Natalie's Top 10 Performance and Results Shows Music Recaps

Did Kupono give a call me/vote for me sign in his intro? Ha. No shame in self-promotion apparently. Too bad it didn't work. Cat is looking fantastic, but that black strip is distracting. At least even it out with the other side. Debbie Allen as the guest judge was interesting. Better than Toni and Tyce, but not as bucc as Lil' C or as banoodles as Mia. The music was pretty varied this time around, although we had multiple repeats from previous seasons, this season, and this performance show. I was disappointed with the lack of new solos and songs during the results show night.

Onto the music recaps for the Top 10 Performance and Results shows…


Top 5 Girls Routine choreographed by Nakul Dev Mahajan

As many people have mentioned, Jeanine looked the most comfortable doing this dance. And the other J, Janette, looked fantastic as well. That music “speed-up” at the end was intense. Nakul really pushes the dancers without making them look like idiots. What can you really say about the music? I don’t know much about Bollywood, but from what I can tell, the music always fits perfectly with the story and movement.

Song: Dholna
Artist/Band: Pyar Ke Geet (soundtrack)
Where you’ve heard the song before: You may know this song if you’re into the Bollywood circuit, but I’ve never heard this song before.
Buy the video on iTunes:
Or
Buy the album on Amazon: Amazon

Kayla & Evan’s Viennese Waltz choreographed by Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin

Evan looks like Chuck Bass. That was so distracting, I had to watch this dance a few times. In music news, this song makes me nostalgic. The mid-90s was a memorable time for music. Ha. Again, I don’t know much about the Viennese Waltz so I guess the song was too fast for the jidges? Tony did speed up the song. I ended up really liking this waltz and I don’t normally connect with this style.

Song: Kiss From a Rose
Artist/Band: Seal
Where you’ve heard the song before: The song came out in 1994 (but lives in our hearts forever). It was on the Batman Forever soundtrack. It also made the rounds on American Idol. Chris Sligh sang this song for his audition and Jack Black “performed” this song for the Idol charity extravaganza in 2007.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Brandon’s Solo

I’m so glad we’ll be seeing a solo from him every week now. His movement was amazing. Staccato (and almost manic) and then it slowed down just in time with the music. As it was mentioned last night on Twitter, this was even better than his audition.

Song: In Your Eyes
Artist/Band: Jeffrey Gaines
Where you’ve heard the song before: This song was originally sung by Peter Gabriel. Jeffrey Gaines recorded an acoustic version of this song in 1992 and released it with his single Scares Me More. After Gaines failed to gain much success, he re-recorded the song in studio and live versions for his album Always Be. Sara Bareilles also does a cover of this song. Of course the place you should all know this song is from the movie Say Anything…. This was the tune John Cusack blasted on the boom box he held over his head (It seems that Fox thinks that posting that clip of Cusack on YouTube is copyright infringement so here’s a trailer for the movie with In Your Eyes and some boombox action at the end).
I believe Brandon used the live/acoustic version of this song (so that’s what is provided below).
Buy the single on iTunes:

Janette & Ade’s Hip Hop routine choreographed by NappyTabs

They probably shouldn’t have done a costume change. Nothing can beat Karla’s.

A magic pick? Really? Ade was definitely stronger than Janette and the judges just decided to ignore that. I have to say that I could do without this song. Forever. Just like last week, I think NappyTabs went too literal with their concept. I think they should take a short respite and get their creative juices flowing in the right direction again.

[Sidenote: And the camera, oh dear. No wonder SYTYCD never gets an Emmy nom for their camera work. Hot. Mess.]

Song: Love Sex Magic
Artist/Band: Ciara feat. Justin Timberlake
Where you’ve heard the song before: If you listen to Top 40 radio, this song has been ringing in your ears for a few months now.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Randi’s Solo

I loved her song choice, but I didn’t find her choreography particularly inspired. Not enough to make up for the atrocity that was the Paso Doble. I felt like she was dancing on top of the music, not in it. Is that possible? I like to make things up sometimes.

Song: Dream
Artist/Band: Priscilla Ahn
Where you’ve heard the song before: It was on the Disturbia soundtrack. Dream was also featured in Bride Wars and was in an episode of that joke of a show Ghost Whisperer. Recently, Nick Lazzarini, the SYTYCD S1 winner, danced to this song.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Kupono’s Solo

I liked his solo. Was it earth shattering? No. But I did like the return of quirkiness from Pono. The song gave him a good starting point for his choreography.

Song: Marina Gasolina
Artist/Band: Bonde do Rolê
Where you’ve heard the song before: I’m not at all familiar with Bonde do Rolê, so I’m not sure where you would have heard this song before. Kupono has a soundtrack of his own.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Jeanine & Jason’s Contemporary routine choreographed by Travis Wall

Nate’s prediction seems to be coming true and to be honest, I’m not mad. Travis Wall’s choreography was fantastic and Jeanine and Jason were technically and emotionally spot-on. This piece had the same honesty and rawness that Mia’s piece had, only it wasn’t as angry. It was powerfully heart-wrenching and it almost gave you that ache in your chest when you lose someone. Really moving.

I’m glad Debbie Allen said we’d be seeing this on the road. That’s enough to get me to buy a ticket for the tour. This routine and the addiction piece, and I’m sold.

Song: If It Kills Me (The Casa Nova Sessions)
Artist/Band: Jason Mraz
Where you’ve heard the song before: If you took my advice from last week and got his CD, We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things, you’ve already heard this song. If you didn’t, then do it this week!
Buy the single on iTunes:

Melissa’s Solo

I know some people liked her song choice, but I’m not so sure it went with her movement. I thought the song called for something a bit more grounded, and her movement is very…up (it makes sense in my mind). I was less impressed with her solo this week.

Song: Gabriel
Artist/Band: Lamb
Where you’ve heard the song before: It’s from their album What Sound released in 2001.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Evan’s Solo

I’ll definitely miss his solos when he’s gone. In a sea of contemporary/jazz dancers, Evan’s movement and music are a breath of fresh air.

