Canadian Pairs 2019/2020 Season News and Updates

[Alvyne]

Moore-Towers/Marinaro article by Bev Smith

Moore-Towers and Marinaro: A new beginning - Bev Smith Writes

Everything is new, at least for Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro, pairs skaters who describe themselves as “definitely mom and dad now.” “We’re old for sure,” said Moore-Towers, who like her partner is 27. “We enjoy our leadership role.” Now Canada’s top pair team, they are surrounded...

bevsmithwrites.com

 

[barbarafan]

Moore-Towers/Marinaro article by Bev Smith

Moore-Towers and Marinaro: A new beginning - Bev Smith Writes

Everything is new, at least for Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro, pairs skaters who describe themselves as “definitely mom and dad now.” “We’re old for sure,” said Moore-Towers, who like her partner is 27. “We enjoy our leadership role.” Now Canada’s top pair team, they are surrounded...

bevsmithwrites.com

Bruno is not mentioned at all ??

 

[IloveFS]

Moore-Towers/Marinaro article by Bev Smith

Moore-Towers and Marinaro: A new beginning - Bev Smith Writes

Everything is new, at least for Kirsten Moore-Towers and Michael Marinaro, pairs skaters who describe themselves as “definitely mom and dad now.” “We’re old for sure,” said Moore-Towers, who like her partner is 27. “We enjoy our leadership role.” Now Canada’s top pair team, they are surrounded...

bevsmithwrites.com

I really enjoyed reading this article. It was very well done!

 

[barbarafan]

I want them to do well too!! What's going on behind the scenes and what do the sheets tell us? I don't know how to read the protocols..... Thanks!

Dailymotion

www.dailymotion.com

free skate senior pairs

 

[Sylvia]

Souvenir Georges-Éthier Senior Pairs SP this past Saturday:

Dailymotion

www.dailymotion.com

Bardei/Brasseur skate at 12:30, Stellato/Deschamps at the 20 minute mark.

 

[Alvyne]

Charlie and Lubov article, in French

Pas de temps à perdre pour Bilodeau et Ilyushechkina

À moins de trois ans des prochains Jeux olympiques de Pékin, le couple, qui ne patine ensemble que depuis février, ne lésine pas sur sa préparation.

www.rds.ca

 

[Rafter]

Mark Bardei moving back to Ukraine (just saw his most recent Insta story....)?

 

[RoseRed]

Mark Bardei moving back to Ukraine (just saw his most recent Insta story....)?

I don't see any story saying that up currently. Right now he has two stories up, one featuring a guy holding a beer can who raised money for a children's hospital, and another featuring a robot built in Boston that can do flips, with the caption "We gonna be done here soon my friends, hasta la vista baby".

 

[Colonel Green]

Kirsten Moore-Towers & Michael Marinaro - 2019 Nebelhorn Trophy SP

September 26, 2019 Nebelhorn Trophy. Music: "Love on the Brain" by Cold War Kids & Bishop Briggs; Choreography by: Julie Marcotte.

www.youtube.com

KMT and Michael got a Level 4 on their twist at Nebelhorn!

 

[puglover]

Kirsten Moore-Towers & Michael Marinaro - 2019 Nebelhorn Trophy SP

September 26, 2019 Nebelhorn Trophy. Music: "Love on the Brain" by Cold War Kids & Bishop Briggs; Choreography by: Julie Marcotte.

www.youtube.com

KMT and Michael got a Level 4 on their twist at Nebelhorn!

Great news!! I thought it looked really improved.

 

[couple novice]

I wish to congradulate the couple Patricia and Daleman for there improvement versus JGP in Russia compare to this one.

 

[Vase]

I wish to congradulate the couple Patricia and Daleman for there improvement versus JGP in Russia compare to this one.

Yes I thought so too. Unfortunate twist fall, fast rotation and I think she even over rotated it.
Just like Gogolev, I like the progress, hope they stream the Sectional event.

