Well, I wasn't impressed with the whole event actually. Directed by the reputable Glenn Goei, it was supposed to be a grand and spectacular affair but seriously, I thought it did not showcase the best of Singapore's artistic talent.
I concede that I missed a good front portion of the show (who wants to listen to a couple of old farts make dreary, long-winded speeches anyway??) because I was watching the antics of Cassandra Seet and Patricia Mok in My Sassy Neighbour on TCS 5 -- Honestly speaking, the latter wasn't even really hilarious; some of the punchlines didn't work but somehow, Seet's and Mok's natural zeal and impeccable comic-timing made the show passable.
ANYWAY, what I didn't like about the IOC opening ceremony? -- The off-key singing, the crudely westernised traditional dances (not a true representation of our rich cultural heritage) and the ridiculously large number of performers, were quite a turn-off. It was like a gaudy NDP concert, miniaturised for the stage. The absence of jazz-crooner Jacintha Abisheganaden from the uninspiring finale number led me to the assumption that she didn't perform, as had been intended. This was a great loss because she is the only artiste that night with a credible reputation in the music industry (a couple of her jazz albums were well-received by critics in the U.S).
And who the hell was that guy singing the finale song??? He was horrendous~!!