Song: Zing! Went the Strings of my Heart
Artist/Band: Rufus Wainwright
Where you’ve heard the song before: The song was originally done by Hal LeRoy and Eunice Healey, but was more famously recorded by the lovely Judy Garland. Frank Sinatra also recorded a version of this song. Rufus Wainwright recorded this song live for his album Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Kayla’s Solo

Even though I’ve had my fill of this song for the rest of my life, I thoroughly enjoyed Kayla’s solo. She had the right amount of intensity and joy to go with the song.

Song: Rock Your Soul
Artist/Band: Elisa
Where you’ve heard the song before: This song is a crowd favorite in the SYTYCD world. Sabra danced her Top 6 solo to this song and Courtney did her Top 6 solo to this song as well. Someone during the audition process this year used the song. It was never shown, but Tasty Oreo Tyce was heard singing the song to some poor girl’s dismay.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Randi & Kupono’s Paso Doble choreographed by Toni Meredith and Melanie LaPatin

From a distance Randi looked like Shawn Johnson. That wig was almost as bad as the dance itself. Again, I don’t know Paso, but it seems like the song didn’t really go well with the choreography. I’ll leave the music and choreo assessment to Joanna. :)

Song: Dies Irae
Artist/Band: Karl Jenkins
Where you’ve heard the song before: This hymn/poem/song has more history than I care to wrap my brain around. Go to Wikipedia to find out more information. Karl Jenkin’s version comes from his album Requiem.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Ade’s Solo

His movement quality is fantastic. Every single beat in the music was used. It was hard to tell because the music didn’t have a hard bass line, but I liked his solo overall.

Song: Unchained Melody
Artist/Band: The Righteous Brothers
Where you’ve heard the song before: It was featured in the movie Ghost. Need I say more? Also Kellie Pickler and Clay Aiken sang it on Idol (not together). Find out more about the song here.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Jeanine’s Solo

I don’t know, Jeanine. I wasn’t crazy about the song choice because I think her movement lends to a different kind of song. Especially since this song was already used this season, I’m not sure this was the best choice for her.

Song: Violento (Up Mix)
Artist/Band: Bailongo!
Where you’ve heard the song before: Are you having déjà vu because Jeanine already danced to this song this season. It was a train wreck the first time around, so naturally you’d want to use the song again.

Jason’s Solo

Points for the song choice, but I would have liked a bit more in his solo. As we know, picking a good song is half the battle, but putting substantial choreography with it is just as important (probably more).

Song: Train Fare Home
Artist/Band: Muddy Waters
Where you’ve heard the song before: It’s from his album The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Melissa & Brandon’s Broadway routine choreographed by Tyce Diorio

I have to say, for Tyce, I didn’t hate this routine. Or maybe it was Brandon’s gymnastics that really sold me. I loved the song. One of my favorite Broadway pieces ever on the show.

Song: Aquarius
Artist/Band: Hair (The New Broadway Cast)
Where you’ve heard the song before: At the end of The 40 Year Old Virgin there is a lot of frolicking done to this song. This is another song that has a long history http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquarius_%28song%29. All the way back to the 60s, Melissa! Hair will be going dark for one performance in the fall to support marriage equality.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Janette’s Solo

It’s so hard to judge Janette by herself. I didn’t like the song either. I’m very Negative Nancy tonight.

Song: This is Miami
Artist/Band: Sander Kleinenberg
Where you’ve heard the song before: There isn’t much history with this song. I wonder if the music people gave the song to Janette or if she already knew about it.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Top 5 Guys African routine choreographed by Jeffrey Page

Newsflash! Evan is short and not African. I loved the intensity and force of this routine. The music was just powerful enough to take their movement to the next level. Plus Evan was not as tragic as expected. Pono took the fall instead.

Song: Balant Funk
Artist/Band: Ayanda Clarke and Shawn Kelly (his name appears as Shaun Kelly in most places)
Where you’ve heard the song before: This song is off the radar of the Internet.

Top 10 Results Show Music Recap



For the solos and song, I just listed the song and artist info with a link for iTunes. Nothing fancy since you can scroll up for the actual information about the songs.

Top 10 Group Performance choreographed by Wade Robson

Can’t get Michael Jackson? We’ll settle for Janet. That wasn’t your typical Wade, but what is typical for him, really? I appreciated the lighting and the draperies, but the dancing lacked a bit of the Wade quality that we’ve all grown to love. Overall it wasn’t the worst group routine ever, but it certainly wasn’t the best.

Song: So Much Betta
Artist/Band: Janet Jackson
Where you’ve heard the song before: It’s from her most recent album Discipline.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Molly Gray’s Audition

She was just okay. She looks a bit like Kelli Baker, Bonnie Story’s daughter. Or maybe I wasn’t really paying attention. We’ll see if she makes it to Vegas or not. Big cliffhanger!

Song: Against All Odds
Artist/Band: The Postal Service
Where you’ve heard the song before: The song was originally sung by Phil Collins and this version appears in the movie of the same name. Mariah Carey did a cover solo and with the Irish band, Westlife. The Postal Service did a cover in 2004 for the movie Wicker Park. Their cover ranked 8th on the list of the NY Post’s 100 Best Cover Songs of All Time.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Randi’s Solo

Song: Dream
Artist/Band: Priscilla Ahn
Buy the single on iTunes:

Kupono’s Solo

Song: Marina Gasolina
Artist/Band: Bonde Do Role
Buy the single on iTunes:

Melissa’s Solo

Song: Gabriel
Artist/Band: Lamb
Buy the single on iTunes:

Ade’s Solo

Song: Unchained Melody
Artist/Band: The Righteous Brothers
Buy the single on iTunes:

Black Eyed Peas Performance



That was a painful 4 minutes. There were flailing people in the background that were obviously labeled as “dancers” erroneously. Fergie looked a hot mess and was carrying around some sort of furry baton. The singing wasn’t so hot, and I’m not even sure it was live. I’d like to see more dancing. If Desmond Richardson would just come back every week and dance for 30 minutes, I think the results shows would be more bearable.

