SYTYCD Season 5: The Top 12 Elimination Round July 9, 2009

The Bottom Three Couples

• Caitlin and Jason – The minute their names were called, I think I heard their death knell.
• Jeanine and Phillip – I’m not surprised to see them here. Anyone stuck with that Russian folk dance would be doomed.
• Melissa and Ade – I’m really surprised that they are here, but I suppose it’s because they were outshone by Brandon and Janette this week.

My thoughts: I’m really surprised that Randi and Evan escaped the bottom three this week! They must have a really huge and devoted following, because their performances weren’t really enough to keep them safe this time. I like them, but I’ve been judging the contestants more this season based on individual performances rather than how I feel about them overall. (Which, for example, is how one week I am not impressed at all by Kupono, but the next he wows me.) I would rather Kayla and Kupono have been in the bottom three than Melissa and Ade, but I have to admit that they deserved to be safe, based on their fantastic and powerful “grip of addiction” contemporary performance last night. So, who goes home? I would be devastated to see Melissa, Ade, or Jeanine go. Which means I’m hoping for Caitlin, and either Phillip or Jason, to be sent home. Since the show runners will want Phillip in the top ten for the tour, I think Jason will be the one to go.

The Solos

• Caitlin – “Stand by Me” by Playing for Change – Maybe it’s my lack of formal dance knowledge, but I didn’t see much to be impressed by in her solo. To me, it looked like she had already accepted that she was going home, so she just decided to have fun for her last nationally televised performance. It wasn’t bad; it just wasn’t great.
• Jason – “Calm Touching” by Evaline – Wow! This guy really wants to stay in the competition! He came storming out of the gate and never let up. Either the judges will see it as too little too late, an act of desperation, or a reason to keep him in the competition.
• Jeanine – “Baby’s Romance” by Chris Garneau – I just love to watch her dance. She has so much confidence and control.
• Phillip – “The Diva Dance” from The Fifth Element – Of course his solo is phenomenal, but since Nigel just said that the judges base their decision on the whole season, Phillip really should be the guy going home tonight. I mean, they could bring him on the tour as an alternate.
• Melissa – “Kashira” by Kodo – I had never noticed just how strong and muscular she is! It was fun to see a ballerina solo, and she brought some funky personality to it.
• Ade – “Windowdipper” by Jib Kidder – First of all, what a bizarre song! When his solo started, I thought my desktop computer was freaking out in the next room, and then I realized it was his song. The strange music mix complemented his quirky clothes and dance style. He has an amazing leaping and flipping ability, both enhanced by his smooth touch and movements. I really hope they keep him around!

Who the Judges Sent Home

• Caitlin – Did you notice the sobbing from the audience when Nigel broke the news that she was the one leaving the competition? How heartbreaking.   That was probably her sister who went through Vegas week with her. I wish Caitlin well, but am relieved that two of my faves, Melissa and Jeanine, survived.
• Phillip – Wow! I am surprised but pleased that the judges sent him home. It makes perfect sense. He lacks the technique and training of the others. I am happy for Jason that he will have a chance to prove himself with another partner. He and Caitlin just never clicked. And everybody wins, kind of. Phillip and Caitlin will still have the fun of being on the tour, but we the viewers will have the pleasure of watching all the best dancers continue in the competition.

Ranking the Top Ten – As we look forward to new pairings next week, it’s time to examine the dancers on an individual basis. Here’s my attempt to rank them from my favorite to least favorite. Who are your favorites?

1. Jeanine
2. Melissa
3. Janette
4. Brandon
5. Ade
6. Evan
7. Randi
8. Kayla
9. Jason
10. Kupono

Related Post:

• SYTYCD Season 5: The Top 12 Perform

SYTYCD Season 5: The Top 12 Perform July 8, 2009

So we’re already to the episodes where the couples perform two dances. With that in mind, I’ll get straight to the point.

• Melissa and Ade
  • Dance #1 – Disco (Doriana Sanchez) – “Move On Up” by Destination – I was bummed when I heard the show was opening with disco, and that this was the style my favorite couple had been stuck with. Can’t complain much, though, since up until this point they have had great luck with their dance selections. Then again, there is more than luck to their success so far. They have great chemistry and talent! Although Melissa started off this performance looking a little uncomfortable, and ended by falling down, everything else about the routine was fantastic! They were workin’ it, and they had me smiling the whole time. They were crazy strong with two particular moves: Melissa’s upside down splits while Ade held her up in the air, and Melissa’s horizontal spinning while Ade held on to her. This was probably my favorite disco routine ever on the show. On a side note, everyone has talked about how stunning Kayla is, but I think that Melissa is beautiful, with her curly locks, her long legs, and her genuine smile. I love both her and Ade. Tyce summed up the judges thoughts with this phrase: “That was friggin’ great.”
  • Dance #2: Waltz (Ron Montez) – “You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman” by Mary J. Blige – Oh no! It’s already time for the couples to be split up and given new partners?! Well, I enjoyed my favorite couple’s last dance together – this beautiful, flowing, romantic waltz. I couldn’t believe how high Ade lifted Melissa up toward the end! And he made all the lifts and turns look easy. This wasn’t one of their most memorable performances, but like all the rest, it was still impressive. Mary compared Melissa to “a fine wine… peaking at the right time.”

