In light of the vehement arguing my threads seem to start, let's lighten it up... Suggest song choices you'd like to see performed on this year's show and see if any of the pro's take notice. This proved to be a very interesting thread on the BBC forum last year with some brilliant and some downright unusual responses.

Cha Cha Cha - Let Me Let Go: Helena Paparizou
Waltz - Black is the Colour: Cara Dillon
Quickstep - Ray of Sunshine: Go Sailor
Rumba - Miracle of Love: Eurythmics
Rumba - If You Go Away: Patricia Kaas
Jive - The Time Warp: Rocky Horror Picture Show
Jive - Caesar: I Blame Coco ft. Robyn
Tango - Can You Forgive Her - Pet Shop Boys
Tango - Begin Again: Space
Samba - Coco Jamboo: Mr. President
Foxtrot - San Francisco: Scott McKenzie
Paso Doble - A Question of Honour Part 2: Sarah Brightman
American Smooth - Paper Bag: Fiona Apple
Salsa - Troubled Girl: Karen Ramirez
Viennese Waltz - Save Me: Hanson

I'm gonna say 'I Finally Found Someone' (Barbara Streisand/Bryan Adams), 'Help Me Make It Through The Night' (Gladys Knight) and 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' (various versions, eg Roberta Flack), all for Rumba.

I would ask if anyone could spot the theme in my choices, but I think the answer would offend PasoHardly
If you think that's vehement arguing, try starting a thread about anything in about six weeks' time... that's when the true arguing will be at its height!

Having said that, I do believe we on DS are capable of arguing about anything!

No we're not.

Of course we are!
And what's more, I reserve the right to say it!

Whenever I try to think of music choices for a particular dance, I envisage the ones we've had
Perhaps once the series starts, I'll be in the correct mode

I heard 'Walk of Life' by Dire Straits playing on the radio earlier and my first thought was that it would be very suitable for a Jive!

This song I've heard used as a samba in a dance class. It does work reasonably well though is not the standard. It's still 100 times better than using 70s disco tracks!
Celine Dion, I'm alive: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-W5ND6wj_A

With the influx of new pros and several young contestants like Tina, Kara I can imagine more use of people like Rihanna and Alexandra Burke. I'm not a fan of either of them but both Broken Heels and Bad boys by Alexandra Burke can be used as jives.

Despite some excellent choices mentioned, there will still be some lemons that will be included. Some BBC "suit" with actually no idea what is suitable will inflict us with some "no dance" tune that they think will help steal some young viewers who would rather watch the X-Factor. 'cos this programme's "all about ratings."

They'll even try to deflect any later criticism by saying "it's the pro's choice."

The only "choice" the pros have of staying in this programme is doing as they are told and keeping their mouths shut.

I wonder what will be this year's "Eleanor Rigby?"

The music choices really need to suit the contestant as well as the dance - how many popular songs will suit a twenty-something year old performing a ballroom dance that originated last century?

A point I never thought of till now, perhaps they should use traditional music for Ballroom and leave the popular songs for Latin?

And don't forget a lot depends on which songs they can get clearance on from the songwriters/music publishers. They can't just decide arbitrarily to use a certain song - the BBC have to get permission to use it first and pay for the usage! Some songs will get permission to be used in the studio and/or on tour but not on a dvd for example.

Given we've already had 'Ballroom Blitz' by The Sweet, can it really get any worse?

I still fancy Ace of Spades for the quickstep. Or possibly Run To The Hills.

I love the suggestion of Coco Jambo for a Samba

I feel I maaaaaayyyy have got your theme. Well I think, the first song gave it to me :P


I think... Misery, Maroon 5 Sambaaa....

Well I plan to use it for that anywho.

Agreee Good songs.

I've always thought michael jackson's billie jean would go well with argentine tango. jive - smiley faces by gnarles barkely (how ever you spell it!) ramba - hungry eyes (dirty dancing song).