 

[Alvyne]

Charlie and Lubov interview

Liubov Ilyushechkina and Charlie Bilodeau: September 2019

The new Canadian pairs team of Charlie Bilodeau and Liubov Ilyushechkina discuss how they entered into their new partnership, their expectations as a new tea...

www.youtube.com

They say their free dance music is "Je voudrais voir la mer".

 

[aftershocks]

Shaquille Davis has confirmed his partnership with Chloe Choinard in an Instagram post. https://www.instagram.com/p/B1Rltwwgq_5/

Cool. Here's a video of Shaquille when he skated singles at a young age:

Shaquille Davis SP, Quebec Summer Competition 2010

www.youtube.com

In the below video, Shaquille is a bit older, skating to choreo by Asher Hill (I miss seeing Asher in Canadian ice dance!):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0F79o7D7zE sounds like the music is muted

Audrey Carle & Gabriel Farand look to be a promising young Canadian team, as well:

Audrey Carle & Gabriel Farand - 2019 North York Junior Pairs FS

August 16, 2019 North York Summer Skate.

www.youtube.com

It's nice seeing this diversity in Canadian pairs, and in U.S. pairs--

As I recently posted in U.S. pairs thread:

Brynne McIsaac (11th in Senior at 2019 Nationals & new to pairs) and Mark Sadusky (7th in Novice Pairs at Nationals/skated singles at the Junior level last season) announced in late August that they are a new Senior pair team, training in Ellenton, Florida:

Brynne McIsaac on Instagram: “I’ve been *dying* to show you all what I’ve been up to this summer!! I’m proud to say that Mark and I have passed our Senior pairs test,…”

390 Likes, 29 Comments - Brynne McIsaac (@brynnemcisaac) on Instagram: “I’ve been *dying* to show you all what I’ve been up to this summer!! I’m proud to say that Mark and…”

www.instagram.com

I recognize both of their names (McIsaac & Sadusky), but otherwise I'm not familiar with their skating. I wish we could see a live clip. It's cool that there's another promising young pair team for the U.S. coming up. And it's also nice to see some additional diversity in pairs skating...

https://www.liveabout.com/famous-african-american-figure-skaters-1282896 A very incomplete list, but some of them I'd never heard of-- Here's Ewell & McCladdie 1972 U.S. junior pairs champions who weren't allowed to continue to seniors. In this clip, they skate like a senior team with a number of innovative moves, one of which we see today in ice dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRNVy7wfcgU


And guys, this is so funny from Nadine Wang's Instagram: Before, During, After!

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

 

[Rock2]

Charlie and Lubov interview

Liubov Ilyushechkina and Charlie Bilodeau: September 2019

The new Canadian pairs team of Charlie Bilodeau and Liubov Ilyushechkina discuss how they entered into their new partnership, their expectations as a new tea...

www.youtube.com

They say their free dance music is "Je voudrais voir la mer".

I just YouTube'd this song. I'm praying the one I found isn't the right one.
I'm feeling a little woozy -- not the good kind.

 

[Colonel Green]

I just YouTube'd this song. I'm praying the one I found isn't the right one.
I'm feeling a little woozy -- not the good kind.

He appears to be a significant musical figure in Quebec, so perhaps not a surprising choice especially with a Montreal Worlds in mind.

 

[aftershocks]

The song, Je Voudrais Voir La Mer (by Michel Rivard), is tinkly and pretty. It's apparently about the sea? But it sounds so light and barely audible in both videos I found:

Je voudrais voir la mer (Vidéoclip officiel)

Tirée de l'album "Un trou dans les nuages" (1987)

www.youtube.com

JE VOUDRAIS VOIR LA MER ~ ♥ ~ Michel Rivard ~ Paroles ~ ♥

www.youtube.com

Can someone translate into English from the lyrics in the second video?

Maybe the song will sound better in the arena, but I'm not banking on it. If they wished to pick music by Quebec musical artists, I'm sure they could have found something else more substantial or more interesting and dynamic. I'll wait to see what the choreo looks like, but with My Funny Valentine for the sp, and now this for the fp, I'm not seeing much contrast. Nor can I figure out what direction this team is reaching for in trying to craft a unique signature. But I suppose they have time to explore this season, and then try to pump it up leading into the Olympic season.

