I asked this question a number of years ago and got some great responses...now I'm hoping to learn about even more of these awesomely "questionable" programs now that the off-season is upon us. What are some "questionable" programs that you love to watch? Here are a few of mine:
Brian Boitano, 1983 Worlds LP:
http://youtu.be/JPzIPkYG8jk
Gorgeous 3Axel + muzak "For Your Eyes Only" =
Claudia Leistner, 1989 Worlds Exhibition:
http://youtu.be/430VNH3Ao0U
I love me some Irene Cara!
Ludmila Nelidina, 2002 Skate America LP:
http://youtu.be/ZsUAJLe16RM
Her forward camel spin will forever fascinate me...
Meno and Sand, 1995 Worlds SP:
http://youtu.be/ZpE2etPiMa0
A truly avant-garde music cut of "Blue Danube"
Schwarz and Müller, 1999 Worlds LP:
http://youtu.be/RoevkgvJPZw
Just say "NO" to domestic violence
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05-08-2012, 05:25 AM #1Registered User
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Your most favorite programs with awesomely "questionable" music/choreography
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05-08-2012, 06:43 PM #2
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Michelle Kwan 2001 GP Final Second Program
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKvcx7w8lEI
"Miraculous Mandarin" by Bartok
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05-08-2012, 08:14 PM #3Registered User
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Thanks for your contributions, satchelpooch318.
I think Leistner's costume was "questionable" as well. In any case, maybe her performance to this Irene Cara "classic" might have worked with better choreography? It seems like Claudia was thrilled to have won the silver medal -- she couldn't remove the smile from her face.
Gosh, the music choices for Brian B's program are so awful and dated, yet wow, his performance is so technically great ... better than a lot of men skating today! Brian did go on to make better music selections and to develop his artistic side.
Ludmila's music was not helped by the fact that she was not a good free skater.
Agree that Jenni and Todd may have benefited by a different version of this sp music, yet OTOH, they made it work. I've always loved their skating. Their famous headbanger dismount on that overhead lift is quite spectacular. I wonder how they practiced it to make it safe? 1995 Worlds in Birmingham, England was quite memorable -- Todd and Jenni won their second World bronze. Their fp was stellar -- they also appeared on the cover of Dance magazine in reference to their fp that season:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x14mY...eature=related
Schwarz & Muller
I love their quirky and distinctive German style.
My obvious pick (discussed quite often on FSU):
Johnny Weir's Maxim Mvirca fp 2006
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytbTMJN24QQ
barbk, I think Michelle's Miraculous Mandarin music selection and choreo, while criticized at the time, has since become widely admired and appreciated by skating fans.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWarys9kuzM
ETA: Sorry for the poor quality video of MK's MM performance. She never had an opportunity to refine and polish that program, since they ditched it after the criticism. Perhaps she was trying to venture out of her comfort zone and try something different. Looking at this again, I don't think the music suited her style of skating, especially not for a competitive program. In any case, they were trying something different partly b/c she needed a second fp for the GPF.Last edited by aftershocks; 05-08-2012 at 08:21 PM.
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05-08-2012, 08:21 PM #4
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It always bothered me that she was forced to "ditch" this program; apparently because the judges didn't respond to it.
Originally Posted by barbk
Or, did they not understand the music/choreography?
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05-08-2012, 08:29 PM #5Registered User
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^^ Yes, the story behind the music is quite interesting. With more time to work on the choreo and refine her performance, and perhaps rework some of the jump layout (with perhaps different costume and makeup too), this could have been quite dramatic. In fact, a whole skating opera could be built around the music and theme (storyline).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Miraculous_Mandarin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyvFDdYM-rU Bela Bartok recording
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05-08-2012, 08:36 PM #6Registered User
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While never a Micelle Kwan fan myself, I loved this program. Definitely my fave of hers and it's a shame she didn't get to use it. Originally Posted by barbk
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05-08-2012, 09:56 PM #7Registered User
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My most fave "questionable" program from MK is her Tosca from 2004 Worlds -- such utter passion and intensity, an awesome bitch-face thru-out the majority of the program, and all without any semblance of significant choreography whatsoever.
