The Western Perspective Part 2

Ok this thing has really become the post that would not die. I could probably spend all 17 days just writing about the Opening Ceremonies themselves. But nay, too much going on. We wrap'er up today.

The following is our squad's collective experience and analysis on random key moments of the Opening Ceremonies. From our vantage point on the floor at LiveCity Yaletown :

The Video Part To End All Video Parts. For more years than I've lived on this planet than not, I have ridden some form of board or another. So the back country snowboard drop in montage and subsequent line etched down the mountain was met with great Maniwaki approval. It was one of the greatest pieces of riding footy I've ever witnessed. And even better, to buck convention, the rider wasn't clad in the stereotypical red jacket. He dropped gaps and spuns threes down the face, eventually flying through the rapidly illuminated maple leaf. So far. So good. Real good in fact.

The Anthem. I know there's a lot of opposition out there regarding new Nikki's rendition. (Where did she come from? I hadn't heard of her until a few days ago.) Welling with national pride, I attempted to sing along, but couldn't muster a syllable never mind a line as the magnitude of such an enormous moment, coupled with our immediate surroundings was to say the least, quite moving. This was like Canada Day on MGH. (moose growth hormone) Finally I belted out a very out of tune "...glorious and free!!! (hey...she changed the key, not me.) but that was about it. Dice turned around, acknowledging the sheer awesomeness of the occasion as well. The two of us hadn't stood in the midst of such a swell of patriotism since Grade 5 when we both got chosen to read our Remembrance Day poems in front on the entire school. And tried our damndest not to break out into fits of hysterical laughter as we stood on the stage.

The Big Bear. On this I must concur with the Skip. Haven't we all seen this a million times? Everything was going so well and now it seemed like we were subjecting the world to a show you'd see at Canada's Wonderland. I feared where the rest of the evening was going after such a strong start. Which as confirmed by the appearance of ;

Nelly and Bryan. Look, I know a lot of Canadian music fans have a hate on for Bryan. Not me though. I had a copy of Reckless when I was a kid which I rocked out routinely too. Nelly's got some standout tracks over the last few years as well, especially those Timbaland jams. However, watching them belt out this dreadful, overproduced jingle (written by I don't know who...I hope its not David Foster) made me feel like I was watching a cross between the Junos and the end of The Phantom Menace.

But Then The Ice Cracked. Which of course I had to applaud. The technological acrobatics performed in the stadium were quite a marvel indeed. The cracking ice. Wow. And the whales??? What!!!??? Was this the same floor that Lui Passaglia place kicked on for so many years? Wasn't he scared of all those orcas? I was astonished. So was the entire Yaletown congregation.

Sarah's Interlude. Like how could this not happen? Especially at the point where the snowy landscape finally subsides to allow lush BC greenery to take root and sprout. (no not that kind...) Talk about the Lilith Fair moment of the whole Ceremonies. Let's just say I understood I could appreciate its logical place in the program. And that's about it. Next.

The Many Nations. There is much controversy within the respective culture over the participation of some of the Indigenous Peoples in the Olympics and at the Opening Ceremonies. I, however, really had to applaud the heavy emphasis of the program which spotlighted First Nations people from all corners of the country. From the tundra, to the plains to all coasts. I know wasn't everyone, and I know that everyone didn't necessarily want to be included. And maybe some groups will brand it as over glossing, propaganda and a mere token gesture. But the way I saw it was that cultures of many Nations were celebrated and broadcast to billions of people. This is a good thing. With this in mind;

How About This Guy? How about the hip hop slam dunk by Shane Koyczan? Not only did he bring the ruckus to BC Place, the Live City, the Lower Mainland, the Province and the Nation. He brought it to the globe. Still think T.O. is the centre of the universe? Try Koyczan's centre ring perch in BC Place during the Opener. He literally radiated the aurora borealis as he so eloquently rhymed and wove a Canadian tapestry so vibrant that if it were tangible it could sit next to any Group Of Seven piece. Talk about the sleeper hit of the whole night.

And Yeah That's Just Some Sand In My Eye. I don't know what's wrong with me. Am I just getting older? And more parental by default, despite the fact I have no kids? Or maybe I've just been in the West End far too long and have picked up a sensitivity to the subtleties and nuances of musical and theatrical performance by osmosis?