Here are some other Quebec artists. I did Google and Youtube searches
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NVY-f5IsCg Roxanne Potvin I Know It's Good
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6b0OtR6-ng Okoumé Dis-moi pas ça

Isabelle Boulay (country & western Quebec artist)! Here's a playlist:

Isabelle Boulay - Parle-moi (Clip officiel)

Abonnez-vous à la CHAINE OFFICIELLE VEVO de ISABELLE BOULAY pour découvrir toutes ses nouvelles vidéos : http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=...

www.youtube.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRgBdAf4Uz8 Paul Cargnello (ft Aiza) Nothing But Another Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZpQRkad7Zo Daniel Boucher Boules à mites

Pop artist, Garou:

Garou -- L'adieu

clip in the same concert

www.youtube.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W30caVypJE Nicola Ciccone Pour Toi

And this guy, Daniel Belanger, even looks like Charlie (whether or not his music works)

Daniel Bélanger - Opium (Officiel)

Les insomniaques s'amusent (1992): https://smarturl.it/lesinsomniaquesAUDIOGRAM.COM@audiogram_- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SUIVEZ-NOUS!YouTube: http://bit...

www.youtube.com

Easy enough yet time-consuming to do research, but if you are from Quebec, what's the difficulty in deciding on a better choice?

List of musicians from Quebec - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Anyway, I enjoyed the interview, and Ted Flett asked some good questions. It was cute when Luba misunderstood what Ted was asking and she gave a very revealing response thinking he meant something else.

 

[Alvyne]

I just YouTube'd this song. I'm praying the one I found isn't the right one.
I'm feeling a little woozy -- not the good kind.

This is a very well known song in Québec. The original is by Michel Rivard, a respected and well known singer songwriter since the 70s, first with his band Beau Dommage, then as a solo artist. Here are some covers of the song:

Annie Villeneuve

Je voudrais voir la mer

Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises Je voudrais voir la mer · Annie Villeneuve Berce-moi ℗ 2015 Amusic. Distribué par Sony Music Entertainment Can...

www.youtube.com

Guylaine Tanguay (duet with Michel Rivard)

Je voudrais voir la mer (avec Michel Rivard)

Provided to YouTube by Select Je voudrais voir la mer (avec Michel Rivard) · Guylaine Tanguay Inspiration Country ℗ Les Disques Création Released on: 2015-06...

www.youtube.com

Sylvie Tremblay

Je voudrais voir la mer

Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises Je voudrais voir la mer · Sylvie Tremblay Parfum d'orage ℗ 1994 Les Productions Candide (Licence exclusive Aud...

www.youtube.com

It is about the sea. Maybe they didn't want to skate to a love song.

 

[Lanja]

The song, Je Voudrais Voir La Mer (by Michel Rivard), is tinkly and pretty. It's apparently about the sea? But it sounds so light and barely audible in both videos I found:

Je voudrais voir la mer (Vidéoclip officiel)

Tirée de l'album "Un trou dans les nuages" (1987)

www.youtube.com

JE VOUDRAIS VOIR LA MER ~ ♥ ~ Michel Rivard ~ Paroles ~ ♥

www.youtube.com

Can someone translate into English from the lyrics in the second video?

This is translated up to the 2:19 point (of the 5:15 video). I couldn't really deal with listening to any more. If they're using this arrangement, which is fairly monotone, I think it requires an engagement with the text (or skating?) that might make it less accessible to audiences than a more upbeat selection.

I would like to see the sea
and its silver beaches
and its white cliffs, proud in the wind.

