Greetings,

Since it has been quiet around here again, I propose an idea that may be interesting. It's about music and how well it goes with a segment of a typical fireworks display in the Mondial SAQ. Well, in this case, a good finale. I thought of it while I was talking to Pierre the other day, so I thought it would generate some posts.

The topic is what it says. So, does anyone have any ideas on what music or theme songs would make a great and outsanding finale?

I'll post mine later on.

Regards,

Trav.

Thanks for starting this thread. I think one of the hardest things about choosing music for a display (or a finale) is finding something which isn't cliched. Everyone has heard the 1812 Overture used a bazillion times and it is, in my opinion, very difficult to do something original with this particular piece. There are quite a few others that spring to mind as well. Really, part of the skill of a sucessful pyromusical is to take the audience on an emotional journey. Sometimes the element of surprise can be very effectively used. On the other hand, a familiar piece of music certainly can help create a feeling of anticipation, which can also help prepare the audience for the climax of the display.

I'll post some more musical thoughts soon.

Paul.

No problem, Paul!

As I've said before, it came to my mind when I was talking to Pierre.

I've had a lot of work to do, so I didn't have time to think about it yet, although I can come up with plenty of themes! I think that this is a great topic! A little authentic.

More details soon!

Regards,

Trav.

Well,

I feel somewhat compelled to comment on this topic.

Paul, I think you'll know what answer I'm going to give.

I think one of the best songs for a finale is:

ACDC - For Those About to Rock

Starts off slow, then its pure mayhem at the end.

Trying to synchronize shells to certain cues during the last 30 or seconds in a finale is kinda useless in any song. Just throw as much stuff in the air as possible, but have some sort of dominant colour or theme.

So, any rock song gets my nod for a great finale song.

I've heard too many soundtrack and classical songs beaten to death.

Sean

Firemaster,

I like your choice of music for a finale. Rock would definitely do!

I was thinking anything at fast. As Pierre mentioned in his earlier post, Laura Branigan songs would make a great finale. It's a shame that she passed away recently. It's really sad. I loved her music. One of my favorite artists of the 80's.

Anyways, a song that I would love for the finale form her would be "In the Night" (I'm not sure if that's the name).

Another preference, assuming the theme was about warriors or fighting movies, I would definitely propose Mortal Kombat! Have you guys ever seen the movie or heard the soundtrack?

That would make a great finale. An intense show overall should have theme songs from action movies!

As for synchronizing cues in the last 30 seconds of a finale IS useless, since everyone is so into it! In fact, I don't think anyone could even hear the music at that time, depending on the intensity of the finale. The best way to synchronize a finale with the speed and music is to fire everyting like crazy with colorful and bright shells with hundreds upon hundreds of salutes!

Anybody have more suggestions?

Trav.

Trav,

Actually i like a more well-timed finale instead of the empty-the-stock-approach often used (though with nice quality, still). For instance the 150 meter waterfall was a part of Wecos finale this year and there were "only" 3 barrages of salutes (1 from ramp 3 and 2 consisting of salutes-multibreaks from IPON). This was a different way of doing it and that had an effect in itself on me. Since the salutes were concentrated in 3 large portions, it made a larger "shaken AND stirred"-effect on me than Lacroix-Ruggieri's Panzera-style, where you fire coloured cylindershells with reports for 30 seconds and then conclude in one large barrage.

Or let me put it to you this way: Dont tell me you didn't like Caballer's final sequence of single-shots from the mirage
That's more exciting that a constant level of shells, that are almost the same, eventhough they are still nice

Lars

Lars,

I sure as hell remember Caballer! I wasn't really paying much attention to the music because I was so into the intensity of what looked like the "forever finale." I don't think anybody, where I was, could hear the music at some parts of the segment, because some of those salutes and shells were deafening! IPON was the same thing, too!

As for a well synchronized finale, I really don't mind it at all, as long as the song will make the fireworks go crazy!

Regards,

Trav.

Caballers final, the song Back in Town by R. Williams

that wasnt a real "final song", they used that song becuz they had enough material for a song like that, u knew from the song that it wouldnt stop

i found it funny thro

Enkil,

Yeah, now I remember. The song that was used in the end didn't seem fit for a finale, but it was one HELL OF A FINALE none the less! I remember when the song was going and the finale was intensifying, I couldn't even hear the soundtrack anymore.