• Kayla and Kupono
  • Dance #1 – Contemporary (Mia Michaels) – “Gravity” by Sara Bareilles – Well, it looks like all the Kupono non-fans will have to put up with him for another week. He and Kayla snagged the coveted Mia for their first dance this week, which will most likely translate to lots of votes. I’m not always an automatic fan of Mia’s work. (I especially didn’t like Neil and Lacey’s famous flowers in heaven routine.) In this dance, Kupono is the addiction that Kayla is trying to get rid of. And in Kupono’s defense, I’d imagine it was difficult for him to portray addiction in this performance, when his family experienced the hardship and destruction that it leads to. Their performance did, indeed, convey a lot of emotion, and they danced it very well. Mia did a nice job of creating a powerful interpretation of the grip of addiction. Nigel finally had a critical word for Kayla, stating that he’d like to see more of her face and less of her hair. She does sling her hair around a lot. Tyce said, “The best dancers are the best actors” and that he felt like he “had an experience.” I agree with that. They did a nice job of creating a moment for the audience.
  • Dance #2: Broadway (Joey Dowling) – “The Dance at the Gym” from West Side Story – Something about two kids running into each other on a rooftop and falling in love? I couldn’t understand what they were saying in the intro. I was kind of bored. Remember a few weeks ago when Max and Kayla danced that pop jazz routine, and I said that the choreography made Max seem very feminine (and he was supposed to be playing a devious prince type!)? Well, I had a similar reaction here to Kupono. His dancing was very soft, rather than the tough, charismatic character I think he was supposed to play. And Kayla didn’t do much better. She kind of pranced around the stage. The judges were critical of the couple’s lack of the emotional element.

  
  

• Jason and Caitlin
  • Dance #1: Foxtrot (Tony Meredith) – “Minnie the Moocher” by Big Bad Voodoo Daddie – This is an American gangster style foxtrot. It was okay. Actually, it was my favorite Caitlin performance of the season, and it was nice to see her looking like herself for once. Unfortunately, there was a missing link between her and Jason that led to some awkwardness. I agree with Nigel that this was Caitlin’s style, but I don’t think that the foxtrot will be memorable enough to keep them out of the bottom couples this week.
  • Dance #2: Lyrical Jazz (Mandy  Moore) – “Show Me Heaven ” by Maria McKee – Mandy plans to bring out their contemporary strengths. I hope so! The verdict: that was really nice! I’ve never been more impressed by Jason and Caitlin. Nice song, nice wardrobe (when in doubt, it never hurts to leave the guy shirtless, right?), and interesting movement. I wish they had given us some hints about what the story was, but even without that, I felt drawn to their performance. Nigel doesn’t see much chemistry between the two, and Mary didn’t see any magic. I disagree with them. I thought Jason and Caitlin were very in tune with each other.

• Jeanine and Phillip
  
  • Dance #1: Russian Folk – “Kalinka” by Barynya – This dance represents a playful competition between a man and a woman. I’m not sure what to say about this one. They looked kind of silly in their traditional Russian garb, and the choreography didn’t look as technically difficult as most of the other styles on the show. It came across as cartoonish to me, until their leg work and spinning at the end. Nigel said it needed “an awful lot of vodka to go along with it.” I tend to agree.
  • Dance #2: The Jive (Tony and Melanie) – “Stuff Like That There” by Bette Midler – Phillip is a sailor who just returned home, and Jeanine is teasing him. I don’t like Phillip’s exaggerated facial expressions, but I love Jeanine’s saucy personality and fun energy on stage. This is one of the more fun Jives I’ve seen on the show. Nigel thought this was the best Phillip has performed out of his style. And he called Jeanine “one of our best top ten dancers.” All in all, the judges were much crazier about this performance than I was.
• Evan and Randi
  
  • Dance #1: Hip Hop (Tabitha and Napoleon) – “Halo” by Beyonce – So this routine is about a couple who has just found out that they are going to have a baby. Randi and Evan had to work off of imagination, since they don’t have any first hand experience in this area. They were sweet together playing these characters. This dance is demonstrative of Tabitha and Napoleon’s ability to fill a hip hop routine with emotion. Nigel said that Tabitha and Napoleon didn’t ask them to be urban, they just let them be them, with a hip hop feel. I liked it, but I didn’t love it. Tyce told Evan he needs to “find more” but praised Randi for doing great.
  • Dance #2: Samba (Pasha and Anya!) – “Ritmo Da Bom Bom” by Jubaba – Oh my goodness! I am so excited to see Pasha and Anya on the show, and working together to choreograph this routine!!! I absolutely love Pasha. He is one of my all-time favorite contestants on the show! I guess I should get back to this season’s contestants, though, so I’ll stop my gushing. Yikes! Not sure how I feel about all that leopard print. Anya must have picked out their costumes (I never really cared for her taste in wardrobe). And why do all of their dances have Evan staring at Randi’s butt? I’m seeing a pattern here. Nigel: “Evan, do I look on you as a hot samba king? No I don’t.” I agree. I thought Randi was much more suited for the style than he was. Um, so now can Pasha and Anya get on stage and do their routine real justice? (Yeah, I’m not going to be able to move past the Pasha cameo. Too excited about it!)
• Brandon and Janette
  • Dance #1: Argentine Tango (Leonardo and Miriam) – “Libertango” from Forever Tango – I wouldn’t say that there was a lot of heat between them, but Janette did a fantastic job with all the leg work and looked great, and Brandon was a great partner. Nigel and the other judges gave them a standing ovation! And Nigel said it was as close to ballroom perfection as has ever been on the show. I had to go back and watch again after all the praise the judges gave. I liked it better the second time, and noticed Brandon’s complete focus on Janette, reminiscent of his intense stage presence in his first audition solo. I still think that I’ve seen couples dance the tango with more chemistry, but they were definitely technically excellent.
  • Dance #2: Jazz (Wade Robson) – “Ruby Blue” by Roisin Murphy – It’s nice to see Wade back on the show. This routine is about two thieves, one calculated and one crazy. I loved it! In fact, I love this couple more and more every week. This performance gave Janette a chance to be her crazy self, and Brandon a chance to show that he does have a fun, quirky personality. Nigel said that there’s nothing they can throw at them that they can’t do brilliantly. I agree. I think they had the best night, considering that both of their performances were outstanding. Thanks is due to Wade Robson for creating a unique routine for them to close out the night.

