2026 Europeans - Free Dance - "Sheffield Whinesday"

Silly me... I just thought Papdakis wanted to step aside at the climax of her career and Ciceron simply wanted to go on (like Aliona wanted, but Robin didn't) and now all the comments about his personality and the "circumstances" made me google it...
 
When can we be finished with the stupid song they're playing now? Please make it soon...
 
It’s mainly my frustration with the commentators acting like this is new and groundbreaking.
For me, it's the way they go into raptures over it, not because it's somehow new or groundbreaking, but... Read the audience reaction, FFS. If the entire arena isn't on their feet, roaring with approval by the end of the program, then maybe it's not quite as transformative as you believe, even if it is well-skated. I'm really over people trying to sell me on how amazing and better FBCiz are than every other team in the world. Sure, I can appreciate their skating skills but that program isn't something that necessarily has the audience in the arena eating out of the palms of their hands, going along with them. The program suffers from the same problem that Kagiyama's FS this season suffers from - it doesn't do anything to get the audience up and out of their seats at the end and I think that may wind up being their downfall at the Olympics, depending on start order for the FD.
 
When can we be finished with the stupid song they're playing now? Please make it soon...
Anyone know what it is? They play it at every skating event, not matter what country. I think I first heard it from Japan. Don't know for sure.
 
For me, it's the way they go into raptures over it, not because it's somehow new or groundbreaking, but... Read the audience reaction, FFS. If the entire arena isn't on their feet, roaring with approval by the end of the program, then maybe it's not quite as transformative as you believe, even if it is well-skated. I'm really over people trying to sell me on how amazing and better FBCiz are than every other team in the world. Sure, I can appreciate their skating skills but that program isn't something that necessarily has the audience in the arena eating out of the palms of their hands, going along with them. The program suffers from the same problem that Kagiyama's FS this season suffers from - it doesn't do anything to get the audience up and out of their seats at the end and I think that may wind up being their downfall at the Olympics, depending on start order for the FD.
I mean, I don't know what any of this has to do with actual skating but it usually doesn't. Even if one weren't eager to be up on their feet jumping up and down or transfixed or whatever, there are still specific PCS criteria that have NOT. ONE. THING. to do with audience reaction and they never do. And that's not saying one can't have their opinion on the feeling of said free dance. But trying to make this a criteria - it's not.

If we were talking about audience reaction then give Orihara/Pirinen or Jimmy Ma the gold medal.
 
For me, it's the way they go into raptures over it, not because it's somehow new or groundbreaking, but... Read the audience reaction, FFS. If the entire arena isn't on their feet, roaring with approval by the end of the program, then maybe it's not quite as transformative as you believe, even if it is well-skated. I'm really over people trying to sell me on how amazing and better FBCiz are than every other team in the world. Sure, I can appreciate their skating skills but that program isn't something that necessarily has the audience in the arena eating out of the palms of their hands, going along with them. The program suffers from the same problem that Kagiyama's FS this season suffers from - it doesn't do anything to get the audience up and out of their seats at the end and I think that may wind up being their downfall at the Olympics, depending on start order for the FD.
This reminds me of the 2018 Olys with P&C skating beautifully to Moonlight Sonata to an enthusiastic, but also polite response, and then V&M skating with such passion and intensity to Moulin Rouge, that had the audience on their feet screaming.
 
it doesn't do anything to get the audience up and out of their seats at the end and I think that may wind up being their downfall at the Olympics, depending on start order for the FD.

I wish this was the case, but VM were much more compelling in 2018 (vs CB today) and only won because of their lead from the SD. They actually came in 2nd in the FD. I think we're unfortunately headed towards a FBC gold unless they make a mistake.
 
After threatening family members with death if they didn’t keep quiet during the last group…they’re still here and I’m not in prison. Although I did giggle when asked if FB/C’s music was written by AI.

I feel sorry for the Brits not giving a stellar performance at their home Euros, but they were still generously marked and should be behind Lop/Bri. That Bjork FD has turned into something unique and wonderful. I much prefer it as a dance to FB/Ciz, but I can’t deny that the latter are amazing skaters. I wish their FD expressed something other than technical mastery and angsty faces….

Good for the Italians getting some mojo back, the FD is now “nice” but still an uphill climb for them in Milan.

The Lithuanians should have been down around the Fun Finns.

And my predictions for Milan are scrambled, but I’d still guess that C/B’s dramatic flamenco will beat FB/C’s gurgling AI and a lot of people will be outraged.
 
This reminds me of the 2018 Olys with P&C skating beautifully to Moonlight Sonata to an enthusiastic, but also polite response, and then V&M skating with such passion and intensity to Moulin Rouge, that had the audience on their feet screaming.
Case in point - P&C won the FD and the PCS there.
 
This reminds me of the 2018 Olys with P&C skating beautifully to Moonlight Sonata to an enthusiastic, but also polite response, and then V&M skating with such passion and intensity to Moulin Rouge, that had the audience on their feet screaming.
The problem this year is no one is skating a Moulin Rouge type program this year. On paper it looked like C/B were attempting to pre-season but it falls flat imo.
 
Really glad FB/C won here with a nice score. At least I can hope for a few more weeks that Bock won’t be Oly champions….

Nice to see Charlene and Marco do well. I didn’t even expect them to be on the podium. Maybe beating F/G here and having a home Olympics will put them back in the race for bronze, though I’m hoping for Piper and Paul.
 
