It's worth noting that the professionals don't get to choose the music that they choreograph to; the producers make that decision.

I think couples get ~3 songs to choose from.

personally I dont think it ruins any of the iconic dances, if I hear "Im Still Standing" or "Hot, Hot, Hot" I think Darren and Jill jive or Mark and Karen salsa

I think people are brave to re-use music that has been made iconic by a previous dance

no one is going to remember Thom and Ivetas salsa because you heard Hot Hot Hot and instantly think Mark and Karen - same for Harry and Alionas salsa

If that were possible one would have to ask if Judy ruined cha cha cha as a dance for all the eternity.

Better to use appropriate Salsa or whatever music if they are running out ideas. Plenty of Salsa music available.

I don't think it ruins the original if same music is used if anything it just enhances how good the original was.

I doubt I was the only one to go on youtube and see how you really do a salsa to Hot Hot Hot.

Well, let's see. There's:

a) the fact that a lot of people haven't watched every dance of every series and so may actually be seeing dances to these songs for the first time

b) the point that the judges probably don't connect these things up in their head, having seen a trillion and one dances and having to focus primarily on the celeb's technique, delivery etc. rather than the piece they're actually dancing to

c) the question of how an inferior dance, several seasons later, to the same piece of music can really be said to have any sort of impact on a superior original?

If it makes you feel bad, try watching with the sound turned down. But I'm in the camp who thinks the idea that SCD high points could be 'ruined' simply by someone else using the same music is utterly laughable.

soon be Halloween and then we'll have to put up with that awful monster mash AGAIN !!

ps i hate Halloween week

I would agree with Lorelei Lee that

But I do think that when you've already seen what you would regard as 'the ultimate' dance to a particular song then when it's used again the second dance is always the 'poor relation'.

For that reason 'Goldeneye' (Ramps & Karen's AT) should never be used again, and nor should 'I'm Kissing You' by Des'ree. With the latter I always think of Vincent and Flavia dancing to it about the time they broke up as a romantic couple, and I (along with probably half the viewers) was almost in tears watching their perfomance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoi52jOGhck

I really must be missing something here. Social dancers,competitors and people taking lessons dance to the same music all the time. I don't see the difference.

Now,you see,I should remember that.

Anyways,who would keep a mortuary slab in their nightie-must be big pockets

(I have only recently seen and thus have some recall,of her wearing a yellow bikini, rolling around in a paddling pool and being battered like a fish.)

p.s. if your really curious http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mnJjeM80u4

I get it.

There are some routines on Strictly which are genuine breakthroughs for a contestant or really stand out as beautifully performed. Many of the obvious ones have already been mentioned here: St Jill of Halfpenny's (thank you, Monkseal) jive, Ramps' salsa and AT, Alesha's cha cha. They are the ones that seemed to fit perfectly with the celebrity's story or personality; and they are the ones that people who know Jack about dancing (like me) and rely on others (like you - are we going to resurrect that technical thread? I really hope so) for comment on content and technique will remember and watch repeatedly for the sheer exuberance they embodied.

Anyone who reuses one of these songs, particularly for the same dance, does so at their peril as they are highly likely to be judged inferior to the 'definitive' Strictly performance to that song.

The vast majority of viewers will not remember "iconic" dances from each series.

Lol I agree. For example the number of times they play The Spanish Gypsy song (or Espana Cani)!

I 'm sure that there are lots of options and so Strictly is being a bit lazy perhaps in repeating music but I would rather that, than something wholly inappropriate. Choosing a good waltz, for example, is more than just choosing something in 3/4 time. The phrasing and emphasis has to encourage someone to shape, move, resist or accentuate.

And the best dance version I've seen of Hot, hot, hot! was not the K&M version (which I loved) but a dance I saw whilst on holiday in the Caribbean!