Highs & Lows 2015

TANGOLERO wrote:

No argument there Mauve, especially if it's by Compay Segundo and The Buena Vista Social Club. I'm playing it right now..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QO4aegj-jA

I like this version Mr T - a bit more raw than some I have heard.
Glad to see that you have resurrected the 'musical director' thread................

mauveangel09 wrote:

I like this version Mr T - a bit more raw than some I have heard.
Glad to see that you have resurrected the 'musical director' thread................

Sadly, qite a few of the old group have passed away, but at least I got to see them live in their prime at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall a few years back. Phenomenal.

TANGOLERO wrote:No argument there Mauve, especially if it's by Compay Segundo and The Buena Vista Social Club. I'm playing it right now..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QO4aegj-jA

I was also priviieged to see them too a few years back. Outstanding

Highs

Watching A.nton dance and perform to his full ability and seeing the unadulterated joy written all over his face. Makes you realise what a jolly good sport he's been these last few years.

Finding I care about people I'd not even previously heard of - Jay for example brings out all of my maternal instincts - and willing them all to do their best.

No obvious joke act or duffer this year - although I don't expect Jeremy, Carol or Daniel to last beyond week four. After that we may be in for a few surprises as there are no real front runners.


Lows

Faffing

Anthony so much better than the judges marks and comments

Somebody has to leave this weekend

Highs

It's back hurrah!
A.non has a great score for week one
Early showing for buttermilk dress!
Ainsley's Tango lips! & general loveliness and vibe
Lows

Tango grrr week one
Awful music choices already

fiftynotout wrote:Highs

Watching A.nton dance and perform to his full ability and seeing the unadulterated joy written all over his face.  Makes you realise what a jolly good sport he's been these last few years.
Finding I care about people I'd not even previously heard of - Jay for example brings out all of my maternal instincts - and willing them all to do their best.
No obvious joke act or duffer this year - although I don't expect Jeremy, Carol or Daniel to last beyond week four.  After that we may be in for a few surprises as there are no real front runners.


Lows

Faffing
Anthony so much better than the judges marks and comments
Somebody has to leave this weekend

I totally agree fiftynotout. Especially about Anthony and Housewives choice.

Week 2:

Highs:
* Daniel surprised me in a good way.
* Jay clearly has a LOT of dance background (and talents), but still a tad dull facial expression wise. Already a lot better than Harry Judd and Lewis Smith. He's probably one of the best (and ringiest) male celebs we had on the entire SCD since its inception.
* Katie was a total revelation, and I know she had ballet lessons as a young girl, and slight stumble aside, she's VERY watchable.


Lows
* Claudia with the handcuffs calling out Gleb's name (gave me the creeps).
* Celebs questioning their scores when they didn't get sevens or eights (I am not saying names).
* Swirly drunken sailor cameraworks return with vengeance.

Highs.

The love of dance so obviously casting its spell over all. Nobody ever wants to go home from Strictly and that's a real high.
As posted elsewhere, the pros' tie, tails and ball gowns opener tonight. A real ballroom treat. Just loved that.

Lows.
Just the fact that somebody leaves the group. They've hardly had time to take their coats off yet.

Highs

- Katie and Ainslie. I've watched their routines from last night several times already.

- Lovely dresses for the ladies so far. No disasters. Maybe wardrobe's been given a bigger budget!

- Anita's natural, untrained ability to perform has really taken me by surprise.

- That James Jordan is probably throwing a massive tantrum somewhere


Lows

- We say it every year but the over-use of props and gimmicks. I yearn for the days when they were forbidden.

- Friday's new ITT. All sorts of dire.

Sid wrote:Highs

- That James Jordan is probably throwing a massive tantrum somewhere

And that's your high eh?

cellar-door wrote:
And that's your high eh?

Oh yes CD

And he didn't disappoint: "Now O.la's out hopefully @bbcstrictly can stop selling horrible stories about her. But thanks BBC for publicising her 2016 calendar"

But I've gone from merely finding JJ obnoxious to finding him quite nasty. Recently, he made a homophobic jibe at someone who'd disagreed with (along the lines of "Yeah you look so big and tough in your profile....with your boyfriend"). He reminds me of boorish bully boys at school. Moreover, he's always got some conspiracy going - he's like a Strictly truther

Highs

Katie and A nton - long may it continue!
The lovely Pro number to the classical arrangement which opened the results show tonight - stunning.
Daniel - such a laugh and I loved their Charleston (surprising!)
Mostly excellent costumes for the celebs so far
The 2 hour show last night...........just dance heaven!

Lows
The cheesy VTs!!!!! - really don't like these now and they almost seem scripted. When the programme runs late I would rather listen to all the judges speaking and cut out some of the VT stuff rather than what happened last night.

Some of the celebs and pros querying their marks - not a very clever move and certainly not for week 2!!!!

Props and Themes - I think they have their place sometimes but I'm now fed up with the literal translations and the fact that the celebs seem to always have to be acting a part rather than concentrating with their pros on producing a dance which is 'themselves'!!! Too many pros know just how to waste time in their routines.

S id - love your comment about J ames Jordan being a 'Strictly Truther' !!!!