I would like to see the sea
and its birds of (by?) moonlight
and its horses of fog
and its flying fishes

I would like to see the sea
when it is a mirror
in which woolly clouds
pass without seeing themselves

and the evenings of storms
in the fury of the sky
hear a whale
call to its lover

I would like to see the sea
and dance with it to defy death

I would like to see the sea
swallow a ship
its gold and its cannons
to hear the laughter
of a hundred million children
who have no fear of the water
who wish to live their lives
without waving a flag

I wish to see the sea
its imaginary monsters
its flying hollanders
and its warships
its maritime cemeteries
and its bed of coral
where sharks sleep
among satin sheets

 

[puglover]

All I can say is "buzz" - it would be so nice for them to create a buzz right off the bat. They state serious goals - each to surpass their success with their past partners as I understand it.

 

[aftershocks]

It is about the sea. Maybe they didn't want to skate to a love song.

Thank you, and thanks to @Lanja for the English transcription. I have no issue with the song being about the sea. It's the light, monotone, insubstantial way it sounds that is off-putting for me. It's no big deal to not skate to a love song. Not all of the artists I cited, nor all Quebec artists sing about romantic love in any case.

Although I don't like the song for a pairs program, I like the Rivard video version with those colorful pictures of mermaids and other sea creatures, better than the video of Rivard himself walking around what looks like ancient ruins wearing a droopy overcoat and a melancholy expression.

ETA:
I wonder what the inspiration for Rivard's song is? I guess he just loves the sea. And btw, in the lyrics @Lanja transcribed, Rivard included a reference to a whale calling to its lover. Maybe there's some connection with Moby Dick. Still, the lyrics and the song, in the way it sounds, seems a strange choice for a pairs program. It's kind of fey, eh?

 

[Alvyne]

Thank you. I have no issue with the song being about the sea. It's the light, monotone, insubstantial way it sounds that is off-putting for me. It's no big deal to not skate to a love song. Not all of the artists I cited, nor all Quebec artists sing about romantic love in any case.

I like the Rivard video version with those colorful pictures of mermaids and other sea creatures, better than the video of Rivard himself walking around what looks like ancient ruins wearing a droopy overcoat and a melancholy expression.

I agree that Michel Rivard voice can be quite monotone. But they might use another version. I think the song has potential, with different arrangements.

 

[Rock2]

This is a very well known song in Québec.

That's precisely it. There's a reason why these songs don't cut across borders so I have serious reservations about taking music that is only relevant and appealing to a niche population and incorporating it into a global platform.

I'm Canadian and I grew up in rural enviros near Quebec border. I listened to the likes of Genette Reno and Rita McNeil as a child and I appreciate their significance. But this kind of music just does not have broad appeal. More importantly, this particular song is to me is starkly uninspiring (and I tend to LOVE slow music and ballads for skating). Truly, a puzzling choice for a team that knows it only has 3 years to the Olympics and drove a narrative that it wanted to make a big impression right out of the gate. This is not a foundation for artisitic creativity which was what I was hoping for from this team the most.

I pray that when I see this live I'll have a different point of view. Will try my darndest to be objective, but not optimistic.

 

[aftershocks]

I agree that Michel Rivard voice can be quite monotone. But they might use another version. I think the song has potential, with different arrangements.

Je voudrais voir la mer (avec Michel Rivard)

Provided to YouTube by Select Je voudrais voir la mer (avec Michel Rivard) · Guylaine Tanguay Inspiration Country ℗ Les Disques Création Released on: 2015-06...

www.youtube.com

Thanks for providing the other arrangements. The one above, with Guylaine Tanguay and Rivard doing a duet is what we should hope for. As a duet, and with this arrangement, it sounds much better for a pairs program. But Luba and Charlie only mentioned Michel Rivard, without specifying a cover version. So since Rivard is singing in the Tanguay version, let's hope that's the one. Rivard's voice certainly sounds more lively in accompaniment with Tanguay. Plus, the arrangement has a country twang, and yep, a 'love song' vibe. It's French after all.

I definitely love the idea of bringing one's own culture (or different cultures) into music selection, rather than falling back on the status quo Westernized/ Americanized choices and/or safe, tried-and-true war horses all the time. However, the light, insubstantial monotone track won't cut it. Fingers-crossed for the livelier version. Since I can't access the Villeneuve and Tremblay covers you linked, I'm hopeful that's a good omen pointing to the Tanguay/Rivard cover.

