i was pleased for kenny tonight, thought he did really well and like len said defo his best dance, and you could tell how happy he genuienly was 
Kenny's big mistake
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I thought Kenny did a pretty good job this week and certainly the closest thing to dancing that we've seen from him.
Before the performance I was cynical about the use of FoS because I loathe jingoism and hate it when RTV contestants try to manipulate the voting public instead of trying to win whatever it is they are trying to win 'fairly and squarely'. But, when the music started, and FoS was clearly being played in appropriate time, and he gave a good dancing account of himself, I was prepared to take back all my cynicism...until the end, that is.
I'm afraid the production of a thistle confirmed all my previous cynicisms. It was cheap, frankly. Talk about over-egging the pudding.
I have no idea whether some, all or no Scots will be voting because of FoS, the kilt and now the thistle and, as such, will not be joining in any speculation on that. However, regardless whether it turns out to be a successful ploy or not, I recognise cheap voter manipulation when I see it and it always leaves an unpleasant taste in my mouth.
What a pity as his dance was good.
Before the performance I was cynical about the use of FoS because I loathe jingoism and hate it when RTV contestants try to manipulate the voting public instead of trying to win whatever it is they are trying to win 'fairly and squarely'. But, when the music started, and FoS was clearly being played in appropriate time, and he gave a good dancing account of himself, I was prepared to take back all my cynicism...until the end, that is.
I'm afraid the production of a thistle confirmed all my previous cynicisms. It was cheap, frankly. Talk about over-egging the pudding.
I have no idea whether some, all or no Scots will be voting because of FoS, the kilt and now the thistle and, as such, will not be joining in any speculation on that. However, regardless whether it turns out to be a successful ploy or not, I recognise cheap voter manipulation when I see it and it always leaves an unpleasant taste in my mouth.
What a pity as his dance was good.
Originally Posted by beacham_powder:
“Well I've got Welsh and English blood, and it doesn't antagonise me as such - Flower of Scotland is a beautiful song. BUT, I do feel he's overplaying the Scottish theme, which seems a bit desperate to me. The fact that it's Kenny, and he gets on my nerves doesn't help. There, I'm being honest!”
“Well I've got Welsh and English blood, and it doesn't antagonise me as such - Flower of Scotland is a beautiful song. BUT, I do feel he's overplaying the Scottish theme, which seems a bit desperate to me. The fact that it's Kenny, and he gets on my nerves doesn't help. There, I'm being honest!”
Scots do that...not all but just some of us. It is annoying but there you go. My English wife hates it as she supports England and Scotland. As a Scot.....you know what I am going to say.
The thistle was not bought off Interflora, but simply picked by one hand and offered to another hand. Just a small thought. Rather like a birthday card drawn not very well by a child and offered to an adult. It softened the formalism of the viennese waltz.
For me it made a link between the indoors and the wild flowers outdoors, with the thistle being the nearest piece of greenery informally available, being there -- not a flower carefully selected to typecast Scotland or to import grandeur into a little dance.
If I read body language right, Ola was pleased to receive it as a spontaneous gesture, for the thought not the substance.
For me it made a link between the indoors and the wild flowers outdoors, with the thistle being the nearest piece of greenery informally available, being there -- not a flower carefully selected to typecast Scotland or to import grandeur into a little dance.
If I read body language right, Ola was pleased to receive it as a spontaneous gesture, for the thought not the substance.
Originally Posted by Mistermind:
“The thistle was not bought off Interflora, but simply picked by one hand and offered to another hand. Just a small thought. Rather like a birthday card drawn not very well by a child and offered to an adult. It softened the formalism of the viennese waltz.
For me it made a link between the indoors and the wild flowers outdoors, with the thistle being the nearest piece of greenery informally available, being there -- not a flower carefully selected to typecast Scotland or to import grandeur into a little dance.
If I read body language right, Ola was pleased to receive it as a spontaneous gesture, for the thought not the substance.”
“The thistle was not bought off Interflora, but simply picked by one hand and offered to another hand. Just a small thought. Rather like a birthday card drawn not very well by a child and offered to an adult. It softened the formalism of the viennese waltz.
For me it made a link between the indoors and the wild flowers outdoors, with the thistle being the nearest piece of greenery informally available, being there -- not a flower carefully selected to typecast Scotland or to import grandeur into a little dance.
If I read body language right, Ola was pleased to receive it as a spontaneous gesture, for the thought not the substance.”
Actually I was afraid, he would offer her a ring like Bill did with Karen, the thistle (or heather as my OH claims) was actually a nice gesture. The dance was surprisingly good, considering his previous performances.
