Natalie's Top 14 Performance and Result Shows Music Recaps

Kelsey McNeal/Fox

Did anyone else catch Mia’s reference to her alien face that Nigel tweeted about? That was almost as good as her comment that went un-aired about Vitolio slipping the Quickstep tongue.

So tonight was one of the best nights of dance on the show. The choreographers also gave us a potpourri of music to listen to. Everything from Romeo and Juliet to Santigold to the PCD.

Onto the music recaps for the Top 14 Performance and Results shows…


Janette & Brandon’s Cha-Cha choreographed by Jean Marc and France Genereux

Although Nate does share my “love” of the PCD (8:13 mark), I promised Leee (from T!YBE) I wouldn’t Doll bash anymore, and so I shall keep my word.

Brandon is just unstoppable. He may even be able to pull off the Country Two Step. Not that I’d ever want to wish that on him. I have to say, I did not hate this song. The “hush hush, hush hush” chorus really gave Jean Marc the chance to work the sharper movements into the choreography.

On a music version note: the song Jean Marc and France chose is the single version, not the song on the Doll Domination 2.0 album (per Leee, the PCD connoisseur). You can find this out and more, before I post about it, if you come to sytycd.ca for Leee's West Coast Live Chat! /end pimpage

Song: Hush Hush; Hush Hush
Artist/Band: The Pussycat Dolls
Where you’ve heard the song before: It borrows from the fantastic Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”. Of course, that portion of the song wasn’t used in this routine. If you pay attention to gossip mongrel, Perez Hilton, you’ll know this song was a hot button topic among the Dolls because Nicole Scherzinger is featured WITH the Pussycat Dolls on the album. Burn.
Buy the single on iTunes:


Kayla & Kupono’s contemporary routine choreographed by Sonya Tayeh

Twilight inspired much? So in the Twi-verse, Kayla is Rosalie and Kupono is her Emmett? I may have read the books (twice) and watched the movie (more times than I care to count…).

Kayla and Kupono are fantastic together. I do love this song. It’s almost viscous. Is that even possible? The choppy movements paired with the fluid ones made the music come alive. The part towards the end where the lyrics are “Felling any foe with my gaze”, I loved, loved, loved that movement. The more I watch it, the more I love it. Maybe my favorite contemporary piece of the season so far.

Song: Eyes on Fire
Artist/Band: Blue Foundation
Where you’ve heard the song before: It’s on the Twilight soundtrack (if you hadn’t figured that out already).
Buy the single on iTunes:


Randi and Evan’s Broadway routine choreographed by the newbie Joey Dowling

Joey Dowling is a scary lady.

More Joey and less Tyce for Broadway, thank you. She uses the music so well and Randi and Evan definitely kept up with it. I loved the tempo changes and the different accents we got throughout the dance. Excellent music selection and music editing, Joey. I disagree with the judges, although I know very little about this style.

Song: Rich Man’s Frug
Artist/Band: Sweet Charity (2005 Revival Cast Recording)
Where you’ve heard the song before: Once I watched this video of Sweet Charity, the movie, and this one from the Broadway show FOSSE, I understood Nigel’s comment about their wrists.
Buy the single on iTunes:


Caitlin and Jason’s condom Pop-Jazz routine choreographed by Brian Friedman

Brian is totally trying to out-weird Wade. Can’t do it, bud. Don’t forget the foxes routine. You’re out of your league. Although an alien impregnating a human sounds stranger, if you watch the video, Wade’s fox piece is definitely a crazier concept in practice.

This song definitely creates an alien aura. I don’t think Caitlin owned it like she should have. Her movement was too soft and this song needed a stronger presence from both of them.

Song: Creator
Artist/Band: Santigold
Where you’ve heard the song before: Mark Kanemura did his Top 8 solo to this song. Different version of the song though. This song has been used in a Bud Light Lime (ew…) commercial and on several popular television shows, including Grey’s Anatomy, Entourage, and Gossip Girl. Talk about a trifecta. What else do you need besides Cristina Yang, Ari/Lloyd, and Blair Waldorf?
Buy the single on iTunes:


Jeanine & Phillip’s Hip Hop routine choreographed by NappyTabs

[Per Leee, the song version they used on the show is a remix of the original Love Lockdown. I don’t know how he does it. I never would have noticed that.]

Jeanine surprises me each week. I still don’t love her, but she sure isn’t going for a ride on the Phillip train. She holds her own. I love the drums and then the absence of them in this song. Creates a different template for the choreographers.

Song: Love Lockdown
Artist/Band: Kanye West
Where you’ve heard the song before: Someone at TIME magazine called it the song of the year for 2008. I’m sorry. What? Other than that, I’m sure you bumped in your car to this song.
Buy the single on iTunes: I couldn’t find this exact version of the song that NappyTabs used, but here’s the song from Kanye’s album 808s and Heartbreak.


Melissa & Ade’s Pas de Deux choreographed by Thordal Christensen

Finally, SYTYCD brings us a traditional pas de deux. Melissa and Ade killed it. Her pointe work was beautiful. It was refreshing to hear a classical song on SYTYCD. I’m so glad they didn’t try to use a contemporary song to try and make the dance more accessible to the tweens. It was perfect just the way it was.

Song: Romeo & Juliet: Prokofiev’s Suite (No.1 Op 64b, 6th Movement)
Artist/Band: Orchestre De La Suisse Romande & Armin Jordan
Where you’ve heard the song before: It was in Center Stage. The part where they all go to the ballet and the girl cries (6:40 mark).
Buy the single on iTunes: Click either version. They’re both fantastic.


