My un-official Olympic Opening Ceremonies editorial
...just because I care.
After Nagano and Lillehammer, perhaps I'm jaded, expecting outlandish wierdness and beautiful pagentry from an opening ceremony. After a multicolored army of sumo, everything else pales in comparison.
The first half of Torino's spectacle was, to me, wholly uninspired. Where was the color? Everyone was either dressed in red, or dressed in white. The theme of these Olympics is "Passion Lives Here." An enviable theme that goes visually unrealised. I saw little passion in the imagery they presented. I give them credit for enthusiasm, but the the interpretation of the theme was really too literal. I mean, the Olympic stage was shaped like a giant human heart, arteries and all.
During the choreographed bits, it looked like they couldn't get enough people to fill the stage; and the in line skaters with flames coming out of their heads, while interesting, I missed the point. Oh.....and ice skating cows. Ok.
Let's move on to the Parade of Nations. I'm forced to ask what Italian official thought a bad, and eclectic mix of 70's and 80's pop music was appropriate. Spain entered the arena to YMCA. The Village People of all things. If I were them, I'd complain. Other musical entries from the parade: Funkytown, Sweet dreams, We are Family, and of course, the Village People. Sheesh.
There were some high points. The ceremonies weren't a total let down. There was one amazing visual. The precision dancers created a giant size ski jumper. Words fail to define this and I couldn't find a picture. I'll keep trying, it's worth seeing. Peter Gabriel singing "Imagine" was very good.
The lighting of the torch was truly spectacular; one hell of a light show.
What can I say, I'm a sucker for good fireworks.
Crowning the evening and ending the ceremonies was Luciano Pavarotti singing "Nes Un Dorma" from Turandot. It was fantastic. My favorite song from one of my favorite operas sung by a man who's still got it.
So, while the ceremonies were uninspired for the most part, they were memorable.
...I love to editorialise.
...just because I care.
After Nagano and Lillehammer, perhaps I'm jaded, expecting outlandish wierdness and beautiful pagentry from an opening ceremony. After a multicolored army of sumo, everything else pales in comparison.
The first half of Torino's spectacle was, to me, wholly uninspired. Where was the color? Everyone was either dressed in red, or dressed in white. The theme of these Olympics is "Passion Lives Here." An enviable theme that goes visually unrealised. I saw little passion in the imagery they presented. I give them credit for enthusiasm, but the the interpretation of the theme was really too literal. I mean, the Olympic stage was shaped like a giant human heart, arteries and all.
During the choreographed bits, it looked like they couldn't get enough people to fill the stage; and the in line skaters with flames coming out of their heads, while interesting, I missed the point. Oh.....and ice skating cows. Ok.
Let's move on to the Parade of Nations. I'm forced to ask what Italian official thought a bad, and eclectic mix of 70's and 80's pop music was appropriate. Spain entered the arena to YMCA. The Village People of all things. If I were them, I'd complain. Other musical entries from the parade: Funkytown, Sweet dreams, We are Family, and of course, the Village People. Sheesh.
There were some high points. The ceremonies weren't a total let down. There was one amazing visual. The precision dancers created a giant size ski jumper. Words fail to define this and I couldn't find a picture. I'll keep trying, it's worth seeing. Peter Gabriel singing "Imagine" was very good.
The lighting of the torch was truly spectacular; one hell of a light show.
What can I say, I'm a sucker for good fireworks.
Crowning the evening and ending the ceremonies was Luciano Pavarotti singing "Nes Un Dorma" from Turandot. It was fantastic. My favorite song from one of my favorite operas sung by a man who's still got it.
So, while the ceremonies were uninspired for the most part, they were memorable.
...I love to editorialise.
Did I mention the French chef???