Originally Posted by Mistermind:
“The thistle was not bought off Interflora, but simply picked by one hand and offered to another hand. Just a small thought. Rather like a birthday card drawn not very well by a child and offered to an adult. It softened the formalism of the viennese waltz.
For me it made a link between the indoors and the wild flowers outdoors, with the thistle being the nearest piece of greenery informally available, being there -- not a flower carefully selected to typecast Scotland or to import grandeur into a little dance.
If I read body language right, Ola was pleased to receive it as a spontaneous gesture, for the thought not the substance.”
“The thistle was not bought off Interflora, but simply picked by one hand and offered to another hand. Just a small thought. Rather like a birthday card drawn not very well by a child and offered to an adult. It softened the formalism of the viennese waltz.
For me it made a link between the indoors and the wild flowers outdoors, with the thistle being the nearest piece of greenery informally available, being there -- not a flower carefully selected to typecast Scotland or to import grandeur into a little dance.
If I read body language right, Ola was pleased to receive it as a spontaneous gesture, for the thought not the substance.”
How could that possibly be viewed by anyone, much less Ola, as a spontaneous gesture? Thistles do not grow in the vincinity of BBC TV Centre and the dance was choreographed...by Ola.
I think it's wrong to dance/waltz etc to your National Anthem. It's disrespectful.
Your anthem is the song of the country - you should stand to attention, not prance about on the dance floor.
Your anthem is the song of the country - you should stand to attention, not prance about on the dance floor.
Originally Posted by GirlfromEireann:
“I think it's wrong to dance/waltz etc to your National Anthem. It's disrespectful.
Your anthem is the song of the country - you should stand to attention, not prance about on the dance floor.”
“I think it's wrong to dance/waltz etc to your National Anthem. It's disrespectful.
Your anthem is the song of the country - you should stand to attention, not prance about on the dance floor.”
Hello, for about the 200th time, it is not a national anthem.
The National Anthem is God Save the Queen.
Originally Posted by beacham_powder:
“Well I've got Welsh and English blood, and it doesn't antagonise me as such - Flower of Scotland is a beautiful song. BUT, I do feel he's overplaying the Scottish theme, which seems a bit desperate to me. The fact that it's Kenny, and he gets on my nerves doesn't help. There, I'm being honest!”
“Well I've got Welsh and English blood, and it doesn't antagonise me as such - Flower of Scotland is a beautiful song. BUT, I do feel he's overplaying the Scottish theme, which seems a bit desperate to me. The fact that it's Kenny, and he gets on my nerves doesn't help. There, I'm being honest!”
I am Welsh and it ddn't annoy me musically because it is a beautiful patriotic song - Kenny however does irritate me - and I am not sure why I can't take to him - but I just can't so I agree with you on that score.
Originally Posted by Lydia T. Pott:
“How could that possibly be viewed by anyone, much less Ola, as a spontaneous gesture? Thistles do not grow in the vincinity of BBC TV Centre and the dance was choreographed...by Ola.
”
“How could that possibly be viewed by anyone, much less Ola, as a spontaneous gesture? Thistles do not grow in the vincinity of BBC TV Centre and the dance was choreographed...by Ola.
”
Lydia, if at spring time I waltzed with you in the saloon of a National Trust stately home, afterwards I would take care not to offer you a snowdrop I picked from the garden then hid in my sleeve as a surprise..
Originally Posted by Mistermind:
“Lydia, if at spring time I waltzed with you in the saloon of a National Trust stately home, afterwards I would take care not to offer you a snowdrop I picked from the garden then hid in my sleeve as a surprise..”
“Lydia, if at spring time I waltzed with you in the saloon of a National Trust stately home, afterwards I would take care not to offer you a snowdrop I picked from the garden then hid in my sleeve as a surprise..”
Mistermind, you seem to be in a very poetic place tonight! Have enjoyed reading your posts!
Last edited by MegaDancer : 10-11-2007 at 22:01
Originally Posted by Lydia T. Pott:
“How could that possibly be viewed by anyone, much less Ola, as a spontaneous gesture? Thistles do not grow in the vincinity of BBC TV Centre and the dance was choreographed...by Ola.
”
“How could that possibly be viewed by anyone, much less Ola, as a spontaneous gesture? Thistles do not grow in the vincinity of BBC TV Centre and the dance was choreographed...by Ola.
”
LOL
- maybe he picked it from the small thistle patch at the side of the stage?I did think it was slightly naff. I didn't mind the kilt at all, and found it quite funny; but tonight was a bit OTT (imagine Gethin dancing to "Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau", and presenting Camilla with a cuddly dragon). Just the thistle could have worked, otherwise it just came across as "vote for me Scotland!".
