Olympic opening

I agree, Ariadne - on the whole it was a great spectacle, although I did find it hard to follow what was happening in the opening sequences. I still think the two bits of pop music were inappropriate and McCartney looked and sounded well past it. I stayed awake (on and off) for the whole parade - I reckoned if the queen could do it, I could do it. The various costumes were so colourful and it was interesting to hear about the less well-known sports.

I loved it! Theatrical, imaginative and clever. But I do agree that Paul McCartney is now past it, didn't understand why The Arctic Monkeys were there, and thought the Queen looked even more miserable than usual.

The cauldron was spectacular.

I really didn`t expect to enjoy the opening ceremony this time, but found it brilliant, apart from Arctic Monkeys and Paul McArtney, who really should have given up the ghost long ago.

Meant to say, could somebody please tell Paul McCartney that he is entitled to his OAP and maybe he could give up the day job? He more than overstayed his welcome and sounded pathetic, a travesty of the Beatle he used to be. (At least we were spared Sirs Cliff and Elton)

Well I loved it, especially the cauldron which I thought very unusual and stylish. I loved the "potted history" of Great Britain, the national songs from each country (hymns? Flower of Scotland certainly isn't) and Abide With Me although the choreography of the dance it was sung to made little sense and I didn't like the counterpoint rhythm.
Seeing Muhammed Ali reminded me of the fragility of life and what a young and vital athlete can become. Sobering thought in the face of all those young "immortal" people.
Good fer Her Madge parachuting in (what do you mean she didn't really?)
I think I probably slept through half the countries marching in as there were some significant gaps in the alphabet, but as a show stopper and a spectacle for GB to be proud of, it was second to none.
Now down to business and some medals!

I was glad to see the politicians didn't try to muscle in on it. It was idiosyncratic - very British!

Oh well - I liked it or most of it anyway. Now it is bedtime.

Is Hey Jude supposed to be some kind of a National Anthem these days? Why??? Spoilt the end.

The rest was absolutely marvellous. Well done Danny Boyle et al.

I thought it was brilliant - apart from McCartney but by the time he came on I think everyone had got their coats on.

Ali, a wreck probably because of his participation in his sport, was a sour, sad note I thought. Didn't mind Artic Monkeys - at least they were in tune, not like McCartney.

The opening ceremony was so bad I really wish I hadn't seen any of it. With 7 years to prepare surely they could have done much better.

The engineering of the cauldron is certainly impressive.
On the whole, an interesting ceremony, but I found the introduction of the Arctic Monkeys jarring - it didn't seem to have anything to do with the rest of the proceedings.
Might have known McCartney would get in on the act!
I'll bet the queen is ready for bed.
Sad to see Muhammad Ali looking so frail.
The rock festival brings a lot of trade to my tiny village - let's hope the Olympics does the same for the UK

Paul McCartney is so bad, FGS just go away.

Hey Jude!!! Why? Should have finished with cauldron which was good.

I don't understand how that bit of pop music fitted in just there.

Yes!still haven't gone to bed, don't want to miss anything.

Wow Arctic Monkeys....def didn't expect that.

Yup - women in Saudi team and just so many countries I have never heard of to my shame.

Must be my TV - it sounded as though she was too close to the microphone.
Some fascinating insights into the political situations in various countries - only six athletes out of a population of 60 millions in Myanmar.
Some unusual sports too.
Did I see three women in the Saudi team?

Her rendering of abide with me was very beautiful because she sang it in such a controlled and quiet way - nothing wrong with the sound

Thought clowns were useful but wine has clouded reasons why. Greatnan you have still got tomorrow's live music to enjoy and I am still jealous. Don't think there was anything wrong with the sound. Inventing WWW is not exactly resting on laurels is it?

And I thought they were just being polite merlotgran.

Was there something wrong with the sound when the woman sang 'Abide with me'?
I am having to have my sound up as loud as possible as a rock concert is taking place about a quarter mile away. It is quite magical, as there is a very bright half moon and the music is reverberating round the mountains. I have to keep my French windows closed and use my electric fan - even though it is past midnight here it is still very warm. I keep alternating between watching the TV and standing out on the balcony to listen to the live music.
I hope I have as much stamina as the queen when I am 86!
The Mr. Bean bit was very funny and apparently the programme is popular world-wide so most people would have recognised him.

Baron de Coubertin re-invented the Olympics at the turn of the century. Because he was French the first language of the Olympics is now French. Got this from SIL after I texted DD2 asking what was going on?

I love history too. Unfortunately we seem to be very proud of things we did in the past and resting on our laurels. I'd like something to be proud of today. See my first post for list of things that would make me proud.