New Couples 2013

Call me a conspiracy theorist (after this weekend can you blame me?!) but I also wonder whether they'd quite like the ones doing the tour to make the final. This might explain why they've started bigging Abbey up so much and also why they've been picker with Sophie (she and B.rendan aren't able to do the tour). Just putting it out there!

Love a bit of conspiracy theory. Hadn't thought of that but (stroking chin in a thoughtful manner) velly intor lesting. Talking of which, where's the emot with the shifty eyes gone?????  

Copied across from the Beeb site

Ashley and O la are going to Salsa to Gloria Estefan’s party tune ‘Conga’.

Patrick and Anya will Rumba to ‘When I Was Your Man’ by Br uno Mars.

Abbey and Aljaz are going to perform a Viennese Waltz to the Tom Jones classic ‘Delilha’.

Sophie and Brendan will Tango to Madonna’s ‘Material Girl’.

Susanna and Kevin will perform the Argentine Tango to Michael Jackson’s ‘Smooth Criminal’.

Natalie and Artem are going to perform the Paso Doble to ‘El Gato Montes’ by  Ramon Cortez Paso doble Orchestra.

And don’t forget this week our couples will also get the opportunity to earn up to six extra points as they take part in the annual Strictly Swing-a-thon.  

All our competitors will be asked to Jive and Lindy Hop at the same time, and our Judges will eliminate the worst couple in each pass, until a winner is found, expect plenty of acrobatic action, with a splash of chaos thrown in.

Better music this week! I do like B.runo Mars & Deliha a classic of course.Good choice for the paso thou not sure re Material Girl for the tango.

saxonsiren wrote: not sure re Material Girl for the tango.

Might work if they can get the tempo and arrangement spiky enough

Absolutely terrible Tango music, especially Material Girl. If Brendan himself was responsible for that, I'll kill him! I remember Darren & Letitia using it a few years ago and it didn't have any impact at all. So disappointed. I don't want Sophie to go out....and certainly not to THAT!

Natalie & Artem have the best music this week. I expect them to steal the show with their Paso.

Gosh, so worried for Sophie now.

For me, Sophie's Charleston is the dance of the series. She has retained a different quality from any other contestant that has ever appeared. I would like to see her in the final. So Sid, I'm with you, I don't want her to go out.

Just checked youtube and watched Ali Bastian & Brian Fortuna dancing to Natalie & Artem's music choice

Sid wrote:Absolutely terrible Tango music, especially Material Girl. If Brendan himself was responsible for that, I'll kill him! I remember Darren & Letitia using it a few years ago and it didn't have any impact at all. So disappointed. I don't want Sophie to go out....and certainly not to THAT!

Natalie & Artem have the best music this week. I expect them to steal the show with their Paso.

Gosh, so worried for Sophie now.

Hello Sid! I made it eventually...

Agree with all the above and I believe Brendan did choose the music. Not feeling hopeful at all.

If only they had treated the Tango like the paso. El Gato Montez is actual bullfight music played at corridas. Highly atmospheric and Artem and Natalie will lap that up. Red dress and flamenco dance is forecast from me, although it should be red shirt and black frock. Potential dance of the night.

I am not a Madonna fan in any way shape or form and Matrial Girl is rather surprising from Brendan who normally has a love of more standard type music. That one's worrying .

No idea who Silver tongued Italian Stallion from Mars even is. Did he do the Clangers theme tune or Purple People Eaters?

Gloria Estefan’s party tune ‘Conga’. Yes, like anything by Gloria.

Abby seems to be getting all the good stuff, another in-hold sway around with Aljaz steering her around the planks with a good old singalong song for the audience. Not only clapping, but join-in warbling too now. Four tens again? Lots of posing, gnasher exhibiting and bendy-Barbie stuff plus some false-tear make up..just in case.  

Not happy about the Swingathon either, which gives the judges free rein to arrange the assasinations in order. Six points for Abby anyone? Bet she gets the white socks out again.  

Yay Hatlady :)We'll have to vote like crazy this weekend!

Hellooooo Sofes - What was Brendan thinking? He's seen how well traditional music goes down with the audience. Such a shame as he's been so good with music choices and choreography for most of this series. Dreading this dance.

Mr T - I'm also predicting 6 points for Abbey in the Swingathon or maybe 5 if they give the win to Natalie. But I definitely think it's all been pre-decided.

Sid wrote:Yay Hatlady :)We'll have to vote like crazy this weekend!

Hellooooo Sofes - What was Brendan thinking? He's seen how well traditional music goes down with the audience. Such a shame as he's been so good with music choices and choreography for most of this series. Dreading this dance.