Song: I Gotta Feeling
Where you’ve heard the song before: The B.E.P. have been dominating the charts these past few weeks. I’m sure you’ve heard this song.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Randi’s Goodbye Montage

Song: Already Gone
Artist/Band: Kelly Clarkson
Buy the single on iTunes:

Kupono’s Goodbye Montage

Song: On Your Own
Artist/Band: Green River Ordinance
Buy the single on iTunes:


So we're down to our Top 8! I'm so excited about Ellen, I don't know how I'm going to make it through the week!

So You Think You Can Dance - Top 12 Supplemental

Blame Nate Levy for this gem:

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Apologies for the duplicated gif...



... but irresistable, isn't she? Now science knows why!

Indie rating: The Knife - "The Captain"

So You Think You Can Dance - Top 12 Supplemental

First, I need to correct an error. I thought that Cat called Oreo "Snuffalicious," but she sets the record straight in her EW blog: "Snapilicious," though she renders it "Snap-ilious." Need to work on your spelling, Kitten.





I stand by my original translation, however.

More!





Normally, I'd say that the confused blonde (front row, center) is some kind of alien since the uncertain smile and the frantic eyes suggest unfamiliarity with Earth languages and customs...



... but since Oreo was being particularly inane and senseless at the time/always, I can't say for sure in this case.

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Indie rating: Can - "Dizzy Dizzy"

So You Think You Can Dance - Top 12 (5x14, 5x15)

Welcome So You Doubted That Form Matters!

I've got some ersatz formalist tendencies, so Phillip's elimination is not salved by his inclusion on the tour for reasons both philosophical and practical. Practically, while he gets to on tour -- which is a boon for him, certainly -- we've been deprived of any further potential magic that he could've performed on the show, which he also acknowledges: "I was really excited to see if Wade and Mia could use the way I move and pull something out of it and make something beautiful." Actually, then, his elimination has rendered my practical objections metaphysical, a transformation which goes against nature, I think.

Philosophically, I remain peeved at Chbeeb's elimination because the moral judgments involved in reality tv aren't easy to shake. Remember, reality tv is essentially a process (i.e. the means to an end, or in some cases, multiple ends) by which to work out competing notions of morality, and its justice is measured in different varieties of worth -- a rational mechanism that's usually motivated by irrational feelings. In this narrow case, I see Chbeeb as bringing way more flavor and upside to the show than, say, Jason, who adds only marginal value to the show as its third- or fourth- best contemporary male dancer.



("You gotta get Cat's / Dirt off your shoulders...")

But to step back to stake a wider view, a reality program is its own moral universe that parallels the outside world but might never intersect with it. Reality tv's moral universe is, of course, vastly reduced to simple, often zero-sum moral judgments and dynamics, especially compared to the real world which has the benefit of not being a teleological narrative (ask me when you're older). In the real world, the rules and moral dynamics of reality tv no longer apply, but likewise, the benefits of the real world don't always weigh upon how we perceive a given reality program. Given, then, how things shook out, I see Chbeeb as having been wronged with justice being out of whack in a fundamental way within the context of the show; and although he's on the tour, it operates in a different world and has its own set of morals that don't quite interact with the what happened on the show. So seeing that Chbeeb gets to go on tour is little more than a moral pittance, because this glaring injustice of Jason outlasting Phillip remains permanently on the books. (Unless, of course, one of the guys pulls a Jessica King and has to bow out of the competition.) In a higher profile example, think of the reaction to how Adam Lambert didn't win Idol. His fans took little immediate comfort in his brighter, post-Idol career prospects because what happened on Idol was broken justice.

Both of these instances are examples of reality tv form. A contestant accumulates injustices and moral wrongs (which they either perpetrate or are victims of) over the course of a season, and the manner in which rights and wrongs occur, how a show treats its contestants -- in short, its form -- constitutes the form and/or style of the show. And thus, the way that Phillip circuitously ended up on the tour illustrates the condescending attitude Nigel et al have towards hip hop this season. In keeping Jason over Phillip, they demonstrate that they don't want a hip hopper to compete in the top 10, but they do want his ability to draw fans onto the tour. We pretty much all knew Chbeeb wasn't final four material, so all that was left was to see how the show treated him. The answer: with poor style.

Plotzing, a new name for Oreo, and the return of the well-read PONO'S POMO CORNER after the jump.


All that said, the performances this week have been the best of the season. Although I didn't think that the performances were all ace from top to bottom, three routines stood out prominently.

Chronologically first, Mia's, which will go down assuredly as SYTYCD's most violent routine ever. Different people will have their own reactions, but for me, this number was painfully, brutally frank in its emotional desperation, and not something I can lightly return to very often.



Clear on the other side of the universe are, DUN DUN DUN, Brandon and Janette, a power couple if I've ever seen one. Just like Katee and Joshua did last year, they're making me reconsider my profound apathy for ballroom -- that Argentine Tango would've earned attention just for Janette's obscenely committed sex face:



Not to mention their leg action which could slice concrete. Unconscious! (Thanks be to Nigel for punctuating easily my favorite ballroom routine on this show with the audaciously corny, cliche, and attention-seeking slow-clap into a standing ovation.)

A-a-and then, as if the producers had peered into my brain and tailored the episode exactly to my hopes, teaming Brandon and Janette with Wade? Welcome to Plotzville. Population: ME. (That is "me," not the abbreviation for Maine.) I grinned like a big idiot when I heard that they'd be performing a Wade piece, and I grinned like a bigger idiot when I watched the finished product. Where Kupono and Kayla's performance for Mia was the quintessence of pain, my beloved Brandette via my beloved Wade performed the ultimate in impishly joyous fun. (All descriptors of Randi and Evan's jive should be shorn of the word "fun" compared to Wade Wunderkind's piece.) I'd really like to see any other routine try to top this -- we're talking greatest of all time here.




One complaint, though, is that in the rehearsal package, we heard Wade describe Janette's character as the reckless thief, and Brandon's as the calculating one, but I didn't see these distinctions clearly in the actual dance, which nagged the first time I watched it. It's a substantive but awfully trivial critique. I guess I have another complaint: at this rate, Wade will finally finish choreographing to the entirety of Ruby Blue around 2012. But otherwise, he and Amanda are slaying me with their cuteness.

