Olympics Closing Ceremony

I read in the Times today that the Stones were asked, but declined saying that they "were not in tour mode". 

I was a bit suprised they included the line "Life's a piece of sh*t..." - I was assuming that they'd dropped in that Indian themed section to quietly skip over that!

Phil

I've always liked "Wish You Were Here" and the new GF wandered through into the living room while I was belting out my own rendition trying to drown out the supplied vocals...

I did spot a TVR Tuscan in there though ... celebrating the best of British with a car gaffa taped together by a bunch of still-hungover Scousers that worked for a company that have gone titsup.com twice in the last 6 years and is currently owned by a Russian did make me chuckle.

Damn ... I couldn't believe how gray he'd gone!

Phil

Yes, but if they manage to include "sustainable" or "eco" into it all somewhere then you can make the general populous feel good about doing nothing of any positive benefit to anyone.

Phil

I wonder if the people at the wheel of the black cabs for the Spice Girls were actually proper London taxi drivers. "You wouldnt believe who I had singing on the roof of my cab last night."

Must say it amused me to see them hanging onto the rail of the cage thing as they sped around the arena whilst wearing high heels. I think I saw either Baby or Ginger have a moment as their taxi came to a halt and would have paid good money to see Victoria Beckham go arse over tit.

Overall though, and despite the presence of the Spice Girls, I enjoyed it and found the show quite moving.

Ray

Having been away on the night (but saw some pretty unimpressed tweets) I caught up with it on iPlayer last night.

Like the proverbial curate's egg, not bad in parts, my Lord, and clearly the people there were in party mood.

Loved Darcy Bussell and Eric Idle.  People have said Elbow were lacklustre, but to be fair, they were the incidental music to cover the entrance of the Althletes.  Muse - their worst ever composition, a kind of Musesque pastiche 'My Way' YUK.

For me, the show stealers were The Who. Looked good, performed well, sounded great.  Right selection of numbers (though perhaps, since it was in praise of the Athletes, they should have changed it to YOUR Generation!!)

Just off to get my supply of Wiggo cycling gear #legacy #bowlingballinamarblebag

I preferred the opening ceremony .... I would have liked Chas & Dave to lead a London 2012 sing song rather than George Michael (thought he was a poor choice) and, of course, the obligatory Annie Lennox. 

Bellowhead would have been a better choice. 

I liked Beady Eye and after all at least they got the audience singing

HMHB would have been my choice, for what's Chatteris if they're not there, I might as well be in Ely or St Ives. 

Ray Davies could have done with some help - yes he is London's greatest songwriter, but he is getting on in years and can longer all the day and all of the night, but they should have given the audience a song sheet to singalongaray. 

However, ignoring George Michael, it was quite spectacular in visual terms though it is the opening ceremony that will last in my mind. 

Firstly the opening ceremony was a very tough act to follow and although both had the same amount of time to plan,i.e. about 5 years, the closing 'do' had less than 24 hrs to set up. Loved it all the same.

I wondered if Eric Idle had been drafted in in anticipation of a much poorer show by the athletes.

I also watched without the burden if inane commentary.

And finally, How fitting(and very British) that the late great Freddie Mercury was finally seen to perform at an Olympic Ceremony following his appalling treatment in the build up to Barcelona.

Darcy Bussel was bloody FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bit inconsistent that if you  take loads of drugs, like George Michael, you can't run in the Olympic stadium, but you can sing in it ..