Hi guys,
The French fireworks display the night of the 22nd was totally phenomenal with the most intriguing selection of colors used so far in the competition. The intensity was also apparent (especially with the frequent use of the shell of shells of multi-breakers) from beginning to end while the choice of music was enjoyable and unique in relation to the theme. Some spectators, including myself, additionally loved the salutes and shells that were fired, though I feel that the firing sequences were a touch redundant.
Synchronization was nearly flawless, especially with the rapid paced mines and candles from right to left along the bottom. The associated comets were also well deployed at mid levels while the intense orange stars and multi-colored shells were entirely subtle.
The penultimate area was also unique, especially with the original rapid paced horizontal rockets at ground level where distinctive rich colors of red, green, blue and mauve could be seen in combination. Attempts at choreography were possibly the best witnessed so far while it suited nicely with the approach taken here. The music choice was not favorable to personal preferences to the vast majority of the audience, but it still connected nicely with the way te show was concocted.
The finale was simply astonishing and I can see why they executed it the way they did. It had beautiful crescendo and a good debut, but I think the excessive use of the gold glittering kamuros was too repetitive, especially considering that the entire display was so colorful and intense by contrast to other pieces. The ending, nonetheless, was loud and lengthy while thumps could be felt in the chest as well as vibrations to the adjacent buildings and a certain echoing between the steel of the bridge itself.
The French team did an incredible job and their feats were totally perfectly matched. The entire display was actually tremendously loud by comparison to the others, even the U.S. They did receive a well-deserved standing ovation for their efforts and I have an optimistic feeling that they'll get on that podium this Saturday, but I also share the feelings that they will battle the U.S for either 1st or 2nd place.
It's a shame that the rains remained steady during the show, but at least it was not as copious to entriely obscure the effects, which, as one could argue, remained totally visible, especially the silver borcades and the deep pink glitters. The smoke accumulations, however, were annoying to the right part of the sky, due to wind direction and moisture. In this respect, the rain didn't help much either.
Finally, my rankings for the French display.
Travis' personal rankings and display criteria rankings:
-Synchronization: 9.5/10-Very tightly synchronized pieces along with formidable competition between segments! The mines and overhead comets were definetely something to keep in mind while a lot of shells were also sort of making their own music and rhythm.
-Color: 9.4/10-Very delicate and rich colors, which were possibly one of the richest selection this year. I loved the way they were used in variations while many of the segments went in transition by alternating with different patterns and attempts.
-Creativity/Originality/Concept: 9.3/10-A strong thematic link present in this display while the music did well to support it. The display was very creative and I personally loved the attempts made during the more quiet parts just before the penultimate area. The segment with the rocket at the bottom left was really fascinating, especially when later accompanied by a slender-like silver glittered girandola, which burst into stars upon gaining height. This went well with the "we have a lift off" part!
-Choice of music: 9/10: Once again, a very dynamic attempt with the music changes within the selection. I personally loved the way the fireworks sometimes created their own music in more tranquil areas while the music itself was in a good bond. Some songs were a little less clear than others, but that did not detract from the approach.
-Finale/Overall Appreciation: 9/10: An intense finale with plenty of noise, but sadly, no color variations. However, it was an excellent ending while the overall display was beyond belief!
-Overall: 9.2/10
This was a very dramatic, conceptual and strongly themed display. I believe that they are in strong contention for a Jupiter award this year while there was so much to acknowledge in this display that gives them a competitive advantage by comparison to other performances. The show was well designed and choreographed for the most part while a lot of the criteria was well respected. I personally loved the intensity of this display to an optimum level while the color richness and firing scheme made it both exciting and fortifying. As mentioned, it's a shame the rain had to come down steadily at some point, but at least the show was still conspicuous.
And Pierre,
I'm glad you got the finale recorded even with that large droplet on the lens.
And thank you, once again, for your good wishes!
Trav.