I wonder what ever happened to the leftovers.....Weren't they used somewhere?

Trav.

Trav,

Another example would be Royal's finale last year. The last minute had some sudden, unexpected changes from for instant large crosette shells to nautic shells and then back again. Then there could be a change in intensity or the instruments used in the song and so on... That's a more artistic approach to it i believe, because they give you what you don't expect, which is a major part of the total-impression for me

Another example: JNS also had a relatively short barrage of gold and silver for the finale, but had a pre-finale of effect-shells after the narration from Terminator... that was pretty well done I think.

Another view. I actually remember Atlas' show from last year being as large as Caballers... and the finale-music (Darude, Sandstorm with narration) was more thrilling
...not to forget the BOH!-barrage of salutes

Lars

Hello Lars,

Jeeze, I've really got to get the fireworks names and terminology right before next year! I really want to know them badly because if I do, it would be fun to identify them when watching a fireworks display! I hope to know plenty of them by next year's competition!

Anyways, yes, I do remember Royal's finale last year. That was a nice one! I think the soundtrack went excellent with it, too. It was another intense finale!

JNS had a nice variety of soundtrack, too! I remember many people saying that it was an excellent choice, especially the song that was used to integrate with the two towers. Perfect synchro! And yes, I remember the Terminator soundtrack. That was a personal favorite! I enjoyed JNS quite a bit, not just with the music, but the overall art of the show, especially those authentic massive pounding white shells.

As for Atlas' show last year, yeah, that was another big one, but I'm not too certain if it was as big as Caballer's but it was definitely large and complex, and I really have to agree about the soundtrack comparissons. Darude, Sandstorm made a more better theme to the finale than the one Caballer used. I found Caballer's was a bit too classical and slow, but the finale did not show that at all! The good thing about the song, however, is that it was lengthy! Remember those dramatic color changes the U.S used in their finale last year? That was amazing! I also particulalry liked the segemnt where they used the soundtrack "Greased Lightning." That was most entertaining when those bright lightning-like flashes in the bottom were going off! Very nicely done. They really did something original last year. I look foward to them next year.

Thank you for your insights, Lars.

Regards,

Trav.

Hey Trav

I am with you a hundred percent about synchronized finales in the sense that I don't mind if the finale is in synch with the music or not.....as long as the choice of music is set to make the sky explode with billion of salutes.....teehee

Now, there is a song (or should I say an instrumental) that I would love to hear during a firework display. It is a piece of music that was written by a musical genius from Québec....his name is André Mathieu. This instrumental was used at the Montreal Summer Olympics in 1976 during the Opening Ceremony......it is called "Marche des Athlètes # 1". It's very beautiful music with kind of a military flavor to it. It would not fit for a finale, but it would fit perfectly at the very start of the display. There is that one segment of music which is quite loud and "full of pride" (I don't know how to describe it in other terms) about 3 minutes into the song, where salutes would blend in so well with the music....woof. Anybody ever heard that chef-d'oeuvre?

It's nice to be back after a short absence and see you guys still exchanging thoughts.....

Pierre

Trav,

It still looks like we agree on most of the things, like what worked well in the shows etc...

My point was just, that the jury are "used to" (if you ever get that) a large finale, and therefore it's a great thing if you can do it in a different way. Like Iguals famed faux-finales

Another thought is to "just" use the fireworks as a tool to impress people in the way you desire. The most important thing in the montreal displays are in my oppinion the stories, they tell...

I have previously mentioned that i have seen 2 great examples of shows provoking specific feelings (in my oppinion!):
Romeo & Juliet (Explosive Entertainment 2003) = Fear / gooseboms
The sky cannot wait (Royal 2003) = Happinss / smiles

If we assume that the feelings Fear and Happiness are the starting point for the show and the fireworks "just are a tool" to tell the story (don't get me wrong here ) i think the designer is more focused on the total-expirience and whole-impression. I don't think it's vital if you have yellow or violet falling leaves to tell a certain piece of the story - you probably still make the impression you want to

That said, i love high-quality products - just to errase any doubt. But Romeo & Juliet won the silver last year on China-material while Atlas with an extremely high product quality didn't get a jupiter at all. Explosive Entertainment just provoked the feelings better that Atlas, who didn't have a theme (but still was beautifully designed - no doubt about that).

