Rating Your Fave Skaters' Programs

VGThuy

Well-Known Member
Messages
41,020
I thought it'd be fun to try to rate programs from some of our favorite skaters. I tried to rate the programs on the basis of the choreography/character (I don't care whether it's a literal or abstract or disassociated interpretation from original intent of the piece but am trying to rate the "character" that the skater is attempting to portray for that specific program)/musical phrasing but you also can't take away the context of the program actually being skated to by the skater at that particular time and competition. My grading system is from a A+ to F grading scale, but you guys can come up with your own.

Anyway, I'll start with Michelle Kwan who I think is the perfect skater to start out with as her competitive programs really were a showcase of where she was at that particular point of time in her career.

*This is not meant to be a statement of whether she should have placed higher or lower in that particular competition of the videos I've shown. Just what I think of the programs. Some times I may give a middling grade and still think she should have placed higher and maybe vice versa (who am I kidding? I'm a kwanatic).

*Also, some of you might think I'm giving a lot of "B" grades or higher, but honestly, with a skater like Michelle Kwan who won medals and titles for like ten seasons straight with those presentation scores, you aren't going to get a lot of C level or below stuff. Without further ado:

1993-1994

"Song of India":

Kwan's opening moves and that double axel were pure skating heaven and there are some admirable choreographed moves to the splashes of the music moments, but most of the program is just there with some silly "Indian" arms.​
C+
"East of Eden"/Other

This is clearly a program just meant to show what this 12 going on 13-year-old legend in the making can do with the random changes of tempo in the music. I think it works.​
B+
1994-1995

"Yellow River Piano Concerto"
Energetic vehicle that hit its stride at Worlds. This program showed her off at this particular time perfectly.​

A-

"Rondo Capriccioso"
Good program to show her off her technical consistency. Some good transitions. Doesn't quite have the ability yet to match the speed or intensity of the music.​
B -

1995-1996

"Romanza"

Perfection. Lori would recycle this a few times for other ladies. The most notable for me was Fumie Suguri's wonderful 2005-2006 SP. Showed ladies skaters should try flamenco.​
A+

"Salome":

Perfect vehicle to make her a world champion. Made every skater's coach (and even Frank and Lori) think all they had to do was give their skater an "artistic" makeover to take them to the next level. We know there's much more to it than that. See Timothy Goebel. Made every American (and non-American) ladies skater from the age of 8-16 for the past twenty-two years put on make-up and put their hair in a bun.​
A
1996-1997

"Dream of Desdemona"

This program was beyond the 8-element short program. A fully integrated program. The music would be used twenty years later in the form of cobra boobs.​
A+

"Taj Mahal"

Better than "Salome" in almost every way and yet less effective somehow. That long fluff piece with The Wallflowers music was so 90s and adds to my experience watching this program.​
A-

1997-1998

"Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3"

No words. People will probably think I have the inability to be objective with her with three "A+" grades in a row for her SPs, but they were really that good.​
A+

"Lyra Angelica"

One of the best and most distinct ladies programs at the time and some consider this her best program ever. However, some times it feels like Lori gave Kwan a Janet Lynn program and Kwan isn't Janet Lynn. She's not quite in "the void" the way she was with Rachmaninoff.​
A

1998-1999

"Fate of Carmen"

I appreciate her newfound sexuality in this program (coded as "maturity") and lots of interesting bits. Underrated only because nobody talks about it, but limited anyway. That footwork sequence was out of style even in 1999. Probably the first "abstract" Carmen I've seen in skating. Lori will do a spiritual sequel to this of sorts for Fumie Suguri in 2004-2005 (Fumie's best program by far and my personal favorite ladies Carmen program). This all-black abstract Carmen would also find its way to Virtue/Moir though I'm sure it's all unrelated.​
B- maybe C+

"Lamente d'Ariane"

See paragraph for "Fate of Carmen" but much better choreography and Kwan was more convincing here. I chose Nationals over her clean World Pros performance because I think there was more fire in this one even though she fell. She discovered her ooze here.​
B+ maybe A-.

