This, in an nutshell.

The music was particularly dire this week though. If they're not going to let the pros pick, they at need least to get themselves a producer who understands both music and dance and what will work for each dance! Clearly the current crop of producers are utterly clueless...

There are so many wonderful Halloween songs that would perfectly fit certain dances yet every year they ignore them, or put them to the wrong dance.

Why have we never seen a VW to Danse Macabre?

Why wasn't Black Magic a CCC?

The pros clearly have no choice in the music because there is no way that a professional dancer would choose the rubbish and/or mismatched songs they're using.

The music choices are spoiling this year. The only week I really enjoyed was Musicals week. They are doing the best with the songs but it's so fustrating. Need to look back but it does seem some couples are getting more than their fair share of iffy songs.

I saw Jason mentioned on YouTube (I'm at work rn)

Who on earth is he, and can we sack him now, please? The music choices are poop, tonight's show looked a mess, and don't get me started on Joker/Harley.

Worst choice was a rumba to Bring Me To Life. I mean, seriously??? It was used a few years ago by Brendan for a paso which, even though it wasn't great, was more in line the song's style. As Craig said, looked too much like a showdance.

Some of the music choices were absolutely dire and spoilt the dance for me :/

The music and obsession with themes is really affecting the dancing. I've loved the show for years but it's becoming a joke version of itself! I don't understand why Louise and Kevin did a charleston to 'crazy in love' dressed as DC comic characters? I just couldn't see the link, and its such a shame because I felt Louise suffers as a result. Same with so many, the "theme" & the character are bigger than the quality of the dance.

Even a few years ago this wasn't happening, Zoe on ITT is always asking 'what's the theme this week, who are you going to be' etc. I'd rather they just danced with good music!

WTF was Louise and Kevin's music all about? I liked the arrangement the band were playing. It was Danny Elfman-esque, which I always love (I don't know if that was intentional to tie in with the costumes; I'm guessing not), but to my ears, it simply did not 'mesh' with Crazy In Love. It sounded so bizarre, I spent the whole dance trying (and failing) to sync the music to the lyrics and barely noticed them dancing.


Does anyone know and can explain what Craig meant by that? The other three seemingly had no problem with it - and Len is always quick to point out when he thinks it wasn't a 'proper' charleston or jive or whatever - so presumably it fulfilled the criteria to be a rhumba, so what did Craig see, or not see, that the others did (or didn't)?

Don't recall Brendan using it but James Jordan certainly did with Alex Jones. I remember it well one of my favourites from over the years.

Craig was right and the other three wrong on this one, it couldn't be judged as a rumba because it wasn't. I think Natalie was so upset because she knew Craig's comments were spot on and that it was her fault.

I agree - they really spoil the show.

Yes, you're right. Sorry, must have got mixed up

Yes, I agree. I also think that if Craig gets in first and points out the negatives, the others, especially Len makes a point of going the other way and deliberately not pointing out the lack of content and ignoring it in his vote which does kind of make his judging overall unfair. I do find it annoying when they contradict Craig (again especially Len and Darcy) and give him looks as if to imply he is not telling the truth.

It is noticeable the dire music choices are never mentioned by the Judges and in this case feel it needed a special mention.

The music choices last night didn't suit many of the dances and spoiled the show.

It baffles me as to who's picking each track (?)

As has been said, it's high time the pro's took back control of what they are dancing to or at least have a veto if they feel the music inappropriate.

[quote=gashead;84392740

Does anyone know and can explain what Craig meant by that? The other three seemingly had no problem with it - and Len is always quick to point out when he thinks it wasn't a 'proper' charleston or jive or whatever - so presumably it fulfilled the criteria to be a rhumba, so what did Craig see, or not see, that the others did (or didn't)?[/QUOTE]

The rumba that basically wasn't! That's what Craig meant. It was all a run-aound the floor in a bash-n-dash sort of way, and virtually devoid of anything remotely to do with rumba.

Last year Len criticised Giovanni for choreographing a rumba that lacked any authentic rumba steps, but the style and speed of the dance were still recognisably 'rumba'.

The routine Natalie choreographed could have been anything. If it hadn't been announced as a rumba I doubt a lot of people would even have recognised it as such - and I include dancers with that comment!

Craig summed it up perfectly; Darcey wouldn't know; Bruno loves performance - and it had that. Len didn't contradict Craig, and I think he understands Greg is never going to be a great dancer & probably thought Craig had said enough.

I believe that overall it is the bbc who picks the music. The pros can request certain tracks but there's no guarantee they will get them.

I don't mind modern music being played IF it is played in the right tempo for the dance, but all too often it isn't. I'm not sure if it was Brendan, or one of the other pros, who complained about the speed of the music, saying they rehearsed to CDs which were played at the correct tempo, but the speed the band played was often quite different which made it difficult for the celebs.

r

A poster called Huriye posted in the comments on one of Monkseal's recaps this interesting extract from Jeremy Vine's blog from last series:

“A lot of people ask who is responsible for choosing the music on Strictly. Obviously a number of individuals have a voice — for example, Karen needs to feel comfortable that we can dance to the chosen track and Dave Arch’s musicians need to be able to play it. But the key person here is Matt Howes. It was Matt who chose the Elvis Costello song “She” for me to dance a waltz to. The song is not in waltz time (a number of worried viewers pointed this out to me before the dance!). Matt reconfigured the beat and even sang his own version so Karen had a tape to play me. For Matt the key is to choose a song that is popular, but perhaps not too obvious — sometimes he unearths a treasure like “Sweet Disposition” by Temper Trap which Anita and Gleb danced their astonishing tango to. Matt has a huge role in the show because the right song on the right night can be immensely powerful: and by the way I’ve enjoyed all mine so far."

Because the Joker and Harley are both crazy and 1920s Gatsby style wouldn't have fitted the Halloween theme.

I, for one, have absolutely no problem with the theme weeks. I often think they work really well and get the best performances from the celebs. But the majority of the song choices last night were truly dire and wrecked what could have been a fun evening.

Thanks for that.

A simple solution to the problem, sack Matt Howes, a lot of his choices are rubbish.
Far too many employees at the BBC are more interested in making a name for themselves than doing a good job, (not always what they think it will be).

Totally agree. There have been some truly awful music choices this year and they've been getting in the way of the dances and made the whole thing an uncoordinated mess.
I want to see performances where all the different elements of the dance - the steps, the music, the story, the costumes - can combine together to create something glorious that's bigger than the sum of its parts (like Jo and Ore's Singin' in the Rain) Not some awful mish mash where some clever clogs has picked music that bears no relation to anything tempo-wise and the whole thing just doesn't work and is unpleasant to watch..

I agree totally with this.

The music choices this series have been truly awful and have detracted and distracted from the individual dances.

A VW to Danse Macabre, I want to see that! Perfect for Halloween and would go brilliantly with the style.

There was some good dancing and I liked Laura's tango but the music choices were weird, I watched the first one and thought ok that was crap, it happens. But it happened almost every time last night and I think all it does is make it harder for everyone, the celebs, the pros, the viewers, does anyone benefit?