My Favorite Performances of the Night:

• Brandon and Janette’s jazz
• Caitlin and Jason’s lyrical jazz
• Kayla and Kupono’s contemporary

Most Disappointing Performances:

• Kayla and Kupono’s Broadway
• Jeanine and Phillip’s Russian folk
• Evan and Randi’s Samba

Predicting the Bottom Three Couples: (Will there still be three couples in danger? I can’t remember when they stop doing the results show that way)

• Randi and Evan
• Phillip and Jeanine
• Kayla and Kupono

If I had my pick, I’d send Kupono and Kayla (or Caitlin if she is in the bottom three) home this week, but it’s hard to know who the judges will pick.

Related Posts

• SYTYCD Season 5: The Top 14 Perform
• SYTYCD Season 5: The Top 14 Elimination Round
  

Michael Jackson’s Musical Legacy July 7, 2009

You’d have to be living in a cave to have missed the media spectacle that Michael Jackson’s death has spurred. I felt particularly unable to escape it because I was in L.A. when it all began. Well, to be specific, I deboarded a plane in Salt Lake City about half an hour after the news broke that the King of Pop was dead. It is unsettling to walk into an airport terminal, after being in the bubble of an airplane, to see everyone staring concernedly at CNN. I was relieved to see that the news was only reporting the death of a celebrity (rather than some major disaster), and from that point it became an interesting sociological study to see how the airport patrons reacted to news of Jackson’s death. Some were genuinely upset, others looked shocked, and others showed disdain or indifference. How did I feel? Well, Michael Jackson was one of those uber-celebrities whose strangeness and cartoonishness made him seem larger than life, so it seemed unreal that he could be dead.

By the time I arrived in L.A. a few hours later, to visit a friend for the weekend, it seemed that Michael Jackson had permeated every corner of L.A. For the next few days, everywhere we went there was either MJ music playing (cars driving down the road, a DJ playing tracks at a beach party, the music over the loudspeakers at Barnes and Noble), or constant coverage of his death on the cable news channels (the airport, the nail salon…). It also seems odd that the one celebrity I saw in L.A. was music producer Quincy Jones, a longtime friend of Jackson’s. I spotted him eating lunch at Pane e Vino the day after Jackson’s death.

Since returning to Dallas over a week ago, I’ve managed to mostly avoid the media coverage, other than accidentally stumbling across Access Hollywood while eating dinner, or a friend making a Michael Jackson reference on Facebook. But today I felt compelled to watch his public memorial service, and so I did, from beginning to end. I didn’t want to watch because I respected Michael as a person, or because I’m mourning his death. Mostly, I wanted to witness this chapter of pop culture history, watch the musical performances, and remember the impressive musical legacy that Michael left behind.

There’s no denying that in his prime (which lasted from the early 80s to early 90s), Michael was a brilliant performer, dancer, singer, and entertainer. We were reminded of that during the memorial service as several musicians performed his music. I enjoyed Mariah Carey’s performance of “I’ll Be There.” I actually associate that song more with her than with the Jackson 5. I used to love singing along with her on that song and others on her MTV Unplugged album. Also impressive was Jennifer Hudson’s rendition of “Will You Be There.” (I just love her! She did a fantastic job with the “Star Spangled Banner” at the Super Bowl this year.) But my favorite performance was Stevie Wonder’s “Never Dreamed You’d Leave in Summer.” I had never heard this song before, but apparently it is one that Wonder wrote, sent to Quincy Jones, and Jones in turn handed it over to Jackson, who released it. Well into his 50s, Stevie Wonder is still an amazing artist, with an amazing voice, and I was moved by his heartfelt performance.

Regardless of Michael Jackson’s erratic behavior, criminal trial, etc., he was still a human being, who obviously had many friends and family who loved him. I couldn’t help but cry when his daughter, Paris, broke down crying on stage at the end of the service, as she managed to convey how much she loved her father and what a good daddy he was. So behind the spectacle, behind all the makeup and melodrama, Michael has left behind three children who are obviously heartbroken over losing their daddy. I hope that these three children can grow up to have a more stable, normal existence than their father had.

I can’t say anything about Michael Jackson as a person. I’ll leave that to those who knew him personally. What I can talk about is my memories of his music. I was reminded of some of my own memories when I read this post last week. Here are some of the recollections I’ve had over the past week:

• All of us who were children of the 80s remember being slightly disturbed, but mostly fascinated, by the extended “Thriller” video, with its cinematic feel, its creepy dancers, and its memorable choreography. I love the scene in 13 Going on 30 when Jennifer Garner’s character managed to get a bunch of rich, uptight white people to join her in recreating the “Thriller” dance. Many of Michael Jackson’s videos were contagious like that. Videos like “Bad,” “Beat It,” and “Billie Jean” let us escape reality for a few minutes and enjoy a good beat, fun lyrics, and funky dance moves.

