So You Think You Can Dance has been TV’s tastiest summer treat thanks to its cast of high-quality hoofers, but this year, I’ve discovered a second reason to love the show. Indeed, watching SYTYCD (which has its season finale tonight on Fox…sadness!) is now my favorite way to find new songs, and to rediscover great oldies (Viennese waltzes set to the Goo Goo Dolls not included). Below, you’ll find my Top 10 Dance Playlist from SYTYCD’s fourth season*. Press play and enjoy ‘em, then post your favorite songs from the show in the comments section below.
"The Garden" by Mirah
This crashing beats and rapid riffs in this story of love and loss provided the perfect background for Sonya Tayeh’s crazy-cool choreography and Mark’s quirky moves.
"Mercy" by Duffy
Twitch and Katee’s raunchy domestic spat made the Brit songstress’s summer hit even hotter.
"No Air" by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown
Napoleon and Tabitha turned a decent R&B track into a work of art that makes me cry every time I watch it.
"These Arms of Mine" by Otis Redding
Gev and Chelsie melted into each others’ arms to the strains of this classic soul track.
"Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis
Lewis’s U.S. debut has been inescapable for months, but it got a whole new lease on life (and on my personal playlist) after Chelsie and Mark popped, locked, thrashed, and fought their way through it during an explosive hip-hop routine.
"American Boy" by Estelle featuring Kanye West
Yeah, it was Rayven and Jamie’s last dance, but the upbeat duet has yet to get the boot from my iPod.
"Malaguena" by Brian Setzer ‘68 Comeback Special
At last, a paso doble that didn’t make me hit the fast-forward button! And with all due respect to matador Kherington and Twitch the bull, I think the music had a little something to do with it.
"We Gonna Win" by Miri Ben-Ari
In less than a minute, Twitch transformed himself into a b-boy conductor at a street symphony, and introduced this song to a mainstream audience.
"Hometown Glory" by Adele
Katee and Joshua can turn any dance into gold, but Adele’s throbbing melody helped shape their contemporary routine (and that breathtaking assisted run).
"Ramalama (Bang Bang)" by Roisin Murphy
Okay, yeah, it’s a season-two number, but the bum-bum-ba-bum-bum of the music helped turn the Top 10 dancers into brilliant, staggering zombies. My iPod hasn’t been the same since.
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I still listen to “Ramalama (Bang Bang)” all the time since that number. I loved the number and I love the song.
Two EW features on SYTYCD, both filled with bad You Tube links…
I LOVE Ramalama bang bang too, it’s been on my iPod ever since I saw it on Dance…but my new favorite is definitely Mirah’s The Garden (I already had Mercy and Bleeding Love on my iPod). There was also one from Busta Rhymes that was pretty cool too but I can’t remember the title.
@ PS – That makes me feel better. I thought something was wrong with my computer!!
I’ve been watching SYTYCD since season #1 and this is BY FAR the best they’ve offered…both in music and dance! Wicked good…SICK!!!!! Last season was amazing and I was on the edge of my seat by the end…but this season…WHO CAN SIT!!!!????????????
Andrea–the Busta Rhymes song is “Don’t Touch Me (Throw Da Water on ‘Em)”. I immediately downloaded that song (fair warning: the uncut version has, um, a considerable amount of naughty language) after seeing Twitchington’s funny modern-day Jailhouse Rock.
And I feel ya on “No Air,” Lisa–I watched it again last night on YouTube and still got a lump in my throat when Katee wrapped herself in Joshua’s jacket.
Ditto for “Bleeding Love” when Mark picks up the briefcase–business as usual–and leaves Chelsie looking anguished.
I love SYTYCD, and often look up the songs they use on iTunes afterwards. I am SO MAD that football is preempting the results show tonight!! I live in Chicago, and our Fox station will be showing the Bears preseason game at 7pm tonight. They have the SYTYCD finale slotted for 11pm-1am instead. I am mad, mad, MAD!!
The links are working for me?
I can get sound on these links, but no video. Has Fox clamped down on the YouTube links or something?
American Boy is definitely my song of summer, but it was already in heavy rotation for me before it popped up in week 1. For me this season, the only unkown (to me) artist I have been inspired to look up (and subsequently download half a dozen songs) is Missy Higgins, who, as of last night, was danced to twice by Courtney in her solos. I just loved it, and sure enough all of her music was great. I am very pleased with this find. Thanks SYTYCD!
How can you not have “Forever” by Chris Brown on here? Comfort and Twitch’s infectious hiphop was the first time I had heard it and now it is on ipod heavy rotation. And yes, I try some of the moves when it comes on.
