Hey guys!
Well, well. I'm most impressed. We experienced one heck of a display last night! It was probably the loudest we've witnessed thus far, not to mention the most exciting, in my opinion! To be honest, I was actually quite amazed by this show from beginning to end. It was so complex and there was so much taking place that it was very hard to keep everything in my mind from what I saw, but I'll do my best in remembering everything. The wide range of colors also made this show strong in being creative and enjoyable. The use of many effects also made the music and the overall concept most enjoyable.
I must comment on the weather! It was a totally rainy day, but as I expected, it later cleared out with some nice cirrus cloud formations at about 9:45! Though it was on the cool side at about 18C on the Molson clock and about 20-22C all day long, at least conditions were dry and just enough wind to blow away excessive smoke build up. Most of this blew away to the West. Once again, all thanks to a cold front slicing into the former humid airmass. But the rains were beneficial for the grass and vegetation, no doubt.
But at least it cleared up in time. We've had a variable weather pattern this season, but everyone was spared from the onslaught, whoever had the chance of storms and rain. Very similar to last year. Anyways, I hope you all listened and kept warm!
It was more cold when the wind blew!
The display got off to a decent start after the countdown with 3-5 white shells, but then this was followed by a long piece of narration, which, once again, left us with that impression. This year is known for narration. There were barely 3 displays that got off to a good start without interruptions. However, as Roger said, at least this display only had a narration part at the beginning and didn't return, thankfully, for the duration of the show.
Synchronization was excellent throughout, but there were times where I felt that it wasn't so tight at the beginning of some segments where fireworks and music were not so connected. But, at least this was very minute and didn't distract too much away from the show. Otherwise, this criteria was superb and the fireworks were very much enjoyable.
The choice of music was an excellent choice, but there were some soundtrack that didn't fit quite right to me. However, all the music went well with the fireworks. The selected theme "To Dream" was relatively decent in the way it was presented. Also, the design of this show also made it feel magical as I was listening to the music and connecting it with the fireworks. The glitters and brocades were ideal for this, as well as the massive fans at the bottom with huge weeping willows. The music actually played a big role in driving emotions, too.
There was excellent colors in this representation. A huge variety, actually! I particularly like that vivid orange color that burst from the middle levels. This also mixed in with some white kamuros in between. This sort of gave me that impression of dreaming. I must comment on the mines and candles. A lot of these were very colorful and a lot burst into many subsequent stars, as the same was for higher levels. There were many lasting bright fans at mid level. The mixture of red and green then to white in many parts gave way to enjoyable sequencing. This leads me to that point of emphasis.
The sequencing was incredible in the way it was demonstrated. The part where all those blue candles started coming from the middle at a frequent pace was then followed by two others to the left and right of the same fashion. This was then tilted rapidly at different angles and was sort of perpendicular to that of the middle level shells and comets when viewed at another angle, which I thought was rather fascinating. I believe they then started changing color which made it dramatic and once again brought me back to the main theme. The
transitions in this display were incredible. Like many entrants have shown, this display also ranged in extreme serene to extreme speed. This being said, the range of tempo was fabulous and really took many people into the display! Also, the colors were very vivid when changing from one piece to the other. The purple, for example was great, but then you would have those white, red and greens! The finale at mid levels was like this where tons of stars were being fired at once, then suddenly bursting to a bulge of color at middle levels with white red and purple, with some upper green ones. Very stunning. Finally, there was extensive use of patriotic colors.
Finally, the effects. They were also very nicely shown and really helped in making the display in what it is in terms of conceptual art. It also made the show very creative. I was really pleased to see the wide variety of products used all the way through. The segments were barely repetitive, too! I really enjoyed this. Lets see, where do I begin? Well, there were many swirls and some serpents. There were also many shells of swirls, as well as double ring swirls with a distinctive purple color in the middle. There MANY mines of glitters and colors that were highly in sequence from the left to right and vice versa according to music. Typically, these were usually followed by many lasting star fans in the middle, which was quite unique in a way. The weeping willows were also fantastic, especially in that segment where it was building enormously up and lasted VERY distinctively as trailed downwards. Then the wind moved it in such a way that it surprised a lot of us. There were some silver kamuros, I think, in several places which also gave a nice appeal, especially with the sliver mines that crackled. There were girandolas of double ascensions! I was hoping that this would be shown, as it was ideal for this type of approach. There were also many shells that burst into many smaller stars. This then became quick in pace with more colors and burst into different sets. This then became apparent with shells of swirls! I also noticed some facial expression shells, but with no mouth. It was a dark orange color. There were also many nautical effects that I noticed which, in turn, must have made great use of the lake. I did notice that some of the lower glittering fountains and nautical mines, as well as some various shells. The lower wheels were also stunning especially the middle one that had that spinning star that would close and then reopen. Finally, my most favorite, which I'm sure it is for all of you, too, were the MASSIVE shells, probably the biggest and the loudest. One of my extreme favorites were those shells that would burst and then consist of TONS of rapid salutes that would go from right to left, well, my right! The photoflashes were also in extensive use, which combined with the salutes! This made it deafening along with an increased pace. I'm so happy this was used for that heart pounding and shaking ending. Actually, the only effects that I thought were missing were some screaming serpents would have been ideal for this display, too! Some crossettes would have also been nice.
