Thread: Music for shows

WICH are your fav music songs for performances?

cherrykisses babies

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I think anything can work as long as the performer uses the song to enhance there act. I personally prefer dancing to older songs because my routines tend to be quite classic. Alto if you are more of a neo burlesque performer new songs work just as well. I also use some songs that are purely instrumental - which can be murder as it is easier to loose your way - as you have no words as a cue! I think its more about how YOU interpratate the song you have choosen than the actual song.

Originally Posted by Beau Rocks

I think anything can work as long as the performer uses the song to enhance there act.

I agree - there are no "right" or "wrong" songs to use in your acts, just songs that best express your character and what you are trying to get across.

Having said that however I do think that there are two huge elephant traps with song choices that people can fall into:

a) The "Tease Album Syndrome" - there are certain songs and tracks that scream burlesque from the rooftops and have been used in routines for decades. This is all very well but if you are going to pick one of these songs for a routine you need to be aware that there will be a lot of acts that use your song hanging around on Youtube and some are so overused that the mere sound of them at the start of a routine is enough to make grown burly folk cry.

This can work in your favour as if you do something genuinely fresh and original to one of these songs you will go down a complete storm but if not, you just come across as flat and unimaginative.

These tracks are great, but must be treated with extreme care and respect!

b) The "Comedy Song Syndrome" - be very careful of good, funny comedy songs in routines as their lyrics will already have a story in them which is likely to overwhelm any story you have to tell in your act. You can go down the route of telling the story in the song, but in my experience this tends to lead to the performer appearing to accompany the music, rather than the other way around.

Originally Posted by Beau Rocks

I also use some songs that are purely instrumental - which can be murder as it is easier to loose your way - as you have no words as a cue!

Tell me about it - I use Apocalyptica's instrumental cover of Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters" in one of my routines. You have no idea how much practice it took for me to be able to spot where in the song I was at any given moment - never great when you're trying to iron out the choreography at the same time!

I'm having difficulties with my song choices, I've two acts I love & the songs are perfect for them but the idea's & song timings dont fit, I'm changing the acts continuously to fit it all in! I've almost got it down but I never realised just how much work goes into it!
I'm so worried that my songs/acts have already been used but so far my trawling through youtube hasnt bought any up so fingers crossed!!
One thing that has helped is that I've listened to the songs over & over & over (my poor boyfriend is driven to distraction!) and now know them off by heart & how they flow. It's really helped me to recognise which parts of the act will make the most impact with the song (crescendo's, drum beats, etc).
Does anyone write down their idea's before they put their act into practice? I'd love to hear any tips or advice from experianced performers that'll help the creative process go a bit more smoothly!!!
Love
Dolly xx

hey,
i dont perform, just model, but when i model i like to have music on to get me in the mood, the best song that just get's me going is.
nasty naughty boy..
check it out! it's amazing!
coco
xoxo

I love Eartha Kitt, but I sing in my acts so i do covers of her songs. My three favorite songs that kind of led me to burlesque are from calamity jane, they are 'keep it under your hat', 'its harry im planning to marry' and 'hive full of honey' which i use in my acts and are a cute sing.

Music provokes emotion. I think any music can be used in burlesque its just pin pointing the song that creates that emotion for you. Lyrics create emotion like poetry so it is important when choosing songs that you listen to the lyrics and that they work well with your characterization and story of your piece.

Ah, wise words from Lilly indeed! There are so many overused songs in burlesque it could warrant it's own thread! A quick brows on youtube the other day brought up no less than 3 balloon pop routines to "I want to be loved by you"!

I must admit I do find music one of the hardest parts when thinking of new routines as I often come up with a concept first and then have to find music to fit it...which often drives me to distraction!

I have often thought that it would be funny to do a routine to a piece of really awful annoying music like "Surfin’ Bird" or "Labamba!"

Originally Posted by Vendetta Vain

Ah, wise words from Lilly indeed! There are so many overused songs in burlesque it could warrant it's own thread! A quick brows on youtube the other day brought up no less than 3 balloon pop routines to "I want to be loved by you"!

Ouch! And this boys and girls is why google is the first port of call for any burlesquer starting a new routine!

Originally Posted by Vendetta Vain

I must admit I do find music one of the hardest parts when thinking of new routines as I often come up with a concept first and then have to find music to fit it...which often drives me to distraction!

Me too! One thing I did find that helped though was Grooveshark - it's an internet radio station that has millions of songs available for you to search through to find that one song that is a) Kick ass and b) no one has used before!