[Wayne_Daniels]

It was awful, im shocked the media are all so positive about it.

[warszawa]

As a spectacle it was pretty good, pretentious as it was. It's just a shame about all the non entities and the shameless miming.

[EVILSPEAK]

As much as I loved the opening ceremony the closing ceremony was car crash TV, ironic that George Michael was there.

[francie]

Originally Posted by skunkboy69

Same old same old.Miserable folks who couldn't even get behind Britain if we were at war.But we'd be better off without them anyway.

There's nothing "miserable" about not enjoying the closing ceremony. I loved the opening ceremony, thoughly enjoyed the parts of the olympics I managed to see and am as patriotic as most are.

Difference of opinion and all that?

[Dunnroamin]

Originally Posted by Kirkfnw

That was the worst thing I've ever seen from Britain. Sorry Jessie J, it IS all about the money. Ed Sheran massacring Floyd. And Kaiser Chiefs... LOL.

Fashion - the most pointless and best waste of money - watch people in third world countries starve to death whilst you wear a gold dress.

I didn't see the Queen anywhere.

Spice Girls - what was up with Victoria? The camera avoided her for the performance. Tragic.

This was a real anti-climax to a great Olympics.

Whilst I enjoyed the actual competitive events, I was disappointed in the closing ceremony. If the intention was to showcase British music, where was Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice for example, all we got was a pop concert, and not a very good one at that.
Does anyone know where they got the two sided flags (French/UK) that many of the competitors were waving during the closing ceremony. I suspect they were NOT sourced from this country, because, more often than not, the Union flag was upside down . When will we Brits learn which way round our National Emblem should fly. My guess as to where they were made is China and were bought as a cheap joblot. Finally, back to the opening ceremony celebrating British achievments, why no mention of the Jodrell Bank radio telescope and the man who made it possible - Sir Bernard Lovell .

[opal88]

I thought it was a really good effort overall - there are a few people I wouldn't buy a ticket to see - I think I have a phobia of Brian May and Queen in general for example but I think that getting the Spice Girls on was brilliant as was George singing Freedom and I loved his other song but then, he is my all time guilty pleasure.

I think there are too many miseries in this country who love to moan about everything and revel in it when something goes wrong. I always remember asking my father-in-law years ago why someone in his family was always such a miserable old git and he replied that some people have strange ways of being happy and I think he hit the nail on the head.

One query I do have though, in common with a listener to the radio this morning - why was Ken Dodd singing Waterloo Sunset?

[francie]

Originally Posted by Miss Lister

After performing in the Opening Ceremony I was so excited about the Closing. My favourite Closing Ceremony of all time was Sydney. In fact I still have it on VHS and watch it at least once a year. Yep, saddo! I honestly thought that London would be just as good as Sydney if not better. It pains me to say it but I was just so disappointed.

I am a huge George Michael fan and 'Freedom' was brilliant. But what on earth posessed the organisers to allow him to plug his latest record??!!! Disgraceful in my opinion. And I won't even go into my feelings about Russel Brand and the Fashion sequence.

The athletes entrance just seemed to take forever. I am sure in other ceremonies it's been quicker than that? I think it was the fact that they wanted them contained in certain positions that really held things up. I realised as soon as we had the opening songs on repeat that it was taking much longer than anticipated. Shame.

On the whole I just felt the ceremony was disjointed and a bit of a mess. Hearing the likes of Kate Bush and David Bowie just made me miss their physical presence even more. I really REALLY wanted to love it. I had been telling everyone how fantastic I thought it was going to be. But on the whole I just felt a bit let down. I really hope the athletes enjoyed it, that's the main thing.

^ agree, particularly BIB, I felt there was no real fluidity to it all.

[trevgo]

It was as dire as the opening ceremony was genius.

The choice of artists was dreadful, and songs awful. Suggs couldn't sing even at their peak, now he just talks with inflection. Spice Girls just embarrassing. Russell Brand? WTF?
Taio Cruz lo-rent in extremis. We had Lennox and Queen AND Bowie in the opening ceremony - no need for a reprise.