You can’t blame EW for the linkage, SYTYCD is the worst about deleting youtube clips right after they go up. But they have no DVD or other way to see the dances. It’s very annoying.
I think my favorite song I found by way of this show is Elisa “Dancing” which was used for the Lacey/Kameron contemporary last year. Gorgeous song, gorgeous dance.
I loved In the Morning by Junior Boys, the one last season with Pasha and Lacey dancing a Dave Scott number. This season, I liked The Dance by Charlotte Martin and Missy Higgins. The Garden is my absolute favorite of the season and Dancing by Elisa was the best of the series for me. Also, Bleeding Love. Shoot, I love practially every new song I hear on this show, I love it!!!
I got a few from this season:
Otis Redding – These Arms of Mine (Gev & Chelsea)
Ram Jam – Black Betty (Mark – solo)
Bonnie Pointer – Heaven Must Have Sent You (Jessica & Will)
But some of my faves have been from seasons past!
Are You the One? – The Presets (Danny and Neil)
Let The Drummer Kick – Citizen Cope (Neil & Lauren)
Hit The Floor – Twista (Dmitry & Joy)
Closer – Goapele (Musa and Natalie)
This has been my second favorite thing to do since watching the first season! Getting the new and often new to me music is great!
I’ve found several songs in the last 3 seasons on this show. My faves are:
Hometown Glory by Adele
Apologize by OneRepublic
I’ve found extra love for 2 that I had listened to a thousand times.
Closer by Goapele (see her live, she’s amazing)
No Air by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown.
you forgot elevator, robyn cobrastyle, and the dance which now y have in my ipod also that awesome samba from katee and joshua baila, baila by angela via is on my most played
SYTYCD always has a few choice musical gems and this year is no exception. I purchased Annouk’s “Lost” about 30 seconds in to Courtney and Gev’s contemp piece and it’s still in heavy rotation. American Boy and Hometown Glory were there already, but I happy to see them used on the show. I thought for sure someone would use Chasing Pavements (probably because of the dance elements in the video) but any Adele is lovely.
Come ON – nobody else thinks Thayne and Chelsea’s jazz to The Veronicas’ “Untouched” was an AMAZING fusion of sound and visual?
My faves from this season all made the list(Bleeding Love, We Gonna Win, etc) but my all-time favorites are from last season. And both were danced by Lacey(love her!). “Dancing” by Elisa is a beautiful song, danced wonderfully by Kamcey. And “Hip Hip Chin Chin” was the soundtrack to the ultra sexy samba performed by Dancey! Both have become fixtures of my library:)
I had forgotten about the zombie dance. A definite favorite. I love this show. And I totally downloaded several songs tonight after the finale that I had slipped from my thoughts (they’re not my normal listening pleasure).
The Garden
Chris Brown-Forever.
So You Think You Can Dance. Best Summer Show Ever.
Ah yes! Too many future classics to name. Here were my 13 Top moments:
http://52faces.blogspot.com/2008/08/best-of-so-you-think-you-can-dance.html
And the pinnacle of my crush on Joshua:
http://52faces.blogspot.com/2008/08/america-got-it-right-joshua-allen-can.html
I am so happy for Joshua. He’s going to be really successful. I can’t wait to see him in the movie. He always had a positive attitude throughout the competition. He never threw a fit when he (if he) got in the bottom three. I really liked what he said to the audience about not giving up on your dreams and that God was in control (so true). He sounded honest, heartfelt, and sincere. Good luck Joshua!
Courtney looked so sexy in that green langerie she wore during her dance routine with Mark. It’s nice to see a real figure in langerie as opposed to the disgustingly skinny models in Victoria Secret. Courtney looks perfect.
Courtney shouldn’t have made a huge production about Mark accidently touching her boobs during a rehearsal. It looked like it was completely unintentional. Courtney could have not said anything or could have been more discreet about it, as not to make Mark look bad. Get a grip, Courtney.
Do Twitch and Kherrington like each other? They look cute together. Kherrington looks like Tea Leoni from “The Family Man.” She’s so sweet and beautiful.
Now if Comfort gets to go on tour (that’s six girls), it would only be fair to allow the top six guys to go on tour also. Comfort really lucked out. She didn’t seem very versatile. She looked like she could only do hip hop. Even her solos got redundant after a while.
What ever happened to Sabra Johnson (Season 3 Winner)? I was hoping to see her face at the finale. What’s she doing now? I really liked her dancing and personality.