Top 6 Performance Thoughts and Discussion
These are my thoughts LIVE and a space for you to jump into the discussion.
Love Christina Applegate, so glad she’s guest judging tonight. And Lil C is back! I think they’ll be great together, along with Mary and Nigel.
I got so excited when I heard that Melanie’s dancing with Twitch. And it’s hip hop, so we get to see her challenge herself. And because Lil C is on the panel tonight, I totally trust him to really critique her. And I agreed with him that there was a moment where she really picked up her game and from there on out I was all in and happy. It wasn’t nearly as gut-grabbing as Twitch’s routine with Sasha, but it was one of Melanie’s best moments – because she was out of her comfort zone and really standing toe-to-toe with one of the best All-Stars ever.
Uh oh… I don’t know about Sasha dancing with Kent. We’ll see about this…
Okay, I take it back. That was aaahhmaaaaazing. She and Kent were amazing together, great chemistry. I was impressed with how much Kent’s grown since last season, but seriously I don’t know how I even noticed him because I could barely take my eyes off Sasha. This was probably Tyce’s best choreography EVER. I was so impressed with all of them.
I have to keep going. Christina really nailed it for me when she said there are some dancers who are technically gorgeous, but she just doesn’t care and Sasha puts a finger on a wall and breaks her heart. 100% agree.
Excited to see Janette’s gonna be schooling someone in a paso doble (didn’t catch who, but it doesn’t matter, it’ll be amazing anyway).
And it was really, really good. I loved the slow, controlled build and I agree with Mary that I really loved that move where Marko swung Janette around himself, using her whole body as the cape. I also saw a few small wobbles and disconnects, but I was really impressed with Marko’s bravado and stance (even if Christina wanted him to drop it lower).
Rickey’s solo was alright. It wasn’t his best but made me remember that he’s saved himself a couple times this season with his solos. I loved his mom talking about seeing him on t.v.
Tadd’s dancing with Ellenore!!!
I LOOOOOOOOOOOOVED that Sonya routine! First, I love Ellenore, who seems to be Sonya’s perfect muse. And I loved the Tadd-Ellenore combo. That reminded me of a strong-couple routine in a circus performance, which I really, really love. There was a lot poise and control on display there and so much attitude. One of my favorite Sonya routines. It did feel short, I agree with Nigel (in a weird way), because I could’ve watched that routine and those dancers for HOURS.
Caitlynn has been one of the weakest soloists this season, but I can actually see her building and executing better solos each week, especially the last few. I think tonight’s solo was her best yet – it had a lot of intention and versatility. And personality.
I think Christina was right on the money when she said that Rickey’s intentions aren’t always the clearest. Maybe that’s the thing that’s been holding him back just a bit in some of his performances. Even in this one, which was phenomenal, there was something holding him back just a bit. I can’t say it any better than Christina did. It was really good to see Jaimie back. She was wonderful.
Normally, I like Tadd’s solo’s the best as they’re fun and playful. This one was too, but I thought he spent entirely too much time on one hand there at the end.
Sasha’s solo was her best and probably the best of the season. Now THAT’S a solo. They should all be of that caliber. I think she’s lost some weight. Her ribs seem a lot more noticeable than before – or is that just me? I hope it’s not stress because I know they’re all working so hard.
I was just a TINY bit disappointed that Caitlynn was dancing with Pasha again. He really brought something out in her the first time and I love Pasha, so I wasn’t really disappointed. Plus, it was a fun and sexy routine where Caitlynn held her own. But a TINY part of me wanted to see her dance with a different All-Star. OR, Robert again. 🙂 But, she’s really impressive holding her own with Pasha. I know he’s a good partner, but she looks really good dancing with Pasha in his style, which must be tough.
Marko’s solo was really strong, as well. But Melanie blew me away with her solo. The only way I think she was stronger than Sasha is that she was demonstrating that she’d picked up different styles/moves. She danced to a dubstep song and made it jazzy/hip-hoppy in addition to lyrical. Amazing.
I really liked Sasha and Rickey’s waacking routine. I can see that they might’ve been a tiny bit too stiff and concerned with the steps, but it seems like a pose-y style to me and if I’m right, I think they were solid. Regardless, I really enjoyed their routine. It seemed so fun and I felt like I saw different sides to both of them.
