No, but seriously, the band I want to share with you is actually called Take That! I absolutely adore they're music and I thought that maybe some of my readers would too...
Here's a little background for you. Okay, so Take That is a British rock band, originating in Manchester England. It consist of five band members: Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. They became a band in 1990 and were very successful until they split in 1996. After the split they left a legacy of having a very high work ethic, being the only boy band to write their own songs. This earned them the status of being one of the greatest boy bands of all time.
The band reunited in 2005 and have been playing music ever since. In between then and now, they have received many awards, such as the Q award, the BRIT award and the iTunes award. Their latest album, Progress, is full of fast beat, fan favourites that I just can't get enough of.
My favourite Take That song has got to be Love Love. It was released on June 10th, 2011 on the extended version of the album Progress titled Progressed. The song was also featured in the film X-Men: First Class and served as the main theme for the movie. For you're convenience, I've attached the music video for Love Love bellow.
After Love Love, there is a song called The Flood that I really enjoy as well. I think it used to be my favourite Take That song until I heard Love Love. Other good songs include Patience and Shine. I bit you've already heard Patience on the radio or in an elevator. It's that kind of song. You know, a song that sounds a lot like five other songs you listen to regularly so you know you've heard it before, but you just can't place it. Shine is also pretty cool. I'd say it's a classy song, kinda slow, but with a good beat. I do admit though, the music video for Shine is really impressive in a weired sort of way. I don't like that much so I didn't post it, but if you want to check it out, just click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwC1Ctrj6Xk
If you don't know, I'm a dancer so I've never really been much for American Idol or America's Got Talent. That said, I also can't stand Dancing with the Stars! Why should people who don't even know how to dance get put on television just to make a mockery out of the art? I know there are people who can actually dance on the show, but personally I'm not going to waste my time watching football players and washed up reality television stars prove they can "dance". Especially when there are so many amazing dancers out there who love to dance with every fiber of they're being and are very talented at it. Those are the dancers we should be supporting. They're the ones who really deserve a chance to shine, a moment on the spotlight. Not people who already star in something of they're own. I don't mean to say that Dancing with the Stars is not entertaining for people, and I don't mean to discourage anyone from watching it. It's simply my opinion that I have shared with you.
That's why I love So You Think You Can Dance so much. It is a television show that not only celebrates dance, but also gives talented dancers who have devoted their life to dance, who have poured blood, sweat and tears into their work a chance to showcase their abilities. Dancers get discovered on the show and get accepted into dance companies, sign movie deals, become choreographers for dance videos, etc. And you can find all sorts of dancers on the show; hip hop, contemporary, ballroom, tap, ballet - you name it!
I've been watching the original So You Think You Can Dance series from almost the very beginning. I unfortunately missed the first season, and still haven't gotten around to renting it, but from the second season on, I've been a devoted fan. However, I still only watch the original American series, even though I'm Canadian. I know it feels like some kind of betrayal, but I just can't stand Leah Miller, the current So You Think You Can Dance Canada host. Plus, as annoying as some of the American series' judges can be (you know who I'm talking about), the Canadian judges make me want to rip off my ears!
I've have my all time favourite dancers, and unfortunately it's very often that they win! For those SYTYCD fans out there, what comes to mind when you here the names Travis, Neil, Hedi, Lauren, Twitch, Jeanine, Danny, Kerrington, Hok, Mark, Kent, Lacey? For me, it's pure joy. And these are just a handful of the fabulous dancers that have been on the show! At the moment, the eighth season is in way and I am absolutely star struck! I have been watching this series for a very long time and I have never seen such a strong Top 20. Even though we have already lost some stars (Nick Young and Miranda Maleski), I think this season is shaping up to be a very exciting ride. And I am so relieved they have decided to at least have the couples for the first have of the show and then switch to the All Stars. I love the chemistry that forms between the partners! So like I was saying, I have many all time favourite So You Think You Can Dance dancers, but I also have some all time favourite dances. Okay, to be honest, I have dozens of all time favourite dances, but I only have enough capacity to show you a few, but I urge you to get your but to YouTube and watch many more!