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Singling out these three numbers doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy any others, if we broadened "enjoy" ironically cracking up at perhaps the most hilariously lame hip hop to date. Well, that's how I rationalize my fondness for SappyTabs Present: White On White, Part VII without threatening to jump the shark (though wait till you hear my unironic praise for the Russian kalinka), because I can hardly suppress a grin when I watch Randi and Evan's elbowing each other on the dancefloor. You know how "urban" is thinly veiled code for "black"? Let me introduce "charismaless," which is thinly veiled code for GOD EVAN CAN YOU BE ANY WHITER?



My bad -- I shouldn't make this a thing about race, because while he may have some non-threatening cuteness, but in other telegenic categories, he's pretty empty. Evan brings to mind the old aphorism, because when we saw him audition last season, he was an enigmatic presence, this '50s anachronism without explanation. His aura was enhanced by the fact that we never heard him speak -- but then there was a reason for that, because he's shown this year that his elocution is confined to echoing whatever his interlocutors say or speaking in unremarkable banalities (in which case we see that Evan's dependence on his brother isn't limited to choreography but also to speech, how prescient of me besides).

And Randi, who, for a Mormon, is so easily scandalized by teenage pregnancy.

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OK, I officially jump the shark here because the Russian folk dance (too folky Nigel?) was not half the disaster that everyone claims it was between Jeanine's opening salvo of turns and Phillip's hybrid breaking/turnover that bookended the routine. At least it was something new, as opposed to Melissa's lethargic disco (Doriana: disco done wrong is cheesy? Heaven forfend!), or Caitlin and Jason's forgettable lyrical jazz, which left no impression on me whatsoever.

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I'm getting broken up over Brandon and Janette's impending split because in the past three weeks they have been coming into their own and tearing the floor to pieces with their fire.

Brandon, of course, is the season's pretenatural prodigy, but Janette has been nothing short of delightful. I'll buy that she's been keeping up with Brando (the greatest of his generation!), but in addition to the dancing, she's got miles and miles of character and pizzazz as well. As if her snap-crackle-pop personality wasn't awesome enough, Janette apparently pulled Brando out of his shell, which is kind of an amazing feat because given how we've seen his goofy effusiveness in the packages, you'd hardly think that he was shy at all.



If Cat ever decides to hang up the heels and leave the heinously awesome fashion in the closet, I'd want Janette to take up the bedazzled mic.

(Our spicy Cuban needs to watch out for a particular ballerina, though, who seems to be adopting some of our kitten's mannerisms for herself.)

Those size-41s would be a monster to fill, of course, since Cat has perfected her hosting duties to the point where the microphone can pick up her thoughts.

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In any case, Cat looked, as usual, smashing, but I felt the black dress was too under-accessorized -- a belt or a small necklace could've brought the right accent to her look. A for effort (and the courage to bring off such a minimal look), B for execution. The Thursday night Egyptian necklace/tunic getup was more intriguing, though I was certain that she wore the exact same outfit in the past. I couldn't find it, of course, so there goes my "Even Cat's feeling the recession" joke.



Seriously, though, did she recycle that dress from a previous show?

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I'll second/third/fourth/fifth the plaudits for Joey Dowling if only to minimize the amount of frenetic cheese that passes as the Oreo's Broadway routines, which in fact should become his new nom de tybe.

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Cat got in on the act, too, of devising new nicknames for Tasty Oreo Frenetic Cheese, whom she called "Snuffalicious," which I think translates to something like "erstwhile neckless, beardy-chin-strapped, not that much taller than Evan exceedingly punchable gnome."

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Call me old-fashioned, but a DJ's place is behind the decks, not trying to coattail on Kelly Rowland's mojo to get some cheap attention.

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Caitlin finally went home, which takes care of one of my bete noires this season, but which also eliminates the opportunity for the Sleater-Kinney puns I should've been making during her stay.

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Did you know: Kayla has freckles! She usually is overly made up, but she ought to consider going sans fards more often.

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Can I say that Randi's leopard print dress evolved from Cat's season 3 ostrich dress, or would that make me a dirty Darwinist?

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The group routine was so nicely stylized and used the set so expansively and exploited camera angles in a particularly savvy way that I bet my life that the force behind it was Wade, not Napoleon and Tabither. (Which means I'm typing this up from the Great Beyond. The Big Guy? Perfect teeth, nice smell, a class act all the way.) I am chastened, then, from my otherwise dour opinion of the duo; when they do middle-aged white people hip hop, I leave far more than I take, but when they feel boldly and inject a little, as Nigel would say, urbanity into a routine, hey, it's engrossing and watchable! Which goes to show, when the duo set their mind to it and consciously avoid sentimentality (and stupid bendy glowsticks), they can crank out perfectly decent choreography.

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Results night also served as a subliminal showdown between the two male frontrunners, Ade and Brando, where each tried to outleap the other.




Which brings me to Ade's virtuosic solo, which didn't grab me quite so much as others -- I think his choice of music was a mistake because it doesn't lend itself to showcasing any musicality, either with that computer alert sound collage in the beginning, or the sub-Prefuse 73 chopped up beats later. If he's the music geek that he presents himself as, then this was a classic example of showing off one's taste to one's detriment.

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The choreographers for the Argentine Tango -- Leonardo Barrionuevo and Miriam Larici -- were the same duo who were the special guest dancers in the first week. What I didn't like about them -- him, actually -- was that he blew a kiss and then winked at Janette after they were finished with their Tango. Icky.

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The return of PONO'S POMO CORNER!



Sources tell me that he spent the last two weeks (more like an entire afternoon) working on some artwork inspired by the show, and you can tell me whether or not that time was well spent:

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Indie rating: Massive Attack - "Five Man Army"

Natalie's Top 12 Performance and Result Shows Music Recaps

Mathieu Young/Fox

Just when I thought I couldn’t love Cat anymore, she gives us that hairstyle. Classy Lady. Excellent night of dancing. Even though we had some of the worst performances ever, we also had, arguably, 2 of the best. With the good, comes the bad, and I’ll be honest, I’d watch the Russian Folk Dance a hundred times if it meant I got to see Mia’s addiction piece and Wade’s fan-flipping-tastic thieves routine even once.



