Beijing pumps out the tunes to turn on the crowds
BEIJING (Reuters) - Audiences are being treated to a somewhat eclectic mix of music to keep them entertained and pumped up on Olympic passion during the two weeks of sport.
Played during breaks between competitions, the tracks are a heady compendium of Chinese and Western hits, with the odd addition that seems to have come straight out of leftfield.
At the weightlifting venue, Blondie's "The tide is high" was a favorite and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's appeal for peace was also played.
In the blue-hued Water Cube, the retro-theme continued as Abba's camp classic "Dancing Queen" roused the cheering masses watching Chinese divers Guo Jingjing and Wu Minxia.
Neither is Chinese-language "Mandopop" being left out.
Apart from the obligatory "Beijing Welcomes You", one of the Games' theme songs, artists from China's long-time diplomatic rival Taiwan are having their voices heard too, Taiwanese artists being extremely hot in China despite political tensions.
"I only love you, you are my superstar," Taiwanese girl band sensation S.H.E. screamed out on their huge hit "Superstar" at the Yingdong Natatorium where the occasionally vicious water polo matches take place.
S.H.E. popped up again at other venues, with another hit, "Chinese".
Popular Hong Kong singer Emil Chau has performed on the Games' sidelines too and there are live performances too.
Breakdancing Fuwa, the five stylized animals who are the official mascots of the Beijing Olympics, and cheerleaders called the "Beijing Dream Dancers" hammed it up for basketball fans.
(Additional reporting by Sophie Hardach, Lee Chyen Yee, Jason Subler and Guo Shipeng; Editing by Ed Osmond)