This first video is from season eight, the season that is playing out at this very moment. It is a jazz piece choreographed by Sonya Tayeh that was performed by the top ten girls of the season. I have watched this video countless times, and I guess your about to find out why!
This next video is a contemporary piece from season five. The routine was danced by the season's winner Jeanine Mason and Jason Glover. It was the first time they had been paired together, the first time either of them had danced their style - contemporary- and the first time choreography by season two finalist Travis Wall had been featured on the show. Everything went off without a hitch, giving birth to Travis Wall's choreography career on the series and so many phenomenal pieces by him yet to come!
Next we have an 80's jazz piece by Mandy Moore. The piece was performed in season three by the season's winner Sabra Johnson and finalist Neil Haskell. Neil comes back later as an All Star on season seven and performs this amazing routine with Kent Boyd, also choreographed by Travis Wall. But back to this jazz piece.The routine was also nominted for an Emmy Award for outstanding choreography. Enjoy!
Now, I've shown you jazz, I've shown you contemporary, but I think it's time for a little ballroom. I think this next piece has got to be one of my favourites, if not my favourite ballroom routine on the show. It is a Viennese waltz choreographed in season three by Hunter Johnson and performed by two of my all time favourites, Anya Garnis and finalist Danny Tidwell, who is actually Travis Wall's adopted brother. Yes, Danny Tidwell! This guy is like a dance rock star. What makes it even better is that he's professionally trained in ballet. Take a look...
Next up is a season two routine choreographed by the acclaimed Wade Robson. The second season was just bursting with talented dancers and I have many favourites among the group, such as Dmitry Chaplin, Allison Holker, Travis Wall, the season's winner Benji Schwimmer - season three finalist Lacey Schwimmer's brother - and his cousin Heidi Groskreutz.
Okay, so I know we've already seen a video from season eight and two from season three, and I should probably finish with something from a different season, but I just have to show you this next piece. This piece was met with a standing ovation and an Emmy Award prediction, plus my screams of astonishement.
So without further ado, I bring you a season eight Travis Wall routine, performed by my season favourites, Melanie Moore and Marko Germar.
Yes it's true, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories was one of the five stops made by Prince William and Kate Middleton, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, during they're royal tour of Canada. And I got to be a part of it - sort of.
*All of the following pictures have been taken with my metallic pink camera. They have NOT been taken from the Internet.
So on July 5th, 2011, I woke up bright and early to meet the royal couple. First, I sat with my face glued to the television watching CBC's coverage of Yellowknife. It was the weirdest thing, seeing places and people I knew right there on a television network that usually covers things like breaking news and Etalk. I got to city hall at around 9:30 and waited for two hours with a crowd of very eager Yellowknifers, in what I thought was the ideal position - only to have them walk straight on by once they finally arrived.
I did score some pretty amazing pictures, though. And Kate was not a foot away from me. I could have reached out and touched her (Though that was completely out of the question with all the security circling them. Of course, I'm not that crazy of a fan to ever do something like that. I just think they make a really great couple. What can I say; I'm a sucker for a good love story.)
I was waving and smiling at them like a fool - at the moment I really didn't care - and do you know what? Both Kate and Prince William waved and smiled back. Straight at me and my sisters! We made eye contact and everything! I know what your thinking, "They could have been waving at the forty people right behind you!" But I don't think so! I mean, I was in the very front, right up against those metal gates that they put up to keep the crowds back, with no one infront of me, so there is no way they missed me. Plus I managed to to squeak a "hi", which I think is why is why they turned my way and smiled! Anyway, I'm was just one among many lucky northerners today. I have a friend who got to shake BOTH of their hands. Apparently they said, "Hi, how are you."
While Kate and Will are definitely the most popular royals for the young people of today, they are not the first to visit the Northwest Territories. The Queen has been here more then once and Prince Charles visited in the summer of 1970.
