Olympic Opening Ceremony-???

[beachmouse]

I enjoyed it because of its bizareness. How could you not love the Costa Rican delegation marching in to 'Play That Funky Music, White Boy'? And giant plastic cows getting pulled around the stage. And how Bob Costas starts getting snarky midway through and making fun of the Mongolians' hats and proclaiming that if they start playing 'Bette Davis' Eyes' by the immortal Kim Carnes then his evening will truly be complete.

 

[audie]

BORING !!!!!! i told my hubby i have an idea for the perfect opening ceremony. the president or king or whatever of the host country walks out onto a stage and stands in a spotlight..... he goes to the microphone..... and says "thanks for coming, enjoy the games, spend lots of money because we will never get out of debt for hosting these games. thank you and goodnight" sounds like a plan for me. i don't need tree people, dudes beating on an anvil, roller skaters, disco music during the entry of the countries (what was up with that ?). that was 4 hours of wasted tv coverage imo, they could've put a good family movie on during that time or something.

 

[Bob]

BORING !!!!!! i told my hubby i have an idea for the perfect opening ceremony. the president or king or whatever of the host country walks out onto a stage and stands in a spotlight..... he goes to the microphone..... and says "thanks for coming, enjoy the games, spend lots of money because we will never get out of debt for hosting these games. thank you and goodnight" sounds like a plan for me. i don't need tree people, dudes beating on an anvil, roller skaters, disco music during the entry of the countries (what was up with that ?). that was 4 hours of wasted tv coverage imo, they could've put a good family movie on during that time or something.

I seem to have lost interest when "The Games" went to the 2 year format. I used to look forward to the Olympics more when it was every 4 years. Same situation with the Super Bowl creeping into February. Same with Tiger Woods being paid 3 mil to show up at the Dubai Desert Classic last week. That's 1 million more than Arnold Palmer made in his career. The greed in sports has no limits. The Olympics would do well to go back to 4 years.

 

[Mermaid]

I can't get "Disco Inferno" out of my head today!!!

 

[Kimmifunn]

I can't get "Disco Inferno" out of my head today!!!

Fitty Cent's version or Bee Gees?

 

[Camp Creek Kid]

My husband lived in Italy for a couple of years so he's very familiar with their culture. He predicted two things based on the Italian culture--Pavarotti would sing (he was awesome) and somebody else would perform who Americans think is hokey, but who the Italians really dig. He thought it might be somebody along the lines of Cristina Aguliera (sp?). When Yoko Ono stood up there and "perfomed" I had to wake my husband up (he was that bored) and he just mumbled, "They're (the Italians) freaks." They just have a different sense of "what's cool" than Americans, not that that's bad.

 

[Jdarg]

I agree- Pavarotti was great. I loved his "stage" they created with the huge chandelier and red curtains- looked very elegant in the middle of that arena. Yoko was just flat out weird. The peace dove made up of people hanging on to the wire wall was really cool though. And I love Peter Gabriel.

 

[Mermaid]

I agree- Pavarotti was great. I loved his "stage" they created with the huge chandelier and red curtains- looked very elegant in the middle of that arena. Yoko was just flat out weird. The peace dove made up of people hanging on to the wire wall was really cool though. And I love Peter Gabriel.

Ditto here. I've never been a Yoko fan and what's with wearing sunglasses at night? Dark sunglasses at that.

 

[Cil]

They just have a different sense of "what's cool" than Americans, not that that's bad.

Exactly. That's part of what the Olympics is all about.
I always like the opening ceremonies when they are in other countries, because I know it will probably be something really different from what I am used to. There has certainly been some far-out stuff over the years, but to me it is reassuring to know that our entire planet has not become Americanized.

....That was some playlist, huh?! ;-)

 

[Jdarg]

Exactly. That's part of what the Olympics is all about.
I always like the opening ceremonies when they are in other countries, because I know it will probably be something really different from what I am used to. There has certainly been some far-out stuff over the years, but to me it is reassuring to know that our entire planet has not become Americanized.

....That was some playlist, huh?! ;-)

Oh- I agree Cil! There were many aspects of that ceremony that I would consider to be special and unique to their culture, and I certainly don't think we needed another SuperBowl -style halftime. But like many of our extravaganzas at halftimes, awards shows, etc, sometimes the mix just misses in places- Yoko was a good example! The show was too long to be perfect the whole way through- nobody could be consistent for THAT long!

I think Audie's idea is excellent- sing the national anthem and tell everyone how much this little event costs and tell them to go spend some money!