Olympian1010

Vibe Check Alright, everyone ready to go? Let’s get a quick vibe check before we hit the road once more.

Intermission Phew! All that traveling has me exhausted. Thankfully, California has just about every kind of cuisine you could want. Of course, the state basically invented the concept of fast food, which might be your best option in the interest of time. We’ll take a quick snack break before resuming our tour.

In Pursuit of Gold When you think about country/western music, the image of the cowboy undoubtedly comes to mind. There is a long history of ranching in California, from Spanish immigrants to American settlers. The image of the “Wild West” popularized by the film industry embellished the truth of early settlement in California. Nonetheless, the era of cowboys, stagecoaches, and outlaws lives rent free in the minds of Californians. Of course, that era was largely fueled by the California Gold Rush. People came from all over the world hoping to strike it rich in hills, but many found few richies in the dirt. Instead, they planted roots and gave birth to modern California. You can still visit “Ghost Towns” throughout the state. Communities formed by mineral mining, but ultimately abandoned once the wealth was gone. Bodie State Historic Park accessible via state highway 270 is probably the best kept of these.

Country in the Central Valley While we’re in the Central Valley, we might as well talk about the music scene here. A new style of country/western music was being invented at the Southern end of the valley. Dubbed the “Bakersfield Sound,” this style of country music originated from the Midwest American migrants who settled in the area after the Great Depression. If you had the radio on while driving on the 99 from Sacramento to Bakersfield, you might have heard the following tunes.

Man in Black If the conclusion of that last segment has you feeling down, or maybe a bit blue, Johnny Cash has a song for you. Inspired by a film set in Folsom State Prison, the “Man in Black” wrote a song with inmates in mind. He would later play the tune live at both Folsom State Prison and Caliofornia’s most notorious state prison San Quentin.

The Fillmore Scene Wow! That got intense towards the end. Let’s cool things down and travel back in time to San Francisco's Fillmore District. In the 1950s, Fillmore Street was a beacon for jazz music. Black Americans had moved West pursuing manufacturing jobs during World War 2 and in the years that followed. They brought the sound of New Orleans with them, and created something special. Sadly, the jazz scene was only temporary. The neighborhood was viewed poorly by city authorities, and thus resigned to urban redevelopment. The clubs closed and music moved on.

Turn On, Tune In, and Drop Out Hollyweed might not have graced the Valley long, but California is notorious for its attitude towards recreational drugs. The 1960s saw the emergence of the counterculture hippie movement at the intersection of Haight Street and Ashbury street in San Francisco. Young people disenfranchised by the government, suburban cookie-cutter lifestyle, and the Vietnam War descended upon the city. They explored their spirituality, practiced free-love, embraced communal living, and experimented with psychedelic drugs. The movement culminated with the Summer of Love. The aesthetic was tie-dye and the goal was harmony. Of course, frustration with the established lifestyle was high too. It was a wild era of massive music festivals and vibrant artistic expression. It ultimately ended with violence and hatred sadly. A haphazardly organized music festival at the Altamont Speedway became synonymous with the end of the era. There were fights, a fatal stabbing, drug overdoses, and ultimately, chaos.

Down By The Beach Anyone fancy a trip to the beach? I’ve heard the wave sets are gnarly today. I'd advise caution dudes and dudettes, you wouldn’t want to wipe out in front of all the tourists. Surf Culture came to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s. It left an indelible mark on the way Californians speak, eat, and recreate. Cruise down state highways 1 or 39, and you’ll see plenty of remnants from the era. Check out a fifties themed diner, or find some radical dudes and dudettes to cut a rug with.

Main Artist Segment: The Journey What up! What up! What up! It’s your boy: DJ Youth and Urban. It’s been quite the ceremony so far, but we’re just getting started. Let’s hit the road and resume our artistic presentation.

Opening Ceremony: Oaths Competitors Oath - Monika Liu : "In the name of all artists, I promise that we shall take part in this Contest, respecting and abiding by the rules that govern TISC - committing ourselves to a competition that values respect and the true spirit of sportsmanship. We do so for the glory of music and the honor of our nations!" Jury Oath - @Roamingrover86 : “In the name of all the jury members, I promise that we shall adjudicate in our deliberations at this Contest with complete impartiality, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern TISC in the true spirit of sportsmanship! We commit to this for the health of the Contest and the honor of our nations!" Host Oath - @Olympian1010 : “I promise that I will organize this Contest, respecting and abiding by the rules that govern TISC - committing myself to overseeing a competition that values respect and promotes the true spirit of sportsmanship. I do this in honor of artists and juries and for the continued success of TISC!”

