2017-2018 Program Music and Choreographers

[hanca]

I've been dying for a literal interpretation of the movie on ice.

Including the psychotic episodes?

 

[Fridge_Break]

Say Something is one of my carpool karaoke regulars on my commute to and from work I'd the thrilled if Vanessa et Morgan skate to it!

 

[Madhatter]

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say this routine is going to be as big as Riverdance. People LOOOOOOOVE Hamilton.

Americans love Hamilton. 95% of the rest of the world has never heard of it. And considering that 95% of international audience and judges are not American, I wouldn't factor the shows popularity in Jason's success. Not exactly a Riverdance.

 

[misskarne]

Americans love Hamilton. 95% of the rest of the world has never heard of it. And considering that 95% of international audience and judges are not American, I wouldn't factor the shows popularity in Jason's success. Not exactly a Riverdance.

It's my concern too, especially after listening to it a few times. Lots of the song is expositional, but it's expositional about things 95% of the world don't know about (or care about, really). They're going to have to cut it really carefully.

 

[Tavi]

I kinda think your concerns are overblown. I'm willing to bet many people watching programs to Pagliacci, Tosca, etc. don't know the plots or understand the Italian. To be honest, sometimes I wonder if the choreographers even know, but that's another story. My point is that it doesn't seem to affect how the program is received.

 

[Jun Y]

Whether James and Cipres will skate to Say Something or not is less worrisome to me than what they are going to wear for the programs. How could they top Vanessa's free skate costume from this past season?

It is interesting that popular songs with lyrics have become the default style in pairs skating in recent years, just like lyrical, slightly abstract, vaguely romantic style has become to default in ice dancing. Everyone is doing it and imitating each other. Can't we revive the folk dance requirement somehow?

Hamilton is indeed very difficult to skate to. I've thought about it since I saw the show a couple of years ago. Fast and heavy beats do not suit skating, especially nowadays skaters need a lot of leeway to set up difficult jumps. There are a couple of slow ballads with female voice, so would be rejected by most male skaters. The exposition problem can be done away with by instrumental versions of the songs, but I am not aware of any such recordings being available. King George's 3 songs are actually very skate-able, but the lyrics are so ironic that only Ryan Bradley can pull it off.

The only aspect in favor of using this music in skating is the catchy, rousing, toe-tapping rhythm. The skater himself is likely to be pushed to skate with high energy (as long as he does not rush the technical elements) and do it with verve and flair. If Jason Brown will not get any bonus points with international judges on his short program, at least he can win over a home crowd in San Jose, and that's still a pretty good thing.

It's a shame that there is not more diversity and originality in music choices in figure skating, but fresh new sound is hard to do and often not rewarded. Skating coaches (and more important, judges) are not trained in music or performance art, I have to remind myself that all the time.

 

[Kultakissu]

Americans love Hamilton. 95% of the rest of the world has never heard of it. And considering that 95% of international audience and judges are not American, I wouldn't factor the shows popularity in Jason's success. Not exactly a Riverdance.

I think you're right - it's certainly not as universally known/loved as Riverdance. I know Hamilton is a huuuge hit over there, but in Europe, even if people know of it, they don't know the songs. It's very much an American phenomenon. The programme may still be a success and may still go viral worldwide, but outside of the US it won't be because people recognise the music.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Different strokes I guess
I love Say Something and think it's an excellent choice.
Modern and current

Current for sure. But sappy and melodramatic. I say save it for a Shakespeare performance. LOL

I loved the rawness and power of last years vocals and music for them. Not some sappy love song about a romantic couple that comes off depressing. For me, thats what the music says.

Anyway, do we know for sure this is the music?

 

[chantilly]

One person's sappy and melodramatic is another's haunting and simple.

Also since when is Shakespeare considered sappy and melodramatic by anyone?

 

[el henry]

I agree with @Tavi that the concerns about Hamilton's general appeal, based on the subject matter of the musical, seem inconsistent with figure skating fandom.

When it comes to Pagliacci, who knows the plot? Look, a sad clown! And Nessun Dorma, come on folks, let's all recite the lyrics in Italian. Vince---roooo (sorry, no accents on this keyboard). OK, what will he win? Why? How? quick, without looking it up. No skating fan's enjoyment of a program has ever really depended on knowing the plot of a musical, or its lyrics, or else we'd all be Rosie What's Her Name talking about Kaetlyn portraying a prostitute.

Although an American, I know nothing about the musical Hamilton. Zippo. I know more about Turandot, and I don't know much there. But knowing American history is not the point, from what I gather. In fact, my understanding is that the diverse casting and hip-hop music upends that history. And having listened to the tune Jason is using, it's catchy, high energy and I think it's a good choice. Even if I don't have a clue what it's about

 

[Kultakissu]

Yes, but with Turandot, Pagliacci et al people know the melodies even if they don't know what the songs are about. Not so with Hamilton. I agree with you both in that I don't think the lyrics or their meaning is going to stop anybody liking Jason's programme. It's just that the tune itself is unknown to the great (non-American) unwashed. That's why skaters pick warhorses; people are already predisposed to liking them because they recognise the melody.

Ice dancers this past season had the most random lyrics in their hiphop SDs, but I can't remember once seeing comments that they were "inappropriate" or "uninteresting". I just don't think anybody cares that much.

 

[MAXSwagg]

Judges will reward whatever skater they've been rewarding regardless of what music they skate to. I bet Medvedeva (I use her since the judges say she is the current standard) could skate to "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" (sung a cappella by a 3 year old) and still get 9.5s and 10s. LOLOL

 

[Karpenko]

^ and in a chipmunks voice, with steel drums as a soft musical beat, and wearing a onesie.