• In the mid-80s my family went on a vacation to Disney World, where the 3D movie Captain EO was playing. It featured Michael Jackson as the title character. I don’t remember anything about the story, but as an 8 year old, I was disturbed by the weird silver costumes, the robotic dancing, and all the 3D images that would jump off the screen at me. (I had a similar reaction to the more psychedelic Magic Journeys 3D film that was showing the next time we went to Disney World.)

• By the late 80s and early 90s I was recording songs off of the radio on my purple jam box (who needed to buy albums when you had tapes to dub?). Two of my favorite MJ tunes that I recorded were “The Way You Make Me Feel” and “The Man in the Mirror.” I also had “Will You Be There” on one of my tapes. That song was the only good thing about the movie Free Willy. I was on the road last week listening to music and thoroughly enjoyed hearing “Man in the Mirror” for the first time in several years. It reminded me that Michael (or perhaps his producers) had a gift for adding those special touches to his songs. It’s one thing to create a song with a catchy melody and lyrics, but another to make it distinctively yours. That’s what Michael did with all his “woos!” and “come ons” and “you knows.” Back in the day I made fun of those touches, but now I realize that they are what made his songs so good.
• The 1991 album Dangerous marked the end of Michael’s era of unfettered success. I have good memories associated with songs like “Black or White,” “Jam,” and “Remember the Time.”

• There were a few good songs on his last successful album, 1995’s HIStory, but for the most part I wasn’t a fan of the paler, more effeminate, more freakish MJ who sang in a soft-spoken voice about healing the world and saving the children. It was around that time that his life became a media circus sideshow, and I lost interest.

• And so time went by, my cassette tapes collected dust, and other pop singers came and went. Michael Jackson hadn’t crossed my mind in years until I stepped into the Salt Lake City airport two weeks ago, and saw the headlines about his death on CNN. It’s been fun to reminsice about the songs of my childhood. I should probably rummage around in my memory banks to discover some other musical gems. George Michael is the first name that comes to mind, but I’ll save that for another post.
• That’s all I’ll say about MJ for now. The media has talked about him way too much, so I don’t want to add to anyone’s MJ fatigue. So, thanks for the music, MJ. I’ll continue to enjoy listening to it!

SYTYCD Season 5: The Top 14 Elimination Round July 2, 2009

I was glad to see a Michael Jackson tribute of sorts at the opening of the show, in the form of a group performance to a song from The Wiz. Cat was doing her best impression of a junkie, in her short, skimpy silver dress, and with her too-dark eye liner and stringy hair.

The Bottom Three Couples

• Karla and Vitolio
• Kayla and Kupono
• Phillip and Jeanine

My thoughts: Well, I guess Americans prefer aliens over vampires, since they voted more for Caitlin and Jason than Kayla and Kupono. I am shocked that Kayla and Kupono are in the bottom three! I agree with Mia that theirs was one of the best performances of the night. Out of this bottom six contestants, based on their overall performance so far in the competition, I would send Karla and Vitolio home. Of course, it depends on how much stock the judges put in their solos tonight.

My goodness! Those guest dancers, Patricia and Desmond, were crazy good!

The Solos

• Karla – “Blackbird” by Dionne Ferris – I really enjoyed her solo this week. She was definitely “dancing for her life.”
• Vitolio – “Here Comes Goodbye” by Rascal Flatts – This wasn’t his best solo. He didn’t seem fully invested.
• Kayla – “Stupid” by Sarah McLachlan – She didn’t have much variety in her solo. Lots of flailing about, mostly. She could have used much more of the stage, and less flinging of the hair.
• Kupono – “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel K…- I wasn’t impressed at all with his solo. It looked more like a warm-up than a dance for your life. I’m thinking that Kayla and Kupono weren’t expecting to be in the bottom three, because they both seemed underprepared for this solo round.
• Jeanine – “Moonlight Sonata” – I really like Jeanine, and I hope that her display of strength and balance in this solo was enough to keep her in the competition.
• Phillip – “You’ll Find a Way” by Santigold – How fun to see Phillip’s solo and be reminded of why he is here! He looked so relaxed up there, and like he was having fun. Can’t say the same for the other soloists tonight.

My thoughts: Phillip most definitely saved himself from elimination with that solo, but neither Kupono or Vitolio seemed fully invested in theirs. If I had my way, I’d send Vitolio home, because I really don’t think Kayla and Kupono should have even been in the bottom three, after their inventive, unique performance last night. As for the girls, based on the solos, I would send Kayla home. But that’s not really what I want to happen, and I know the judges aren’t ready to let her go either. Things get difficult, though, because Karla arguably had the best solo of the three girls. How can you send someone home when they had the best performance? That would leave Jeanine to go home, but I love her, and her solo was pretty good! Bottom line: there’s no easy choice for the girls. I doubt the judges’ decision will be unanimous.

Who the Judges Sent Home: Karla and Vitolio

My thoughts: I was wrong in predicting the judges wouldn’t be unanimous about the girls. The first thing out of Nigel’s mouth was that their decision was unanimous. Yay that Jeanine is safe! I was so glad that the judges gave her props for her excellent solo. As I suspected, the judges couldn’t let go of Kayla, and so they released Karla from the show, using the valid reason that she hasn’t achieved the star power they had hoped that she would. Sure, she is an excellent dancer, but there was always something missing in her performances. Nigel was cruel to Phillip, making him squirm around before telling him he was safe. I agree with the judges for cutting Vitolio tonight. I really wanted to like him, and often did, but there are simply better performers among his competitors.

