Nathan Chen is featured skating in Elton John, Britney Spears music video

[Sylvia]

The music video link originally was posted in Nathan's fan thread but I thought this news deserves its own thread in GSD.

Articles:

Nathan Chen featured in new Elton John, Britney Spears song music video

Nathan Chen performs throughout the new music video for the acoustic version of "Hold Me Closer" by Elton John and Britney Spears.

olympics.nbcsports.com

https://olympics.com/en/news/nathan-chen-featured-in-elton-john-britney-spears-music-video

Elton John taps Olympic gold medalist Nathan Chen to star in new “Hold Me Closer” music video – MOViN 92.5

Nearly a year after Olympic figure skater Nathan Chen performed a Gold medal-winning routine to a medley of Elton John's hits, he's using his extraordinary tale

www.movin925.com

Direct link to the music video that was uploaded to Elton John's YouTube channel on November 18, 2022: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9CCGSU-a9U

 

[Primorskaya]

Not quite my kind of music, but it's cool to see Nathan. Many thanks to Britney and Elton for raising the sport's profile !

 

[love skating]

I loved it, but wish he had worn one of his famous/infamous shirts instead of a jacket! Still, I'll take any Nathan skating I can get these days!!

 

[MacMadame]

His hair is so curly when it gets long!

 

[skatingguy]

His hair is so curly when it gets long!

It's a good luck for him - literally letting his hair down.

 

[jlai]

So I guess this was shot within the last 2 months? From the looks of it, he can do limited jumping and some spins?

 

[skatingguy]

So I guess this was shot within the last 2 months? From the looks of it, he can do limited jumping and some spins?

I wouldn't make any assumptions from a music video - he's doing what was choreographed for the music video.

 

[skatfan]

I wouldn't make any assumptions from a music video - he's doing what was choreographed for the music video.

The videographer is another Yale student who skates. I wonder if Massimo helped him with this.

Nevermind, Nathan choreographed this himself! From the movin.925 article posted above:

“The video starts with Chen, a self-professed lifelong fan of Elton, lacing up and hitting the ice to perform a beautiful routine he choreographed specifically for the piano-heavy ballad.”

 

[skatfan]

I loved it, but wish he had worn one of his famous/infamous shirts instead of a jacket!

I’m guessing that Yale rink wasn’t heated that well and having him in NOT in a costume but regular street wear makes it way more approachable to non-skating fans.

 

[4rkidz]

I loved it!

 

[skatingguy]

The videographer is another Yale student who skates. I wonder if Massimo helped him with this.

Nevermind, Nathan choreographed this himself! From the movin.925 article posted above:

“The video starts with Chen, a self-professed lifelong fan of Elton, lacing up and hitting the ice to perform a beautiful routine he choreographed specifically for the piano-heavy ballad.”

Yeah, that article also says that Nathan choreographed his competitive program set to a medley of Elton John music, but we know that was choreographed by Marie-France Dubreuil, and Sam Chouinard. Doesn't mean he didn't choreograph this piece, but I'm not sure that the article is definitive on the issue.

 

[skatfan]

Yeah, that article also says that Nathan choreographed his competitive program set to a medley of Elton John music, but we know that was choreographed by Marie-France Dubreuil, and Sam Chouinard. Doesn't mean he didn't choreograph this piece, but I'm not sure that the article is definitive on the issue.

Ah, good catch. Hopefully we’ll hear something more definitive soon.

 

[A.H.Black]

It's really nice to see this whole relationship and collaboration. What better way for all involved to have success than to be mutually supportive. Class acts all around.

Love the video.

 

[sheetz]

Just a heads up that Nathan will be appearing Monday morning on the Today Show to promote his upcoming book. It's quite possible he will also discuss the music video collaboration.

 

[genevieve]

There are two videos for the song - I sat through an entire video of SYTYCD-level contemporary dance before finding this one (was on YT, should have just come here first). This means I sat through this cash grab song TWICE. And I didn't even get a belly shirt!

But srsly, congrats to Nathan - he is the best thing about this release!

 

[On My Own]

I sat through an entire video of SYTYCD-level contemporary dance before finding this one

SYTYCD contemporary isn't quite as good.

 

[genevieve]

SYTYCD contemporary isn't quite as good.

Fair, but the direction of the video makes the dance look worse than it is.

Plus, there's a LOT of random flinging

 

[MacMadame]

I know I will be for this, but I did not like the video with Nathen in it. (Will not even look for the contemporary dance one). I found the choreography distracting and at times kind of basic. (As in "she's a basic b*tch" not as in simple.) I completely believe he choreographed it.

Though I am at the idea that this video in any way gives us any insight into Nathan's current technical abilities. So there is that.

 

[screech]

While it's nice to see Nathan recognized, I am not a fan of the video. Too many cuts (that have sudden changes in movement, so not 'flowing'), and also... it doesn't feel like a music video. It feels like someone just skating to a song on the practice rink.

 

[sheetz]

Nathan was interviewed on New York Live and spoke a little about the music video.

Nathan Chen’s Road To Gold | New York Live TV

Nathan Chen joins Sara Gore to share details about his new book “One Jump At A Time” focusing on his journey to becoming an Olympic Gold medalist and more! #...

youtu.be

 

[rhubarb]

I liked it, but maybe I just missed seeing him this season so anything will do. lol.

 

[jlai]

I know I will be for this, but I did not like the video with Nathen in it. (Will not even look for the contemporary dance one). I found the choreography distracting and at times kind of basic. (As in "she's a basic b*tch" not as in simple.) I completely believe he choreographed it.

Though I am at the idea that this video in any way gives us any insight into Nathan's current technical abilities. So there is that.

He withdrew from Japan open due to injuries so if this video is after that then at least he is physically ok and recovering

 

[delayedaxel]

I don't know why Sir Elton John "recycles" his classic tunes like this. This is boring as hell (musically); I'd rather watch the 1986 version of "Tiny Dancer" with him as Mozart and a full orchestra behind him.
I have seen EJ three times live (the last one being his FYBR tour) and keep enjoying his music since my teen years, but this pseudo-duett with Britney Spears, no, just no... (as you might guess I wasn't the biggest fan of his collaboration with Dua Lipa either).

 

[skatingguy]

And I didn't even get a belly shirt!

Flying camel spin at approximately 2:35.

 

[Karen-W]

Flying camel spin at approximately 2:35.

Even I noticed that!!!!