After years of planning, we were treated last night to the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, and now everyone gets the chance to say whether it lived up to all the hype or not. Why should it be any different for me, not least as I usually proffer my opinions whether invited to do so, or not!
Firstly, let's get the dinosaur in the room out of the way, right from the get-go. I am of course referring to Beijing, and all the hue and cry that it will never be equaled, etc., blah-blah-blah. The Beijing opening was something else, yes, but in my opinion such grand openings are to be taken as standalone items, and comparison between them, or putting one down in relation to another, is futile. It would be a bit like saying that this U2 show was way better than that one, based on personal preferences or due to song choices made, but in the end, it is entirely the case that both shows were spectacular spectacles. Furthermore, there is a vast cultural divide between being Chinese and being British, and any attempt to mirror Beijing would surely have been disastrous.
Now that we have wiped Beijing from the equation, we are free to remember what was a stunning, image- and history-filled ceremony that was as unquestionably British as it was entertaining. That's what it's all about, too: entertainment. The choice of Danny Boyle as artistic director was an inspired one, and his handiwork could be seen throughout the display. It was light on the pomp and glory normally associated with the empire, and came tinged with that unmistakable British sense of humor, while sweeping wildly from highbrow literature references, art and dance, to full blown punk rock, and everywhere else in-between.
The Queen even joined in on the fun in a humorous sketch with none other than James Bond himself that starred the royal corgis, and ending with HRH and Bond parachuting out of a helicopter into the heart of the Olympic ceremonial action. This was an unprecedented move by Buckingham Palace: actually facilitating the acting debut of HRH with none other than Daniel Craig, and it truly shows the softening side of the Royals in general, but surely the Queen in particular. I think it was a brilliant move, and almost certainly, no one other than Danny Boyle could have persuaded her to do it.
At the same time, Boyle did not create an overly pompous ceremony, nor cater to the highbrow type of backdrop that one might usually invoke for a royal performance. Rather, he created a celebration of art and music that was very much of a popular nature, i.e. a soundtrack to life for typical British working class people who grew up during any of the decades represented. It was a ceremony that represented the public, and was for the public.
I definitely felt a shiver or two when I heard a band such The Jam blasting out with the Union Jacks flying during an Olympic ceremony with HRH in attendance. I give full kudos to Boyle for also slipping in a British band that changed the world of music, even if it was by making music that many (Buckingham Palace included, I am sure) considered "disgusting and depraved" at the time. I am naturally referring to The Sex Pistols, whose "God Save The Queen" was banned by the BBC, and could not be played on radio or TV, even while it was #1 in the UK pop charts. "God save the Queen, she ain't no human being" sort of says it all, I think.
We must have come a long, long way, when The Queen can sit through video of The Sex Pistols performing some of their "filth" live, and for it all to feel, today in 2012, as a celebration of all things British, as opposed to an embarrassment for Britain. In beautiful irony, The Sex Pistols and the Royal Family are as emphatically British as each other, and to juxtapose them during a ceremony that was seen all over the planet makes perfect sense to this guy. It was a significant moment that reflected not just our history, but also the progress that we are supposed to make during our own lifetime of evolution. Mr. Boyle hit the nail on the head, squarely and firmly!
Now that it is all done and dusted, let the real fun and games begin! I can't wait! Kevin Mc
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