Karla & Vitolio’s Quickstep choreographed by Jean Marc and France Genereux

Do you think Karla and Vitolio are mad at the producers for giving them the shaft? It kinda showed on Karla’s face.

When I heard those horns in the beginning of song, I would have liked something more sensual. With this song, Karla and Vitolio needed to dance beyond their movement and they definitely didn’t. From my limited knowledge of the quickstep, I don’t know what it is, but SYTYCD dancers always seem to stop the choreography before it’s done. They don’t dance beyond their appendages. Maybe it’s supposed to look like that?

Song: Puttin’ on the Ritz
Artist/Band: Rufus Wainwright
Where you’ve heard the song before: There’s a long history to the people who’ve done covers of this song found at the always “reliable” and “accurate” Wikipedia.
Buy the single on iTunes:


Top 14 Results Show


Top 14 Group routine choreographed by Tyce Diorio

These are the costumes you picked for this song? Someone needs to talk to wardrobe. Tyce did repeat the Katee and Joshua leap-into-his-arms move from last season. Couldn’t find video of it, but it was in their Top 6 Tyce contemporary routine to who else, but Celine Dion.

Song: Brand New Day
Artist/Band: The Wiz (Original Soundtrack)
Where you’ve heard the song before: I hope you’ve heard most of the songs from The Wiz. If not, give them a listen.
Buy the album on Amazon: The Wiz movie soundtrack will be available for download on Amazon on July 14th, 2009. “Brand New Day” is on the second disc. The recently deceased MJ was in this movie with Diana Ross, who incidentally could be the guardian to his children if his mother passes away. You can watch a video of the song. Click on the small video screen.

Desmond Richardson and Patricia Hachey’s Guest Performance

Probably my favorite guest performance ever. Even though the kids last week were adorable, these 2 are just gorgois (in the words of Mia).

Song: Caprice in E Minor Op. 1, No. 3
Artist/Band: Midori
Where you’ve heard the song before: Unless you’re a fan of Midori or caprices for the violin, I’d imagine you’ve never heard this before.
Buy the single on iTunes:


Karla’s Solo

Here goes this song again. The other “K”, Kayla, used this song in her audition solo. Song-recycling. There wasn’t much there tonight, and the reason why this song worked for Kayla and her extensions, is exactly the reason why it did not work for Karla.

Song: Blackbird
Artist/Band: Dionne Farris
Where you’ve heard the song before: During Kayla’s audition solo. Pretty much everyone has covered this song. Go here to learn more about the song.
Buy the single on iTunes: The Dionne Farris version doesn’t seem to be available in mp3 format. Do me a favor and download the Rachel Evan Wood/ Across the Universe version. . Once you’ve done that, do me another favor and watch the movie.


Vitolio’s Solo

It’s weird watching Vitolio dancing to the twangy-ness that is Rascal Flatts. Maybe it’s that music lady that Matt Dorame mentioned in an exit interview striking again!

Song: Here Comes Goodbye
Artist/Band: Rascal Flatts
Where you’ve heard the song before: If you’re not a country fan, like me, you may not be as familiar with the song, but you may know the writer. Chris Sligh, an Idol Alumnus, helped pen the song for Rascal Flatts.
Buy the single on iTunes:


Kayla’s Solo

She tailors her choreography to the song. She may be growing on me. I didn’t think she looked too desperate? But maybe I was distracted by her poor choice of Sarah McLachlan song.

Song: Stupid
Artist/Band:Sarah McLachlan
Where you’ve heard the song before: It comes from her Afterglow album. For some reason, I’ve never heard this song, even though I was a fan of McLachlan in the ‘90s.
Buy the single on iTunes:


Kupono’s Solo

This song makes me sad Pono. Ukelele? It was sad enough when Jason Castro sang this song. Pono needs a quirky song to go with his movement and wardrobe.

Song: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Artist/Band: Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Where you’ve heard the song before: Some hippy Jason Castro sang this on Idol. It was also used in the episode of Jon & Kate Plus 8 when they renewed their vows in Hawaii. Aaawkwaaard.
Buy the single on iTunes:


Jeanine’s Solo

I want her to get contemporary before she leaves. I didn’t realize she was that brilliant. Wow. The Moonlight Sonata choice was strange, but let’s be honest, she could have just done her solo without music and worked it out.

Song: Moonlight Sonata
Artist/Band: Smart Sleep with Classical
Where you’ve heard the song before: This is a…baby album? To help your baby get “smart” while it sleeps?
Buy the single on iTunes:


Phillip’s Solo

I mean, what can you even say about Phillip and his musicality? It’s off the charts.

Song: You’ll Find a Way (Switch & Sniden Remix)
Artist/Band: Santigold
Where you’ve heard the song before: It’s from her self-titled album.
Buy the single on iTunes:


Kelly Clarkson’s Performance

Finally. A decent SYTYCD musical performance. Let’s make this a habit Nigel!

Song: I Do Not Hook Up
Where you’ve heard the song before: The song was originally supposed to be on Katy Perry’s unreleased album (A) Katy Perry. Listen to the full streaming version of Perry’s song below.
Buy the single on iTunes:

Katy Perry's version:

Karla’s Goodbye Montage

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


Vitolio’s Goodbye Montage

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