Poll: Vancouver closing ceremony Insulting? Uncreative? Just plain terrible?

[Matt_LRR]

It was a great show, very goofy, and a lot of fun. Taken right from the Bob & Doug McKenzie school of Candiana.

-m

Charlie Farquharson, man. Charlie Farquharson invented that school.

So anyways, being a Canadian who managed to escape, what happened in the Olympics that was so degrading/funny? A bunch of Canadian symbols being paraded around or something?

basically.

It was a big, vegas-style musical show, with Michael Buble in 50's-era lounge singer getup, singing Maple leaf forever with a team of hot chicks in RCMP uniforms and miniskirts (with the yellow stripe) singing backup.

dance number below involved mounties and lumberjacks and hockey players and voyagers (in canoes) parading around giant inflatable beavers and moose. While with showgirl dancers in maple leaf (like, the leaves, not the hockey team) costumes doing their thing all over the place.

It ended with Buble standing on top od a giant floating mounte hat in the centre of the stadium.

I't not easily describable. It was hilariously cheezy.

-m

 

[Canadamus Prime]

I didn't see it, but from your description it doesn't sound too flattering or appropriate for the given occasion.

 

[Matt_LRR]

I didn't see it, but from your description it doesn't sound too flattering or appropriate for the given occasion.

Nah, it was fine - they were clearly just having fun with it - it was obviously not meant to be serious, or representative of our culture. It was basically if you took all the stereotypes about Canada and made a Vegas show about it.

It was all in good fun. Just an upbeat party to send off the olympics and have a good time at our own expense.

-m

 

[Canadamus Prime]

I didn't see it, but from your description it doesn't sound too flattering or appropriate for the given occasion.

Nah, it was fine - they were clearly just having fun with it - it was obviously not meant to be serious, or representative of our culture. It was basically if you took all the stereotypes about Canada and made a Vegas show about it.

It was all in good fun. Just an upbeat party to send off the olympics and have a good time at our own expense.

-m

Well I'm all for poking fun at ourselves (within reason), I just wonder if it was appropriate given the event. Of course I didn't even see it so I can't really give an informed opinion.

 

[Matt_LRR]

I didn't see it, but from your description it doesn't sound too flattering or appropriate for the given occasion.

Nah, it was fine - they were clearly just having fun with it - it was obviously not meant to be serious, or representative of our culture. It was basically if you took all the stereotypes about Canada and made a Vegas show about it.

It was all in good fun. Just an upbeat party to send off the olympics and have a good time at our own expense.

-m

Well I'm all for poking fun at ourselves (within reason), I just wonder if it was appropriate given the event. Of course I didn't even see it so I can't really give an informed opinion.

That kind of self-lampooning is actually pretty typical of closing ceremonies. The opening ceremonies are foor culture sharing and honoring the evnt, the closing is for sending the olympics off in a big, showy way.

The Australians did pretty much the same thing exactly for the sidney olympics, with boxing kangaroos and whatnot.

And besides, it's not like the above was the whole show. They started with the honoring the olympic flag, and speeches thanking the participants and volunteers - a segment from russia introducing sochi, passing the torch, and then when all of that was out of the way, they broke into the big party.

There was really nothing inappropriate about it at all.

-m

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

You like China because they execute people?

Well, I didn't see it, so I have no idea. But still, the London one will be horrific, unless they see sense and include Iron Maiden.

 

[dex-dex]

From what you described though, it seems like they decided to 'sex up' the Olympics... From that the only opinion I can give you is that I quite hate how society is progressing; everything needs to be sexy or relate to sex in some way. Meh.

I don't think it had anything to do with sex, but pandering to stereotypes. They had giant inflated Beaver's and Moose's and giant cut out Hockey Players and Mounties. To a Canadian, it would have been very demeaning.

I wasn't personaly against it or for it, but I was surprised that the Canadian organisers allowed it to happen, it was almost the antithesis of the whole culture thing that the Opening ceremony was. I'd certainly be unhappy if the London Closing ceremony includes every stupid British stereotype.

well i actually found it funny and it is called having a sense of humour
and you have to laugh at yourself before you laugh at others
and yes i am a canadian.

 

[Gaderael]

I'm Canadian, and I thought it was hilarious. It was definitely done to poke fun at ourselves. I thought they did a great job. Yeah, the comedians were a little lackluster, but I've seen them before, and and I know their normal stuff is no where near as tame. Unfortunately, they had to hold themselves back. Shatner was a funny as heel, because, it's William Fucking Shatner. The giant beavers, the moose, the table hockey players, the giant mounties, I thought were so over the top, it was perfect. I was waiting for a giant inflatable donut and Time Horton's coffee cup to show up, but alas, no such luck.