Onto the music recaps for the Top 12 Performance and Results shows…


Melissa & Ade’s Disco routine choreographed by Doriana Sanchez

Oh dear. That was like one of those rides at the fairs that you can build and tear down in 1 day. It made me so dizzy, I kinda got sick. I imagine that most people liked that disco routine. I still don’t get it. Sorry Doriana.

For once, Ade outdanced Melissa, IMO. I did like this song for a disco routine though. Good on you, Doriana!

Song: Move On Up
Artist/Band: Destination
Where you’ve heard the song before: The song was originally done by Curtis Mayfield in 1970 and then recorded by the disco group Destination in 1979. Kanye West sampled from the original version of this song for his hit Touch The Sky.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Kayla & Kupono’s Contemporary routine choreographed by Mia Michaels

Mia Michaels, your choreography is perfection. That song was nothing without her choreography and her choreography would not have been as moving without that song. Kayla and Kupono were beyond anything I’ve seen. That was intense and emotional and beautifully danced. Gut wrenchingly honest.

Song: Gravity
Artist/Band: Sara Bareilles
Where you’ve heard the song before: This song is from her most recent album Little Voices. After her hit song Love Song was released, Sara didn’t do much else in the Top 100 charts. Gravity is her 3rd single from her album. From many people's reactions from the choreography, it looks like this song may end up being her second hit.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Caitlin & Jason’s Foxtrot choreographed by Tony Meredith

Normally this kind of song drives me insane, but I thought that it went well with the choreography. Now, Caitlin and Jason did not give me what I wanted from this routine. Nice lifts, but his movement, I felt like should have been stronger when there were horns.

Song: Minnie the Moocher
Artist/Band: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Where you’ve heard the song before: The song was originally recorded by Cab Calloway. Apparently this song has a lot of drug-related origins. Is there something you'd like to tell us Tony Meredith? In the movie The Blues Brothers, Cab performed this song. Minnie the Moocher was also performed by Tamyra Gray on the first season of that other Fox reality show American Idol. The song made an appearance on the popular comedy Family Guy, when Peter and Chris are dressed as Han Solo and Luke. My favorite place you may have heard this song before is from the fantastic Hugh Laurie. He and his band, Band from TV (which includes such television heavyweights as Adrian Pasdar, James Denton, Jesse Spencer, Teri Hatcher?, and of course Greg Grunberg), did a version.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Jeanine & Phillip’s Russian Folk Dance choreographed by Youri Nelzine & Lilia Babenko

Hot.Damn.Mess. Whoever thought that this folk dance was a good idea, should be drawn and quartered waterboarded fired. The music was wildly annoying and that translated into the dance.

[Side Note: Dear wardrobe, please don’t dress people up as Russian nesting dolls. It’s not nice. Love, Me.]

Song: Kalinka
Artist/Band: Barynya
Where you’ve heard the song before: According to Wikipedia, this is the "best-known Russian song of all time". That doesn’t say much for the rest of the music that comes out of Russia. If you are a Detroit Red Wings fan, you may be familiar with this song. When Pavel Datsyuk scores a goal, a techno-version of this song plays. BPM. Gotta love it.
Buy the single on iTunes: I couldn’t find Barynya’s version, so here’s another version for you.

Randi & Evan’s Hip-Hop routine choreographed by NappyTabs

NappyTabs toes the line on literal dancing and touching movement every time. This time it was way too literal. I have to say that this was probably the worst lyrical hip-hop routine ever. Those arm waves that Phillip does so well, looked like cheerleading moves when Randi and Evan did them. They did bad things to a Beyonce song (one that I actually like).

Song: Halo
Artist/Band: Beyonce AKA Sasha Fierce
Where you’ve heard the song before: Beyonce did a beautiful tribute to Michael Jackson with this song. It was written by Ryan Tedder, of OneRepublic, and Evan Bogart, who has penned songs for the likes of Demi Lovato, Ashley Tisdale, Nick Lachey, Hayden Panettiere, Britney Spears, Jesse McCartney, the PCD, Sean Kingston, Paris Hilton, and Heidi Montag?! What a group that is.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Janette & Brandon’s Argentine Tango choreographed by Leonardo Barrionuevo and Miriam Larici

Song repeat much? Allison and iVan did an Argentine Tango to this song during Season 2.

Needless to say, this one was worlds away from Ivason’s tango in S2. The song has the potential to be grating on your ears, but I didn’t even notice because Brandette was cra-mazing.

Song: Libertango
Artist/Band: Forever Tango (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
Where you’ve heard the song before: As I mentioned above, Allison and Ivan did an Argentine Tango to this song. Different version though.
Listen to the streaming song: HERE

Melissa and Ade’s Waltz choreographed by Ron Montez

Who doesn’t love some Mary J.? It definitely made the waltz better. Plus, Karla did her solo to this song a few weeks ago and that reminds me how good she was. This didn’t feel like a waltz to me. Especially because Mary J. Blige’s version of the song was used. It was nice, but nothing spectacular.

[Side Note: I call all of my friends muffin, so when Mary Murphy called Nigel an English Muffin, it made it okay that she screams like a banshee.]

Song: (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
Artist/Band: Mary J. Blige
Where you’ve heard the song before: Karla did her Bottom 3 solo to this song Top 20 week. Different version of course. Mary J. Blige's version of the song was in the Fox tv series New York Undercover.
Buy the single on iTunes: I could only find the video for this song on iTunes

Kayla and Kupono’s Broadway routine choreographed by Joey Dowling

Although, I didn’t love the song choice, I think Pono and Kayla did what they could with it. It wasn’t the strongest song from West Side Story, so I found it hard to get into the actual dance. Costuming also didn’t help much. I think they wasted a lot of the good W.W.S. songs on Vegas week. Those 2 songs would have been perfect for Top 5 guys and Top 5 girls routines.

