Sir Bob asks 'why no folk at Olympics?' (From Braintree and Witham Times)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting BWT to 80360 or you can email us »
Sir Bob asks 'why no folk at Olympics?'
6:35pm Thursday 23rd February 2012 in Olympics By James Cox
AN MP has slammed Olympics organisers for leaving folk music out of its opening and closing ceremonies.
Sir Bob Russell said the televised events, which have a joint budget of £81 million, would fail to represent parts of the country.
He raised the issue at the House of Commons on Thursday.
He said: "Can we have a debate on the Olympics? Not sporting matters but on those allied to the Games and reports the opening and closing ceremonies will exclude the traditional folk culture of the nations and the regions."
The ceremonies are being devised by Oscar-winning film director Danny Boyle.
Leader of the House, Sir George Young said: "I am sure the opening ceremony will do justice to the whole of the country."
Comments(22)
angryman!!!
says...
8:11pm Thu 23 Feb 12
Boris
says...
11:28pm Thu 23 Feb 12
Ritchie_Hicks
says...
10:43am Fri 24 Feb 12
Boris
says...
11:04am Fri 24 Feb 12
Ritchie_Hicks wrote:That's what you're going to get, illustrious old **** like Sir Paul McCartney.
Forget folk music - we need a bit of good old British rock music.
Say It As It Is OK?
says...
11:09am Fri 24 Feb 12
If Bob actually worked and helped solve "local issues" rather than ignore them, he would have more support and much more credibility than he has.
Then again many local issues would not get him the sort of publicity he seems to crave during recent months!
Ritchie_Hicks
says...
12:39pm Fri 24 Feb 12
Boris wrote:I said rock, not classic pop!
Ritchie_Hicks wrote:That's what you're going to get, illustrious old **** like Sir Paul McCartney.
Forget folk music - we need a bit of good old British rock music.
romantic
says...
12:42pm Fri 24 Feb 12
The Olympic ceremonies are never going to be cutting edge, they are committee designed to be safe and not create offence. Same way as X-Factor ends up with the bland, safe one at the end, any music which gets into the ceremonies is going to be mainstream, non-controversial, non-challenging.
Same as the Jubilee Concert: any younger act which does make it through to the stage will be so safe and bland you will be begging for the cutting edge rawness of Sir Cliff, Sir Tom and Sir Paul by the end!
Boris is right in what he says. And I understand that even the big screen outside the stadium will be ticket-only! If this is the best question Bob Russell can find to ask, maybe it´s time he shuffled off the stage, shiny bauble in hand.
Reginald47
says...
1:50pm Fri 24 Feb 12
wellnow
says...
4:41pm Fri 24 Feb 12
Boris
says...
7:23pm Fri 24 Feb 12
Reginald47 wrote:In that case why don't they just pick whatever British band gets selected for this year's Eurovision Song Contest?
I expect the organisers wanted something modern rather than a very worthy but boring bit of old hat.
I did read that Blur are going to headline an Olympics closing concert, but not in the stadium, only in Hyde Park.
Boris
says...
7:24pm Fri 24 Feb 12
Ritchie_Hicks wrote:Who did you have in mind? Can you give us a few names.
Boris wrote:I said rock, not classic pop!
Ritchie_Hicks wrote:That's what you're going to get, illustrious old **** like Sir Paul McCartney.
Forget folk music - we need a bit of good old British rock music.
6079 Smith W
says...
7:41pm Fri 24 Feb 12
Boris wrote:Ritchie only seems to be aware of The Beatles bubblegum pop of their early years. Pity really, because most of us know their best stuff was later on. As if 'Sgt Pepper' (the very first concept album) or the 'White Album' come into the 'classic pop' category. Such albums aint Abba!
Ritchie_Hicks wrote:Who did you have in mind? Can you give us a few names.
Boris wrote:I said rock, not classic pop!
Ritchie_Hicks wrote:That's what you're going to get, illustrious old **** like Sir Paul McCartney.