Remainder were all uber-dinosaurs who should be left to extinction in peace. The thing look under-rehearsed, the pace and tempo all wrong. It seemed to grind to a halt in several places. No wit, no drollness, no lightness of touch. The contrast with the opener was vast - it's what happens when mainstream ITV/Capital FM-type people are given then job.

The games turned me from a sceptic to a supported, Danny Boyle to national hero. Whoever was responsible for the dog's breakfast at the end needs crucifying.

[warszawa]

Originally Posted by trevgo

It was as dire as the opening ceremony was genius.

The choice of artists was dreadful, and songs awful. Suggs couldn't sing even at their peak, now he just talks with inflection. Spice Girls just embarrassing. Russell Brand? WTF?
Taio Cruz lo-rent in extremis. We had Lennox and Queen AND Bowie in the opening ceremony - no need for a reprise.

Remainder were all uber-dinosaurs who should be left to extinction in peace. The thing look under-rehearsed, the pace and tempo all wrong. It seemed to grind to a halt in several places. No wit, no drollness, no lightness of touch. The contrast with the opener was vast - it's what happens when mainstream ITV/Capital FM-type people are given then job.

The games turned me from a sceptic to a supported, Danny Boyle to national hero. Whoever was responsible for the dog's breakfast at the end needs crucifying.

But apart from that?

[trevgo]

Originally Posted by warszawa

But apart from that?

Apart from that, it was rubbish

Fireworks far louder from open window than on TV - cat went diving for cover!

[Apple_Crumble]

I thought it was dire. You could tell Danny Boyle didn't have any control over it

[MD1500]

I quite enjoyed the closing ceremony, but it wasn't a patch on the opening ceremony.

I thought that some of the things they celebrated were at odds with the rest of the Olympics (Vacuous fashion models vs the genuine female role models we've seen over the past fortnight, for example.)

Also, four songs for Jessie J. Four?! Really?!

[goldielox]

Originally Posted by warszawa

But apart from that?

Apart from that he loved it

[CLL Dodge]

Originally Posted by Wayne_Daniels

It was awful, im shocked the media are all so positive about it.

If we'd won only a handfull of medals they'd have slagged off the closing ceremony too.

It's all part of a feel good factor that will ebb away over the next 2 weeks.

[the_lostprophet]

Originally Posted by MD1500

I quite enjoyed the closing ceremony, but it wasn't a patch on the opening ceremony.

I have no idea why anyone would think that a closing ceremony would be a patch on an opening one. The point of a closing ceremony is to just have a big party and say goodbye and thank you. I have never seen any closing ceremony that is as good as an opening one. I sometimes don't even bother with them but ours was better than most - thoroughly enjoyed it.

[goldielox]

Originally Posted by MD1500

Also, four songs for Jessie J. Four?! Really?!

I know. It felt like the Jessie J tribute show. I must say I did enjoy her with Queen but think that should have been all she should have got.

[exlordlucan]

Originally Posted by trevgo

Apart from that, it was rubbish

Yeah but apart from that?

[Cally's mum]

Well, I'm going to go against the tide of negativity and say I adored it! For all the reasons that everyone else say they hate it (and I don't even like Russell Brand - and still don't); however, the Beatles song he did was just a brilliant idea - showing Britain at its barmy best ... along with the octopus which made me laugh as its tendrils 'beat in time to the music'.

I'm an old fogey but I thought One Direction were great; loved Madness (so what if they can't sing? It's an infectious song and it put people in the mood to party); loved the Spice Girls (and I wasn't even a big fan! beforehand) - loved Fat boy Slim (I love 'Funk Soul Brother', anyway!) ... heck, I loved it all.

I don't care what others thought. (not meaning that in a nasty way! Honest!) You can't please all the people all the time. And you can't cater to everyone's tastes all the time, either. It's very subjective ..

[KIIS102]

Well I was there last night, spent 10hrs sightseeing round London before going to the Ceremony in the evening. It was bloody amazing! Great to see it getting the high viewing figures too. It was just so awesome being there and dancing to music I never heard before. Go Britain!