Samba- Best Of My Love (The Emotions)
Cha-Cha-Cha- She Wants To Move (N,E,R,D)
Salsa- Mambo Mucho Mambo
Rumba- She Will Be Loved (Maroon 5)
Jive- Crying Blood (VV Brown)
Paso Doble- Poison (Alice Cooper)

Waltz- Annie's Song (John Denver)
Viennese Waltz- Breakaway (Kelly Clarkson)
Foxtrot- Don't You Forget About Me (Simple Minds)
Quickstep- 99 Red Balloons (Nena)
American Smooth- Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby (Cab Calloway)
Tango- Seven Nation Army (White Stripes)

Great list, especially the suggestion in bold!

Thanks! I tried to imagine a couple doing a dance to each song- Ann & Anton's Paso to Poison would literally be unforgettable.

I think it's really sweet that you've come up with all these tunes, but the band aren't up to much and the singers can't sing, so it's kind of wasted really

I'm sure this question must have been asked before, but... any idea why Strictly has to have a live band? Wouldn't it be a lot less painful to play the original versions of the songs?

This has come up before.

The length of the individual dances are more or less the same, but shorter than your average recording. It's a question of available programme time.
Dave Arch and those who've gone before him, have to "tailor" the music to fit the length of the dances. This means "chopping bars or verses out" and writing out the individual scores for each instrument, (although there's some computer programmes you can use rather than pencil and manuscript paper if you so choose).

Now many of the classic ballroom tunes were written at a time when sheet music sales were far greater than records, that was actually up until the early fifties. As the songs were designed for people to sing along at home to a piano accompaniment (whatever happened to pianos?) the range of these tunes were mostly around no more than an octave and a half, it was no good writing a tune with such a range the average person could not sing along to, as you wouldn't sell the sheet music.
It is said in the business that show tunes for Ethel Merman were "written round her three best notes" though I think that was a little unkind.

Conversely, modern pop tunes are written specifically for individual artists and their range. They of course also have the advantage of digital enhancement.
If you listen to the band singers, they have no problem with the "traditional ballroom tunes."

I think they and what is really "half a band" (but that's the skinflint BBC, they'd rather spend money on flashing lights and a gaudy set) do very well in the circumstances, given the variety of music they have to play and the pitiful amount of time they are paid to rehearse.

I remember your thread, PasoHardly!

And I'm embarressed to say I've ACTUALLY still got it bookmarked...

Anyway, da music!

American Smooth
When I See An Elephant Fly (from Dumbo)
Argentine Tango
She Said (Plan B)
Cha Cha Cha
Oh No! (Marina and the Diamonds)
Foxtrot
Easy (The Commodores), I'm All Over It (Jamie Cullum), Pack Up (Eliza Doolittle), Walking In Memphis (Marc Cohn)
Jive
Shout! Shout! (Rocky Sharpe), Yeh Yeh (Georgie Fame), Kids In America (Kim Wilde)
Paso Doble
I Was Made for Lovin' You Baby (Kiss), Baker Street (Gerry Rafferty)
Quickstep
Hey Soul Sister (Train), I Got Rhythm (Fred Astaire), I'll Be There For You (The Remembrandts)
Rumba
New York (Paloma Faith), There You'll Be (Faith Hill), Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart (Alicia Keys)
Salsa
Kiss Kiss (Holly Valance), Mambo Italiano (Rosemary Clooney), Te Amo (Rihanna)
Samba
Alejandro (Lady GaGa)
Tango
Bohemian Like You (The Dandy Warhols), Meet Me Halfway (The Black Eyed Peas)
Vienesse Waltz
Cry Me A River (Michael Buble)
Waltz
Make You Feel My Love (Adele), Open Arms (Journey)

That is a perfectly sane and sensible question. What an excellent idea.

I suppose it's because they have to adjust the tempo for the beginners/slebs and adapt tunes to their ability, or lack thereof.

Argentine Tango

Beautiful Neighbourhood (Space)

Cha Cha Cha

Love Stoned (Justin Timberlake)

Foxtrot

It's Alright (Seal)



Quickstep
Ever Fallen in Love (Buzzcocks)

Rumba
Apologize (Timbaland feat. One Republic)


Tango
Supermassive Black Hole (Muse)