I don't know and I really can't explain it. For all intents and purposes I should have scoffed at the prairie Peter Pan as he vaulted his way over the fields of the shimmering and elusive wheat fields. Yet I couldn't look anyone in the eye, flipped up my hood and turned my attention to the further screen. And just grinded through it.

For whatever remote reason this bit really reefed on the heart strings. It makes no sense. Perhaps it was the Joni Mitchell soundtrack (the Spouse's absolute favourite). Maybe it was Superman-esque "higher than a tall building" vault over the endless fields (which always gets me) Broadcast right next to the cityscape back drop of where I live now? Added to the fact that I was experiencing this massive global welcome with some of my best friends from back home that I've know all my life? As well as the entire city, the entire country and hell.. what felt like the entire galaxy at that point?

It really was my "Who Has Seen The Wind Moment". And it really got me. And it came out of nowhere.
Jesus, I feel like Messier at one of his sweater raising ceremonies. Let's just move on before this gets any more messy.


Hallelujah. As the silhouette appeared amidst the dry ice, our squad immediately braced for impact as we assumed that we'd have to slog through a schmoltzy Michael Buble number. It was raining already and we'd been standing for a long time. This didn't need to happen. You can imagine how relieved we were when the shadowy figure was revealed to be KD Lang. There's really not much to say. You saw it. I saw it. In 50 years, that performance will be running on the CBC feed out to the lunar colonies during retrospective Canadiana programs. My friend Doug said it best the next day;

"If that's the voice of Canada, I'll stand on guard for thee."

The Finale. We at Live City were losing it. We had been standing for hours, the rains were coming down, and here we finally were witnessing history. These final minutes I'll remember forever. Donald Sutherland, and Betty Fox leading the Olympic Flag procession. Rick Hansen emerging out of the smoke to be the first to bring the torch on it's final victory lap. Steve Nash getting an absolutely deserved Olympic moment. My new Canadian hero, Catriona Le May Doan, remaining cooler than everyone else during the drawn out delay, then seamlessly turning with the torch to face the crowd when the Canadarm failed. (It is a true shame that she never got to physically light the cauldron, but wow, she sure did in spirit. She definitely beats Phil Espisito's slip up to bow, for Greatest Canadian Recovery Of All Time.

And I swear that at that moment, one of the Olympic Gods must've been on a lark, because not long after after Brian Williams voice came over the airwaves, "There seems to be a problem with one of the pillars..." as we all recoiled in collective disbelief, the PVR settings suddenly were displayed over both LiveCity Screens. Complete with channel lineup and record settings displayed in all of it's digital glory. The entire place let out a thunderous laugh, and loosened right up.

There we all were. Despite all the controversy, the debate, the miscues, the weather concerns, and this last gaffe, there stood thousands of Canadians braving the elements, braving everything and in the end letting it all just roll off our back like we always do.

Finally the cauldron rose, the pillars placed, and Greene, Nash, LeMay Doan, and the Great One lit The Flame for all of us. Tangibly and by proxy. I like to think that during the lighting, Catriona Le May Doan was a beacon for the rest of us. She symbolically held the flame for every single Canadian on the floor and reminded us that while we all couldn't stand on the BC Place floor and light the flame, we actually were doing so in spirit.

Picking Up The Last Leg. Of course the only guy in the entire country who could take the torch to it's last lighting at the Convention Cenre was The Great One. We all screamed and cheered. I probably haven't rooted for Wayne with such fervour since the Cup run of '84. Say what you will about the pick up truck convoy, but in the end, especially after everything that had happened, it was fitting.

Live City laughed like banshees as the screen showed average guys randomly run after the truck, joining in the relay. The hotel/bar worker that initiated the first sprint after the truck. The Native kid on the bike that kept pace. The hooting and hollering from average Canadians on the sidelines. This was Georgia St in Vancouver and this was practically any street in Canada. These are the cats I see every day. So do you. In the end, I loved every second of it.

And it was a nice way to end the journey. As Wayne finally made his way to the Convention Centre, we all braced for one last ignition. It was raining pretty hard, and much had already happened. We all took a collective breath. And held it as Wayne managed to light the pillar (so far so good) the flame inched its way up (come on, you can make it) seemed to briefly fizzle for split second at the top (oh no not again!!!) and then finally exploded with light to signal to the lower mainland and the world that despite some adversity, it just didn't matter:

The 2010 Winter Olympics in beautiful Vancouver and Whister British Columbia were finally here. Glorious and freely, we exited the gates, took our eyes off the stage and joined the world.