Sid wrote:

Oh yes CD

And he didn't disappoint: "Now O.la's out hopefully @bbcstrictly can stop selling horrible stories about her. But thanks BBC for publicising her 2016 calendar"

But I've gone from merely finding JJ obnoxious to finding him quite nasty. Recently, he made a homophobic jibe at someone who'd disagreed with (along the lines of "Yeah you look so big and tough in your profile....with your boyfriend"). He reminds me of boorish bully boys at school. Moreover, he's always got some conspiracy going - he's like a Strictly truther

When I read he let his mask slipped in the Celebrity Big Brother, I have written him off then. Surprised that O la is still in the show after his constant bitterness against the BBC.

Highs

Intro dance by professionals gorgeous
Jay and Aliona
Dress so far for female celebs very nice

Lows

Tight jeans
tight trousers
judges erratic scores
angled corners on some dresses-sets my teeth gnashing
Rod Stewart's performance looked tired and rigid. Stop trying to be sexy now
forced teeth smile if it kills you cheese VT's
Ego's getting too big on pro dancers with their score expectations
C.raig please give a little more positive feedback instead of looking like a rottweiler chewing a wasp
B.run bored now with your antics,me,me,me
forced script for Tess and C.lauded
Daniel watching on breakfast tv just talking sorry comatose me! Just smile and I can cope

saxonsiren wrote:Highs

Intro dance by professionals gorgeous
Jay and Aliona
Dress so far for female celebs very nice

Lows

Tight jeans
tight trousers
judges erratic scores
angled corners on some dresses-sets my teeth gnashing
Rod Stewart's performance looked tired and rigid. Stop trying to be sexy now
forced teeth smile if it kills you cheese VT's
Ego's getting too big on pro dancers with their score expectations
C.raig please give a little more positive feedback instead of looking like a rottweiler chewing a wasp
B.run bored now with your antics,me,me,me
forced script for Tess and C.lauded
Daniel watching on breakfast tv just talking sorry comatose me! Just smile and I can cope

Lots of lows!

I think it needed to come out

Highs

Katie and Housewives choice
Jay and Aliona



Lows

Iwan leaving.
(Ooops sorry - that's a high isn't it!)

Highs
Managed to watch the main show
Janette doing her circus twirl above the dance floor
The band's Tango rendition of 'Telephone'
The Singers
Female costumes so far
Tess & Claudia's dresses so far
The colour and beaded effect of Jamelia's dress
Ainsley's Salsa for sheer exuberance.

Lows
Missed the Result Show as the recorder failed
The males don't seem to have the half the attention paid to their outfits.
Jeans, jeans, & more @$%* jeans. STOP IT!
Too much cheese & ridiculous VT's
Brendan's Salsa-less Salsa. No armography. Hardly any partner work. A lesson in gymnastics, take-off and landing. Out of place and timing peculiar

B4p wrote:
Brendan's Salsa-less Salsa. No armography. Hardly any partner work. A lesson in gymnastics, take-off and landing. Out of place and timing peculiar

Glad you said that B4P - my thoughts exactly - couldn't quite get why Karen was being so gushing about it on ITT tonight - I had to watch it on catch-up to see if it was me - but I don't think so. Her nerves made it full of tension and although the steps were all there it was very flat.

mauveangel09 wrote:
Glad you said that B4P - my thoughts exactly - couldn't quite get why Karen was being so gushing about it on ITT tonight - I had to watch it on catch-up to see if it was me - but I don't think so.  Her nerves made it full of tension and although the steps were all there it was very flat.

I couldn't tell what that dance was supposed to be.  At least Ainsley kept some sort of rhythm going in his Salsa, and was moving round the floor performing, and keeping those hips circling.  I think Kirstie's lucky not to have been in the dance off. Jamelia managed half a Cha-Cha, even though it then went off tangent into hip hop, and those bump, grind, butterfly leg moves you see on the music VT's. That's the second week that Jamelia has gone off track half way through the routine. Neither Jamelia or Kirstie seem to have much public backing so far. I think Kirstie's nerves will get the better of her if she's not careful. Interesting that not much has been said by Tess and Claudia about the girls being nervous.

To be honest, whilst it wasn't totally bad, there were periods when Brendan appeared to be lifting a mannequin around. Lifts at this stage are obviously cover ups to waste a little time, minimise footwork and are more for effect than anything else. Kirsty will need to really start to dance this week or......

Just watched the result show on i-player.

Jamelia smashed it in the dance-off. As Tristan said, she was much better the second time round. Kirsty looked like she was about to break down waiting for the votes. I wonder if she would have been able to perform in a dance-off. No doubt the judges would have still saved her.

Hello gang, great weekend of dance but all a little busy busy for me at the moment. Need to fast forward a few weeks once the no-hopers have gone (although it's difficult this year to see who they are).

Highs
Pretty good standard for week two (and no joke act - yippee)
Jay surprisingly good (and was it me or did he look slimmer with short hair?)
Judges' votes and comments far more realistic for this stage of the competition

Lows
Kirsty's reaction to the judges' scores; she's reminding me more and more of Gabby Logan (and not in a good way)
Cheesy VTs (so obviously scripted); would rather see more of the training footage
Somebody having to leave

Highs
Katie and A.nton's tango
Katie's dress  - best in series so far
Female costumes - all lovely apart from Kellie's on Saturday.
Pro dance at beginning of results show - beautiful.

Lows
Someone having to leave
Results show on Sunday why cant it be on Saturday??
Kellie's gingham top and red sparkly shorts no no no (imo)