Song: Dance at the Gym
Artist/Band: West Side Story (The New Broadway Cast)
Where you’ve heard the song before: This isn't the most well-known song from West Side Story, but still memorable if you've seen the musical. This new Broadway revival of the show has gotten rave reviews, so it might be worth buying a ticket if you can get to NYC.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Caitlin & Jason’s Lyrical Jazz routine choreographed by Mandy Moore

I appreciated the song. I just don’t get the two of them. They’re two soloists.

Song: Show Me Heaven
Artist/Band: Maria McKee
Where you’ve heard the song before: It was on the soundtrack of the movie Days of Thunder, starring Tom Cruise. The song came out in 1989 and was on the movie soundtrack in 1990. Still lovin’ the 80s Mandy!
Buy the single on iTunes:

Phillip & Jeanine’s Jive choreographed by Tony Meredith and Melanie LaPatin!

Back to the show, looking very svelte, Melanie! I love me some Bette Midler, especially after watching her on Kathy Griffin’s show a few weeks ago. I would have rather had Phillip in Army Green, but other than that, the song went well with the choreo. It definitely wasn’t as good as the judges made it out to be.

Song: Stuff Like That There
Artist/Band: Bette Midler
Where you’ve heard the song before: It was originally recorded by Betty Hutton. Bette recorded it for the movie For The Boys, which also starred Midler. Kelly Clarkson sang this song on Idol as well.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Randi & Evan’s Samba choreographed by ANYA AND PASHA!

That was tragic. Randi and Evan have seriously under-whelmed me. As much as other choreographers have tailored their steps to dancers, Anya and Pasha did not. Plus, they picked, quite possibly, the most annoying song I’ve ever heard on this show before. I feel like there wasn’t even any kind of beat for Randi and Evan to make their movement pop. But even if there was a better song, I’m not sure Randi and especially Evan could have pulled it off.

I couldn’t find this song on iTunes or Amazon. Sorry!

Song: Ritmo De Bom Bom
Artist/Band: Jubaba
Where you’ve heard the song before: It was in the movie Dance With Me, which starred Vanessa Williams.

Brandon & Janette’s Jazz routine choreographed by Wade Robson

Are there even words to explain what went on here? Just the song made this routine my favorite of the night. Wade is brilliant and endearingly quirky so when you pair him with Brandette things can get a little out of hand.

Song: Ruby Blue
Artist/Band: Roisin Murphy
Where you’ve heard the song before: It was on the first Grey’s Anatomy soundtrack. Wade is no stranger to Roisin Murphy and because of him, neither are we. Her songs have been spread over 3 seasons, starting with Ramalama (Bang Bang), which we'll be seeing soon, Night of the Dancing Flame danced by Neil and Lauren, and now this song. Apparently Ruby Blue was in the movie Make It Happen, the poor man's Step Up.
Buy the single on iTunes:


Top 12 Results Show Music Recap


Mathieu Young/Fox

Top 12 Group Performance choreographed by

An out-of-the-ordinary song choice for NappyTabs. I didn’t hate this routine, but I also didn’t love it.

The part at the end where they were all clumped together looked like something a cheerleading squad would do. I would know, I cheered for 3 years. Don’t tell anyone.

Song: Seven Nation Army
Artist/Band: The White Stripes
Where you’ve heard the song before: You can see a long list of artists that have covered this song here. On another note, the Blue Band at Penn State (WE ARE…PENN STATE!), plays this song at football games. Had to get a plug in for my Alma Mater.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Season 6 Montage

Song: Let It Rock
Artist/Band: Kevin Rudolf & Lil Wayne
Where you’ve heard the song before: DWTS used this song. News to me. Also, an assorted group of networks used this for sports commercials. My favorite would of course be the usage for Philadelphia Phillies during the World Series playoffs! Oh and Quest Crew used it on ABDC. I miss Hok and Dom AKA D*Trix.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Teddy’s Audition

Cute kid. I kinda tuned it out once I realized there wouldn’t be a guest dance performance tonight.

Song: If It Kills Me
Artist/Band: Jason Mraz
Where you’ve heard the song before: It’s from his latest album. If you’re like me, you already own Jason Mraz’s newest album We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. If you don’t, you should buy it. Besides having the catchy tune I’m Yours on it, it also has a fantastic duet with James Morrison. Incidentally, Gabe Bondoc, a ridiculous singer, does a cover of their song with his fellow musician A.J. Rafeal.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Caitlin’s Solo

Nate said it best. She was defeated during that solo. I think that’s what makes or breaks a contestant on this show. I think back to Martha during Season 2 and I can’t help but think that the pressure from the judges just gets to some contestants and they end up losing it for themselves.

Song: Stand By Me
Artist/Band: Playing For Change
Where you’ve heard the song before: The song was originally done by Ben E. King. David Archuleta sand it on Idol, John Lennon did a version, and Bon Jovi and Andranik Madadian recorded a version, partly in Farsi, for the 2009 Iranian election protests. The version Caitlin used is done by Playing For Change, a music project, that helps build music schools around the world.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Jason’s Solo

I don’t remember anything particularly mind-blowing about his solo, but it was adequate enough to keep him in the competition.

Song: Calm Touching
Artist/Band: Evaline
Where you’ve heard the song before: It’s from Evaline’s album Postpartum Modesty: A Portrait of Skin.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Jeanine’s Solo

She seemed way to comfortable doing her solo. To the point that she knew she didn’t have to try because Caitlin was always going home. I didn’t love the song repeat, but after 5 seasons, there are bound to be contestants and choreographers that pick the same song.

Song: Baby’s Romance
Artist/Band: Chris Garneau
Where you’ve heard the song before: Matt Dorame did one of his Bottom 3 solos to this song. I believe this was the song that Matt mentioned that interview about the Music Lady.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Phillip’s Solo

As weird as The Fifth Element is, I liked the song.

Song: Diva Dance
Artist/Band: The Fifth Element (soundtrack)
Where you’ve heard the song before: For those brave enough to watch the movie, you’d remember this song.
Buy the soundtrack from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Fifth-Element-Eric-Serra/dp/samples/B000000WE5/ref=dp_tracks_all_1#disc_1 or watch the Diva Dance from the movie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0qy3JHz6X0.

