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A Lackluster Finale: The Invictus Games Closing Ceremony Disappoints
The anticipation surrounding the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games has taken a nosedive, with many expressing disappointment over the announced lineup.
Robin McVicar, the COO of the Invictus Games, insists that the event will be thrilling, yet there’s an unmistakable sense of skepticism lingering in the air.
As November 20 approached, the list of performers was revealed, featuring acts like Bare n^ked Ladies, Jelly Roll, and the duo Warren Treaty.
Jelly Roll, known more for his connection to Harry Styles’ neck tattoo than for his musical prowess, has been criticized as a mediocre choice for such a prestigious event.
While he may bring a certain chaotic energy to the stage, it’s hard to ignore the fact that when your headliner is better recognized for body art than musical talent, it raises eyebrows about the event’s overall appeal.
Next on the roster is Bare n^ked Ladies, a Canadian band that enjoyed their heyday in the 1990s.
They might evoke some fond memories for fans, but their relevance today seems questionable.
While Canadians might offer a polite round of applause, others could find themselves googling the band’s name to recall their hits as the music plays in the background.
Then we have Warren Treaty.
Although they may be delightful individuals, they are largely unknown to the general public.
Many attendees might struggle to identify them even if they were wearing neon signs.
This sentiment reflects the general confusion and lack of excitement surrounding the entire lineup.
McVicar claims that Harry had a hand in selecting the acts, but it appears he may have aimed for true superstars and received nothing but polite rejections instead.
It’s disheartening to witness the Invictus Games, which once stood as a powerful tribute to wounded service personnel, reduced to this lackluster performance.
The involvement of a megastar has added to the controversy, often marked by attention-seeking antics and questionable fashion choices.
Her presence feels out of place, as if a red carpet was unrolled just for her.
Meanwhile, David Foster, often referred to as Harry’s second father and a renowned music producer, is conspicuously absent from the proceedings.
One can’t help but wonder why he hasn’t stepped up to curate a star-studded lineup for his son.
Given Foster’s history of collaborating with A-list artists like Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand, it raises questions about his absence.
It almost feels as if he took one look at Harry’s vision for the Invictus Games and thought, “Not my circus, not my monkeys.”
There has been a lot of chatter about bringing in high-profile performers, with Beyoncé’s name frequently mentioned.
If Harry had allocated even a fraction of the budget he spends on extravagant photo ops, perhaps Queen Bey could have been tempted to perform for a cool million or two.
Instead, the lineup resembles more of a participation trophy than a celebration of excellence.
Michael Bublé, the beloved Canadian crooner, is also notably missing from the event.
He likely prefers to steer clear of this spectacle, avoiding any association with a headliner whose primary claim to fame revolves around a tattoo.
It’s not hard to imagine Bublé opting for a corporate gig over sharing the stage with Jelly Roll.
As for ticket sales, the event may need to arrange for a busload of attendees just to fill the seats.
It seems that the ceremony could have featured any 80s one-hit wonder and it would have been equally memorable.
Names like Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Celine Dion, or even Justin Bieber would have brought a far more exciting vibe to the closing ceremony.
If Harry and Meghan can’t even pull together a decent performance lineup for their flagship project, it raises serious questions about what they truly bring to the table.