Opening Ceremony: Parade of Nations (4/4) Romania Jury: @IoNuTzZ Artist: HAVANA ft. Yaar Serbia Jury: @NikolaB Artist: Marija Slovakia Jury: @hckošice Artist: Peha Slovenia Jury: @justony Artist: Siddharta Spain Jury: @Cobi Artist: Mecano Sweden Jury: @Belle Artist: Ghost Türkiye Jury: @Memo Artist: Jehan Barbur Ukraine Jury: @Illya Artist: Alyosha United States of America Jury: @Olympian1010 @dezbee2008 Artist: Beck

Opening Ceremony: Parade of Nations (3/4) Lithuania Jury: @Werloc Artist: Monika Liu Malta Jury: @Glen Artist: Red Electric Mexico Jury: @mrv86 Artist: Julieta Venegas Moldova Jury: @Ionoutz24 Artist: Carla's Dreams Netherlands Jury: @heywoodu Artist: Miss Montreal New Zealand Jury: @Wanderer Artist: Connan Mockasin Poland Jury: @rybak Artist: KORTEZ Portugal Jury: @kungshamra71 Artist: Madredeus Qazaqstan Jury: @Ruslan Artist: BN x Raim & Artur

Opening Ceremony: Parade of Nations (2/4) Germany Jury: @catgamer Artist: Robin Schulz ft. James Blunt Great Britain Jury: @Cinnamon Bun Artist: Ed Sheeran Greece Jury: @maestro @Makedonas @Yannakis Artist: Marina Patti Hungary Jury: @Vektor Artist: Paddy and the Rats India Jury: @Roamingrover86 Artist: Kishore Kumar Indonesia Jury: @Griff88 Artist: Geisha Ireland Jury: @OlympicIRL Artist: Thin Lizzy Israel Jury: @Dnl Artist: Not Listed Italy Jury: @Henry_Leon @Pablita @SteveParker Artist: Toto Cutugno

Opening Ceremony: Parade of Nations (1/4) Before we resume our journey, it is time to welcome the participants and jury members of the 2023 Totallympics Open International Song Contest! Argentina Jury: @konig @LDOG Artist: Los Autenticos Decadentes Brazil Jury: @vinipereira Artist: Melim Canada Jury: @intoronto Artist: Justin Bieber Chile Jury: @ManuCHIL Artist: Gepe China Jury: @Vic Liu Artist: Xu Jun Croatia Jury: @dcro Artist: Lorde Czechia Jury: @Hipooo Artist: Mikolas Josef Denmark Jury: @Wumo Artist: Go Go Berlin France Jury: @Benolympique @Bohemia Artist: Brigitte

Opening Ceremony: Anthems We will play two anthems as part of the official protocol this morning. The first is the state anthem of California. The second is the national anthem of the United States of America.

Arriving in California Towns and cities across the state have opened their doors to our intrepid explorers competing in this year’s open contest. Some have been greeted by luxury, others by natural wonder, and others still by architectural and cultural marvel. This next song is a laid back tune about the mysterious…Hotel California.

Traveling to California Despite the grandiose myths, legends, and advertisements of California, some artists advise caution. Will participants strike gold in the land of opportunity, or be left disenfranchised and bitter like many of the 49ers before them? It’s only a matter of hours before we find out. Therefore, it seems only appropriate to heed the following…

California Dreaming California’s impact on the world is larger than its borders. Our films bless cinema worldwide. Our flora and fauna beckon to tourists. Our technology allows many jury members to experience this contest today. California is known as the “Golden State,” or “Land of Opportunities.” It’s where many artists come to chase their dreams. With that in mind, we start today’s journey with an iconic hit…

Welcome to California It’s Friday! Friday! Gotta get down and TISC on Friday! Welcome, Dudes and Dudettes, to the opening ceremony of the 2023 Totallympics Open International Song Contest. I’m your host: DJ Youth and Urban. I’ll be your guide as we sample music with a particular significance to California. There’s no time to waste, so let’s get ready to cruise around California!

Opening Ceremony: Cold Open

Okay, we will start on time in an hour. It might be a bit messy, formatting wise, but I'll make do.

I am still preparing a few things for the opening ceremony, so I may need to bump it an hour or two from its original time. I will work diligently in the morning and update in due course. Everything else is ready to go for the Grand Final.

I swear the adaptive sports have been a hot bed from proposals at multi-sports games. There was one in table tennis earlier this week too.

I hope all of our Irish users are okay. Dublin had a rough day with a stabbing attack and evening riots.

World Archery says won the mixed team quota. Those are the only quotas available at the Pacific Games.