Melissa’s Solo

So I really loved Melissa’s solo, but I was finding it hard to remember it after the fact because of the ridiculousness that follows her. It was a weird song choice for a ballet/pointe solo, but she made it work and her technique won out.

Song: Kashira
Artist/Band: Kodo
Where you’ve heard the song before: You’ve heard Kodo before, even if you’ve never heard this song. Jonathan did his solo to a Kodo song the week he was eliminated.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Ade’s Solo

My man just came out of left field with that solo. Way to make people pay attention, Ade. You’re no crane lift for girls, you can daaaaance. I thought the song choice was odd at first, but it didn’t matter. Jeanine did it last week and Ade did it this week.

Song: WindowDipper
Artist/Band: Jib Kidder
Where you’ve heard the song before: Travis Wall did a solo to this song at Nuvo.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Kelly Rowland and David Guetta’s Performance

There is something to be said for lip-syncing. It would have saved me a lot of wincing during this performance.

Song: When Love Takes Over
Where you’ve heard the song before: It’s David Guetta’s newest single and it’s slowly gaining popularity in the U.S.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Caitlin’s Goodbye Montage

Song: Already Gone
Artist/Band: Kelly Clarkson
Buy the single on iTunes:

Phillip’s Goodbye Montage

Song: On Your Own
Artist/Band: Green River Ordinance
Buy the single on iTunes:

That’s all for this week! Enjoy your weekend and I’ll see you back here for the Top 10!

So You Think You Can Dance - Top 14 (5x12, 5x13)

Let me dispense with my usual opening affectation and say this off the top: I'm voting for Desmond Richardson and Patricia Hachey. I'm simply going to quit if neither of them becomes America's Favorite Dancer.



Her strength started with that incredible beginning pose, so angular and still and tightly controlled evoking the indifferent perfection machinery, but which then melts into unquestionably graceful humanism. He was a dynamo, whirling and spinning with mechanistic but passionate precision. Where dance in the Vegas callback episodes parodied the dehumanizing effects of capitalism, the performance in the results show had something distinctly modern, or I should say, Modernist: the inscrutable abstractness but with a touch of the Futurists' fetish for the machine, executed with such grace that it transcends the inhuman and becomes superhuman.

Saying that this pas de deux constituted the show's best guest performance is a no-brainer -- I'd go further and say that it's possibly better than any dance we've seen on SYTYCD mostly because of how artistically mature it is compared to what we see on any performance night, and I'm not slighting the show or its contestants -- that's how amazing and thrilling this performance is.

Annual grievances, the rise of British sea power, and my most indulgent post ever, after the jump.


Every season, I get to write something about the "continued presence" of Dancer X, and this year, Chbeeb gets to be that NEFARIOUS DANCER X AND WHY IS (S)HE SULLYING MY MERITORIOUS TELEVISION SHOW I AM SO MAD, WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION ABOUT THE NATURE AND QUALITY OF WORTH ON THIS SHOW (oops, left the capslock on). In other words, SYTYCD (and people on certain sites which I've vowed never to mention in polite conversation again) has always privileged contemporary dance styles over hip hop, and I'm saddened to see people persisting with this same bias after five seasons because it's a step backwards. I shouldn't be surprised, since taste is an extant site of contestation (some enterprising reader should create a T!YBE Academic Buzzwords Bingo card) for otherwise sublimated (BINGO) racial anxiety.

Let me back up a little: Nigel and company have always implicitly privileged classical over hip hop -- they'd give a pass to contemporary dancers doing feeble non-contemporary styles, but if the kid wasn't classically trained? Fuggedaboutit, the kid would be able to poop out of a new hole, let's say. And during Melissa and Ade's pas de deux, we heard them voice explicit preference for ballet, which underscores the systemic bias in favor of the classical styles over hip hop. I can't work up a seething dander against Nigel and company, because it's their show and they can do what they want to, plus I don't want to take away anything from classical styles. On the other hand, I can't let the program off that easily, because the systemic bias trickles down to viewers, who are prompted to say silly things to the tune of "Chbeeb is a blight on SYTYCD because he can't Argentine Tango" (silly because no one would think about disqualifying any other contestants from contention because they can't dance hip hop).

As much as anything en pointe requires specifically ballet-trained dancers, we have also never seen breakdancing as a style -- both genres require extensive training that is impossible to impart on neophytes in the show's time-frame, and both could wind up breaking (PUN) an untrained dancer's neck. One point (PUN) of difference, though, is the origins of each. Where ballet boasts a rarefied, Continental pedigree and all the cultural legitimacy that such pedigree wields, hip hop is a form that's native to modern American culture, but in a colonialist maneuver, our native form is pushed to the margins and elided during discourses about art. Similarly, while we've seen other folk dances on the show get their due, hip hop still gets treated as a fallen, stepchild of a form that is most praised when it's been hybridized with a more culturally dominant style (i.e. "lyrical hip hop"). Furthermore, relegating hip hop as a lesser form is antithetical to the essence of the show, which, as I read it, is about bringing together disparate styles onto the democratizing stage of a reality program.

(A note about lyrical hip hop on SYTYCD: although hybridity is usually celebrated in postcolonial criticism, Napoleon and Tabitha's choreography somehow doesn't feel like the contemporary side of dance meeting hip hop halfway. I feel that they strip away a lot of hip hop's essential edge to reinforce a narrow set of aesthetic values (e.g. anodyne, bourgeois romance) that often negate the funk, edge, or what have you that makes hip hop vital.)

The thrust of my argument is that hip hop enjoys second-class status on SYTYCD and in the opinions of a lot of its viewers even though treating it as second-class brings a lot of baggage that doesn't add up. Part of the issue stems from a colonized mindset, where the colonizer imparts the Eurocentric attitudes that define how and where we see art and which squeeze out the folk arts.

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And this is the hip hop we ended up getting. Chbeeb and Jeanine's hip hop should've been off the chain, in every sense of the phrase. Every time I watch it, no matter how much I tell myself to watch Phillip and Jeanine and not the chain, I always end up watching the chain. They had what looked like a brief uprock segment which was an unholy, asynchronous mess; who knows, maybe it would've been ugly even if they were free, but the chain was still nothing but a hindrance.