The Melanie + Tadd Spencer Liff Broadway was extraordinary – best of the night. I loved every single moment about it. I loved how tight the camera got on their faces (had to since their bodies would be blocking a lot of that from us, turned away from the audience). I loved the story, the song, the dancers and the performance.
One thing I didn’t like? The way the judges talked so much about Melanie’s solo, which they’re not supposed to critique. I mean, I agree, it was amazing. The best of the night, best of the season. One of the best ever. But they shouldn’t have spent that much time talking about it and barely talking about Tadd at all. So rude.
how have you seen this already?
@maddy: I’m watching it now (Central Time). These are my live thoughts. Don’t read if you don’t want the show spoiled! 🙂
I have to say, I was impressed with Melanie’s solo!
What song did Melanie do her solo to?
Did you catch what song melanie danced her solo to?
@Martha: I haven’t updated yet, but me too!!
@J and marie: All the music is listed here, including Melanie’s solo song: https://www.puresytycd.com/2011/08/03/sytycd-season-8-top-6-performance-music/
I can agree that Melanie is really good and the best this season along with Sasha, but the Melanie vomit the judges spew every week has really made me not like her at all.
@Misty, I was feeling the same way about all the gushing the judges were doing about Melanie! Her solo tonight definitely helped my view of her.
I feel like there is no point in voting anymore – they’re all amazing dancers.
LOVED the Sonia routine at the end! Caitlynn has been a bit of a bore for me this season, but I thought she was fantastic in that routine.
I do think the judges overdo it but it is not her fault. She is probably feeling the same way when they over comment her.
The song choice for Melanie and Twitch’s hip hop was… okay. Not as fitting to me, but I still enjoyed it.
Melanie’s solo.. = fantastic. I understand people’s concern about the judges commenting on it, but who couldn’t. The judges also do seem to break rules… like on the “America decides who goes home based on votes.” … The judges have been deciding ALL season. It was supposed to stop at Top 10. .. but oh well.
I love Sasha, but sometimes for me, I think she’s a bit stiff in some of her movements when she needs to be a bit softer for some dances. but that’s just me.
And I think in Ricky’s dance with Jamie Goodwin.. all I could think about is how Jaime has really grown since Season 3. I was watching Jaime WAY more than Ricky.
Was out to dinner during the show so i’m just watching it back now, what has struck me most in these first couple of routines is how much stronger, physically, Kent has gotten over the past year. those lifts he was doing tonight were NOT easy, and I’m not sure he had the pure strength to pull those off and keep the musicality last season. to be perfectly honest, I watched him more than I watched Sasha, and that NEVER happens with me. I just couldn’t believe how much he’s grown!
I was disappointed in Ricky tonight. It was his worst solo. He was not really emoting in his dance with Jamie. As for the waacking, I thought he did just as well as Sasha. It really wasn’t necessary for the judges to point out Sasha’s superior performance of something they know nothing about, except for Lil C. Anyway, I’ve given up my steadfast standing by Ricky. He’s had his chance and he failed tonight to bowl me over. I’m so sad. I still like him, but I guess he isn’t top 4 caliber. I’m prepared to say goodbye to him.
Melanie’s solo was unbelievable! She combined really difficult and technically different moves into one another, something rarely seen in solos. Personally, Jeanine is my favorite dancer ever on SYTYCD, and I think her solo doing the tango with herself holding the rose in her teeth was the best I have seen on this show, but Melanie’s was great. Still, it irks me when the judges have to say every. single. season. that THIS season is the very best ever, and this solo is the best ever, etc, etc. It’s an insult to all the incredible dancers who have graced the stage before.
Sasha was not Tyced! What a relief, after hearing he was choreographing for her. The dance with Kent was amazing, I really felt her pain, and I was amazed that Kent had such chemistry with her. I don’t really like her solos much, but it doesn’t matter because her choreographed dancing is superb. Except that I agree with Megan above that sometimes she lacks the ability to be softer in her movements. I can’t say whether that piece or the Melanie and Tadd piece was the best of the night. They were both great. I guess Caitlyn, who is really coming into her own just a bit too late, and Ricky will be leaving us. No surprise there, but sad to see them go. And very, very sad that next week is the end of SYTYCD season 8!!