Related Post

• SYTYCD Season 5: The Top 14 Perform
  

SYTYCD Season 5: The Top 14 Perform July 1, 2009

So, when my mother-in-law told me that she records So You Think You Can Dance, what she actually meant is that she doesn’t record it, she just watches it live. Therefore, when I turned on her tv at 8:45 p.m., which is when I put my son to bed, all I managed to see of the show was Vitolio and Karla’s performance. And I was so distraught that I had missed the rest of it, that I don’t have any thoughts to share about their dance.

Moral to the story: don’t trust someone else’s word or their DVR; always check the recording status yourself. And the good news is that I can A) watch the performances online tomorrow, and/or B) watch the entire show on my Tivo when I return home this weekend.

————————————————

Despite a DVR/mother-in-law malfunction that prevented me from watching the show last night, I was able to catch the performances online today. (Thanks to rickey.org for posting all the videos!) Here are my thoughts on the top 14:

• Janette and Brandon – Cha Cha – They were great together, as well as individually. I like Janette more every week, and Brandon continues to impress me with his versatility.
• Kayla and Kupono – “Eyes on Fire” by Blue Foundation – Contemporary (Sonya) – I like how Sonya’s choreography always makes use of every inch of the body – hands, fingertips, hair… This vampire-themed performance will earn a lot of votes. Kayla got to show off her leg strength and control, and Kupono was good, too. The song oozed weirdness as well, and is featured on the Twilight soundtrack. Can’t get any more popular than Edward and Bella right now.
• Randi and Evan – Broadway – This Joey Dowling routine played out like a more razzle dazzle version of the quirky Mia Michaels’ French poodle dance they performed last week. It wasn’t my favorite performance this week, but it rates pretty high among the Broadway performances from this season. Randi and Evan always look very comfortable on stage, and with each other, which isn’t something that can be said about all the dancers this season. (To be specific, Karla always looks terrified to me, and Phillip often looks uncomfortable.)
• Jason and Caitlin – Pop Jazz (Brian Friedman) – Hmmm, a dance about an alien procreating with an earthling? Thats… bizarre. And everything about the routine was strange, from the choreography to the costumes, well, at least Caitlin’s. I’m starting to think that Brian Friedman’s routines require extreme costumes to distract from the fact that his choreography isn’t very complicated or interesting. I’m just not that into his creations. Had Mia or Sonya created a dance with this alien/human mating theme, it may have been astonishing, but this one just made me go, “Meh…”
• Jeanine and Phillip – Hip Hop (Tabitha and Napoleon) – I wasn’t crazy about the chain gimmick. (I’m never a huge fan of the use of props on the show.) And I like Jeanine more than Phillip, which means they aren’t in my top favorites like some of the more in sync “power couples.” Still, though, it was nice to see a T & N hip hop routine.
• Melissa and Ade – Classical Pas de Deux (Thordal Christensen) - I get chills every time I watch them dance; they both have such an impressive balance of grace and strength, and they work so well together. Love them! They remain my favorite couple. And it can’t be just coincidence that they “drew” pas de deux out of a hat. They are probably the only couple in the top 14 who could pull this off (well, maybe Janette and Brandon could, too), and pull it off they did!
• Karla and Vitolio – Quickstep - This couple has three strikes against them this week: they have a new pairing, they have both been in the bottom three numerous times, and they got the quickstep. I will be stunned if they aren’t in the bottom three this week. Of all the girls remaining this season, Karla is the one I haven’t had any reaction to, positive or negative. She’s just kind of there. I don’t know if that’s her fault (not enough stage presence), the producers’ fault (for not letting us get to know her), or just my personal taste. Maybe a combination of all three. And Vitolio is my least favorite of the guys, for many of the same reasons I listed for Karla.

My Favorite Performances

• Melissa and Ade’s Pas de Deux
• Kayla and Kupono’s Contemporary
• Janette and Brandon’s Cha Cha

Predicting the Bottom Three Couples

• Karla and Vitolio
• Jason and Caitlin
• Janette and Brandon – I think Phillip and Jeanine should be in the bottom three instead of Janette and Brandon (based on last night’s performances), but what should be and what will be are two different things.

Who should go home: Karla and Vitolio – If they stick around another week, that means I don’t know the judges as well as I think I do.

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• SYTYCD Season 5: The Top 16 Elimination Round
• SYTYCD Season 5: The Top 16 Perform
  

Music Monday: The First Time I Met Regina Spektor June 29, 2009

Well, technically it was the first time I met Regina Spektor’s music, since I’ve never actually met her in person, but I remember very well the day that I was watching VH1, and the video for her song “Fidelity” came on. “Fidelity,” and the album it comes from, Begin to Hope, are old news now, but this talented and unusual musician is still very fresh and successful. Her latest album, Far, was released last week, and once I’ve gotten to know it a little better, I’ll post my thoughts on it here. (So far I am loving it!)

“Fidelity” is one of my favorite Regina Spektor songs. It has an inviting opening, a contagious melody, and those oh so fun “oh oh oh ohs” that I love to sing along with. I don’t really “get” the video, but I suppose it has something to do with taking down your guard and experiencing life, and relationships, to the fullest. It’s cute and artistic, just like the performer. If you’ve never listened to much of Spektor’s music, do yourself a favor and sample Begin to Hope. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Her music is refreshing, inventive, and worth your time!

