Timings and the problems of editing a song to make it sensible within the 2 minute framework

^^^ This.

Dave Arch and the band are extremely talented musicians - some are the most requested session musicians on the music circuit.

They play live, in different genres every week. I don't think people realise how good the singers are, either. But it's the age old dichotomy. If you see a band live you are in the moment at the gig. Hear the same band on the radio with a transmitted concert, without the benefit of the live atmosphere it generally doesn't sound the same.

Unless you're Pink Floyd or Dire Straits who get criticised for sounding just like the record.

Sometimes, you just can't win.

I as just reading an interview with Tristan MacManus and found this quite interesting - he is asked about the Fri/Sat shows

Friday differs each week but usually a few couples come in and do their dance on the stage for the first time and then probably go and see their costumes and what not for the first time. Then we would rehearse the group number for an hour or so and camera block that and then the rest of the couples finish the day and all the girls get their tan.......and some of the guys. Saturday again starts fierce early with pretty much the same deal but it’s the first time the band sing the songs while they dance and make any last minute changes. Then everyone starts getting bits of their hair or makeup done followed by a dress rehearsal of the full show. After that, finish up the HAIR AND MAKEUP, make any changes they need and we would usually pre-record a group dance before the live show, not always - but most weeks, then live show. You might get an hour or so between that show and the recording of the results show and again sometimes there may be a pre-record between the two shows. Usually I go home then before results show........unless I’m still on the results show and I usually stay there until I get eliminated and then I go home – hahaha. The day is usually finished at 9.30/10, sometimes later.

so Saturday morning is the FIRST time the couples get to dance to the band singing live wow, I would have thought Friday would be the first time, during dress rehearsals or something but not Saturday morning

rest of the interview here http://www.macmaniacs.org/macmusings...ovember-3-2014

Silliness. The band could have done all the songs into the required 90 seconds months ago.

Changes might just mean changing the tempo for a couple of bars, or it might mean highlighting a phrase on trumpet to the dancers hear it more clearly, or it might mean dropping a section where a planned lift has had to be left out and repeating another bit to get it back top 90 seconds. Or putting the ending on a few bars earlier.
Try doing that with a CD.

I look forward to hearing the band every week

Hear! Hear! Totally agree. Hayley is a great session singer who has to adapt to different genres and styles. If I could sing half as well, I'd be happy.

Err. Surely they should be dancing to the music not having the music fit the choreography.

Quite a task given the use of Louise Rainbow's Random Music selector of course.

I don't think it is 'silliness' at all. I remember a few years ago seeing one of the Pro's (I think it was Vincent) explaining the procedure when receiving the CD after the show on the Saturday night with the music for their dance for the next week.
I'm sure he said from listening to it on the Sunday it can then be changed MANY times through the course of the week to include some little highlights etc that the pros might want to add, or bits they might want removed... or made louder... or made softer. I think they can be adjusting the music right up until the Saturday afternoon dress run.

I think different pros like to highlight different things in a piece of music so think it is surely the done thing for a piece of music to be edited to fit their dance style if they have the means at hand to do so.

I think the band generally do a great job and don't think they are given enough credit. I'm glad the show has a live band and not just pre recorded music as that just wouldn't be the same.

I am sure Vincent (or whoever) would have valued a few extra months with the music to create a first draft of the choreography. No need for a last minute rush. Fine tuning at the last minute is one thing but the bulk of the work could have been done months ago.

Er, the music is already chopped to fit the programme, unless of course Ms Bush released a 90 second version of Withering Hots ...... which some might count a blessing.

So are the pros given a 90 second edit or asked to suggest a 80 second edit or a bit of to and fro negotiation on the choice of 90 seconds from the 3 or 4 minute origial?

I suspect that the pros are now given a 90 second edit which is also given to the band and both told to get on with it with no back and forth between the pros, band and producers.

Yes, she did a great job of Wuthering Heights earlier, and yes, her voice had a wobble on Defying Gravity - and I bet she felt mortified about it when it happened. But she did a great job as always, and I don't think one little voice crack should be held against her.


I agree.
But some of the song choices just don't suit the singers but they just have to grin and bear it and get on with it.

Bit in Bold - I heartily agree.

Did anyone notice that the music choices were better tonight? We actually had some Gershwin!! And most of the tracks were in the right time signature for the dances!!!

Agreed - much better tonight.

All of this and more.

Given the range of music, and the pressure of a live broadcast to 10 million people, its a simply fantastic job by everyone concerned week after week and year after year. It makes the show imo.

Wow. La Bamba was well sung.

Hammed up but great fun.

Who sang it?

'Three Times a Lady' by 'Lionel Ritchie' .......why not 'When I'm Sixty Four' by Paul McCartney then?