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05-08-2012, 10:37 PM #8Registered User
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^^ Ha ha, Michelle was indeed determined. To me, she was like "OK, so its the 'jumps' you prefer to reward, well here they are!" (judges and media during that time were all more focused on ladies upping the technical ante). MK started working with Rafael and stripped down her programs, and yes, her critics were never satisfied.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWQSoIEAxns
That look in Kwan's eyes at the beginning of her program, speaks volumes.
Kwan's attitude in her Tosca performance, reminds me of Denzel's performance in Training Day, after lots of people had criticized the film, Hurricane, in which he portrayed convict, Ruben 'Hurricane' Carter. Critics said, "Denzel is too much of a good guy to portray a bad guy." Denzel gave them the finger with his Oscar-winning performance as corrupt police detective, Alonzo Harris, in Training Day. The performance shouted, "You want a bad guy. I'll give you a baaaad guy!"
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05-09-2012, 12:10 AM #9Registered User
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I kind of like Leistner. Hard to believe she was only 23 here. She dresses and emotes like a Coffee Club skating mom. Originally Posted by satchelpooch318
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05-09-2012, 02:22 AM #10Registered User
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I feel like people questioned Adrian Schultheiss portraying an escaped mental patient.
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05-09-2012, 04:50 AM #11
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Alexei Urmanov wore this costume before Johnny's "Camille" or "Blades of Glory". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbpiSkvcWXg
I remember that Scott Hamilton sputtered "but that's a woman's role!".
His skating to the music from Swan Lake didn't bother me as much as it did Scott, but the costume got distracting after awhile. Also the music cuts started getting bizarre.
Full disclosure: I too, have had some skating moments that have provoked an unintended laugh.:
Last edited by aliceanne; 05-09-2012 at 05:12 AM.
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05-09-2012, 06:17 AM #12Registered User
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LOL, so true. And yet she become quite successful in her time. Having triple jumps got her far. Originally Posted by essence_of_soy
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05-09-2012, 06:24 AM #13Registered User
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It wasn't an ISU event, but I think the most awesomely questionable music ever for ice skating has to be the program Torvill & Dean did with no music at all.
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05-09-2012, 07:33 AM #14Registered User
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Is THIS the program? Originally Posted by caseyedwards
http://youtu.be/CzDWsec4N2U
OMG -- the twitching, the straight jacket, Cypress Hill's "Insane in the Brain" + music from the Pac-Man video game + Prodigy's "Smack My Bitch Up" -- this program is even nuttier than Laetitia Hubert's iconic "Hooker on Crack"! I never dreamed that was even possible...
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05-09-2012, 05:34 PM #15Registered User
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That Adrian Schultheiss program has got to be one of the voidiest gems ever....
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05-09-2012, 09:19 PM #16
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"Oscar Tango" - 1990 Originally Posted by Susan M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X134rL2NNjM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-N3F0miVEs
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05-10-2012, 04:24 AM #17Registered User
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^^ Wow, thanks for posting. I'd never seen that before. Creativity times infinity! And now I see that Gwendal and Marina were not the first to do the reverse lift like I thought.
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05-10-2012, 04:43 AM #18Registered User
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Yes! It is great! Originally Posted by satchelpooch318
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05-10-2012, 07:19 AM #19Registered User
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That was PHENOMENAL...although I'm sorry to say that when the music started, I was slightly less interested. They should've just skated in silence for the entire number. Originally Posted by skatesindreams
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05-10-2012, 04:20 PM #20
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You're most welcome! Originally Posted by aftershocks
^^ Wow, thanks for posting. I'd never seen that before. Creativity times infinity! And now I see that Gwendal and Marina were not the first to do the reverse lift like I thought.
I've watched that program dozens of times, and find something new to appreciate with each viewing.
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