Latin dances were extremely popular amongst the 'groovy set' in the sixties, being frequently seen on dancefloors and at cocktail parties all over the western world. A lot of popular music was actually written to go with these dances.. the kind of music that is now known as 'Lounge'..but how often do you see this kind of music being used on Strictly for latin dances?

Some that spring to my mind are;
"The More I See You" by Chris Montez ( for Cha-Cha-Cha)
" Casino Royale" by Herb Alpert ( fast Cha-Cha-Cha)
" You'll Never Get To Heaven " by Dionne Warwick ( Rhumba)

and,considering we hear so many repeats of songs used before on Halloween week, they've really missed a trick by not including "Spooky" by Dusty Springfield for a rhumba. That song was written for rhumba.

Some great examples here. Spooky was used by Anton & Nancy Dell'ollio in the Halloween show 2011 (in fact, I think they were eliminated that week!). However, it should be re-used, as that performance was really terrible and the song is such a good one for rhumba, as you say.
I was listening to the song "How Could I Be Sure" recently, a fabulous song made famous by David Cassidy. It's such a great VW.

I think I would explode with delight if they ever use this for a samba!! (I know it ain't gonna happen...sadly).


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpbZX1cyPQQ

When was the last time a celeb danced to a proper ballroom tango song on SCD? I feel like they just keep using pop music which is okay sometimes, but I would like to see a celeb use proper Tango music for the Tango.

That's great!

I liked the laughing at the end too, be nice to include that

I'm 20, so you could say among the "younger audience" the BBC is trying to appeal to with its modern music choices?

I agree with what most posters have said: Tango, Paso and AT look so much better with proper traditional music! I would also add that Samba, Salsa and Foxtrot work best with their respective traditional scores too. I'm sort of sick of seeing the Samba danced to disco music, I think it's one of the reasons Sambas don't tend to do very well on the show.

But, and I'm probably in the minority here, I love the Viennese Waltz to modern music, I really like how the pros can turn it into a love story. (And I HATE Blue Danube, sorry! ) I also like the Waltz and Rumba to modern love songs, provided they fit in with the dance, and the Jive can sometimes be good with modern songs.

I think as far as possible the music choice should be the pro's choice.

Traditional music is the safe way to go but it would get boring for the viewers if there are repeated uses of the same music.

I like the pros to show what they can do by choreographing to a modern tune but it has to suit the dance and their celeb. Its one of the things that makes the show interesting to me.

I don't like the PTB interfering in music choices - I think its too important to have good music.

Exactly, Mark & Iveta were nobbled with that Goldfinger/Rumba combo. There does come a point when things just cannot be shoehorned to fit.

I agree! A salsa has to have appropriate music. I really don't like a lot of the music they choose on SCD (and a lot of it I've never heard of! )

I know that themes are considered particular culprits for silly music (though I maintain decades might work)...however, following Mark's astronautical paso the other week, a daft conversation took place at our house about sci fi themes that would work on SCD. We managed to come up with a few...

Jive - "UFO" TV show theme
Rumba - "Don't Wanna Miss a Thing" - the theme from "Armageddon" (been done on DWTS)
Paso - Dr Who theme (the version with a strong drum beat, used on Dr Who last year)
VW - The Blue Danube (as used in 2001 A Space Odyssey) - has it ever been used on SCD?

But that's the point, the Paso Doble is not supposed to be just an angry dance! I know the pros go on about "angry face", but in my day the Paso was more about shaping, arching, stamping, with a haughty expression and attitude. More arrogant than angry IMO.

Hopefully Susanna and Kevin will demonstrate this in their Paso on Saturday in Blackpool, dancing to a piece from Carmen!
Ole! At last a proper Paso track! Please do a good job DA and HWWO!

Will be interesting to compare, as Ashley & Ola have Bon Jovi.

I do agree with those saying what's needed is to strike a balance with music choices, old or new, as long as they are appropriate to the rhythm of each dance.