I am so nervous for tomorrow night… I think Melanie is the easy pick to win it all, but there are always surprises.
Last week I would have easily said Ricky and Caitlynn go home – out top 4 are clearly Marko, Tadd, Mel and Sasha… but Caitlynn really impressed me tonight….
I still think my Top 4 will make it through… but like so many have said this season, some of the best dancers!
I LOVED Sonya’s routine for Caitlyn and Marko – amazing! Of course Twitch and Melanie rocked it and Kent and Sasha – it was just a great night!
I agree with the judges drooling over Melanie’s solo… especially because Tadd was just kind of standing there like – dum dee dum… found it quite rude! Also voters see that and sometimes it ends up biting the judges and dancers in the ass…
I am really excited! But also sad it will end soon – at least I still have SYTYCD Canada (only on top 14) to tide me over ha!!
I totally agree with Christina re: Melanie and Tadd’s piece, Melanie’s part was almost like a feisty, spacially condensed version of the music in the mirror, donna mckechnie’s epic dance in front of the mirror in a chorus line. So much power and precision and emotion and just love of LOVE and of dance.
@gemma – you only get “Tyced” if yo are dancing broadway. His contemporary numbers don’t have the kiss of doom on them.
Emilie – no mention of the Caitlynn/Marko number to end the night? That was my favorite of the show.
Ugh, Is anyone as sick of Melanie as i am? I really don’t get how everyone thinks shes amazing! There are SO many other dancers who are much better than her. The judges said more raves about her than anyone else ive ever seen. She was called “One of the best dancers we’ve ever had” and “Your good at everything you do” tonight. But her hip-hop was dreadful and her piece with Tadd wasnt great. Its obviously rigged for her to be in the top, they give her the best costumes, best choreograpy, best theme, lots of props, and good comments. I think some of the judges, like Lil C, were even afraid to critique her.
I love Melanie and she’s my ideal season 8 winner, but I will admit that her hip-hop last night was her weakest effort all season. It wasn’t helped by that terrible Nicki Minaj song, which made it hard for me to even concentrate on the dancing. In this case, I think the only reason the judges didn’t critique her on screen more was that they didn’t want to give the viewers the impression that this one misstep means she should be excluded from the finals. I agree, it’s a bias, but it’s hard to argue that she should be sent home when you look at her body of work.
The backlash I’m seeing here and elsewhere against Melanie is similar to what happened with Jakob in season 6. In many ways I see Melanie as a female version of Jakob, a dancer with great technical prowess coupled with a solid and unique sense of performance and charisma. The downside of this though is that you never see “growth” from her, because she’s already on a high plane of ability. You don’t see her criticized by the judges because she makes few mistakes and when she’s off she covers for it using performance ability. Melanie’s also not a raw dancer like Sasha, which may be perceived as a cold, clinical approach to the craft. I don’t agree with that and I got a lot of emotional gratification from watching her.
@Megan: I agree – couldn’t take my eyes off Jaimie.
@Margaret: I know! I was so worried Kent wouldn’t be able to lift Sasha and be as powerful as her. But he has GROWN so much. It wasn’t just the power he put into those tough lifts, it was the whole package.
@Kevin: I loved the Caitlynn/Marko piece, of course. I thought I typed something, but maybe I was just too busy thinking it and it didn’t translate. I was totally in love with that piece and I think it gives Caitlynn the best chance to get into the Top she’s had all season. Dark horse. 🙂 We should see her dance with last season’s dark horse again. Robert! 🙂
@James G: That’s a really good point – that Melanie may be the most like Jakob was. There is a lot of backlash against her and that makes me sad. It’s not her fault the judges don’t critique her more. I think she’s really fighting to win it on her own merits.
Really? No mention of Caitlynn and Marko’s routine?? which was in my opinion the best of the night even though they were all exceptional pieces except for the whacking piece?? This can’t be!