Travis' personal rankings and display criteria rankings:
-Synchronization: 9/10-It was simply incredible with the music! Once again, another display that made fireworks dance! However, as I said in my previous post, I did think, like I'm sure many of you have, that, at times, the fireworks started when the music hadn't even begun at the beginning of a few segments. I guess, as Paul said, this is due to what they call a "pre-fire" delay.
-Color: 9.3/10- A lot of colors used. The colorful mines were also nicely sequenced. I also loved the way they mingled lots of them, especially with either the content of the music or just using plain variations, especially that deep and concentrated orange color with the white. Also, extensive use of patriotic colors.
-Creativity/Originality/Concept: 7.5/10-Mainly because of the lack of originality. As I said in my previous post, one of the most authentic aspects of the show were the spinning wheels at the bottom that made different shapes, like the orange star and the glitters at the other adjacent wheels. However, this idea has been done before, but it was original in the way it was represented before us. A nice series of effects, too. This display was pretty creative, especially, once again, with the wheels at the bottom and especially with the wide range of colors. The nautical effects were also quite apparent and impressive.
-Choice of music: 8.7/10-I thought that the choice of music was very pleasing to me, though not my personal tastes, except for a couple favorites. However, I felt that a couple songs didn't feel exactly right for the theme.
-Finale/Overall Appreciation: 8.8/10-An incredible finale, though could have been a bit longer. Pierre, I'm hoping that you got that one! It was powerful and loud with all those huge salutes and many photoflashes and massive shells, not to mention a strong variety of colors of the silver mines to the various mixtures in mid levels to high up! The overall appreciation was excellent.
-Overall-8.6/10!
My personal choices for the winners:
1-Sweden
2-France
3-Argentina
4-U.S.A
5-Canada
6-Spain
7-Portugal
8-Czech Republic
9-Australia
My jury predictions:
1-Sweden/Argentina
2-either of the above
3-France, Spain, Portugal or even U.S.A can kick in.
My personal choice in terms of overall excitement excluding finales:
1-U.S.A
2-Canada
3-France
4-Sweden
5-Czech Republic
6-Argentina
7-Portugal
8-Spain
9-Australia
My personal choice for finales so far:
1-France
2-Sweden
3-U.S.A
4-Portugal
5-Spain
6-Canada
7-Czech Republic
8-Argentina
9-Australia
In conclusion, this was a fantastic display that covered many varieties of products and colors. I could tell that it was a high quality and complex show ranging from fast and perfect sequencing to many varieties of conceptual art that mixed in with many of the angular shots, for example, throughout the show. This helped to reduce redundancy. The use of the lower level effect were superb, especially with the extensive use of the nautical effects consisting of colorful mines and shells. I think I did notice some fountains of glitters, too. I'm sure that the spinning wheels from the far left to the extreme right also made a lasting appeal, though this was not totally original. This leads me to my, mostly, minor criticisms.
The show's major weakness, however, was the lack of originality. I was actually quite surprised. However, I did find the show to be most traditional, like the Candian show, especially with the colorful choices and the patriotic varieties, not to mention the way it was fired. Another criticism was the narration at the beginning after what seemed to be a proper start for once, when those 3-5 white shells were launched but then interrupted. I thought there was no relevance, like Fred mentioned, especially since there was no other parts that were interrupted. It always gives that anti-climactic feeling, though at least the Americans were kind enough to shoot up something!
Another criticism was that, at times, the fireworks felt like it was drowning the music, but I couldn't care less about that! As I said, the louder the better! Also, a couple of the soundtracks didn't seem exactly fit for the main theme, though the fireworks did go along well with all the music choices!
The finale was excellent, though could have been a tad longer. It had excellent build up with great intensity at all levels and seemed that it was just getting bigger with all those colors at the middle. Then those massive salutes came with lots of white massive shells with even more great amounts colors. This is just the way a real finale should be, though this one could have been a bit longer, as I said. Regardless of that, seriously, this display consisted of the most salutes and loud crackles I have seen and heard so far! At times, this display was getting so loud that it reminded me of France of 1993!
In all, this display could be on the podium, however, I also believe that it will be tough this year for them to get on, even for 3rd place, since so many others share that possibility, as well. There are actually, most likely, 6 displays that deserve a prize, where only 3 can win.
I do not think that they will be in first place or second place, though. I'm thinking that U.S.A will be struggling with 3 others.
But so far, my thoughts are still with either Sweden or Argentina for first, though I feel more confident with Sweden.
I'll have more on my predictions later on! I'll have to review my reports first and make adjustments, then it will be easier to narrow it down.
Thanks for you comments, Fred and Paul! Fred, I'm happy you agree with me about the weather!
Paul, it's not big deal about the delay of your report. As long as we get to read it whenever, it's fine.
Roger, thanks for your comments, as well.
Finally, WHY DID THE COMPETITION HAD TO END SO FAST????
Regards,
Trav.
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