Glasgow 2014 - Opening and closing ceremonies

London 2012 was wrapped up a week ago tonight, the closing ceremony was somewhat under-whelming in comparison to Danny Boyle’s epic opening, yet both ceremonies clearly highlighted how important music is to British culture.

It got me thinking about the songs and artists that could soundtrack the Commonwealth Games and Glasgow 2014; what songs would kick-start the bash, prove how friendly, welcoming and organised us Scots can be and then close the Commonwealth Games with a party like only Glasgow knows how to hold.

We certainly have plenty of musical talent to choose from and some of the names listed below would be more than capable of producing a specially written soundtrack for the ceremony – think Craig Armstrong, Mogwai, Bobby Gillespie, Mylo or Calvin Harris.

Putting my own musical preferences to one side and thinking of music and artists that would truly represent Scotland, my own 1 hour-playlist for Scotland would be;

• Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham – A nice traditional start 
• Eddie Reader – performing a Rabbie Burns poem
• Paulo Nutini – taking on Dougie Maclean’s classic ‘Caledonia’ 
• Fairground Attraction - Perfect - cause the Commonwealth Games will be perfectly organised ;-)
  
• Lulu – Shout – raised in the East End of Glasgow, this would be quite fitting and really get things going

• Bluebells – Young At Heart - cause we are all so young at heart
• Calvin Harris – Some rousing electronic pop courtesy of the boy from Dumfries 
• Primal Scream – Movin’ On Up  - not sure if the punk in Bobby G would be up for this, but worth an ask.
• The Proclaimers – 500 Miles - has to be included

• Red Hot Chilli Pipers – An epic rendition of ‘Flower of Scotland’ accompanied by a film featuring people of all ages singing from all around the country in stunning scenery 
• Runrig – Closing the ceremony with a rousing Loch Lomond

 That is a pretty safe choice and there are some shoe-ins there that you have to think you could place your mortgage on. Texas, Deacon Blue, Travis, Wet Wet Wet and Simple Minds are the other big names that will likely feature on the committee's 'want' list. Lets not forget Annie Lennox...

Perhaps an alternative opening/closing ceremony could take place in George Square/Glasgow Green?

Aztec Camera – Roddy Frame with the triumphant ‘Somewhere In My Heart’…’love will see you through’

BMX Bandits – leading the crowd in a sing-a-long of E102’s ‘I’m so happy that love has come around’ chorus

Primal Scream – ‘Movin’ On Up’, ‘Come Together’ and really getting the party started with ‘Loaded’

Superstar – ‘Superstar’ – for the Superstars that will come out of the Games

Beta Band – a reformed Beta Band with the classic ‘Dry The Rain’ - as we really don't want it to rain like it has this summer!
Franz Ferdinand - 'Take Me Out' - an indie anthem
Belle and Sebastian - 'The Boy with the Arab Strap'
Teenage Fanclub - 'Ain't That Enough'

Closing the night in style would be the Optimo DJ's.

To bring the mood down we could bring on;

Arab Strap - reforming for a specially written drunken ramble about the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow akin to this joke 

Glasvegas - 'Flowers and Fitba Tops' 

 Never mind an opening ceremony, lets get a festival of the best of Scottish music on the go!

In short, Glasgow (and indeed Scotland) will not be short of options when it comes to music in 2014 and we should make the most of the opportunity to highlight some of the fantastic artists that the city and country has produced.