1999-2000

"A Day in the Life"

Interesting program. Introduced "A Day in the Life" to figure skating by Lori adding it to her collection that she rotates for all of her skaters. I like the footwork the best out of the rest of the ladies at this competition and miss footwork like this but what can you do when the judges at the time didn't think footwork really mattered that much in ladies skating. Spins went with the music very effectively. Her back cross-foot spin never looked better before or since. Some Tara fans at the time said Kwan looked like a fish out of water while saying Tara could have done this program better. Maybe, but this program really is a Kwan program at its heart and those who think otherwise missed the point.​
B

"The Red Violin"

Skate America:

Worlds:
Skate America had a fall but one of the most musical performances ever and probably the last time she had near unanimous 5.9s from judges from the Eastern Bloc. Worlds had much more speed/attack and more importantly, much better hair. But the front-loading seriously bothered me to the point of distraction and I think Skate America simply had a lot more nuances going on, but what can you do when the judges thought garnering speed on two feet was more important than anything else? Introduced The Red Violin to skating canon.​
Skate America: A/Worlds: B+

2000-2001

"Rush"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXQiSkJgtno

I understand why she dropped it. I just wish she had a crystal ball to show that it didn't matter as she was going to place second in the SP at Worlds anyway. Maybe she was afraid of dropping to like 3rd or lower like Butyrskaya. Either way, this was Kwan's best SP in a long time with excellent choreography and transitions and a new point-of-view choreography-wise thanks to Chris Dean. Third SP in a row where Kwan went for sexy and this is her most successful attempt. Least effective spiral sequence though I appreciate that kick on the beat on the third spiral and the program lost a bit of steam from the flying spin on.​
A-

"East of Eden"

Despite all the calls for her to do something different, classic Kwan is the best Kwan. Just pure skating. I docked some points after seeing it all throughout the 2001-2002 Fall season and thinking this program really does require Kwan to be on her A game to have the impact it needs which makes me wonder about the program itself or maybe Kwan was too bored by it by Fall 2001.That said this program was good enough that at Skate Canada 2001 when she and Irina both made major errors in the SP, Kwan was still able to place 2nd above a clean Suguri while Slutskaya was placed 4th with her attempt at lyricism. That says a lot to me at that point in time. Still think East of Eden should have been saved for the 2001-2002 season and she should have done this for the Olympics and Worlds, but it really doesn't matter since she placed first at the Olympics with Rach redux anyway.​
A-

"Song of the Black Swan"

Not a completed program at all. It looks like it was still looking for a point-of-view. Lots of nuances and choreography hitting the music. But this was not ready to be shown to anybody. That footwork looks like Lori/Michelle/Frank missed the deadline to complete their school project.​
C-

One of the few times where streamlining a program and taking out subtlety works in the program's favor. Footwork a bit simple but it's perfect anyway. Still the best ending of a ladies LP ever. Introduced Dvorak to skating canon.​
A+
"Miraculous Mandarin"

Messy and miraculous. Forget "Bells of Moscow", this is the real "lost" program. Those back kicks she did made much more sense here than in "Fields of Gold".​
A

2001-2002

"Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2"

https://youtu.be/6r5Tw5fMw8w?t=185

Not as good as 1998. A bit outdated by 2002 as skaters were constructing simpler programs to show off speed, but it was nice to see the solo triple be the fifth element instead of the third as was the norm in ladies in 2002 or second if you're Irina Slutskaya. I do live for that air punch on the combo spin and her hands in the flying spin showed Kwan wasn't just copying and pasting.​

