Fireworks

The fireworks show over Lake Union had some nice pyrotechnics this year, but dear Buddha, the music! Did they decide to save money by replacing the musical director with an iPod shuffle this year? Although there were some nice fireworks, like cubes and volvox-like effects, the music really detracted from them.

Later in the show, they did some appropriate pieces--"R-O-C-K in the USA", and the "Viking Kittens" song (I'll have to look up the real name in a minute. UPDATE: "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin; I always want to call it "Valhalla", and I know that's not right)--but they started off so lackluster. "Smoke on the Water" is a cliché by now, and "Unforgettable"? At least they didn't do the posthumous version with Natalie Cole and her father.

The worst, though, was the segue from "True Colors" to "Ride of the Valkyries"--that was just embarrassingly bad. As Iain said, he never thought he'd be hoping to hear "Carmina Burana" with fireworks again, but there you are. It picked up after the Wagner for a while--the big band piece worked ok, although there were better ones they could have used--but then bobbled a bit, although the Kate Smith "God Bless America" finale was strong.

This "jack" radio format just doesn't work for these kinds of fireworks shows. Please, One Reel, hire your music director back--please don't let an iPod coordinate the music for the fireworks show next year! Otherwise, I might just as well turn down the sound and play my own soundtrack instead. And believe me, you won't like my soundtrack...