The Greatest Show of All Is Coming.

[Phantom of London]

And incidentally the greatest theatrical event is coming tonight from Stratford at a cost of �27m.
















The silent tribute added a sombre touch to the ceremony#




The lights dimmed inside the stadium, while a tribute to Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital glowed blue










Her Majesty, 2 minutes late.








But it Rained! But didn't seem to dampen spirits.

[Princeton Returns]

Cant wait!! I just hope they do the country and athletes proud with an amazing ceremony!

[devonian.t]

I know some great people working on this show. There is a lot of talent involved. Not totally sure about Danny Boyle though.

[Phantom of London]

A lot of people work on the show and the Olympic park and would of been privvy to see what is happening tonight a few colleagues of mine were at the dress rehersals on Monday and Tuesday and indeed the press will know exactly what will happen, but there seems to be a great determination and pride to keep what will happen in less than 4 hours time secret, thats what makes Great Britain GREAT.

Agree with what Princeton says and hope it will be a great ceremony for everyone involved.

[Bob30]

I am ridiculously excited for this, wish i could be in the stadium but will have to be content with my living room!

[rockyhorrorfan]

I'll be avoiding the Olympics like the plague.

[devonian.t]

A very impressive opening!

[Phantom of London]

I now declare the 35th Olympic Games unofficially open.

Rise Sir Daniel Boyle.

[Princeton Returns]

The whole thing was incredible. Only ruined by Paul MacCartney at the end, why do we have to drag him out at every event like this. It should have ended with the torch and the fireworks. Oh well.

[Phantom of London]

http://www.moyeamedia.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/0
7/olympics-london-2012.jpg

[devonian.t]

Shame they didn't have Elton John instead- Paul McCartney's voice has GONE! Will someone please tell him?

[philitalia]

Becks' smug face will give me nightmares for the next few days
I liked the forging of the rings and lighting of the Olympic flame. That was beautiful. There certainly were nice moments, but IMO the show was toooo long.

[Theatrical Landladies]

Paul McCartney was SUCH a let down and it sounded like there was a click trac we should have been hearing which was abandoned when the timing went wrong! Can anyone clarify what happened?

Otherwise a terrific show!

[ClapYo'Hands]

I was kind of underwhelmed by it, it had some nice moments, but in true Danny Boyle fashion it was very "smoke and mirrors"...I also think it should have ended after the fireworks (as much as I love Paul McCartney) and Dev, I think Elton John's voice is just as gone as Paul's is!

[Princeton Returns]

Yep it didn't need the gimmick of a celebrity headliner. I'm worried now about the Spice Girls and the closing ceremony. Ceremony aside the sports seem to be off to a promising start for Team GB

[devonian.t]

I agree Elton's voice is not what it was but he is the better showman- I thought at the Jubilee he came out on top with his set.

[Phantom of London]

Funnily enough I went to a concert for 15 years and saw Bruce Springsteen at Hyde Park, the one where the pulled the power when the rumour became true that Paul McCartney was going to perform, I was the only one to leave the park happy, Paul McCartney not too good singer, but excellent song writer.

But saying that Paul McCartney and Elton John are not the only British music stars, in the 1960's and 1970's we dominated the world in pop stars and supergroups, USA couldn't get no where near us, we were just churning them out hit after hit, we were great, then we got bored with that and turned our attentions to theatre.

[ClapYo'Hands]

"USA couldn't get nowhere near us."

A certain Elvis Presley comes to mind.

[Phantom of London]

and?

[ClapYo'Hands]

Well, I'm pointing out that the USA had hugely influential artists too. Presley being (IMO) the best of the best.

[Phantom of London]

The Beatles
The Rolling Stone
Pink Floyd
The Who
Led Zepplin
Dire Straits
The Police
Genesis
Eric Clapton
Queen
Duran Duran
Fleetwood Mac
The Cure
David Bowie
Sex Pistols
The Clash
Deep Purple
Status Quo
Wham

and Tom Jones and Cliff Richards, less about those 2 the better.

[ClapYo'Hands]

You have named some of my favourite bands there.

[Scripps2]

I felt it was a mixed bag as I watched it but having thought about it some more, it made some very good points in a subtle and un-crass way:

We're a nation of individuals, no part of some gigantic de-humanising state purpose.

We're a nation that provides healthcare to all its citizens, and

We're a nation that is free to choose who we love.

[devonian.t]

Maybe we know more British bands because we are British.

I'm sure americans would cite Michael Jackson, Buddy Holly, Prince, Madonna, The Doors, Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Guns'n Roses, Kiss, The Beach Boys, Bruce Sprinsteen, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and even Frank Sinatra and Babs Streisand as being popular music icons and inspirations. If I could be bothered I'd name a dozen more.

We do not hold a monopoly on the greatest stars of pop and rock music.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Agree with Dev. Of course we have some great artists, but so do the USA!

Also, I think Tom Jones is one of the best of all mentioned.