whole ceremony but bits and pieces cuz i was working but i did get to see the light of the cauldron at the plaza outside. I was working at the Shaw Tower and so i got the chance to just go out on the patio on the tower with everyone at work and we watched the lighting AND the amazzzzzzzzzzzzzzin fire works....they were unbelievable...ppl said they were much better then the Festival of Lights in summer....it was really something to see!

[SpongeG]

they didn't show much of them on TV

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by EdinVan

...I was also very unimpressed with Steven Harper's complete lack of enthusiasm; it's almost like he didn't even want to be there.

That's pretty much Stephen Harper in a nutshell.

[bulliver]

I thought is was great overall. Little slow at times...
Not a fan of KD Lang at all, but I am a fan of Cohen, and man, she nailed it. It was so good.

[Yume-sama]

Stephen Harper never looks happy to be alive. What did you expect ?

Something strange, I bought the "Sounds of 2010" CD but KD Lang is not on it!!!??

[EdinVan]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

If you consider yourself and about three other tiresome cynics to constitute unanimity, then sure.

Well, unfortunately, consensus on other boards is that the ceremonies weren't all that great. Personally, I thought they were good: B- overall (they'd get a B if they didn't have that embarrassing glitch at the end). Hopefully the closing ceremonies will be better.

[SpongeG]

chatting with a friend - he felt embarrassed and thought they were bad
most people on facebook that i know think the anthem was sacreligious

they were nice low key memorable sort of like Canadians i guess

[zivan56]

Originally Posted by whatnext

That's pretty much Stephen Harper in a nutshell.

I thought he was more animated than I have ever seen him. I was just commenting to a friend that they replaced the motor in his arm with a more fluid one allowing him to wave at the crowds in a non robotic way

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by Cypherus

Well, at least the dome ceiling didn't cave in on 60,000 people....

or catch fire.