Ignite – Everything you said is absolutely true in my opinion. Also, I refuse to believe it was totally random that Melanie drew Marko as her regular partner (before the top ten). Marko is the only male dancer in season 8 who is consistent in all types of dance and mature at the same time. Melanie just happens to draw Marko as her partner. Then Christina Applegate, in the first couple of minutes of Wednesday’s show, blurts out that season 8 is the best ever and what a joy is to be there. Anyone who believes that was a spontaneous, sincere remark, well, there’s a bridge in Brooklyn that I can sell you. The additional audacity of that comment from Christina is that it is completely false. This is not the best season unless you think “wow, Melanie reminds me of the big/little sister I never had, and I love her so much.” One person posted on this board several weeks ago that SYTYCD is really about who emotes the best, and who has the best personality. The poster went on to say that is how it should be. While I do think Iveta and Ryan really struggled to connect with audiences, everyone else displayed at least some degree of personality in my opinion. My two favorite dances in season 8 were the breakfast routine with Sasha and Twitch and the mockingbird dance with Miranda and Robert. I normally have several favorites, so that tells me it was a lackluster season (imo). End of rant.
@MC – Actually, Melanie and Marko were not randomly drawn out for the weeks before the top ten. None of the couples actually changed. In the original competition before they started changing rules in Season 7… Season 1-6 … The couples stayed the same until Top ten, but just given their styles. All the couples stayed the same this season… It seemed like most eliminations were done by a couple, maybe not intentionally, but who knows.. .. I loved that hip hop dance by Miranda and Robert! I actually wished Miranda stayed longer!
Megan- I know Mark and Melanie were not randomly drawn each week, but how did they get paired together in the beginning? Did I miss that part? I remember dancers jumping into the dressing rooms of their new partners and everyone pretending to be happily surprised. Wasn’t that from this season?Regardless of how it happened, it’s completely unfair that Melanie had Marko by her side every week, and the other females settled for much less (in some cases). I should mention that my third favorite dance of season 8 was Marko and Allison. Some disliked the dance because the choroegraphy felt familiar. Honestly, if Melanie had been involved in it, those same folks would have said it’s not her fault (about the choreography) and isn’t she just brilliant? Somehow, Marko didn’t deserve that same courtesy. I’m sorry, but the pro-Melanie bias this season has been way over the top (and it’s not the judges I worry about because Nigel, in particular, will squeeze an extra ratings point anyway he can).
From what I can tell, the Top 20 pairings are not random. Production pairs people together based on their heights. If it was random, then shorter male dancers could get tall female partners and that causes partnering problems. I think they also try to compliment dancing styles when they can. As for the contestants acting surprised when their partner is revealed, how is that hard to believe? Just film the moment when they are told who their partner is. It doesn’t have to be a random draw for it to be a surprise.
That some girls had weak partners through the first half of the competition and other pairings work really well is just the nature of the game. It happens in many seasons (the pairing of Katee and Joshua in season 4 or Melissa and Ade from season 5 could look suspicious using this frame of mind). I don’t agree that Marko carried Melanie and that their partnership was somehow unfair. Some of us enjoy Melanie’s work, as I do, and it’s not because of the judges or manipulation. Her dancing connects with me and others that watch the show. It’s unfair to criticize her just because the judges haven’t done their job this season.
For the record, I really enjoyed Marko’s contemporary with Allison and had no problem with it having a similar tone to the Alex/Allison piece from season 7. Even if people felt too much deja vu, I don’t see anyone claiming it was his fault or that it meant he did a bad job.
People are welcome to their opinion on the dancers and no one is requiring you to like Melanie more or less than the other dancers. As is known, I have my reservations about Tadd and I’m largely in the minority with those thoughts. But the conspiracy theories that Melanie had the deck stacked in her favor from day one are getting absurd. Contemporary, jazz and hip-hop will make up the majority of dances for any contestant that makes it far enough in the competition along with some random ballroom. To show how this conspiracy theory is ridiculous, recall in the first half of the competition, Sasha also had lots of contemporary, jazz and hip-hop pieces and played a similar character in the first three dances she got. Then recently she got spectacular routines from NappyTabs and Sonya that played to her strengths. Does this mean the competition is biased towards her as well? You can make the same arguments with Tadd and that he largely gets slow pieces that are tailored to his strengths. My point with this is that the distribution of dances is due to there being a limited number of genres and choreographers, so it’s bound to happen with any dancer that sticks around long enough. It generally averages out in the end, with a couple people each season being outliers.