I agree, I thought the closing ceremonies were pretty funny overall with the comedians being the low part, and Michael Buble's Maple Leaf Forever being a high part. They even had the Hockey Night in Canada song playing it was awesome. I am more disappointed with the bands chosen seriously Nickelback, Avril, Simple Plan, and Hedley!?! Thank God Alanis, and K-OS showed up.

Yeah, I pretty much zoned out and left the room when Nickelback and the rest came out to play. Mickey Bubble was hilarious though. Maple Leaf Forever indeed.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

I didn't see it, but from your description it doesn't sound too flattering or appropriate for the given occasion.

Nah, it was fine - they were clearly just having fun with it - it was obviously not meant to be serious, or representative of our culture. It was basically if you took all the stereotypes about Canada and made a Vegas show about it.

It was all in good fun. Just an upbeat party to send off the olympics and have a good time at our own expense.

-m

Well I'm all for poking fun at ourselves (within reason), I just wonder if it was appropriate given the event. Of course I didn't even see it so I can't really give an informed opinion.

That kind of self-lampooning is actually pretty typical of closing ceremonies. The opening ceremonies are foor culture sharing and honoring the evnt, the closing is for sending the olympics off in a big, showy way.

The Australians did pretty much the same thing exactly for the sidney olympics, with boxing kangaroos and whatnot.

And besides, it's not like the above was the whole show. They started with the honoring the olympic flag, and speeches thanking the participants and volunteers - a segment from russia introducing sochi, passing the torch, and then when all of that was out of the way, they broke into the big party.

There was really nothing inappropriate about it at all.

-m

Well I didn't want to say too much about it because anything I said would be born out of ignorance. To be honest when I first saw the title of this thread, my first thought was "Oh great, someone's making a big deal out of nothing again."

 

[Lonan]

Well considering that it was Canadians who organized the opening and closing ceremony, it can't really be racist or degrading to Canadians. I thought it was hilarious and entertaining. And like how Gaderael said, "It was definitely done to poke fun at ourselves." if you can't laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at? Would it be offensive to Americans if the Closing Ceremony in America had a bunch of Fat CEO's eating burgers and fries and waving around massive firearms fighting against a bunch of hippie vegetarians all smoking pot and adopting children from other countries? I'm not saying all Americans are like that, but isn't that the Global stereotype of America?

As a side note, Way to go Canada with the Gold in Hockey! That was one of the best Hockey matches I have ever seen! It almost, almost brought a tear to my eye watching that game.

It wasn't Canadians who organised and made it.

 

[Lonan]

From what you described though, it seems like they decided to 'sex up' the Olympics... From that the only opinion I can give you is that I quite hate how society is progressing; everything needs to be sexy or relate to sex in some way. Meh.

I don't think it had anything to do with sex, but pandering to stereotypes. They had giant inflated Beaver's and Moose's and giant cut out Hockey Players and Mounties. To a Canadian, it would have been very demeaning.

I wasn't personaly against it or for it, but I was surprised that the Canadian organisers allowed it to happen, it was almost the antithesis of the whole culture thing that the Opening ceremony was. I'd certainly be unhappy if the London Closing ceremony includes every stupid British stereotype.

well i actually found it funny and it is called having a sense of humour
and you have to laugh at yourself before you laugh at others
and yes i am a canadian.

I disagree.

 

[dex-dex]

From what you described though, it seems like they decided to 'sex up' the Olympics... From that the only opinion I can give you is that I quite hate how society is progressing; everything needs to be sexy or relate to sex in some way. Meh.

I don't think it had anything to do with sex, but pandering to stereotypes. They had giant inflated Beaver's and Moose's and giant cut out Hockey Players and Mounties. To a Canadian, it would have been very demeaning.

I wasn't personaly against it or for it, but I was surprised that the Canadian organisers allowed it to happen, it was almost the antithesis of the whole culture thing that the Opening ceremony was. I'd certainly be unhappy if the London Closing ceremony includes every stupid British stereotype.

well i actually found it funny and it is called having a sense of humour
and you have to laugh at yourself before you laugh at others
and yes i am a canadian.

I disagree.

woah way to elaborate. ok why do you disagree?

 

[Lonan]

From what you described though, it seems like they decided to 'sex up' the Olympics... From that the only opinion I can give you is that I quite hate how society is progressing; everything needs to be sexy or relate to sex in some way. Meh.

I don't think it had anything to do with sex, but pandering to stereotypes. They had giant inflated Beaver's and Moose's and giant cut out Hockey Players and Mounties. To a Canadian, it would have been very demeaning.

