C'est Magnifique, Both Sides Now, Hallelujah

What a day! Oh, what a night!

A couple of years ago it seemed Beijing delivered an untoppable Olympic Opening Ceremony. Tonight, Vancouver answered with a magnificent, moving evening, the memories of which I will always cherish.

So many moments. So much poetry, via spoken word and in motion.

And, what music! Joni Mitchell's "Both Sides Now" brought tears to those in my party. Bryan Adams and Nelly Furtado. The Aboriginal dance and Four Host Nations drumbeat. Nikki Yanofsky's rendition of "O Canada." Sara McLachlan -- brilliant! And finally k.d. lang singing Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" -- an astounding encore Olympic performance.

I am most grateful that my assigned seat (absolutely devine intervention and/or sheer luck) was in the section immediately to the right of the snowboarder, and later the Olympians', grand entrance, affording me numerous stops on the lower corner of the seating area, often staring up the tunnel at legends of the past and legends in the making.

Singer Anne Murray high-fived me with one hand while carrying the Olympic Flag with the other.

Donald Sutherland, who narrated much of the voice overs for the grand Canadian showcase was steps away, too.

Felt like I was walking into the stadium with Team USA (more high-fives, this time from Olympians marching to competition). Thought I was full-blood Canadian when their flag entered the arena.

In China's Opening Ceremony, a few thousand assigned drummers brought down the house. In Vancouver, more than 50,000 audience members got the pleasure of beating to their own drum (the audience participation kit itself was a clever cardboard drum set)

There have been plenty of "big moments" of pride working at Edelman, and witnessing our client, a Paralympic gold medalist who spent the last 25 years as the "Man In Motion" raising more than $200 million for spinal cord injury research, carrying the Olympic flame -- WOW -- to be even remotely connected to that and have the opportunity to work again at the Olympics is just unbelievable! I am so proud and thankful to be part of the Edelman team.

So happy to be at the Olympics again.

Living the dream. Go Canada Go!

Sarah Sings "One Dream"

Over in Beijing, they had so many official Olympic songs, they filled two CDs. Among the greatest hits, "One World, One Dream."

It was surprising to find tonight that one of the official Vancouver tunes has the similar title "One Dream" performed by Canada's own Sarah McLachlan. Check it out!

Always enjoyed Sarah's voice ... even attended a Lilith Fair concert in Atlanta (dragged kicking and screaming by then-girlfriend). My favorite of her tunes is "Into The Fire" -- one of her earliest hits -- which also seems appropriate for the Olympic Torch Relay.

My favorite from Beijing was actually by another Sarah ... Brighman, that is. This performance still gives me chills!

But the all-time chill-inducing Olympic performance (just aheady of those baby grand pianos appearing out of nowhere at LA84): Pavarotti's performance in Torino. Not a dry eye in the house! I was lucky to be there, for his last live performance of his life. Bravo!

Photo via the Sarah McLachlan fan page on Facebook