Sound quality spoils show

American star Jennifer Lopez added a dash of glamour to the colourful FIFA World Cup opening ceremony which some pundits described as ‘odd’ as TV viewers blasted the poor sound quality.

J-Lo, wearing a carnival-inspired and revealing green outfit, appeared from a trapdoor along with rapper Pitbull to sing the official World Cup song with Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte.

The ceremony was held ahead of the opening game between Brazil and Croatia. With her participation not confirmed until the last minute, J-Lo was a welcome sight as she rose up from inside a giant ball positioned on the stadium floor.

Figures dressed as trees walked on stilts and children representing flowers bounced on trampolines around the huge, glowing ball in the centre of the stadium.

It was not long before samba music kicked in and traditional dancers celebrating Brazil’s ethnic and geographical range took the floor.

Acrobats dressed as balls replaced the dancers and 64 children came in juggling balls on strings, to another big roar as a giant Brazilian flag entered the arena.

Finally, the big ball opened to reveal Brazilian singing star Leitte, swiftly followed by J-Lo and Pitbull.

J-Lo, showing off her trademark Latin dance moves, belted out the official World Cup song, We Are One (Ole Ola) with her fellow performers before they disappeared back down the trapdoor.

But while those inside the stadium were able to enjoy her singing, the experience of many at home was hampered by ‘appalling’ sound quality, which left the voices of Lopez and her fellow performers sounding faint and ‘tinny’.

Broadcasters say that they had ‘no control’ over audio levels because a single feed was distributed around the world.

Hundreds of fans complained about the sound on social media websites and although Brazil spent a fortune trying to merge culture, nature and acrobatics, it failed to score with many spectators. Instead, the world was reminded that humans in their adult form should never dress like foliage, wrote one scribe, and that Pitbull is no Shakira, the sultry singer of the contest’s last song.

Twitter reactions included:
* If I was Brazilian I would be protesting right now. That was terrible.#OpeningCeremony #WorldCup2014
– Justin Griesel (@JustinGriesel) June 12, 2014
* This ceremony looked like ghosts trees and aliens running around after a giant ball#WorldCup #openingceremony
– DESI (@DesiganR) June 12, 2014
* Ummmm, I thought this was the #OpeningCeremony? All that’s missing is the Hobbit and a ring... #MissionToMordor
– Bronwyn Hardick (@missbronni) June 12, 2014
* Looks like dancing broccoli #OpeningCeremony
– Rebekka-Mary Darling (@RebekkaMary) June 12, 2014
* Brazil sure love Bugs Life. #OpeningCeremony
– Bearded FC (@BeardedFC) June 12, 2014
* I so want that giant ball to come loose and roll after them Indiana Jones style#OpeningCeremony
– Katie Weasel (@KatieWeasel) June 12, 2014
* For god sake Simon Cowell, press your bloody buzzer #OpeningCeremony
– Katie Weasel (@KatieWeasel) June 12, 2014
* Well, at least it’s a relatively peaceful protest. #OpeningCeremony
– Mrs Stephen Fry (@MrsStephenFry) June 12, 2014
* This looks like a fruit salad. What’s going on Brazil? #OpeningCeremony
– Caiphus L Kgosana (@CaiphusK_11) June 12, 2014
* At least in 2010 you didn’t have to be an experienced botanist to understand what was going on in thar #openingceremony
– Mikey (@KigenAFC) June 12, 2014
* See Pages 12 & 13: Abu George’s World Cup round-up