Le Rêve: A Collection of Imperfect Dreams

Surrealism (sə-rē‘ə-lĭz‘əm): (n.) 1. A 20th-century literary and artistic movement that attempts to express the workings of the subconscious and is characterized by fantastic imagery and incongruous juxtaposition of subject matter. 2. Literature or art produced in this style.

Traipsing Through the Internet on a Saturday Afternoon

I’ve watched several of last week’s SYTYCD performances multiple times now, including one of my faves: Jason Gilkison’s paso doble set to music called “Filet” from the Le Rêve soundtrack. (The Katee/Josh video is in the Top 6 SYTYCD Recap post, below this one, if you want to have another look).

There was very little info given about the music used for this routine, so a-googling I did go. What I learned was … the subject of a surreal, and eccentric, musing. After the jump.

Mia Michaels’ “Ave Maria”

As I wrote in a previous post, the use of the English lyric of Schubert’s Ave Maria was critical in enabling the meaning of Mia Michaels’ SYTYCD Top 5 Girls piece to be ‘heard’ by much of the audience. Even I–long a vociferous opponent of my countrywoman, Celine Dion–was able to overcome my distaste for the treacly chanteuse (like one habituates to a unpleasant smell) and put aside my existential atheism to appreciate the beauty and remarkable artistry of this routine. After the jump, more commentary on Ave Maria, including an attempt to sort out the confusion around the two separate versions (different melodies, different lyrics) in Latin, English and German. There were many choices Michaels could have made but, given her long association with Dion, the choice she did make was not only understandable, but also shrewd. Do I smell an Emmy nomination?