Retro Weekend: A “Very Special” Saved by the Bell Moment June 28, 2009

I didn’t have much time to write an in depth 80s or 90s themed post this weekend (I was vacationing in L.A.), so instead I’ll remind you of a classic Saved by the Bell moment. Remember the episode where Jessie was so stressed out about school that she started taking caffeine pills, and developed an unhealthy dependence on them? The climactic scene (see below) features Zach confronting her, and a struggle ensues over the pill box, resulting in Jessie bursting out into a very dramatic rendition of the Pointer Sisters’ “I’m So Excited.”

This scene is the epitome of Saved by the Bell cheesiness, but it has stuck with me over the years. Being the dork that I am, I have reenacted Jessie’s emotional rollercoaster from this scene many times.

Do you have any favorite Saved by the Bell episodes or moments? As ridiculous as the show was, it was still fun to watch. Click here to read about it on Wikipedia.

SYTYCD Season 5: The Top 16 Elimination Round June 26, 2009

After a racy Tabitha and Napoleon choreographed group dance, Nigel made an opening statement honoring three celebrities who died this week – two of them just today – Ed McMahon, Farah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson. It was especially appropriate to take a moment to remember Jackson’s contributions to the world of dance. Maybe next week’s group dance should be a Michael Jackson tribute – that would be fun and appropriate.

The Bottom Three Couples

• Asuka and Vitolio
• Karla and Jonathan
• Caitlin and Jason

My reaction: These are the three couples I predicted would be in the bottom three, so I have no complaints or disappointment. I hope that Vitolio and Jason impress the judges with their solos (leaving Jonathan to go home), but I honestly don’t care much for any of the girls.

The Solos

• Asuka – “Don’t Trust Me” by 30H!3 – Her solo had more energy this time than her previous one, but it’s hard to do an impressive ballroom solo.
• Vitolio – “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay – I like his leaping abilities, his twirling, his tribal energy, but then his solo had a certain desperate quality about it. Hmm…
• Karla – “15 Step” by Radiohead – Speaking of tribal, Karla’s solo had a jungle girl vibe going on. I’m not sure what to think about it.
• Jonathan – “The Hunted” by Kodo – More tribal music. I’m sensing a pattern. But his choregraphy didn’t fit the music at all. It was very disjointed.
• Caitlin – “Que Sera Sera” by Jennifer Terran – In my opinion, she has more talent than Karla and Asuka, but her solo still didn’t have a lot of gusto.
  
• Jason – “New American Classic” by Taking Back Sunday – I enjoy his solos. He uses the stage well and has interesting movements.

My Prediction: Before tonight, I had picked Jonathan and Karla to go home. That would still be my preference, but it’s a toss up as to whether the judges will send Asuka or Karla home. However, I feel pretty confident that they will send Jonathan home.

Who The Judges Sent Home:

• Asuka
• Jonathan

I’m okay with this result. Maybe Vitolio and Karla will both benefit from having a new partner next week. I’m still really liking Ade and Melissa, and Evan and Randi. Who are your favorites?

SYTYCD Season 5: The Top 16 Perform June 24, 2009

Toni “Hey Mickey You’re So Fine” Basil joined Nigel and Mary on the judges’ panel tonight, and they did quite a bit of rambling on as filler for this two hour episode. Since there’s so much ground to cover, let’s skip ahead to the dancing:

