It really makes me wonder
November 13, 2015 11:00 PM Subscribe
Synchronized swimming set to "Stairway of Heaven." That is all.
That is a terrific performance/routine. Really good and I really thought that they were in sync with the lyrics.
What kept going through my head though was how much these performers must be sick of that song after practicing to it probably for months. I love the song, but it is so overplayed as to make it almost unlistenable for me for any time other than late on a Saturday night.
posted by AugustWest at 11:58 PM on November 13, 2015
What kept going through my head though was how much these performers must be sick of that song after practicing to it probably for months. I love the song, but it is so overplayed as to make it almost unlistenable for me for any time other than late on a Saturday night.
posted by AugustWest at 11:58 PM on November 13, 2015
This song will forever be linked to a 7th grade slow dance that left me with wobbly knees.
posted by bonobothegreat at 12:44 AM on November 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by bonobothegreat at 12:44 AM on November 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
This is way better than I had expected. I had never really thought about it before, but the oddest thing I noticed about synchronized swimming is the whole concept of the distance between the spectators and the performers.
The first thing that comes into my head when synchronized swimming is mentioned is those old musical films from around the 1920s-1950s that have dozens and dozens of performers creating huge shapes and patterns, doing their thing in front of a large audience. In this competitive format, the number of performers is limited to just 8-10 for a team. (Interesting Wiki article here).
The curious thing about this is that though the number of performers is small, the spectators are still just as far away as they would be with a big production from the 1930s. So not only do the performers need to be extremely precise, coordinated, and emotive for the much closer keen eyes of the judges, they also at the same time have to design their routines to also work well when viewed from a distance to a reasonable degree, and do it all without touching the bottom of the pool. It sort of feels like the spectators are missing out on a sizable piece of the performance just because of how far away they are.
With the right video production setup - a dozen cameras spread about, some underwater, some poolside, a couple cameras on cranes and maybe even a drone camera, perhaps - a skilled crew could amplify the existing drama of a performance like this for the spectators. The trick would be to somehow do that without all those cameras being a distraction and interfering with their performance, though, at least for competitions.
It's a hard balance to strike - even if the crew is as precise and coordinated as the swimmers, the audience is left to choose between seeing it from their own perspective from their seat with all its limitations, or end up watching a screen showing an enhanced, dramatic view of a performance that's actually happening right in front of them, and that enhanced viewpoint has been pre-selected by someone who is not technically part of the performance itself, or perhaps more accurately, an entirely separate performance happening concurrent to the synchronized swimming.
OK. Who wants to start a new sport with me - Synchronized Cinematic Coverage and Presentation of Synchronized Swimming?
Robotic or otherwise automated or programmed camera mounts, controls, auto-focusing and image stabilization tools would forbidden. Steadicams are allowed, though, and all drones and cranes must be piloted/operated manually. Perhaps in the event of a tie, both teams would have one take at filming a different team of swimmers (separate from the competition - a 'control group' if you will) doing a routine they have never seen before, and judging the results of each.
posted by chambers at 2:04 AM on November 14, 2015 [6 favorites]
The first thing that comes into my head when synchronized swimming is mentioned is those old musical films from around the 1920s-1950s that have dozens and dozens of performers creating huge shapes and patterns, doing their thing in front of a large audience. In this competitive format, the number of performers is limited to just 8-10 for a team. (Interesting Wiki article here).
The curious thing about this is that though the number of performers is small, the spectators are still just as far away as they would be with a big production from the 1930s. So not only do the performers need to be extremely precise, coordinated, and emotive for the much closer keen eyes of the judges, they also at the same time have to design their routines to also work well when viewed from a distance to a reasonable degree, and do it all without touching the bottom of the pool. It sort of feels like the spectators are missing out on a sizable piece of the performance just because of how far away they are.
With the right video production setup - a dozen cameras spread about, some underwater, some poolside, a couple cameras on cranes and maybe even a drone camera, perhaps - a skilled crew could amplify the existing drama of a performance like this for the spectators. The trick would be to somehow do that without all those cameras being a distraction and interfering with their performance, though, at least for competitions.
It's a hard balance to strike - even if the crew is as precise and coordinated as the swimmers, the audience is left to choose between seeing it from their own perspective from their seat with all its limitations, or end up watching a screen showing an enhanced, dramatic view of a performance that's actually happening right in front of them, and that enhanced viewpoint has been pre-selected by someone who is not technically part of the performance itself, or perhaps more accurately, an entirely separate performance happening concurrent to the synchronized swimming.
OK. Who wants to start a new sport with me - Synchronized Cinematic Coverage and Presentation of Synchronized Swimming?
Robotic or otherwise automated or programmed camera mounts, controls, auto-focusing and image stabilization tools would forbidden. Steadicams are allowed, though, and all drones and cranes must be piloted/operated manually. Perhaps in the event of a tie, both teams would have one take at filming a different team of swimmers (separate from the competition - a 'control group' if you will) doing a routine they have never seen before, and judging the results of each.
posted by chambers at 2:04 AM on November 14, 2015 [6 favorites]
I'm getting a "The owner of this website (www.lifebuzz.com) has banned your IP address xxx.xxx.xx.xxx) on the country or region you are accessing it from." error. Is it the same with this one on YouTube?
posted by procrastinator at 4:53 AM on November 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by procrastinator at 4:53 AM on November 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
They really nail the "if there's a bustle in your hedgerow" bit, with both the hedgerow and the bustle.
posted by chavenet at 5:34 AM on November 14, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by chavenet at 5:34 AM on November 14, 2015 [4 favorites]
Yep, that's it, procrastinator.
posted by Frayed Knot at 5:34 AM on November 14, 2015
posted by Frayed Knot at 5:34 AM on November 14, 2015
I expected it to be sort of goofy and fun, but found it surprisingly touching. I basically accept the interpretation that it's a song about addiction, and I think they nailed an artistic representation of that idea.
posted by Miko at 6:01 AM on November 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Miko at 6:01 AM on November 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
Here's another tribute to the song: Leningrad Cowboys and Russian Red Army Choir. Choir comes in at about the 2:05 mark. It's...glorious
posted by mcstayinskool at 6:08 AM on November 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by mcstayinskool at 6:08 AM on November 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm not a strong swimmer.
posted by stevil at 8:17 AM on November 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by stevil at 8:17 AM on November 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
I think we can all agree that if Jimmy Page has played his StH solo on a bunch of upside down swimmers instead of his double-necked guitar, it would have looked very much like that. A+
posted by dry white toast at 10:21 AM on November 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by dry white toast at 10:21 AM on November 14, 2015 [1 favorite]
That was awesome, now I want to see them do Whole Lotta Love.
posted by Reverend John at 2:34 PM on November 14, 2015
posted by Reverend John at 2:34 PM on November 14, 2015
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posted by rtha at 11:04 PM on November 13, 2015