London Games swinging to the rhythm of music
Source: Agencies |
August 8, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AT the London Olympics, Adele is served with tennis, Beyonce bounces around the basketball court and Queen's "We Will Rock You" spikes up beach volleyball.
A walk around Olympic Park is a non-stop musical mystery tour - all part of a boisterous music policy that aims to keep spectators pumped up.
Songs waft from speakers mounted on poles and from buskers dotted around the park. Half-heard snatches of music mix with the booming roar of the crowds coming from venues. The music is inescapable - but for visitors and staff, mostly welcome.
"It's kind of 'down with the kids' music," said volunteer Olympic worker Anna Letts, standing outside the main stadium. "Poppy, modern. When it's 10 o'clock and you're knackered," or tired, "that comes on and it gets you going."
Music drove the British Invasion in the 1960s and Cool Britannia in the 1990s, and it's key to the way the island nation is projecting itself through these games. Assembling a suitably Olympian soundtrack has been a crucial, complex task.
Director Danny Boyle's opening ceremony was packed with choice British cuts, from The Kinks to the Sex Pistols to Dizzee Rascal. This Sunday's closing ceremony promises "a symphony of British music," with live performances by acts, including The Who.
For games venues, organizers have a list of 2,012 songs - as in London 2012 - arranged into playlists to suit the mood. The music is predominantly British, but includes global stars like U2, Jay-Z and Britney Spears.
"Heritage" sports like tennis, rowing and equestrian get a suitably "classic" soundtrack - classic here encompassing Adele, The Rolling Stones and orchestral Led Zeppelin.
Surprise live acts, including Pixie Lott and the Pet Shop Boys, have been popping up to play at Wimbledon and other venues.
"Extreme" sports such as boxing and BMX cycling get "high octane" accompaniment like Foo Fighters while "Energetic" sports such as swimming and basketball are scored to "upbeat, dance and urban" music.
A walk around Olympic Park is a non-stop musical mystery tour - all part of a boisterous music policy that aims to keep spectators pumped up.
Songs waft from speakers mounted on poles and from buskers dotted around the park. Half-heard snatches of music mix with the booming roar of the crowds coming from venues. The music is inescapable - but for visitors and staff, mostly welcome.
"It's kind of 'down with the kids' music," said volunteer Olympic worker Anna Letts, standing outside the main stadium. "Poppy, modern. When it's 10 o'clock and you're knackered," or tired, "that comes on and it gets you going."
Music drove the British Invasion in the 1960s and Cool Britannia in the 1990s, and it's key to the way the island nation is projecting itself through these games. Assembling a suitably Olympian soundtrack has been a crucial, complex task.
Director Danny Boyle's opening ceremony was packed with choice British cuts, from The Kinks to the Sex Pistols to Dizzee Rascal. This Sunday's closing ceremony promises "a symphony of British music," with live performances by acts, including The Who.
For games venues, organizers have a list of 2,012 songs - as in London 2012 - arranged into playlists to suit the mood. The music is predominantly British, but includes global stars like U2, Jay-Z and Britney Spears.
"Heritage" sports like tennis, rowing and equestrian get a suitably "classic" soundtrack - classic here encompassing Adele, The Rolling Stones and orchestral Led Zeppelin.
Surprise live acts, including Pixie Lott and the Pet Shop Boys, have been popping up to play at Wimbledon and other venues.
"Extreme" sports such as boxing and BMX cycling get "high octane" accompaniment like Foo Fighters while "Energetic" sports such as swimming and basketball are scored to "upbeat, dance and urban" music.
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