Olympic Boredom !
Eric, Muse, Freddie whipping up the crowd. Priceless.
Ray Davis epitomises London and Britain. Although he should've sung 'The village green preservation society' IMO.
Happy they've culled the cardboard cut out... ahem... Macca.
It's still not finished pp, could be more Macca at the end. 
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We all got away with that one. 
After these boys bands and the Spice Girls, I was looking up the mileage to Beachy Head.
The Who still have it IMV. I know they should be tucked up in bed sipping cocoa... oh and their drummer, Zak Starky. Didn't his dad try to play the drums in some Mersey band? 
There were some entertaining bits, and some fist-bitingly awful moments. Overall there was a distinct lack of imagination, but I enjoyed it far more after the procession of flags and replaying of songs performers already mimed once.
Guardian readers are really putting the boot in. The closing ceremony wasn't the travesty they suggest, but it was somewhat anticlimactic.
Guardian readers are really putting the boot in.
Nah, I prefer reading this.
For years, the world has thought we were terrible at sport, but good at music; whereas tonight...
To my eyes (and ears) it was simply a big budget version of the revue at the end of Crackerjack - when you wanted to hear Bowie, but instead you got Peter Glaze. It was the Now That's What I Call...version of British pop music history.
Some of the cynics are right. We certainly won't have the financial legacy promised by Boris et al. There's no evidence of that in any host country ever, and Rio has my sympathies as they cannot afford it really (we can, despite the recession).
But it's not inconsistent to enjoy the show anyway.
Here's to all those who took part.
Looking forward to the paralympics* now, which are already being well trailed.
*Not para-olympics. I wish they'd stop saying that. Yes, "para" is for parallel, but that's not how it's spoken!
EDIT - the closing ceremony needed editing, but then I'm not sure it could ever have impressed given the sense of anticlimax, the come down. Maybe they should just have had a montage with some appropriate music, preferably live, whilst the athletes came in, followed by a quick pass over to the host country.
On top of that Brazil is hosting the 2014 World Cup. Maybe hosting the world's two largest sporting events back-to-back will prove cost effective.
The real disappointment was seeing the likes of Take That, Spice Girls (who gives a damn about the musical W.I.?), Russell Brand, that other boy band who's name has escaped me...
Why the miming? Where was Blur? Damon Albarn, in a radio interview a few weeks ago, stated they were performing in the closing ceremony. Why wasn't Weller included or the lads from Squeeze? Surely, like the Kinks and the Who, they are London/Britain personified.
Thought Lennon's 'Imagine' was pretty stirring, though.
Whinge over.
Blur were at the Olympic closing concert thingy in Hyde Park, with The Specials and New Order. This didn't seem to be televised at all as far as I know.
Overall, it wasn't great, but it wasn't awful either, the Spice Girls and Russell Brand can just **** *** though.
And Beady Eye, doing a cover of an Oasis track, I bet Noel was seething.
Thanks to Chebby for his insightful review of George Michael's performance, truly made me laugh out loud. 
I wouldn't be too sure about that yet...
Aye, but their public can't afford it*, and the loss of business some will incur.
*No, not what I originally said. I got it a bit wrong.
oops = double post. 
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That's better, it's all getting a bit stupid and freaky now. Phew!
You spoke too soon!
Nah, I've changed my tune. From 10:15 onwards it's been a blast. Here comes Boris...