Mr T - I'm also predicting 6 points for Abbey in the Swingathon or maybe 5 if they give the win to Natalie. But I definitely think it's all been pre-decided.

Actually in the series when Chelsee and Pasha was dancing, I predicted them doing better than Harry and Aliona in the swingathon. But it turned out the other way.

I seems that whoever finished first in the swingathon in the past ended up lifting the trophy! So we'll see if this happens again for SCDXI.

TANGOLERO wrote:  it should be red shirt and black frock.  
 
Not happy about the Swingathon either, which gives the judges free rein to arrange the assasinations in order. Six points for Abby anyone? Bet she gets the white socks out again.

Well they got the black frock right, but I reckon Artem should give the wardrobe department a discount as he'll no doubt end up topless yet again.  

The couples on ITT don't seem to be talking of the swingathons effect on the point system. They all seem to just give the vibe that it's just a hoot and a warm up to learning 2 dances.  As you say, beware the silent assassin. If I see any white socks, I'll volunteer to load the rifle.

What about pink or yellow socks? I think the couples are underestimating the swingathon & the points system.The judges prowl & then that silent your history tap on shoulder.Im trying to work out if Tom Chambers or Ramps or Jill won their swingathons?

Maybe they'll have a judge dressed as Spock who gives the doomed couple 'The Vulcan Death Grip'

Wardrobe said the couples will be colour coded but in the same styles, so I guess the socks will match the dresses. Let's hope Abby isn't in her heels or she'll do some damage on the dance floor. The swing-a-thon will probably be a chest free zone to aid grip I guess.

I like the idea of a Vulcan death grip for the couples! Or maybe the ribbon sash pulled from the waist to indicate your out!

saxonsiren wrote:What about pink or yellow socks? I think the couples are underestimating the swingathon & the points system.The judges prowl & then that silent your history tap on shoulder.Im trying to work out if Tom Chambers or Ramps or Jill won their swingathons?

I think they are just trying to play it cool.  

They could be CD toying with the couples! Stalking around smiling nodding then Pounce with the hand! Least better than a trap door or a tazer!

saxonsiren wrote:They could be CD toying with the couples! Stalking around smiling nodding then Pounce with the hand! Least better than a trap door or a tazer!

Agree about tapping being better (more humane?), but trap door or tazer seems more entertaining though. *valiantly supressing sadistic tendency threatening to come to fore*

I was lurking in the forbidden sadistic zone but they could have a cloud of glitter when the trap door opens & a neonbright sequinned tazer used!! Or failing that we could reuse the cannon Russell used!

Thought that Natalie and Artem were enjoying themselves and each other in the swingathon...encouraging one another to go all out.

Semi Final Dance & Music choices

Patrick and Anya
the Paso Doble to ‘Because the Night’ by The Patti Smith Group followed by:
a Waltz to the Righteous Brothers ‘Unchained Melody’.

Abbey and Aljaz
the American Smooth to Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’ and :
the Samba to George Michael’s ‘Faith’.

Sophie and Brendan
the Paso Doble to ‘Montagues and Capulets’ by Prokofiev and:
the American Smooth to Lisa Stansfield’s  ‘They Can’t Take That Away From Me’.

Susanna and Kevin
the Foxtrot to Frankie Valli’s ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ and:
the Salsa to ‘Move Your Feet’ by Junior Senior.

Natalie and Artem
the Argentine Tango to ‘Montserrat’ by Bajofondo and:
the Salsa to Michael Jackson’s ‘Wanna Be Startin’ Something’.

More Micheal Jackson! Did they buy a bulk playing license for MJ's music? I do love Unchained Melody thou

I like the Patti Smith track but wouldn't have considered it Paso music

Like The Righteous Brothers but not sure for a Waltz.

Like Neil Diamond.

Love that George Michael track but is it a Samba rhythm? I still think that Paul Simon's 'Late in the Evening' would make a cracking Samba tune.

Not sure about "Move Your Feet"

Michael Jackson might work for a Salsa.

Favourites are:
Prokofiev (loved it long before Sr-Alan used it)
Frankie Valli (another all time fave)
Bajofondo. (I've enjoyed Artem's previous A Tango choices)

Don't mind Lisa Stansfield but can take it or leave it

I think the Professionals get used to dancing to 'cross rhythms' but it must be very off putting for the celebs who need to feel the essence of the dance and try to nail the timing of it via iffy music. Patrick was frustrated last week not being able to get the Rhumba rhythm to a rhythmless piece of music

Considering some of the music we (and the couples) have had to endure this series, that's not a bad list at all. Each couple's got one crowd-pleaser I think, so it's fair.

Unsurprisingly I'm most excited to see what Sophie & Brendan do with their Paso music. Was hard to tell from tonight's training clip how it was going. I hate the waiting!