10.

 

[screech]

If people are going to skate to Broadway songs, I want a male (preferably a gay one due to the lyrics) to skate to "Turn it Off" from Book of Mormon. Or a pairs or dance team to do "Two by Two" from the same show. (Or an overly dramatic performance to "I Believe") Or any song from Avenue Q (bonus points if a muppet is attached to the costume). I guess I'm a fan of Bobby Lopez and his Broadway songs (though I hated his songs for Frozen).

Heck I'd even go for a classic like "Anything Goes" or "Cabaret". I'd LOVE for someone to skate to "Give My Regards to Broadway" from George M. I wish when doing Broadway people would stay away from the overdone warhorses.

 

[MAXSwagg]

Ashley can do Cabaret...

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Heck I'd even go for a classic like "Anything Goes" or "Cabaret". I'd LOVE for someone to skate to "Give My Regards to Broadway" from George M. I wish when doing Broadway people would stay away from the overdone warhorses.

LOL, you mean you're not ready for a POTO?

I hear ya.

Actually your 2 choices here I think would be quite good!

I haven't seen many modern productions so I doing know them.

Speaking of musicals tho I did see La La land... and girl..............

 

[Sylvia]

Mueller/Dieck FD will be to music of the 'Bodyguard' musical.
https://instagram.com/p/BVX46rMBhNc/

They will skate to 3 pieces outta it .
Unexpected choice by them, let's wait and see!

#germandancedrama

Re-posting from the German skating news thread: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/german-skating-news-part-3.97296/page-31#post-5096899

No 'I will always love you' in the 'Bodyguard' FD?
(It's 'I have nothing', 'Run to you' and 'Queen of the night')

Also from the IDC Q&A with Mueller/Dieck: SD music is "Dibby Dibby Sound" (a samba) by Avera and "I'm Not the Only One" by Sam Smith.

 

[seabm7]

A post from Golden says this interview suggests "Man Of La Mancha" is Fernandez' free skating. I hope someone understands Spanish confirms it.

https://twitter.com/24h_tve/status/886012554341867520

 

[DimaToe]

A post from Golden says this interview suggests "Man Of La Mancha" is Fernandez' free skating. I hope someone understands Spanish confirms it.

https://twitter.com/24h_tve/status/886012554341867520

They didn't clarify for what program as far as I recall what but Javier did say that's he's taking on the character of "Man of La Mancha"

 

[AxelAnnie]

Javier - Man of La Mancha - could it get better than that?

 

[Coco]

I feel like he's already skated to that, no?

 

[screech]

LOL, you mean you're not ready for a POTO?

I hear ya.

Actually your 2 choices here I think would be quite good!

I haven't seen many modern productions so I doing know them.

Speaking of musicals tho I did see La La land... and girl..............

I do actually love POTO (I have Music of the Night in my iTunes), but it must be the original version. It makes me groan that so many people skate to the Gerard Butler version when Michael Crawford is so far superior.

I was actually really happy when this year Cappellini/Lanotte skated to the Jersey Boys (movie) version of "Cry For Me". I kind of hope Patrick's SOI program to "December, 1963" becomes his SP this year (He did Vivaldi's Four Seasons last O's, might as well do Frankie Valli's Four Seasons this time around).

For my more modern pick (Avenue Q or Book of Mormon) it would have to be someone who can skate sarcastically in a way. Kind of like how Ryan Bradley was able to do in 2011. I can't see many current skaters having the ability to do so. Maybe Javi (I'm remembering his drunken pirate footwork sequence from 2010 or his SuperJavi exhibition), but I don't know if even he could embody the character(s) enough.

On a different note, I also want to see more people skate to big band music (that isn't Benny Goodman). Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller don't get enough love these days!

 

[alchemy void]

I feel like he's already skated to that, no?

I feel like he's had the same LP the past 4 seasons, too.

 

[Bellanca]

Javi could sit (center ice) in a barcalounger for all I care. I'm good with it!

 

[Aerobicidal]

Javier of La Mancha:

I’ll skate like a joyful buffoon
It’s all that my coaches allow
I’ll smile and I’ll shrug and I’ll mug
And land a fantastic Salchow

I know I had better programs
When I was coached by Nikolai
I flailed when he told me to flail
Ignored his underage brides

This is my goal, to beat Yuzuru
That damn skinny bitch, who’s obsessed with Pooh
To skate like I’m having a barrel of fun
And defeat the American Brown, with his stupid manbun

And I’ll evoke the wonderful acting of Robert Goulet
To annihilate skaters who are homosexual gays

And Plushenko will be satisfied
That fun programs that have many quads
Defeated the godless and Asian
Forget Lysacek’s awful win, as Latino fans all applaud

 

[Dobre]

I think it's a brilliant choice. Brilliant. To me, Cervantes epitomizes Spanish culture. Think Tchaikovsky in Russia. And Javi was born for character roles. Why shouldn't he play the greatest role in Spanish storytelling? And, what's more, to a version rarely played on ice. Brilliant.

 

[umronnie]

Isn't Javi more Sancho Panza than Don Quixote?

 

[nuge]

I love Luna by Alessandro Safina.
Would love a dance team to skate a FD .Denkova/Staviski had a gala programme to it!

 

[VGThuy]

I love Luna by Alessandro Safina.
Would love a dance team to skate a FD .Denkova/Staviski had a gala programme to it!

Is that the same piece that Samuelson/Bates won Junior Worlds with?

 

[Tinami Amori]

Isn't Javi more Sancho Panza than Don Quixote?

I think he can be both. But i get your sentiment, given he was "silly Charlie Chaplin" character once. And yet Sancho Panza is short and fat, so Javi won't do....