And getting back to the original question: If people don't know the music for the finale you can surprise them and make a greater impact that if they know when the song's going to peak. And if you are not a manufacturer and can't afford to fire massive barrages for minutes you probably can use other methods of impressing. Like concentrating the volleys of salutes, make dramatic color changes and so on...

Bottom line - People expect large finales in montreal. And to win in the comming years you have to do something new to distinguish yourself.

...in my oppinion

Lars

Pierre,

Good to hear from you again.

I'm not too familiar with André Mathieu, but the name does ring a bell. I'm sure the music you described from him would make some excellent segments! Sometimes slow music can make very dramatic segments according to the actual strength and feeling of the music, and of course, a beautiful typical finishing climax to the segment with glittering fireworks trailing to the lake. Very dramatic in our competition.

As I was telling Paul and Enkil before, you and I were thinking about Laura Branigan and how some of her music would make an excellent finales! Most of her songs are pretty good, while having some slower pars to it along with a very rapid start. Particularly one of her biggest hits: "Self Control." You know this one, right? I think this is fit for an outstanding finale! One of my personal favorites.

Sorry to say, but I'm not sure that I know "chef d'oeuvre."

BTW, no big thunderstorms lately. I guess we can't expect much at this time of the year. I miss those hot summer days that cook those storms up, not to mention waiting for our great fireworks competition to satrt again! All in all, though, an EXCELLENT October, weather wise.

Anyways, once again, good to hear from you again, Pierre.

Regards,

Trav.

Lars,

You really can't go wrong there! I've pretty much agreed with all your points and facts.

I particularly agree on the finale perspective. Although it does not play a major role in the entire crafted display, it is a major part of influence. I'm not saying that is important or should be compared in order to distinguish a winner, but rather, it is important to the general audience in terms of entertainment and appreciation. I'm more than certain that the vast majority of people look foward to that part the most, this is from years of experience and it's psychological. Many people expect and want to be excited and screaming for it to go on.

In essence, a finale is also a big piece of work which gives everyone that OVERALL impression of the entire display. A finale leaves people with that feeling of excitement and enthusiasm. It also makes you feel as if you can't wait to look foward to the next show and tell even more people about it. Basically, a good fianle is something that you want to remember and refer to. And with the capacity of our competition, that is what, in my own interpretation, Montrealers expect in it. Don't get me wrong, many people may enjoy the show and couldn't even care less to see a finale, which is what badnitrus had said a few months ago. This statement is true because of the fact that many appreciate how the show was done in terms of many concepts i.e music, quality, etc. In fact, choice of music can affect one's perception or enjoyment of an actual show, even an intense finale, although this is not always the actual situation. In any case, a finale is definitely important, but once again, I want to emphasize the point of not in terms of who the winner should be, but rather, the overall impression that people would get and that "feeling it should leave you with." This is what is looked for. Also, you'll notice the response the audience would give depending on a bad/good performance.

As impressive as a lot of them that I've seen since 1990, I've enjoyed finales a lot more when the music is good and suits well to the segment, not to mention my personal preferences. In any case, sometimes, I don't even mind for the music as long as it's intense, but don't get me wrong, the music is what makes the finale and any segment alive, hence the term "pyromusical." In essence, music is very important to when it comes to an intense finale, so I think I'll get back on topic. Just to conclude the point of this matter, it's like reading a book. As you're reading and following along with the protagonist and other main characters and major parts and pivital scenes within the story, you read and combine the whole story and psychologically, you feel the anticipation of the climax and see how the story ends. You hope for a good ending, sort of like a happily ever after scenario. Same thing here. The finale is the CLIMAX of the display and similarly, people want to see how the finisher will turn out.

I also want to emphasize one of your points, which is high quality in products. Of course, this is important and I also look for quality in a display. I also want to add in originality. This is also important because it keeps regular viewers, like all of us on this forum, from getting bored with the same thing over and over again. A great example would be many from this particular year, like Weco, JNS, Lacroix and even the U.S of last year, with that dramatic change of colors. As an experienced audience, variety and originality, as well as quality is important. Being creative is also important, especially when synchronizing with the music.

Anyways, I'm glad that we see things similarly, Lars. It's could to hear your thoughts again. Your opinion is just as good as mine.

Do you have any personal preferences on what song would make a good finale?

Regards,

Trav.