I also appreciate avant garde choices sometimes, as Nancy said, the White Wedding Halloween Tango with Brendan and Victoria dancing to Billy Idol.
It was very Gothic and fitted in with the theme, and I also thought Victoria's best dance.

think you will be happy La Rhumba Kevins paso routine looks good

And Nicky Westlife last year.

Can't wait!

Paso was always my fave Latin dance.....till Strictly started ruining it for me!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlyc...ing-Week-Eight training vids

Is my fave dance too and Kevins looks like a 'proper' one

Love Paso when it is danced properly and to "proper" music; likewise the rumba. Strictly dances tend to ruin both.

I love reading everyone different opinions on this topic here .

I dont mind pros using " modern " songs for a jive, rumba , Quickstep, salsa, chacha, waltz, VW...because I think that its do-able; They are a lot of great songs out there that can be used for those songs.

However, I prefer and usually hate when they used modern songs for dances like the Argentine Tango, Tango, Paso, foxtrot, American Smooth, Charleston.... I think that those dances MUST be danced to a traditional music. It really makes a world of difference imo; As good as the routine is, it can and will have a lot of impact if the appropriate music is used. For the rest of dances I don't mind but those 6 dances in particular, I do mind lol .

Like this Paso : the song enhanced that routine imo : I LOVED IT .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBjL3uPVI8A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-6WR7-W2-g This one was nominated for an Emmy award

Derek is the king of the Paso, JK lol..

How can I forget this Pashadoble ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDFaUCdS0Z0 : Arghhh I was so proud of Chelsee.

So yes, traditional music is really important for me in some of those dances.

like those paso routines but the music although good is not authentic - Paso is not spanish and not from flamenco. Paso comes from the French music hall and is based on military marching bands from world war 1 - so the music should be more like the march of the toreadors or espana carne that just flamenco. The steps in Paso reflect it's origins as they are all mainly French words

I have less of an issue over traditional vs modern as long as the tempo, music and Lyrics work with the choreography.

Strictly is first and foremost an entertainment show, so sticking to all the standard traditional music could stifle creativity. The very creativity that makes SCD work, where Come Dancing died a death. Haven't seen a full on proper version of a dance from all the couples for a long time now. Every professional will create a routine to suit the music and their celebrity partners ability.

What I do hate is where any couple gets stuck with Hobsons choice for dance & then expected to shoehorn it in to the wrong song/lyrics.

Gotan project is my favorite band for Argentine Tango music; they deliver the best AT music imo :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYjXm...7DAE8D3E6CD119

A few examples :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTEuIXz7MqE El capitalismo Foreano by Gotan Poject
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVKXtpXLLQs didnt like this one too much; Just the music (Una musica brutal by gotan project ) ; she almost fell over .

- Astor Piazzola is another favorite of mine :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUAPf_ccobc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdoaERWn3dQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqFF-40EexA by Bailongo.

Suffice it to say is that I love traditional music for an Argentine Tango

Don't Wanna Miss A Thing is NOT a rumba track, it was also done by Nicky from Westlife too and I really don't understand why it has been used. Rumba is a Latin dance, so a song with a rumba beat is necessary. It's not just about swaying along to any old slow love song. Spooky by Dusty Springfield mentioned earlier has a rumba beat, so has And I Love Her by The Beatles. Traditional or modern songs are fine, as long as the beat and tempo are correct for the dance. Brendan and Sophie are doing a QS to Lady Is A Tramp this week which is perfect, Patrick a samba to Copacobana so all is not lost

Sadly the producers don' t seem to care as much as you...can' t think of too many rumbas On SCD with the beat to which you refer. I was talking about themes, (AKA "shoehorning "as stated above) anyway.

Oh, and can' t abide the Beatles! Realise it renders me Philistine to some, but I' d rather an inauthentic track than an authentic one I dislike.

Kara and Artem did a beautiful rumba to proper rumba music (track title escapes me, someone might recall?).

Samba Pa-ti by Santana

That's the one, thank you