Most of you don’t remember the ex American head of the international Olympic committee, Avery Brundage. He was a strong believer in amateurism and fully against any commercial, political or professional impacts on the Olympics. Well, the London Olympics was the end of all his dreams…… I personally have never seen anything like it or did not dream I would ever see anything like this. All my Anglophobic sentiments aside…… the last person I could ever imagine carrying the Olympic torch was the Spice Girl sniffing David Beckham, the modern symbol of commercial athletes, with very mediocre abilities but highly marketable!! But that is not why I write this blog….neither I would like to get into the hiring of professional entertainers to plot the ceremonies….. although I did find the coupling of Elizabeth with Bond quiet amusing and a desperate attempt on the part of the Londoners to one-up the Chinese whom I think did a great job in putting together well orchestrated opening and closing ceremonies mixing their culture with the Olympic spirits, complemented with high-tech side-effects.
Well – London tried to do the same and more…….while I was quiet impressed with the side effects…..I could not help but to recognize the Brit version of culture was nothing more than the works of several rock and roll bands – some of them very good, but all of results of few British youth daring to follow American leads in music, despite social displeasures they encountered at home.
How Ironic…60 years after their first encounters…..all the Brits had to display as “culture” was American induced rock and roll!! I must however admit…..I was quiet impressed they dared to include Lennon’s famous song “Imagine” without taking out the line…….”No Religion too”.