No grade.​

"Scheherezade"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44JXNGSID1s

A program I only pretended to like at the time when campaigning for Kwan. The GWG version was much fuller before it became a program with no point-of-view and messily put together just to be serviceable to garner Kwan her elusive OGM that seemed to be hers so long as she didn't fall (whoops) while Irina was gonna get Worlds. And it actually was. I think Sotnikova and Zagitova took that serviceable enough thing to justify a OGM that has your name on it a new level though. Only Fumie Suguri had a better LP among the top 12 though sadly. Sarah Hughes' LP doesn't really count because Robin Wagner just cut from Kwan's best hits and put together a program...though I appreciated that Hughes had a program that seemed like it was fully choreographed. Somehow this inspired Yuna Kim enough to do a Kwan tribute program that was almost identical. I hope David Wilson didn't charge her too much for it...same goes to Kim's costume designer.​
Yuna Kim/Kwan:​
C

2002-2003

"The Feeling Begins"

Not the most choreographed program, but nobody else makes minimalism look as good. Clean movement and she makes Morosov footwork her own and with actual edges instead of toe picks. I forgive the FW all in one direction.​
A-

"Aranjuez"

Again, minimalism looks good. I think this is what the ISU had in mind when they wrote in the IJS that yes even crossovers can be choreography and transitions. When you do it as well as Kwan does, how can you debate that?​
B+

2003-2004

"Tosca"

She's lucky that she skates like Michelle Kwan because this program wasn't a program. It was "Aranjuez" remixed. You forgive "Aranjuez" because it was a rebuilding year and she was working on those basics again and rebuilding her confidence. No excuse here really. Still would have given her a 6.0 for that performance.​
C-

2004-2005

"Spartacus"

A Morosovian program but because Kwan skates like Kwan, it goes from serviceable program to a remarkable one. That spiral sequence to footwork to layback is figure skating. Probably the best footwork sequence she's ever done.​

B+

"Bolero" (oh boy)

Bolero 1:

Ok program with lots of potential. Never meets the potential of the opening moves. Made some of us excited again. Chris Dean for some reason picked the most strident and tinny drums version of the piece. Still seemed like a child of "Aranjuez" and "Tosca" but with Kwan looking more inspired.​
C+

Bolero 2:

The most complex and difficult version of the program. Lots going on, and at the time I thought she had a very long footwork sequence here but if only I knew of things to come after 2007. I appreciate her attempting to add substance though she sacrificed flow and comfort. First time I saw a ladies program end on the footwork sequence.​

C

Bolero 3:

Erased a lot of the development from Version 2.0. Not very memorable though the footwork had energy and stuff going on.​

C

Bolero 4:

Well, at least it looked like she was having some fun. Made me excited to rush into next season. At least she got the highest score for the footwork element (with Alissa Dyrt).​
C-

I'm not going to grade her "Totentaz" because it just wasn't a complete or ready program nor was Kwan in any real competitive shape to show it off.
 
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gk_891

Well-Known Member
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4,261
I'll start off with Torvill & Dean. And my rating is out of 10.

1980 FD - 6.5/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1mQwydsdnQ
They had a ways to go in their development but already at that level, there were certain aspects of their skating that was stronger than all 3 of the medalists that season. I might've given it a higher rating if there hadn't been so many music cuts and stops.

1981 FD - 8.75/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsOSQAJ7DTI
They improved a lot between 1980 and 1981. They were clearly the class of the field. I really liked how this program moved over the ice with very little effort.

1982 OSP - 10/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6hZBxPAcls
My favourite OSP from this couple. Meticulously crated in terms of both the steps and handholds with a lot of beautiful long edges. But what maybe impressed me the most was their execution as everything looked like one continuous movement.

1982 FD - 10/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td41K0LG2xc
This free dance blew me away. The content is absolutely non-stop. And every step and handhold expressed the character of the music perfectly. A masterpiece

1983 OSP - 9.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEHsR679g1M
I don't question the content or their abilities. But this OSP wasn't as effective for me as their Blues one from a year earlier because it didn't flow quite as well. This OSP felt a little bit like segments and parts put together.

1983 FD - 9.5/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydN5Glf9KI0
Amazing content and execution but this didn't have the impact that Mack and Mabel had on me.

