It was bucolic anarchy. Beautiful pandemonium. Organised chaos.

Danny Boyle’s jubilant retelling of Great Britain’s his/her-story at the Olympic Opening Ceremony last Friday was captivating, awe-inspiring and, in a most idiosyncratic manner, something to feel very proud about.

This patriotically oxymoronic funfair consistently screamed out reminders of the astonishing musical highs of the British Isles throughout the centuries; music which, like the ceremony it soundtracked, grabbed the world’s attention through its electric spirit, its outright oddity and its downright brilliance.
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