Canadian Olympic thread

[FayeW]

I agree that it was not the time/place for an alternate version of the anthem. While I do NOT in any way disagree that this lady is a talent. As I think she has a great voice. However, the decision to use this version (by whomever--again agree with others that it was prob. not her decision) was not a good one. I was so disappointed when I heard this.

I'm glad a couple of other posters share my point of view on this...I was starting to think that I was just a crabby old broad like my husband claims.

 

[DearDaisyinDurham]

I personally thought she did an amazing job and the song sounded wonderful. Just because it wasnt "exactly" the same as what we're used to, doesn't make it any less our Canadian anthem. The words are still the same and still mean the same thing. I mean, I know when I sing it in the shower, I'm not following the tune for sure, but I still mean every word of it!

ditto (except for the singing it in the shower part)

this is a very controversial hot button issue - DH did not like the version at ALL - he thought it was disrespectful

IMO the OC decided upon more pomp for the circumstances sure it was not the singer's arrangment at all. hope people don't blame her if they didn't like it. Just like the fantastic opera singer, they are perfomring the arrangement as OC wanted/directed. We will hear the Canadian anthemn in the traditional manner many times at the medal ceremonies!!

LOVED the ceremonies last night, think the whales were the most breath taking part next to the parade of nations. DH thought it lost momentum after the boy flying over the fields of wheat but overall an awesome job.

 

[weewuvvdisney]

While I have to admit that last nights version was different, I kinda liked it.

However, I think since it was a performance that was being seen by the entire world, it should have been sung the way we normally sing it.
I'm sure that a lot of people will think that is how we always sing our National Anthem.

 

[declansdad]

The biggest thing I have always liked about our anthem is that it is sung the same way every time, unlike the US anthem that gets butchered by many of the people that sing it.

She has an amazing voice but it should not have been sung that way.

 

[Applemomma]

this is a very controversial hot button issue - DH did not like the version at ALL - he thought it was disrespectful

That's actually kind of how I felt about the Playing of "God Save The Queen" for the Governor General. One stanza followed by one stanza of Oh Canada? my daughter and I turned to each other and said "what was that?"

Can't beat KD LAng's version of Halleluiah though!

 

[mickeywho?]

We loved the opening ceremonies last night - still talking about it today.

I wasn't impressed with Furtado/Adams - sounded like a coke commercial!

kd Lang was awesome - probably my favourite rendition of the song. gave me chills

re- our anthem as it was sung by Nikki. As an opening number I thought her voice was beautiful. But as it was our anthem - it should have been sung in a way for those in attendance to sing along. Our GG and PM could only stand there and not even mouth the words - thought that was a shame. (My kids reminded dh and I to stand at attention here at home - but we couldn't sing along at all)

I also loved the poem recitation by Shane Koyczan. Awesome!

 

[maiapapaya]

I have to second your comments about Shane Koyczan!

I really enjoyed most of the ceremonies. The strong focus on the four host/First Nations was very appropriate and the "cultural portion" of the program was wonderful. The whales were breath taking.

The only thing I was a little disappointed with was the torch lighting. I had heard beforehand that the organizing committee had promised a "wow" moment, similar to when Mohamed Ali lit the torch in Atlanta. I didn't get that feeling with what was done in Vancouver. Don't get me wrong, they chose great representatives from the Canadian athletic community, but it wasn't a stunning "wow, I never expected that" type of moment. I guess I was expecting too much after the stunning torch lighting from Beijing or from the rumour I had heard about a hologram of Terry Fox (that would have been epic!) I just thought it was kind of lame driving Gretzky around Vancouver in the back of a pick up truck.

 

[suejai]

(My kids reminded dh and I to stand at attention here at home - but we couldn't sing along at all)

DS14 was home alone watching, while I took his brother to kung fu, and he told me later that he stood at attention during the anthem, and asked if I thought he was lame. I told him I was actually quite impressed.

I just thought it was kind of lame driving Gretzky around Vancouver in the back of a pick up truck.

I agree!