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Despite the judges' faint-to-middling praise for this week's Broadway, they couldn't dampen my enthusiasm for the routine because I was way too entertained by how it WAS NOT AN OREO PRODUCTION. Megaprops to Joey Dowling for NOT BEING OREO, tasty or otherwise, and for being such an unrepentant hard-ass (which was kind of hot), and for being tall which reminds me of that other tall chick on this program, what's-her-name.

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Perhaps the only thing hotter this week than a stern, blunt 6-foot tall woman who knows how to take charge (TMI?) was Brandon and Jeanette's cha-cha. Even if they're not technically exact, they bring so much confidence and sexiness to their performances that my ballroom-apathetic heart can't resist melting A LOT. Similarly, as they began the performance, I was gobsmacked at how tiny Jeanette and Brandon looked; of course my gob completely forgot about size the moment they started cooking, and hell, they don't even let up after they're done.



One last observation on Brandette: the body boogie they've been doing -- nay, perfected -- is immensely cute. If I may make a proposition: this should become the IV Real of Season 5. (Assuming my other proposed SYTYCD meme doesn't take off.)

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Especially after they've blown up the planet.



Like Mia, I found Jason and Caitlin's routine cartoonish, but unlike her, cartoons aren't some juvenile pejorative to me, they are the life-essence of my childish brain, and I loved the routine's Saturday morning vibe -- heavens to Betsy, I even liked the chintziness of her costume! As did her reprobate family, it appea...



Oh god, more horns.

The performance wasn't without its shortcomings, though. Brian Friedman's choreography would've been better served with a more shameless girl in Caitlin's place -- she definitely got a little bit freaky in places, but rather than reaching, say, Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie freaky, she only reaches "Ashes to Ashes" David Bowie freaky. (Intermediate David Bowie freakiness metric: Labyrinth.) her cumulative insecurities inhibited her from achieving the over-the-top, decadent excess that Brian seems to be insisting on this season.

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As a counterpoint, Kayla and Kupono jumped fully into their characters, if not to their benefits (as they ended up having to dance solos), then to Mother Art's, because this had the right amount of conviction and also a melodramatic, lacy, Edwardian vibe. Cat called Kupono and Kayla (who incidentally has a weirdly perfectly spherical head) superstars, but they were also some of the the best looking goths to spin their melancholy and filigree on SYTYCD -- the mopey teenager in me approves. (Yes, I have an 17-year-old Sisters of Mercy enthusiast in me in addition to a 10-year-old nose-picking Saturday morning cartoon dweeb. I contain multitudes.) They even got Kayla's complexion right!



Kudos.

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Melissa and Ade's pas de deux was pretty and in places lovely -- that lift with her on his shoulder while he runs to different parts of the stage, WHEW, and I certainly didn't expect anything so gentle from Quentin Tarantino -- but I'll defer to the judgment of those who know better. I wasn't transported quite as ecstatically as other people were, and it didn't measure up to what ballet I've already been exposed to (Firebird, Le Sacre, Les Noces (one (non-redeemable) cool point if you can identify the common thread among those three ballets)).

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Karla and Vitolio's quickstep was remarkably undisastrous, and in places quite entertaining -- the instant costume change was the mindless spectacle that I'm always amused by -- but neither of them really brought a compelling performance to the routine that would've dug them out of their combined voting hole. Which was a shame, too, as I really would've liked to see Karla bust out with a hip hop with a non-chump of a partner, and with Vitolio, I could've added to the poem I was composing for him.

The Ballad of Vitolio
Left from youth on his ownio,
Story tragicker than Shakespeare's First Folio,
I am the great Cornholio.

It's a short ballad.

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Sitting in the audience of a reality program makes Holden Caulfield a phony.

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Cat followed up her youthful pink dress with styling Thursday night that made her look like a much older and trashier Serena van der Woosen (my first ever Gossip Girl reference -- yay?). The hair was stringy, and her makeup looked tired... wait, is that deconstructed fashion? It all comes back to POMO.




Speaking of which, Pono's Pomo Corner is taking a break for the week -- I have it on good standing that no foul play was involved -- and in its stead:




My sources have managed to smuggle out Cat's list, and in the name of postcolonial autonomy, not a moment too soon:




We must oppose the monolithic, anti-pluralistic impulses of our would-be cultural colonizers! And our knowledge of their plans has already got them scared...




got them belligerent...




got them gobsmacked...




got them more gobsmacked...




got them cute...




got them innocent and beautiful and gorgeous and lovely and huggable...




and awww, isn't she adorable? Let's make her our Supreme American Leader and spell "favorite" the wrong way!

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Cat Deeley...



serial butt-bumper.

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Indie rating: Young Jeezy - "My President is Black"

The worst part about Public Enemies is that it stars Johnny Depp...

... and thus attracts a particularly unsophisticated type of viewer, a couple of whom talked through the whole film and gasped whenever Johnny took some damage. At one point, a train was speeding toward the camera, and these two viewers ducked.

Anyway, it's half of a boring but gorgeous film -- Michael Mann loves those deep, oblique angles off of people, cars, buildings -- and half a grippingly existential crime picture, which has sort of become Mann's MO of late, all combined into a single film, and that final scene where... well, I'll leave that for after the jump (spoilers, etc.).


The scene where he dies outside of the movie theater is absolutely stunning, in part because of how crisp and luscious the deep-focus digital video looked -- I daresay some of the most viscerally aesthetic thing he's ever done -- and also that classically doomed Mann protagonist when Dillinger sees his would-be killers, moves as if he's going to draw the gun in his pocket, then turns around to wait to go out like the mythic folk hero he became.

That scene is, I think, emotionally set up by all of those tight oblique shots -- there are hardly any establishing shots, and the shots are generally such tight close-ups that for a lot of the film, I felt claustrophobic. But when we get to the end, when Mann does that again, it feels absolutely liberating, even as Dillinger succumbs to fate.
Indie rating: Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-la-la Band with Choir – "Sow Some Lonesome Corners So Many Flowers Bloom"