The problem this year is no one is skating a Moulin Rouge type program this year. On paper it looked like C/B were attempting to pre-season but it falls flat imo.
Did you see them at US Nats? That FD has gotten so much better. And that’s coming from someone who’s never been a C/B uber.

Frankly, if Piper and Paul had improved Vincent to the same extent, I’d think they were medal threats in Milan. But they haven’t and probably aren’t.
 
I mean, I don't know what any of this has to do with actual skating but it usually doesn't. Even if one weren't eager to be up on their feet jumping up and down or transfixed or whatever, there are still specific PCS criteria that have NOT. ONE. THING. to do with audience reaction and they never do.

If we were talking about audience reaction then give Orihara/Pirinen or Jimmy Ma the gold medal.
But, that's sort of the point I'm trying to make - and this is maybe a discussion that is better suited to the new thread in GSD about the proposed ISU changes... The IDTC has been chasing this "viral moments" phenomenon the past few seasons, and the ISU knows they need to improve audience engagement.

People like to snot on Fear/Gibson's poorer skating skills but they certainly know how to entertain an audience (same with ReedAmbru in the RD, which has grown on me as the season has progressed). Same with the Fun Finns, Ma, Kurakova, etc. We see the audience reactions in the arena to all of those skaters at various competitions. If I'm paying $75+ for a ticket (once all the fees are added to the base price) to one of these competitions, I'd like to be entertained, I'd like to smile and clap along and feel like the skaters were trying to appeal to the audience. Too many of these skaters like Cizeron have their heads so far up their own artistic asses that they seem to think they're above putting out something that is bourgeoisie/middle-class/plebian and therefore more readily accessible to the largest segment of the global population. I'd love to see Cizeron (and either Papadakis or Fournier-Beaudry) attempt to entertain an audience the way Fear/Gibson do every single season.

But, no, we're given modern contemporary programs ad nauseum by teams who have a clearly limited range & comfort wheelhouse. Then when the audience in the arena ISN'T responding in kind, well... Screw what the audience thinks because that's not part of the judging criteria - and maybe it should be because then we'd actually get more entertaining programs from teams that are, supposedly, so great with their PCS marks that they SHOULD be able to master & present programs with a wide variety & range in style.
 
Did you see them at US Nats? That FD has gotten so much better. And that’s coming from someone who’s never been a C/B uber.

Frankly, if Piper and Paul had improved Vincent to the same extent, I’d think they were medal threats in Milan. But they haven’t and probably aren’t.
Yes. I did ;)
 
But, that's sort of the point I'm trying to make - and this is maybe a discussion that is better suited to the new thread in GSD about the proposed ISU changes... The IDTC has been chasing this "viral moments" phenomenon the past few seasons, and the ISU knows they need to improve audience engagement.
But there are plenty of people who are completely transformed by FB&C - read the split opinions here.
People like to snot on Fear/Gibson's poorer skating skills but they certainly know how to entertain an audience (same with ReedAmbru in the RD, which has grown on me as the season has progressed). Same with the Fun Finns, Ma, Kurakova, etc. We see the audience reactions in the arena to all of those teams at various competitions. If I'm paying $75+ for a ticket (once all the fees are added to the base price) to one of these competitions, I'd like to be entertained, I'd like to smile and clap along and feel like the skaters were trying to appeal to the audience. Too many of these skaters like Cizeron have their heads so far up their own artistic asses that they seem to think they're above putting out something that is bourgeoisie/middle-class/plebian and therefore more readily accessible to the largest segment of the global population. I'd love to see Cizeron (and either Papadakis or Fournier-Beaudry) attempt to entertain an audience the way Fear/Gibson do every single season.
But you're trying to box everyone into doing same old same old - you're allowing Fear & Gibson to do it because that's all they seem to know. I'd actually say Guillaume has shown more diversity in range with his RDs than Fear & Gibson ever have between their RD/FD choices. But that's what works for them.

You want one style for everyone to earn the $75 price tag it sounds like. Others want to see different approaches. Seats are essentially sold out at big events and they sold out immediately at Worlds. That isn't an issue.

I think you're basing an opinion of a how much a program is worth completely on how many people scream and shout and stand. The problem with that is A) FB&C is that some people are going to never, ever like what they do for nothing to do with the skating and B) having everyone do the same style of program which would be terribly boring.
 
Case in point - P&C won the FD and the PCS there.
Well yes, I remember that, and concede it is a case in point, but V&M were way more exciting to watch! And I'll die on that hill whatever the PCS rules say :lol:
Still, the ISU keeps trying to have things go viral, and it was V&M's FD that went viral, not P&C's. And probably if P&C had skated to something more audience-accessible they'd have won outright.
 
For me, it's the way they go into raptures over it, not because it's somehow new or groundbreaking, but... Read the audience reaction, FFS. If the entire arena isn't on their feet, roaring with approval by the end of the program, then maybe it's not quite as transformative as you believe, even if it is well-skated. I'm really over people trying to sell me on how amazing and better FBCiz are than every other team in the world. Sure, I can appreciate their skating skills but that program isn't something that necessarily has the audience in the arena eating out of the palms of their hands, going along with them. The program suffers from the same problem that Kagiyama's FS this season suffers from - it doesn't do anything to get the audience up and out of their seats at the end and I think that may wind up being their downfall at the Olympics, depending on start order for the FD.
But in their defense it was the one time I never looked at the score—just them. Look I’ve always loved his skating. I miss Gaby but I am surprised at their speed in acclimating to one another.
 

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