Forget folk music - we need a bit of good old British rock music.
6079 Smith W
says...
7:43pm Fri 24 Feb 12
Boris wrote:So, relative to the headline, the real question is: Why no ordinary folk at the Olympics?
Sadly the London Olympics have turned out to be an event for fat cats, VIPs and media people. Very few ordinary people got tickets. I'd like to think most self-respecting folk musicians would refuse such an élitist gig, but of course nobody would refuse a fat fee if it was offered.
PROOFREADER
says...
9:52pm Fri 24 Feb 12
wellnow wrote:I thought they might have some morris dancing and that the BBC would have a programme
i'm with bob why can't we have bit of morris dancing or thrash the willow or a few pipers with no knickers enthralling the crowds with a few hoot nannies and oche eye's.
called Strictly Morris Dancing to
decide who takes part.
jut1972
says...
11:12pm Fri 24 Feb 12
(Frank Carson I aint)
RobWalker
says...
7:35am Sat 25 Feb 12
happyinjaywick wrote:Austin Powers could parachute in with a union flag on top :) ! Actually............
Well you all made I larf even through bleary eyes @ 1.15 am.
you need good old swinging 60`s & 70`s music playing out with a crowd of scooters smoking there way through london,
as played out most weekends.
Scooters are Iconic all over the world, the same as red phone boxes, red buses changing of the guards.
Fly the flag with the riders wearing 60`s styled union flag jackets, with the scooter girls on pillion in tasty so short skirts, kinky boots and mary quant hairstyles.
Its how London is still seen as around the world.
It's only going to be any good if it is quirky and funny, with tongue firmly in cheek. We don't have the money to compete with the scale of previous opening ceremonies in other countries.
So might be a good thing to be unusual.
Cleggeron
says...
7:57am Sat 25 Feb 12
The most memorable opening ceremonies feature the essence of the host country - music, tradition, arts, etc - and it was obvious from the moment the powers that be brought Danny Boyle on board to produce things that our event would feature everything but anything that could be described as "traditionally British".
I'm sure it will have pastiche London buses, maybe even the odd policeman on the beat (there's a tradition we don't see anymore). Apparently it's going to feature nurses and doctors too - goodness knows why. I'm sure it will have a nod to the 60s and our influence on fashion.
But I'm willing to bet that it will also feature music and dance from every minority group in the country - rap, reggae, bangra etc - and nothing at all from our long and vibrant indigenous folk traditions.
I'm sure that some of you out there will take this as some sort of racist rant - but you'd be wrong. I love the influence that other cultures have had on everything from our food to our fashion.
But what the Olympics opening ceremony will demonstrate only too clearly is that we have lost any sense of what being British actually means, of our culture and traditions. Other countries celebrate their folk traditions and are proud of them. We seem to want to pretend they never happened and that they're not to be mentioned in polite company. Why is it that we respect and venerate the folk traditions of those from other countries that have settled here, but hold our own up to ridicule?
So yes to Morris dancing, highland reels and furry dances and more at the Olympic opening ceremony - in moderation. They're part of us all - and we shouldn't be afraid to show it.
wellnow
says...
9:04am Sat 25 Feb 12
upandaterm
says...
11:05am Sat 25 Feb 12
happyinjaywick wrote:You could turn up on your Auto which has nothing to do with the 60's scooter scene!
Well you all made I larf even through bleary eyes @ 1.15 am.
you need good old swinging 60`s & 70`s music playing out with a crowd of scooters smoking there way through london,
as played out most weekends.
Scooters are Iconic all over the world, the same as red phone boxes, red buses changing of the guards.
Fly the flag with the riders wearing 60`s styled union flag jackets, with the scooter girls on pillion in tasty so short skirts, kinky boots and mary quant hairstyles.
Its how London is still seen as around the world.
wellnow
says...
12:50pm Sat 25 Feb 12
jacklumber1
says...
12:20pm Sun 26 Feb 12
jut1972 says...
7:43pm Thu 23 Feb 12