• Karla and Jonathan – Hip Hop (Dave Scott) – “By My Side” by Jadakiss (feat. Ne-Yo) – This routine is described as a Bonnie and Clyde, smooth criminal love story. This performance had too much set up for my taste. It took them quite awhile to actually get to the hip hop choreography, and then they seemed out of sync, like they hardly knew their partner was next to them. It got a little better toward the end, but not enough to change my opinion of this couple. I’ve never picked up on any chemistry between them, even during last week’s contemporary routine. Nigel said it was more like “a Sunday school picnic outing.” Ouch! Mary and Toni had similar things to say about their lack of ghetto groove and such. I keep waiting for a hard hitting hip hop performance, but I haven’t seen one the last couple of weeks.
• Asuka and Vitolio – Jazz (Mandy Moore) – “Heartbreaker” by Pat Benatar – It was sweet to see Vitolio giving Asuka words of encouragement when she was frustrated and in tears about how things were going at their practice sessions.(And with that clip, they probably earned hundreds or thousands of more votes, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, although it’s a bit manipulative on the producers’ part.) I wish they would both show more emotion like that in their performances! And, in fact, they were more emotive tonight. This ’80s jazz piece was my favorite of their performances so far this season. Of course, I usually enjoy Mandy Moore’s work, and I almost always enjoy the ’80s themed dances. But they did a great job, despite being out of sync with each other a few times. Vitolio seemed more comfortable in this style than Asuka, but they worked well together. Mary made a good point that these two are growing together as a partnership. And Toni gave them some advice on how to earn more votes and become a power couple: “Don’t let your technique get in the way of your emotions.”
• Melissa and Ade – Rumba (Tony Meredith) – “Emotion” by Destiny’s Child – According to Tony, this dance requires a lot of sensuality and has the challenging combo of difficult technique and selling the emotion. As usual, they dance well together, so they totally sold me on the emotional side of the performance. They wowed me with a couple of amazing moves, and Ade was very strong – surprisingly, my eyes were actually drawn more to him! My only complaint is that at times Melissa seemed to get out of character because she was concentrating so much on what was coming next, but otherwise it was beautiful. As Nigel said, “What a difference Ade makes.”
• Janette and Brandon – Hip Hop (Dave Scott) – “What a World” by Common – “Rock n roll meets hip hop.” I like the concept, and I was impressed, especially with Brandon! He looked right at home with all that popping and locking. They had me smiling the whole time, which was partly due to the fun choregraphy, but mostly due to how they were totally in character. My only complaint is that Janette’s open-mouthed rocker smile was a little distracting, but I suppose she was only playing the part. This was so much better than Karla and Jonathan’s hip hop routine from earlier tonight. Nigel said it was like 50 Cent and Cher. Sounds about right.
• Kayla and Kupono – Viennese Waltz (Jean Marc Genereux) – “Sweet Dreams for You” by Jewel – This piece has something to do with Kupono taking Kayla on a dream journey. I don’t really understand what that means… But, I liked it! The Viennese waltz forced Kupono to calm down his normally spastic dancy style, and I liked him much more here. He was commanding, graceful, and an able-bodied partner to Kayla. As for Kayla, she was gorgeous in her flowing mint green dress (I always love the flowy dresses), and looked like she was floating around through much of the dance. I must say, I wasn’t expecting to be so impressed by this new pairing, but they worked well together. Nigel got quite annoying with all of his insistence that “it wasn’t gonna get people standing up and cheering,” but that he hoped he was wrong. How many more weeks is he going to passively beg the audience to vote for Kayla?
• Randi and Evan – Contemporary (Mia Michaels) – “Koop Island Blues” by Koop feat. Ane Brun – Mia’s description: “It’s all about the booty.” Evan is supposed to be hypnotized by Randi’s butt. She’s like a sexy poodle, and he’s lost all control of his body because he’s mesmerized by her. Interesting… It was terrific! Bizarre, humorous, but terrific. This was excellent choreography for Evan to show off his Broadway-style, and Randi looked smashing in a completely flattering pink negligee. Loved the characters, loved their total investment in the concept, love them!
• Caitlin and Jason – Paso Doble (Jean Marc and France Genereux) – “O’Fortuna” from Carmina Burana - This dance is about them hating each other. How sweet.   This performance was extremely busy, from the costumes to the camera work to the choreography. There was so much going on that I couldn’t even tell what was supposed to be happening. Caitlin and Jason seemed very scattered, and while Jason did a decent job with his part, Caitlin seemed very out of touch to me. I’m guessing that the paso doble is a difficult dance to learn in a few days, but I’ve seen it performed much better on this show. These two may be back in the bottom three couples again this week.
• Jeanine and Phillip -Broadway (Tyce Diorio) – “Moses” from Singin’ in the Rain – I wish Tyce had given us an explanation about the concept of this routine, because I didn’t get it. A sofa and a bunch of feathers? And I was very distracted by the huge rip in the back of Phillip’s pants. It was cute, but not my favorite performance at all. Phillip didn’t seem to be whole-heartedly involved, which made it less enjoyable. Nigel complimented Jeanine for bringing the right amount of personality, but told Phillip he needs to grow more.

My Favorite Performances

• Randi and Evan’s contemporary
• Melissa and Ade’s rumba
• Janette and Brandon’s hip hop

My Least Favorite Performances

• Karla and Jonathan’s hip hop
• Caitlin and Jason’s paso doble
• Jeanine and Phillip’s Broadway

Predicting the Bottom Three Couples

• Karla and Jonathan
• Caitlin and Jason
• Asuka and Vitolio

I think it’s time for Karla and Jonathan to go home. In my opinion, they aren’t keeping up with the other dancers, and the competition is fierce out there! I also wouldn’t be disappointed if Caitlin were sent home, but I think she deserves to stick around longer than Karla. We’ll see what happens tomorrow night! This week had much stronger and more interesting performances than last week. I continue to be impressed by Melissa and Ade, as well as Evan and Randi. Janette and Brandon caught my eye this week, Asuka and Vitolio continue to grow on me, and I liked Kupono better this week with Kayla as his partner. What are your thoughts?

Related Posts:

• SYTYCD Season 5: The Top 18 Perform
• SYTYCD Season 5: Top 18 Elimination Round
  

Music Monday: My Favorite Sing Along Artists June 22, 2009

I love music, and on some occasions, I love singing along with it. Maybe it’s because I’ve never done much karaoke, or maybe it’s because singing is one way I relieve stress, but there’s something refreshing and satisfying about belting out a tune while driving down the road, preparing a meal, or cleaning the house. There are certain artists whom I have a natural affinity for singing along with, so I thought I would list them here (not necessarily in chronological order).

