And They’re Off! The Olympics 2012 Starts

Starting from today, London is the most exciting place in the world. The Olympics has started and Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony is underway.

Evoking Britain’s green and pleasant land, choirs sang the national anthems of each country in the United Kingdom with their respective flowers which were: Danny Boy, Flower of Scotland, Bread of Heaven and England’s rose, Scotland’s thistle, Wales’ daffodil and Northern Ireland’s flax. There was even 70 sheep, 12 horses, 10 chickens and nine geese.

Then the set was stage as a volunteer cast of two and a half thousand people acted out the Industrial revolution. The cast are dressed like peasants and rich men from another era gave the audience a history lesson to the rousing beat of the drums. The theme of the opening ceremony is the Isles of Wonder, inspired by William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest. Mark Rylance had to drop out of the main part performing a monologue from The Tempest as his step-daughter died. Our heart goes out to him.

Direct descendants from the suffragette movement also took to the stage. Then there was a moment of silence for all of those who have sacrificed their life for their country. The epic opening ceremony cost £27 million

Then there was a splash of colour for the 60’s. 60,000 people inside the stadium watched the spectacle and another 4 billion watched on TV.

Molten Olympic rings were forged by craftsmen and then rose from the ground, creating an amazing spectacle. An emotional moment. The Olympic rings represent the five continents.

Then Daniel Craig as James Bond went to Buckingham Palace to get the Queen (yes, that one) with the corgis snapping at his heels. A helicopter ride later across London’s landmarks lead to The Queen and James Bond parachuting from a helicopter.

The Union Jack was then carried in by servicemen from the RAF, Army and the Navy.

Then the NHS and achievements of children’s books were represented while Mike Oldfields played ‘Tubular Bells’. This included Peter Pan and JK Rowling was there. NHS was then displayed in lights. Kids jumped on beds while nurses danced. Then children’s nightmares were represented by Lord Voldemort, Cruella De Vil and child snatcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Then a few Mary Poppins were dancing on stage and the nightmares were chased away. 10,000 people have taken part in the Opening Ceremony in total. The audience roared as the homage to the NHS ended. All of the nurses and doctors were real NHS workers! They all rehearsed for 350 hours.

Then Rowan Atkinson (as Mr Bean) played along while the National Symphony Orchestra during Chariots of Fire. Then scene from the film were played with Mr Bean cut into them. Very funny.

Then a typical British household was represented along with British TV shows and music from the past. Gregory’s Girl, Charlie Chaplin, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Who and David Bowie were all represented. Every audience member was taken through their childhood.

The Sex Pistols, texting, Soul II Soul and The Eurythmics played as the dancers rocked out and an actor and actress texted each other and then kissed. Famous kisses were then played in the background. Including that of Kate Middleton and Prince William. The journey of music and dance was told from the 60’s to the present day. Danny Boyle even got Trainspotting, the film that made him famous, in.

Then East London’s Dizze Rascal took to the stage. Dizzie was a good choice and then Amy Winehouse played. A homage to the singer who died last year.

The inventor of the internet Sir Tim Berners-Lee appeared and was paid homage to as everyone cheered. David Beckham, East London boy, brought the torch to the Olympic Stadium.

There was a minute silence for those who have passed away and then Emile Sande then sang Abide By Me. The dancers were amazing and there were some brilliant Tai Chi moves.

Then the athletes arrived. The athletes from each country arrived at the stadium carrying their flag as their country was called out.

The opening ceremony was full of British in-jokes and fantastic performances. Frost Magazine are proud to be British and will constantly be blogging about the Olympics. Let us know your opinions and thoughts.

Dicepeople: It Gets Darker

‘It Gets Darker’ is the second album from London-based electronica artist Dicepeople. Frost loved their first album, ‘Time to Play’and this one is just as good. Dicepeople are stunningly original and wonderfully delicious. A great band who should break through into the mainstream in 2012.

The album will be released on 28 October 2011 on Sonic Serendipity, and it will be
available at music.dicepeople.org for free download and to purchase on CD.

‘It Gets Darker’ is so named because it explores themes relating to the dark side of
humanity. It’s darker and heavier than the first Dicepeople album ‘Time to Play’, which
was released on 13 July 2009 and had significant radio play and great critical feedback:

‘A delicious mix of hard synth-driven electronica and melodic IDM … a 50 minute auditory
delight … bursting at the seams with talent.’ – Connexion Bizarre

‘A substantial release that reinvigorates the energy of the past while keeping a firm grip on the current pulse of electronics … definitely time to play this album from start to end.’ – Igloo Magazine

‘Delicious both to the ears and to the soul … I’m loving every moment on this album.’ –
DARKLIFE fanzine

Dicepeople is a musical project created by Matt Brock. Dicepeople was originally set up in
London, UK in the mid-90s as an electronic side project when Brock was more heavily involved
with industrial acts Noise Union and Replikator. In 2008, however, Brock transformed
Dicepeople into his primary musical project and aimed to take it beyond pure electronic music.

The tagline for Dicepeople is ‘dark electronica for the body and mind’ because Brock’s aim is to
create music that combines driving beats with evocative and emotionally engaging harmonies
and melodies. The music has an electronic foundation with industrial and EBM components,
and it mixes real instruments and voices with synthesisers to add cinematic depth and intensity.

Dicepeople influences cover a very broad range of artists including Art of Noise, Black
Sabbath, Can, Depeche Mode, The Doors, Front 242, The Future Sound of London, Hoodlum
Priest, John Barry, John Carpenter, KMFDM, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, Nine Inch Nails, The Prodigy, Siouxsie Sioux, Tangerine Dream and Underworld.

www.dicepeople.org