# 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremonies \[live commentary on British time\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 27, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600 "2012-07-27T20:04:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600/161 "2012-07-28T04:06:03Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > What gay kiss? 😕 There was a lesbian kiss in the montage of famous film kisses. I want to punch Bob Costas and Matt Lauer in the face right now. My God, I thought they would never SHUT UP. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600/162 "2012-07-28T05:41:23Z")
I don’t think I’ve ever sat through a whole opening ceremony before. That was terrific and loony. The Olympics should spend more time making fun of itself. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600/163 "2012-07-28T06:39:44Z")
> [@Ximenean](#): > > They didn’t play whole songs, just snippets of a lot of oldies while some people danced around. That section went on a bit too long, actually, and the dancing and choreography as whole really wasn’t that good. I understand that they were only playing snippets, but I was still hoping there would be a list somewhere. I can make a list based on what I’ve read in this and the other thread, but I wondered what other songs/artists were played. Even though I’ve never been into sports, I used to be an Olympics nut. Both the Summer and Winter Olympics were broadcast highlights of my life, second only the Oscars. I used to video record (then later, Tivo) entire Olympics and then dub down the most interesting things to me. Then I gradually changed and I stopped watching television (not for any snobby reason, but because 1) I really can get obsessive and had to cold turkey TV and 2) going to movies took over my life). I don’t miss not having a television, except during the Olympics. I’m heartbroken at what I’ve already missed and what I know I’m going to miss. London. I love London. The Olympics in London. The Olympics in my favorite city in the universe. I’m going to go and have a good cry now. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600/164 "2012-07-28T06:57:32Z")
Put Danny Boyle in charge of every Opening Ceremonies from now on. Lighting the torch to a Pink Floyd song about madness? Genius. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600/165 "2012-07-28T07:35:26Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > There was a lesbian kiss in the montage of famous film kisses. > > I want to punch Bob Costas and Matt Lauer in the face right now. My God, I thought they would never SHUT UP. Specifically this kiss: > **[Brookside](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brookside#The_Body_Under_The_Patio_plot)** > > Brookside may refer to: > [@](#): > > The Jordache family, particularly the character Beth (Anna Friel), were among the most popular ever featured in Brookside and contributed massively to the soap opera’s overall popularity at the time, especially when Beth shared the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss on British television with the Farnhams’ nanny Margaret Clemence (Nicola Stephenson) in January 1994. > **[File:Brookside lesbian kiss.jpg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brookside_lesbian_kiss.jpg)** > > Brookside\_lesbian\_kiss.jpg (355 × 281 pixels, file size: 19 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) > The lesbian kiss between Beth Jordache (left) and Margeret Clemence (right). This was the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss on British television and was broadcast in 1994. > http://www.channel4.com/programmes/brookside/4od#2917622 > Brookside (television programme) Like many, many things there, it would have gone way over the heads to non-Brits whereas Brits would have recognised it in an instant. ---
**Author:** ![alsoknownas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@alsoknownas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alsoknownas)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600/166 "2012-07-28T08:28:30Z")
Well that was fantastic. I’m gonna do a Michelle Obama and say that for the first time in a long while I feel very proud to be British. Those are the things that make us great - The NHS (free to all at the point of delivery), punk rock, scary and indelible children’s books, protest and resistance (including the suffragettes), being silly, getting on with it despite the (artificial) rain, multi-cultural society, naff dancing, making fun of ourselves… Gold medal to Danny Boyle (artistic director), and all involved! ---
**Author:** ![alsoknownas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@alsoknownas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alsoknownas)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600/167 "2012-07-28T08:47:06Z")
Some people have asked for a track list, so here’s one: [spoiler alert] PART ONE Captain Algernon Drummond, William Johnson Cory - Eton Boating Song Elgar, AC Benson - Land of Hope and Glory The Jam - Going Underground Muse - Map of the Problematique Big Ben Chimes Sex Pistols - God Save the Queen The Clash - London Calling Simon May - EastEnders Theme The Shipping Forecast Sir Hubert Parry, William Blake - Jerusalem Elgar - Nimrod Handel - Arrival of the Queen of Sheba Eric Coates - Dambusters March Handel - Music for the Royal Fireworks Monty Norman - James Bond Theme Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells Mike Oldfield - In Dulci Jubilo Vangelis - Chariots of Fire BBC News 1954 Arthur Wood - The Archers Theme Winifred Atwell - Black and White Rag PART TWO Sugababes - Push the Button OMD - Enola Gay David Rose - The Stripper Lionel Bart - Food Glorious Food Irwin Kostal, Richard Sherman, Robert Sherman - Bedknobs and Broomsticks Rizzle Kicks - When I Was a Youngster Eric Clapton - Wonderful Tonight Colin Tully - Gregorys Girl Theme William Pitt - City Lights The Who - My Generation The Rolling Stones - Satisfaction Millie Small - My Boy Lollipop The Kinks - All Day and All of the Night The Beatles - She Loves You Mud - Tiger Feet Led Zeppelin - Trampled Under Foot The Specials - A Message to You Rudy David Bowie - Starman Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody Sex Pistols - Pretty Vacant Duran Duran - The Reflex New Order - Blue Monday PART THREE Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Relax Soul II Soul - Back To Life Happy Mondays - Step On Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) The Verve - Bittersweet Symphony Prodigy - Firestarter Underworld - Born Slippy Jaan Kenbrovin, John William Kellette - Im Forever Blowing Bubbles Blur - Song 2 Dizzee Rascal - Bonkers Tigerstyle - Nacnha Onda Nei (contains Michael Jackson - Billie Jean, Queen & David Bowie - Under Pressure and Ilaiyaraaja - Naanthaan Ungappanda) Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor Mark Ronson & Amy Winehouse - Valerie Radiohead - Creep Muse - Uprising Kano & Mikey J - Random Antics Tinie Tempah - Pass Out MIA - Paper Planes Coldplay - Viva La Vida The Chemical Brothers - Galvanize PART FOUR Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out Kaiser Chiefs - I Predict a Riot Roll Deep - Shake a Leg Adele - Rolling in the Deep Oasis - The Hindu Times Oasis - Wonderwall Emeli Sande - Heaven William Monk/Henry Francis - Abide With Me Pink Floyd - Eclipse The Beatles - The End The Beatles - Hey Jude David Bowie - Heroes Eric Spear - Coronation Street Theme Ron Grainer - Doctor Who Theme John Philip Sousa - Monty Python Theme/The Liberty Bell David Bowie - Absolute Beginners ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600/168 "2012-07-28T09:11:15Z")