Are people now not just looking for a reason to find fault with Kenny and Ola. First it was the song, now it's the thistle. Tomorrow he will be using his dialect to attract the Scottish votes, oh shame. I think he should start sporting a Queens English accent, otherwise he is shamelessly vying for the Scottish votes
.
.
Loved the song and he did an amazing job!
Love how good he's getting. If you watch kate she can barely stand up properly, whereas Kenny is leading on a really difficult dance and looking fab!
Love how good he's getting. If you watch kate she can barely stand up properly, whereas Kenny is leading on a really difficult dance and looking fab!
Originally Posted by lach doch mal:
“Are people now not just looking for a reason to find fault with Kenny and Ola. First it was the song, now it's the thistle. Tomorrow he will be using his dialect to attract the Scottish votes, oh shame. I think he should start sporting a Queens English accent, otherwise he is shamelessly vying for the Scottish votes.”
“Are people now not just looking for a reason to find fault with Kenny and Ola. First it was the song, now it's the thistle. Tomorrow he will be using his dialect to attract the Scottish votes, oh shame. I think he should start sporting a Queens English accent, otherwise he is shamelessly vying for the Scottish votes
.”
I thought about this and wondered how I would feel if Gethin danced to Tom Jones or the Welsh national anthem and I guess I would feel patriotic and would be up for it. I love the Scotland pride - just can't take to Kenny - I feel bad for this - as he seems to be a nice guy - but there you go.
This has the makings of a cause celebre.
First the West Midlothian Question,
now the Schism over the Thistle.
First the West Midlothian Question,
now the Schism over the Thistle.
Originally Posted by rosieeee:
“I thought about this and wondered how I would feel if Gethin danced to Tom Jones or the Welsh national anthem and I guess I would feel patriotic and would be up for it. I love the Scotland pride - just can't take to Kenny - I feel bad for this - as he seems to be a nice guy - but there you go.”
“I thought about this and wondered how I would feel if Gethin danced to Tom Jones or the Welsh national anthem and I guess I would feel patriotic and would be up for it. I love the Scotland pride - just can't take to Kenny - I feel bad for this - as he seems to be a nice guy - but there you go.”
But that's fine, I actually hated him to start with. Just warmed to him in the last few weeks. What I don't like is people presenting "made up" reasons to dislike him (e.g. the song, the thistle, whatever). If you don't warm to him personalitywise I understand, no probs.
I actually really liked the song and it doesn't bother me at all that it's a patriotic scottish song.
I can't imagine anyone wanting to use God Save the Queen to dance to but if someone were to dance to "bread of heaven" or anything else like that then I would feel the same...... as long as it fits the dance it's fine.
I can't imagine anyone wanting to use God Save the Queen to dance to but if someone were to dance to "bread of heaven" or anything else like that then I would feel the same...... as long as it fits the dance it's fine.
Originally Posted by Mistermind:
“I thought Kenny was graceful, dignified, moved well. Did wonderfully well, and the thistle (?) flower appearing from nowhere (hidden in his sleve?) was a handsome and ingenious idea. Music and tempo superb.
And I am a very critical viewer.”
“I thought Kenny was graceful, dignified, moved well. Did wonderfully well, and the thistle (?) flower appearing from nowhere (hidden in his sleve?) was a handsome and ingenious idea. Music and tempo superb.
And I am a very critical viewer.”
======================
Very well said. I totally agree with everything you have said. To borrow football parlance (not his sport, I know), the boy done good.
(I would have shared these thoughts earlier, but there's a lot of eating in a Tam O'Shanter...
)
I think the song was a good choice.
I don't recall hearing the song before tonight but generally anthems are uplifting songs. It did make a difference to the dance imo
I don't recall hearing the song before tonight but generally anthems are uplifting songs. It did make a difference to the dance imo
Originally Posted by Mistermind:
“I thought Kenny was graceful, dignified, moved well. Did wonderfully well, and the thistle (?) flower appearing from nowhere (hidden in his sleve?) was a handsome and ingenious idea. Music and tempo superb.
And I am a very critical viewer.”
“I thought Kenny was graceful, dignified, moved well. Did wonderfully well, and the thistle (?) flower appearing from nowhere (hidden in his sleve?) was a handsome and ingenious idea. Music and tempo superb.
And I am a very critical viewer.”
======================
Very well said. I totally agree with everything you have said. To borrow football parlance (not his sport, I know), the boy done good.
(I would have shared these thoughts earlier, but there's a lot of eating in a Tam O'Shanter...
)
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