 

[Alvyne]

That's precisely it. There's a reason why these songs don't cut across borders so I have serious reservations about taking music that is only relevant and appealing to a niche population and incorporating it into a global platform.

I'm Canadian and I grew up in rural enviros near Quebec border. I listened to the likes of Genette Reno and Rita McNeil as a child and I appreciate their significance. But this kind of music just does not have broad appeal. More importantly, this particular song is to me is starkly uninspiring (and I tend to LOVE slow music and ballads for skating). Truly, a puzzling choice for a team that knows it only has 3 years to the Olympics and drove a narrative that it wanted to make a big impression right out of the gate. This is not a foundation for artisitic creativity which was what I was hoping for from this team the most.

I pray that when I see this live I'll have a different point of view. Will try my darndest to be objective, but not optimistic.

To be honest, I was kind of disappointed when I heard this was their long program. There are so many beautiful songs by Quebec artists that they could have chosen. But I'm trying to see the positive, at least until I have heard the music in competition.

 

[Rock2]

To be honest, I was kind of disappointed when I heard this was their long program. There are so many beautiful songs by Quebec artists that they could have chosen. But I'm trying to see the positive, at least until I have heard the music in competition.

Word. I used to crap on Julie Marcotte who chooses Quebec music for every second program she choreographs. I take back every single negative comment I have made about those choices because she at least consistently picks music that you can argue is skateable.

This is God awful. It could work in some after school children's program. I picture a child having trouble falling asleep, so some giant stuffed animal comes to life, cuddles it and sings it to sleep using this song. I see it working for no other purpose. It's going to tempt them to skate slow, while any creative lift or transition will feel grossly inappropriate for the music. * searches for vomit emoji *

Prediction: Jonathan from TSL will delicately but pointedly say this song 'has no gravitas'. Book it lol

OK I'll stop....but will def fire up again after Finlandia. Stand by.

 

[clairecloutier]

@Rock2 LOL. How about we wait to hear what version they're using? I agree that the original version of the song, by Rivard himself, is not what I was hoping for from this team (AT ALL). But perhaps they're actually using some other version, and just referenced Rivard so that people would know which song they mean. At least, that's what I hope .....

 

[aftershocks]

I picture a child having trouble falling asleep, so some giant stuffed animal comes to life, cuddles it and sings it to sleep using this song. I see it working for no other purpose.

The Tanguay/Rivard arrangement that @Alvyne linked is much livelier. The question is, what version of the song are they using? If it's the monotone Rivard original, I'm dumbfounded... If that's their choice, unfortunately, it might manage to put audiences and the judges to sleep.

 

[Rock2]

@Rock2 LOL. How about we wait to hear what version they're using? I agree that the original version of the song, by Rivard himself, is not what I was hoping for from this team (AT ALL). But perhaps they're actually using some other version, and just referenced Rivard so that people would know which song they mean. At least, that's what I hope .....

99 times of 100 you are correct, so thanks for being the voice of reason.

But nah. I'm comfortable at this point predicting I'm gonna hate this. Like, really hate it.

 

[ChiquitaBanana]

I just YouTube'd this song. I'm praying the one I found isn't the right one.
I'm feeling a little woozy -- not the good kind.

Je voudrais voir la mer (live)

Provided to YouTube by The Orchard EnterprisesJe voudrais voir la mer (live) · Michel Rivard, Daniel Bélanger, Laurence Jalbert, Richard Séguin, Paul PichéLa...

youtu.be

It has an ongoing crescendo and has been used in skating shows with great audience appeal.

Je voudrais voir la mer

Provided to YouTube by Select Je voudrais voir la mer · Michel Rivard · Orchestre symphonique de Montréal Rivière… et autres chansons symphoniques ℗ Spectra ...

youtu.be

It is really interesting at 3:22. That’s very skatable and I totally see Lubov with her great glide and floating through the program. I totally love that version.

FSUers, don’t panic!