1. Bonnie Raitt – This red-headed blues/rock singer is probably my very favorite singalong artist. It’s easy to hit all the notes, since her vocal range doesn’t go too high or low, and her songs are just fun to sing! Some of my favorites include “Something to Talk About,” “You Got It,” “Love Sneaking Up on You,” and “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” (”Don’t worry baby, aint’ nothin’ new, that’s just love sneakin’ up on you” is a song phrase that often gets stuck in my head.)
2. Regina Spektor – This quirky, anti-folk artist is another of my favorites to accompany in song. Again, her vocal range is reasonable, and her voice is so smooth that it’s easy to blend in with her. Some of my favorites include “Fidelity,” “Samson,” and “Apres Moi.” Her latest album, Far, will be released tomorrow. No doubt it contains more fun tunes to sing along to.
3. Mariah Carey – When I say Mariah Carey, I am referring to the pre-Butterfly and Glitter Mariah. I loved her music in the early ’90s, but haven’t been a fan of hers over the last decade. I used to spend hours listening to the trio of Mariah albums that I owned (on cassette tape!): Mariah Carey, Emotions, and MTV Unplugged. I also had a few songs from her Merry Christmas album, which I copied from a friend, using my fancy dual cassette stereo. Oh, the lengths we had to go to for our favorite music before the days of mp3s and ipods… Anyway, Mariah’s songs are probably the most challenging of my singalong favorites, because of her ridiculous five-octave range. I can sometimes build up enough gusto to hit those high notes, but I doubt they sound pretty! My favorite Mariah songs include “I Don’t Wanna Cry,” “Emotions,” “I’ll Be There,” and “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”
4. Simon and Garfunkel – And so we move to the first of the male artists on this list. When I’m weary, feeling small, when tears are in my eyes… when I’m walking across a bridge over troubled water… that’s when I like to sing some mellow tunes from these Queens, NY boys. Actually, singing their songs puts me in a cheerful, nostalgic mood. I grew up listening to my parents’ Simon and Garfunkel records, and now I own three of their albums: Bridge Over Troubled Water, Concert in Central Park, and a greatest hits compilation. I absolutely love the folksy nature of many of their lyrics, as well as the simple, catchy melodies. “Bridge Over Troubled Water” is a song that really brings out my inner diva, “Keep the Customer Satisfied” – which features a Chicago-style horn section – brings out my inner cheese (but it’s a great song!), and “Kodachrome/Maybellene” is just fun to sing because of its frantic pace.
5. Sting – Oh, how I love Sting. And when I want to just chill out and sing along with some good, jazz-infused music, I turn on some Sting. Whether it’s the fast-paced “If I Ever Lose My Faith in You” or the beautiful, pastoral “Fields of Gold,” Sting is easy to listen to or sing along with.
6. Aimee Mann – Aimee Mann has one of the most ordinary voices of any artist I listen to, in terms of her vocal styling, yet the sound of her voice is very distinctive. Perhaps it is this ordinary quality that makes it so fun to sing along with her. Unlike with an intimidating Mariah Carey song, singing along to one of Mann’s songs is like doing a duet with a friend. Most of my knowledge of her music is courtesy of the excellent Magnolia soundtrack, on which my favorites singalong songs are “Save Me” and “One.” I especially love the opening sequence of “One”: “One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do. Two can be as bad as one. It’s the loneliest number since the number one.”
7. Ben Folds – Ben Folds is the male equivalent of Regina Spektor: quirky, sometimes irreverent, and super fun to sing along to. However, his ordinary vocal style is more akin to Aimee Mann than to Spektor’s strange, inventive stylings. I’m picking up on some patterns of what makes an artist fun for me to sing along with. Whatever it is about Ben Folds, some of my favorite songs of his include the fast-paced “Zak and Sara,” the strangely upbeat “You to Thank,” and  the fabulous “Trusted,” which is packed with interesting lyrics, my favorite section being: “The sun’s coming up / She’s pulled all the blankets over / Curled in a ball / Like she’s hiding from me and / That’s when I know / She’s gonna be pissed when she wakes up / For terrible things I did to her in her dreams.”
8. The Backstreet Boys – In the late-90s boy band battle between N’Sync and Backstreet Boys, I landed, at least with one foot planted, on the side of the Backstreet Boys. The truth is, I was a bit of a closet fan, because in public I ridiculed the concept of a boy band, and thought it was ridiculous for grown men to prance around impressing pre-teen girls. However, when I heard “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely,” “The Call,” or “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” on the radio, I threw caution to the wind and switched into power ballad mode. Embarassing, I know, but it’s the truth! Who can forget these epic and technologically up to date lyrics from “The Call”: “Listen Baby I’m sorry, Just wanna tell you don’t worry, I will be late don’t stay up and wait for me. I’ll say again you’re dropping out my battery is low, so you know we’re goin to a place nearby. I gotta go.”
9. Destiny’s Child – In the early 2000s I went through a pop/R&B phase that was mainly spurred by the contagious noise that was Destiny’s Child. The small town I grew up in didn’t play this kind of hip-hoppinin music, but the larger college town in Alabama I moved to did. And so I got in touch with my inner soul sistah, shouting out tunes like “Say My Name,” “Jumpin Jumpin,” and “Bootylicious” along with Beyonce (and those other two). My favorite opening line from a Destiny’s Child song, and one that still gets stuck in my head, is this one from “Jumpin’ Jumpin’”: “Ladies leave your man at home, the club is full of ballers and their pockets full grown. And all you fellas leave your girl with her friends, cause it’s eleven thirty and the club is jumpin’, jumpin’.”
10. Kelly Clarkson – Like Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson has quite a set of lungs! And so, when I’m feeling particularly exhuberant, I enjoy singing along to such ambitious and loud tunes as “Miss Independent,” “Since U Been Gone,” and “Walk Away.” I wish her well with her latest album, All I Ever Wanted, and hope there are some more fun songs on it!

Related Link:

• “Top Ten All Time Pop Singalong Songs”- I came across this fun list, and definitely enjoy singing a few of the songs that made the cut, including “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Hey Jude,” and “I Love Rock n Roll.” What are your favorite songs or artists to sing along with?

I’ll leave you with a quintessential Backstreet Boys video for one of my favorite singalong songs, the overdramatic, sappy “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely”: