Buffalo Boy Mike
February 13, 2010 / 10:18

I was disappointed in the lip syncing. it was awful Bryan Adams should have put his foot down

Mike from Lowville
February 13, 2010 / 10:29

At least the pickup truck was NOT a fucking Yoda or a Honda!

Sara
February 13, 2010 / 10:35

At least we didn't let Celine or Nickleback perform. People should thank us.

codexofdreams
February 13, 2010 / 10:36

you forgot rick hansen!

Aimz
February 13, 2010 / 10:36

I follow Jian Ghomeshi on twitter and he reported that that Van Olympic Committee made the performers lip sync. Its too bad because we all know that those musicians can nail it.

I wasn't too crazy about the pop version of the national anthem. And I am already sick of that crappy "I Believe" song.

Barbara Lavadinho
February 13, 2010 / 10:37

The two major moments that moved me to tears were kd lang singing one of my very fav tunes "Halleluia" (how could I ever forget how earth-shatteringly awesome her voice is??!) and the poem so eloquently read by Shane Koyczan! The pick-up truck ride by The Great One was a bizarre moment as it seemed like they were taking him on a tour of the entire city! And the whole lip-syncing issue rubs me the wrong way, too! But it certainly wasn't the worst Opening Ceremonies that I've seen.

Daniel D.
February 13, 2010 / 10:49

I wasn't too impressed by CTV cutting to commercials several times during the ceremonies. Classless. For two to three hours, they could have foregone the dozen or so ads they chose to spot.

Buffalo Boy Mike
February 13, 2010 / 10:51

KD Land and the Opera chick might have been the only two who didn't lip synch, no KD Lang fan but that was a incredible job she did

papa_rocker
February 13, 2010 / 10:59

I usually never watch the ceremonies - only making the exception because it was "ours". Other than KD Land and the national anthem, it was a waste of time for me. Way too much focus on first nations peoples and the awful finish - was there not a plan B for the freaky flame thingy???...you run the touch across the second biggest country in the world, and then finish 'er off in a pick-up truck - NICE!!!!

Anone
February 13, 2010 / 12:01

Agreed...everything was great except for the cauldron lighting fiasco. All Gretzky needed in the back of a truck was a 2-4 to make it truly Canadian. Instead it was just lame...and truly sorry I stayed up to watch.

Disappointed
February 13, 2010 / 12:08

I was very disappointed and embarassed.
Why is it that every time we have a World stage we focus on Mounties and Inuit? We should no longer bitch and complain that Americans are ignorant...they have only learned from our teachings that we, Mounties and Inuit, live in a cold tundra.
I didn't mind the Joe Canadian ripoff. What does that say...the highlight of applause from the audience was a beer commercial ripoff.
The show as a whole was terribly embarrassing and didn't represent the majority of Canadians in front of the world.

CQ
February 13, 2010 / 12:49

Overall it was way better than what I expected as there was a lot of technological stuff throughout the entire program. Kudos to Gretzky for carrying the flame at nightime through a big city's downtown in a wide open manner, in this day and age.
Initially I thought he should have passed it off instead at the stadium steps. Only then he'd have likely been blamed if anyone else had been attacked.

There were sections which I didn't care for but the wired up runner man made his ceremonies appearance once again!

elvis
February 13, 2010 / 12:49

Anthems are not meant to be performed as songs (Star Spangled Banner is the only exception). No one of us could sing along at home and that's disappointing. I want my tax dollars back.

Stereotyper
February 13, 2010 / 12:58

I was surprised there was no Celine. Pleasantly surprised.

#99 in the pickup was pure Canadian gold, eh?

I don't know who that opera lady was, but she could sing.

The malfunction was unfortunate - you'd think they'd have practiced that 1000 times.

No French Canadian representation in the final 5 - which proves that BC hates the French.

Lorne
February 13, 2010 / 13:02

Unmounted mounties. Hmm.

As anyone who saw one of the torch-bearer events can say, the pickup truck wasn't unexpected. At these events, several torches would arrive, some random guy would light it with a lighter, and then give it to the runner. Runner goes about 5 meters with it, then gives it back to the IOC. The IOC then drives it to the next location. No long distance running, no "original flame".

It irked me that a world class athlete couldn't run the 2k down to the cauldron-- but any random drunk frat boy had no issue with it. Even while they shouted and took pictures.