 

[My 2 princesses]

My late thoughts.

Loved Niki's voice and her version sounded great. But I too just like the regular version that we can all sing too. As another poster mentioned, my DD is in grade 1 and just starting to actually sing the anthem and I was so proud to hear her singing along when she stopped and said 'it's too slow...we sing it faster in school'.

All in all, great show last night. Some spots I thought was a bit too long, but that's proabably cause I was tired and watching the clock.

Now the whole lighting of the cauldron thing. I was wondering why one of the other torch bearers did not bring Katrina up to help light it up? Now maybe they did not know protocol/safety issues whatever - then why did Gretzky not step aside and let her do his portion, knowing that he had the honor of lighting the outside one? (why 2 anyway). And the commentators where thinking Gretzy might run? How long would we and the audience at BCE have to wait for that? It was long enough at the back of the truck, IMO.

And how come no one is commenting on Team Canada's hockey game tonight? Looks like the other team did not show up anyway

 

[maiapapaya]

Woo hoo! Silver for Jen Heil in the women's moguls!

 

[jory29]

Woo hoo! Silver for Jen Heil in the women's moguls!

She did an awesome job!! Congrats to Jen Heil!!

 

[hockey mom]

While she had an amazing voice we also we would have preferred that the anthem was sung correctly. To us it showed a lack of respect.

 

[twokids0204]

While she had an amazing voice we also we would have preferred that the anthem was sung correctly. To us it showed a lack of respect.

Refresh my memory... How was it not sung correctly?

 

[Cdn Gal]

The tempo was way too slow. (that's what I remember anyway) I didn't particularly like it. She is very talented and has a beautiful voice with a great tone, but the tempo I didn't like.

 

[Cdn Gal]

We were very happy to see that the First Nations Peoples Chiefs were given a place of honor by sitting with the other dignitaries. It's about time!!!

 

[twokids0204]

The tempo was way too slow. (that's what I remember anyway) I didn't particularly like it. She is very talented and has a beautiful voice with a great tone, but the tempo I didn't like.

Yeah, now that you mention slow... it rings a bell.

It was ok, nothing special... I am certainly not offended by it, nor do I consider it a lack of respect.

 

[maiapapaya]

While she had an amazing voice we also we would have preferred that the anthem was sung correctly.To us it showed a lack of respect.

I wish people would stop blaming this talented young girl. She was only singing the rendition that would have been given to her by the music director for the program (unless you are saying the music director was the one being disrespectful ...)
I don't think singing a non-traditional version of the anthem is disrespectful, just maybe not appropriate for the situation.

 

[Applemomma]

At this point, less then 48 hours in to the games, I’m getting pretty annoyed with the CTV coverage. First they show people doing body shots during the lead up to the Opening Ceremonies, then when I turn it on today to see what’s happening they are doing a whole piece on whether the athletes should have sex before their event and now they just did a whole piece on Lindsey Vonn’s sex appeal. What happened to actually covering the games and the athlete’s struggle to be the best?

I know not everyone would even blink at this stuff (no need to flame me for being a prude) but I’m trying (or was) to encourage my 8 year old to watch the Olympics, since they are covering it in school and she had to pick a country to cheer for other then Canada. I don’t really want to have to explain all this other stuff to her! I really hope CTV will do better with it through the week…so far I’m really missing CBC’s professionalism. Hope this is just a bump in the Olympic road!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Just after the 2nd run for Jen Heil did anyone notice the American judge gave her a low score, so you think that had to do with the fact the American who won the gold was going down last? Personally in situations like that I wish they can find judges from other countries who don't have athletes competing in that event, this way everyone can be fair in their voting.

 

[maiapapaya]

Just after the 2nd run for Jen Heil did anyone notice the American judge gave her a low score, so you think that had to do with the fact the American who won the gold was going down last? Personally in situations like that I wish they can find judges from other countries who don't have athletes competing in that event, this way everyone can be fair in their voting.

I agree judging is always a problem. I didn't notice the low score from the US judge. However, putting both runs side by side, I thought the American had a better run.