Thank you so much for having the guy’s elimination song on your site if it was not here I would have never found it lol thank you so much I’ve been looking for like an hour lol thanks again =)
@Jessica: Glad we could help you find it!
@James G – In previous seasons they actually showed all of the dancers each week drawing random partner names from a hat. The idea that there have not been random partners on this show is completely misinformed and false. It actually was the normal procedure for the seasons I have watched. How is it that this season these dancers are suddenly all paired together by height (off-camera) and not one person saw or taped the selection process which ALWAYS was taped (and aired on the show) in seasons past. Also, I did not say the surprise was phony; the PLEASANTNESS is what was faked. It’s highly unlikely everyone was thriled with the partner secretly selected for them. It seems some of the most naive people watching this season have not watched the show much (or all) in seasons past. Very few people had unrestrained praise for Marko’s dance with Allison on this forum. Everyone on here qualified it by saying the choreography was too familiar. Some said it distracted them so much they could not enjoy the dance (again, comments like that never would happen if Melanie was performing it). Marko could have carried almost any female dancer this season and made her look anywhere from good to great. He’s one of the most humble dancers in the history of the show.
One more thing. This season is suddenly the season they decided to abandon the weekly random selection process. The producers intended that, once selected, any two dancers paired together would have to sink or swim without any opportunity to switch partners until the top ten. They knew certain couples were doomed by the initial pairing which would never change under any circumstances. They also knew, from day one, that Marko and Melanie would be a very successful (and probably the best) couple due to the overall weakness of the male dancers this season.
Of course, this whole conspiracy theory is easier to accept for those folks who also viewed the most recent season of American Idol. There are some similarities. In both cases, the top female finisher was exempt from criticism throughout the season. I actually think Melanie has some talent, as opposed to Lauren Alaina who was consistently underwhelming (but continued to draw praise each week). Reality shows are self-contained miniature worlds that are easy to manipulate (for the producers) from the inside. The best reality shows shy away from blatant manipulation and I hope SYTYCD will resume the appearance of fairness next season.
I agree with the comments about dark horse Jakob. I still think he should have won his season. And Melanie just may suffer from the same syndrome of receiving nothing but praise and therefore being able to exhibit nothing we can see as growth. Personally, I wish someone would tell Melanie to stop hunching her neck forward all the time. Jakob could have used a little more subtlety in his dancing and it would have been nice if the judges could have helped him with that. And let’s not forget another loser who made the finale, Kayla! She was one of the best dancers ever on the show, yet I voted for Janine, not even completely on personality. Janine had a sort of fire in her, and she could really sail up off the ground yet really ground herself for turns and arabesques. Kayla was not helped by the constant (twice?, whatever) references to her beautiful, gorgeous, perfect smile/face/body/dance positions as a beautiful, gorgeous model. And that smile as she thanked the judges for verbalizing that which she knew to be true, accepting each over the top compliment spreading those lips perfectly revealing her set of perfect teeth perfectly expressing her perfection. It was just so hard for me to like her, even though I loved watching her dance and her Addiction dance with Kapono goes down as my all time favorite SYTYCD offering. As a sidebar, Lacey and Danny’s Samba is my second, the Hummingbird is my third, and Janine and what’s his face’s dance with the locket – one of Travis’s first choreographic attempts – is my 4th. And I simply never will get why people constantly put that Sabra/Neil corporate office piece on any list at all.
This season I like the Statue dance best of all. It’s sad when you peak on the first show of a series. Miranda’s Woodpecker dance was great and I will say it again and probably say it until I stop discussing this show at some point in my life: Miranda was robbed. I will always love Lil C for fighting for her to stay. That girl could sail into the air and was hardly given the chance to do it. There was that one jump in the hooker dance (really, Tyce? how original) when she jumped and turned with her right leg out to the side that I still see in my mind’s eye. I wish the judges had taken off their stupid blinders and let her have the chance to shine, like they do to the B-boys, making excuses because things are not in their style. It’s one of the most frustratingly unfair parts of this show, not only that people are paired favorably or not but then the judges hold that against someone. The way they kept eliminating couples this season was just ridiculous – as was the way they kept someone like Ashley instead of Miranda when you knew Ashley was going to go soon anyway but that Miranda might have just had a spark in her that a great choreographer could have fanned into a flame for all of us to see.