And lol at the announcer's naivety. "The normal torch only burns 10-15 minutes. This must be a special torch they've given the Great One."

He obviously didn't notice when Wayne switched out the torch on his way out of the stadium. Or in the air lock. Or the guy in the back of the pickup truck who, twice, handed him a fresh one. (You know, the guy in the back sitting beside the IOC black-ops sniper keeping the protesters off the truck).

Ok, maybe it wasn't an IOC sniper-- but in a couple shots, you could see the guy all in black sitting "black-hawk" style off the back of the truck.

_MAYBE_ k.d. lang was lip-syncing over the PA, but she sure as hell was singing into that mic. You don't get red faced like that pretending to sing. Oh, and Adams-- if you're going to lip-sync, keep the mic by your lips at all times in case, you know, you forget your opening cue and the song starts without you...

Steve
February 13, 2010 / 13:08

I Believe....:

- one of lip synching or 'performances' should be banned
- the Georgian team
displayed more 'grit' last night than 1,000 Dale Hunter's
- it was a great call to repay Nash for giving up so many summer in the past to wear the flag. Especially for a sport that was even more fringe in this country than it is now
- although the skill level wasn't close, there was something more enticing about the men's hockey when we sent a 'national team', including guys like Karyia and Burke who gave up $ to wear the Leaf
- Gretzky'a had some work done - looking much more 90210 than 519
- by adding Bertuzzi for Turin the moment he was 'allowed' to, Gretzky (& Hockey Canada) did as much to piss on whatever remains of the Olympic ideals as Ben Johnson and Charlie Francis did
- we'll win more Gold than we did in Montreal

Hal
February 13, 2010 / 13:12

Isn't that how Rick Hansen got hurt; riding in the back of a pick-up truck & falling out?

What an insult to Rick!!

& I guess all the radio stations fell for the old "its not going to be Wayne who lights the torch" trick. Of course this DOUCHE won, after all the Olympics are only about HOCKEY & PRO ATHLETES.

Steve/David
February 13, 2010 / 13:25

stupid internet.

apologies all

A.R.
February 13, 2010 / 16:32

The pickup truck was awful. They couldn't even get a decent pickup truck with a good paintjob, just a generic white Chevy with corporate numbers on it. Above all, it's bizarre that Wayne Gretzky, one of the greatest athletes ever, couldn't run with the torch.

No wonder they were tight lipped about it. Otherwise, no one would watch it.

Sammi
February 13, 2010 / 17:14

The opening ceremonies were so "Vancouver".

Jill
February 13, 2010 / 17:31

Posted about my thoughts here
http://jewelgurl.blogspot.com/2010_02_01_archive.html#6010438858540415527

Mike from Lowville
February 13, 2010 / 18:39

People! Hit the post button, just once! When you see the little box change to a brok'in line box, you're done!

brad
February 13, 2010 / 19:11

lip synching sucks

Tim
February 13, 2010 / 19:48

I'm sorry to say it, but it was one of the worst Opening Ceremonies I've seen. No, I am not a "Canada-hater" (or a "hater" at all). I am American, born and raised in Chicago, moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and have travelled to Canada several times. I have a longstanding affection for Canada and its great peoople!

It gives me no joy to say, but: From the over-use of projected images, to the too-slow rendition of your National Anthem, to the over-wrought soprano with the Olympic Anthem (come on, she's a great voice AND a national treasure, yes -- but this wasn't an aria at The Met or La Scala!), to the hydraulic failure with the torch lighting, to the lighting of two separate cauldrons... The whole thing was a very second-rate production. I'm so sorry.

elvis
February 13, 2010 / 19:51

We had to dumb things down for our neighbours to the South...I guess we didn't do a good enough job.

dale
February 13, 2010 / 20:36

As prev.post yesterday.
DISAPPOINTED AS HELL.
Lip sync. from all except K.D. who made this whole experience "somewhat" respectable overall.
TOO much emphasis on native stuff throughout, torch lighting with 1 pillar not emerging another embarrassment.
Hopefully Canada makes it up in closing ceremonies - but probably not.

Satya
February 13, 2010 / 20:40

I thought the projections and their transitions were beautiful. I appreciated the focus put on the beauty of Canada and its spectacular natural spaces, as well as highlighting the words of our great poets and authors.

For the next two weeks, I'm suspending my politics and critical thinking abilities to just enjoying the ride with these kids who work so hard to pursue their passions and live their Dream.