At the beginning of the ceremony, children’s choirs from the four Home Nations each sang a different song. I recognized “Jerusalem”, but what were the other three songs? ---
**Author:** ![alsoknownas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@alsoknownas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alsoknownas)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600/169 "2012-07-28T09:18:42Z")
> [@flodnak](#): > > At the beginning of the ceremony, children’s choirs from the four Home Nations each sang a different song. I recognized “Jerusalem”, but what were the other three songs? ‘Flower of Scotland’, ‘Danny Boy’ (for N.Ireland, though it’s a general Irish theme), and ‘Bread of Heaven’ for Wales. ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600/170 "2012-07-28T10:34:42Z")
Thank you! (D’oh, of course I recognized Danny Boy, I just promptly forgot that I did… :smack:) ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600/171 "2012-07-28T12:02:42Z")
I like to keep track of what sport the flagbearers compete in. No surpise that track & field had the most with 60, or swimming with the third most with 19, but I’m guessing most people wouldn’t guess #2. It is Judo with 20. Gymnasitics had only 1 (canoe had 5) Brian ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600/172 "2012-07-28T13:03:42Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Not to mention “Coat Duh Vore” and “Cape Verd.” That is the way the locals pronounce it. “Cape Verd” ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600/173 "2012-07-28T13:06:33Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > I like to keep track of what sport the flagbearers compete in. No surpise that track & field had the most with 60, or swimming with the third most with 19, but I’m guessing most people wouldn’t guess #2. It is Judo with 20. Gymnasitics had only 1 (canoe had 5) > > Brian I wasn’t paying close attention, but every time I looked it seemed to be Taekwondo - where did that end up in your list? ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600/174 "2012-07-28T13:12:19Z")
Not to drag this down into an anti cell phone rant, but what the fuck is up with all the people snapping pictures while marching onto the field? Because there won’t be enough photographic recordings of the event? Really? You have this supreme and unique experience and you spend it looking through the viewfinder of your phone?I know I’m in the minority on the cell phone thing, but did anyone think that was approriate? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600/175 "2012-07-28T13:49:55Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Not to drag this down into an anti cell phone rant, but what the fuck is up with all the people snapping pictures while marching onto the field? Because there won’t be enough photographic recordings of the event? Really? You have this supreme and unique experience and you spend it looking through the viewfinder of your phone?I know I’m in the minority on the cell phone thing, but did anyone think that was approriate? 12 years ago a lot of the athletes would have been brandishing their still cameras or their camcorders. It’s just that now **everyone** has a cameraphone. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600/176 "2012-07-28T14:24:20Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > 12 years ago a lot of the athletes would have been brandishing their still cameras or their camcorders. It’s just that now **everyone** has a cameraphone. Yep. At this stage they’re basically tourists. Like most tourists, they want to record their ‘Kodak moment’. There are thousands of photographic and video recordings of the event, but none of them are from the individual’s perspective. They want their own, personal images with their own voices, their own perspective, their own friends, etc. that they can share with their friends and family, instead of saying ‘What? You didn’t see me on TV?’ Of course they _didn’t_ spend their time looking through their viewfinders. Most of them were waving and talking and taking in the sights, and jut pointing their cameras with their free hands. That’s going to be some pretty shaky video! ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600/177 "2012-07-28T15:11:41Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > I wasn’t paying close attention, but every time I looked it seemed to be Taekwondo - where did that end up in your list? TKD had 11, which is fourth most. Shooting had 10, and Boxing had 9 Fencing had 4 including the US (because she won the first fencing medal for the US in 90+ years) Brian ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600/178 "2012-07-28T15:38:03Z")
Am I wrong about this sequence of events in the “Digital Era” bit? –Girl drops her phone. –Guy finds her phone. –Guy _calls girl to tell her he has her phone_. Huh? ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600/179 "2012-07-28T15:47:09Z")
> [@DoctorJ](#): > > Am I wrong about this sequence of events in the “Digital Era” bit? > –Girl drops her phone. > –Guy finds her phone. > –Guy _calls girl to tell her he has her phone_. > > Huh? Pretty sure it was: girl loses phone, guy finds phone, girl uses her buddy’s phone to call her phone. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2012, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600/180 "2012-07-28T15:51:10Z")
The thing about that lesbian kiss is that now it has become the first lesbian kiss to be shown on TV in many other countries now. Including, I suspect, Saudi Arabia. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-olympics-opening-ceremonies-live-commentary-on-british-time/629600.md?page=10)