I'm going to have to admit to being a bit too drunk to really appreciate the subtleties of PI this weekend. In fact, I'm only just recovering from my hangover now.
However, in spite of the whole evening being something of a blur I mangaged the following observations
1. My home-made PI flags were great and I waved them alot
2. Both Will and Gareth were lovely and sang well
3. Ant and Dec are great - I'll miss them
4. Weren't the songs for the single boring? And very alike. Perhaps it's because I was under the influence, but when Gareth sang his first song, we had a bit of a debate about if it was the same one Will had sung. We realised it was different, but their introductions especially were very similar.
5. There was a pretty even split in loyalties for who should win, and it was concluded that choosing between Will and Gareth was like choosing between Ant and Dec. We wanted both!
6. Wasn't Ant's sparkly suit in keeping with the evening, and why wasn't there a number to vote for Ant and Dec?
7. I decided to vote for both. After 10 minutes I got through for Will. After another 30 minutes I'd failed to get through for Gareth, and went in the huff when the lines closed, but I don't think it was a conspiracy. Just busy.
7. Singles were dull. I know I've said that before, but it's true. And did we really need the voice coaches' choir in the background? Will at least did an upbeat 3rd song. I'm not convinced by the arrangement of Light My Fire, but it was at least well executed, and interesting. Unchained Melody was more interesting than the singles, but still in the same genre, and everyone remembers him singing it before, so it wasn't fresh. I think both of them would have benefited from less time on the campaign trail, and more time working on their performances.
8. It was nice to see Brian again, but I couldn't really understand what he was saying. I wasn't sure if it was because he'd been on the free alcohol, if I'd been on the wine, or both. I did like his flag waving, but was jealous that he had one flag with both of them on, and I had to make do with two separate flags.
9. They're both so lovely! Will was so gracious in victory, and Gareth so gracious in defeat. I want to adopt them both, but I suppose I'll have to join the queue.
I still have it on video, so I'll watch it after I've watched Night Fever, so I'll maybe change my mind about the singles. I can't help but think the record company knows it will be a massive hit, so are saving the decent stuff for the follow up. Unless I have a big change of heart, I won't buy the single, but will await follow-ups and albums with keen anticipation.
What was great was that there was a recognition that even though their styles were very different, there was room for both of them in the charts. I can't be bothered reading the Mohan thing, and I find the concept of manufactured pop something of a nonsense. It's all manufactured if we're honest. The record companies, and people in charge of play-lists need reminding that we, the general public don't all want the same thing all the time so can be a little bolder in their decision making and not underestimate us.