[goldielox]

Originally Posted by KIIS102

Well I was there last night, spent 10hrs sightseeing round London before going to the Ceremony in the evening. It was bloody amazing! Great to see it getting the high viewing figures too. It was just so awesome being there and dancing to music I never heard before. Go Britain!

ooooooh. Tell us more please

Ceremony wise, what worked really well, and what didn't?
Annie Lennox was REALLY quiet- it was as if the volume was turned down several notches - was it the same in the stadium?
And was everyone up on their feet and dancing?
Who got the loudest cheers?

(sorry for all the questions)

[MartinImber]

Originally Posted by Dunnroamin

where was Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice

Lloyd Webber was there playing his Cello

[OnexOne]

Originally Posted by trevgo

It was as dire as the opening ceremony was genius.

The choice of artists was dreadful, and songs awful. Suggs couldn't sing even at their peak, now he just talks with inflection. Spice Girls just embarrassing. Russell Brand? WTF?
Taio Cruz lo-rent in extremis. We had Lennox and Queen AND Bowie in the opening ceremony - no need for a reprise.

Remainder were all uber-dinosaurs who should be left to extinction in peace. The thing look under-rehearsed, the pace and tempo all wrong. It seemed to grind to a halt in several places. No wit, no drollness, no lightness of touch. The contrast with the opener was vast - it's what happens when mainstream ITV/Capital FM-type people are given then job.

The games turned me from a sceptic to a supported, Danny Boyle to national hero. Whoever was responsible for the dog's breakfast at the end needs crucifying.

brilliant absolutely brilliant and well said!...the media went into a frenzy about the opening ceremony and the games which was quite right too but the closing ceremony was sailed along on the same wave when it wasnt even in the same ocean!

[KIIS102]

Originally Posted by goldielox

ooooooh. Tell us more please

Ceremony wise, what worked really well, and what didn't?
Annie Lennox was REALLY quiet- it was as if the volume was turned down several notches - was it the same in the stadium?
And was everyone up on their feet and dancing?
Who got the loudest cheers?

(sorry for all the questions)

The preshow was a bit crappy at the start before the main show. It was just a band playing Jazz music and some numpty driving round in a car. Crowd wasn't really into that.

Main ceremony starts and we had to count up with the Big Ben Dongs at 9pm, shockingly out of sync till we got to atleast the 3rd dong. Everyone all got loud cheers and people dancing and singing along but the place seemed to erupt for the Spice Girls, it was so amazing too see.

Jesse J got people up too and we could see the Athlete's dancing along at that point too. All the artists got a pretty good reception, I think it was mainly down to being at the Closing Ceremony more than maybe liking some of the artists.

Ed Sheeran didn't seem to get much people going round the blocks where I was, infact the slower song's didn't seem to do anything other than kill the mood during the more party performances. I forgot the name of the girl who sang the slow song at the start but it got people very emotional because we knew what was coming, great song though.

The scenery of London was great, I think it was a bit small though. Could have built it larger and maybe a better lighting system. Speaking of which, the lighting pads in the seats were used brilliantly! I've never seen anything like it in my whole life, all I could see was waves/pictures/people in giant form on the other side of the stadium. Whoever came up with the Lighting system deserves their own gold medal.

Rio doing their preview wasn't brilliant either really, I've not seen it on TV yet but from being inside the venue.....it didn't go down too great. It felt a bit boring, people were clapping but I think just out of respect rather than enjoying it.

As the Olympic Cauldron came to an end, there was many depressed/emotional faces around. I couldn't bring myself to watch it go out. Very sad.

Can't really fault the ceremony as a whole. People seemed to enjoy it and dance themselves through the night. For my personal point of view, I haven't enjoyed myself so much since both of the ceremonies. They have been amazing and definitely didn't come across as good on TV but it was a great Olympics.

[Richard46]

It was dire mitigated only by the appearance at the end by the 'Who' or what is left of them.

[CLL Dodge]

Originally Posted by Richard46

It was dire mitigated only by the appearance at the end by the 'Who' or what is left of them.

There's 3 of Floyd left but they could only manage to get the drummer.