I wasn't personaly against it or for it, but I was surprised that the Canadian organisers allowed it to happen, it was almost the antithesis of the whole culture thing that the Opening ceremony was. I'd certainly be unhappy if the London Closing ceremony includes every stupid British stereotype.

well i actually found it funny and it is called having a sense of humour
and you have to laugh at yourself before you laugh at others
and yes i am a canadian.

I disagree.

woah way to elaborate. ok why do you disagree?

That was the simplest way to put it. I don't think that "you have to laugh at yourself before you laugh at others." There's a lot of different ways to think, that's only one of them. I don't think it's hugely superior, if at all.

 

[dex-dex]

From what you described though, it seems like they decided to 'sex up' the Olympics... From that the only opinion I can give you is that I quite hate how society is progressing; everything needs to be sexy or relate to sex in some way. Meh.

I don't think it had anything to do with sex, but pandering to stereotypes. They had giant inflated Beaver's and Moose's and giant cut out Hockey Players and Mounties. To a Canadian, it would have been very demeaning.

I wasn't personaly against it or for it, but I was surprised that the Canadian organisers allowed it to happen, it was almost the antithesis of the whole culture thing that the Opening ceremony was. I'd certainly be unhappy if the London Closing ceremony includes every stupid British stereotype.

well i actually found it funny and it is called having a sense of humour
and you have to laugh at yourself before you laugh at others
and yes i am a canadian.

I disagree.

woah way to elaborate. ok why do you disagree?

That was the simplest way to put it. I don't think that "you have to laugh at yourself before you laugh at others." There's a lot of different ways to think, that's only one of them. I don't think it's hugely superior, if at all.

but what is wrong with British stereotypes? i always think of them as upper class men with snappy suits and a clever wit. so not every stereotype is negative.

 

[Denarius]

Okay to the people who didn't bother to listen to the commentary before the performance, the whole set up had a reason to it. Basically when we did the opening ceremony before hand people complained that the event was too generallized and not really Canadian (which I believe is a load of BS but whatever). For the closing we learned why we should never critisize the people holding the money or they will go overboard to prove us wrong, the closing was us supposedly making up for the lack of canadianism in the opening in a poor attempt at humor, honestly the beavers and the maple leafs were pretty bad.

 

[Lonan]

From what you described though, it seems like they decided to 'sex up' the Olympics... From that the only opinion I can give you is that I quite hate how society is progressing; everything needs to be sexy or relate to sex in some way. Meh.

I don't think it had anything to do with sex, but pandering to stereotypes. They had giant inflated Beaver's and Moose's and giant cut out Hockey Players and Mounties. To a Canadian, it would have been very demeaning.

I wasn't personaly against it or for it, but I was surprised that the Canadian organisers allowed it to happen, it was almost the antithesis of the whole culture thing that the Opening ceremony was. I'd certainly be unhappy if the London Closing ceremony includes every stupid British stereotype.

well i actually found it funny and it is called having a sense of humour
and you have to laugh at yourself before you laugh at others
and yes i am a canadian.

I disagree.

woah way to elaborate. ok why do you disagree?

That was the simplest way to put it. I don't think that "you have to laugh at yourself before you laugh at others." There's a lot of different ways to think, that's only one of them. I don't think it's hugely superior, if at all.

but what is wrong with British stereotypes? i always think of them as upper class men with snappy suits and a clever wit. so not every stereotype is negative.

Yes, but you aren't going to have a bunch of giant inflatable cups of tea with monacled men shooting off British witicisms at the London closing ceremonies. This isn't an Air Farce sketch, it's a closing ceremony of the once every 4 years winter olympics. I liked what they did with the opening ceremonies, I wish they had done some sort of conclusion to that.

 

[playfulotter]

It wasn't Canadians who organised and made it.

Sorry, my mistake. I was wrong, it was an Australian who organized the closing ceremonies. I really should have done more research before mouthing off like that. Sorry about that.

Well aside from it not being made by a Canadian, I still don't think it was racist; but perhaps it could just be that the only things I find (word)-ist are things that are fueled by a hatred for differences. It just didn't seem like the closing ceremonies was done with a mean spirit.

 

[Lonan]

It wasn't Canadians who organised and made it.

Sorry, my mistake. I was wrong, it was an Australian who organized the closing ceremonies. I really should have done more research before mouthing off like that. Sorry about that.

Well aside from it not being made by a Canadian, I still don't think it was racist; but perhaps it could just be that the only things I find (word)-ist are things that are fueled by a hatred for differences. It just didn't seem like the closing ceremonies was done with a mean spirit.

It wasn't racist or mean-spirited, it was just embarrassing and I didn't like it.