1984 OSP - 9.75/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_8AsMSn1ys
As amazing as this OSP is, I preferred their Blues OSP which is why I gave this a marginally lower rating

1984 FD - 10/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcCj0xfO3H8
The greatest free dance of all time in my personal opinion. Their edges are truly something to behold. It's amazing how they're able to do everything with almost no set-up time and from within very complex handholds.

1994 OD - 9/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAausm9O4Nw
Hands down the best rhumba of the competition but I didn't think it was as amazing/incredible as some people did.

1994 FD (first version) - 8.5/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm_ar2zfkic
I have a much better appreciation for this free dance now than I did at that time. The choreography is seamless.

1994 FD (second version) - 8/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q0H03HM2L8
More showy than the first version but I didn't like all the recycled moves.

Hope to be back soon to rate the programs of Klimova & Ponomarenko and Grishuk & Platov.
 
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gk_891

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,261
Klimova & Ponomarenko

1984 OSP - 5.5/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yHkQapQKT0
Cute dance but it's far from their best work.

1984 FD - 6.5/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHtjRmkBV_E
They still had a ways to go in their unison and development in general but I thought this was charming. I agree with Dick Button that the program became uninteresting towards the end.

1985 OSP - 7.75/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F58Zixxx0bo
Another cute dance. And they improved a lot since the year before.

1985 FD - 9/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_vE5sCkPac
Good energy and content. I especially liked the rhumba section in the middle.

1986 OSP - 9.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58eMfC5WM0o
Amazing dance. My only real criticism is that towards the end of the pattern it gets a little too involved and it slows down a bit.

1986 FD - 9.5/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O85swOkgj8
Another amazing dance. The range of steps, edges, turns, and handholds is truly astonishing.

1987 OSP - 10/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7BN7KU8bmQ
The greatest OSP in the history of ice dance (in my personal opinion anyways - a lot of T&D fans will probably want to behead me for saying that).

1987 FD - 9.5/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKE-c5-m2Ts
Really lovely free dance that shows off their classical lines well. I also love how it builds until the very end.

1988 OSP - 8.5/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQEMlcOeqBY
Beautifully sophisticated and elegant. My only real criticism is that they seemed slower that year and this dance doesn't cover the ice as well as some of their other programs did.

1988 FD - 9/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acXA79rFf8c
I admit that I hate the first section as I find it almost syrupy sweet. But the middle section is gorgeous and the final section really shows off their precision well. Their skating is almost silky smooth.

1989 OSP - 9.5/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko44GUtLbG0
They made the difficult look almost clinically easy.

1989 FD - 8.75/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwtIoc6I0t0
I go back and forth on this program a lot. As beautiful as their skating is, I found this program to be trite and it doesn't cover the ice very well. Not their best stuff.

1990 OSP - 9.5/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz_l3PkGl78
It's amazing how they could make their skating skills shine in this dance in spite of the awful music and hideous costumes. Thankfully their speed and ice coverage was back in full force that season after slowing down somewhat in 88 and 89.

1990 FD - 9.5/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gNR06iergI
I can't really fault this free dance in any way. It covered the ice well, there was amazingly good content, everything was meticulously executed, and their skating was lovely as always. My personal problem is that I can't stand this piece of music.

1991 OD - 9/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcujUBy3sXM
I seemed to be one of the few who liked this program. I found it to be very effective and atmospheric.

1991 FD - 9.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RT6nx_ahnNU
Really fascinating free dance with a lot of interesting content. My only issue is that they had too many lifts and I also thought they were trying too hard to be acrobatic in their lifts.

1992 OD - 9/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feSKO6NbqpQ
A bit of a throwback to their old ballroom dance style.

1992 FD - 8.75/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4LnD0laELk
They deserved to win but I didn't care for this program as some of the lifts looked laboured and I thought all of the drama and angst was a little overdone.
 
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gk_891

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,261
Grishuk & Platov

1990 OSP - 7/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34RyY_yzfEo
Their only OSP together. Decent stuff and it suited Oksana's style well.

1990 FD - 6/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GSls36n7y8
Forgettable stuff.

1991 OD - 8.75/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zm21kQp1ME
One of their best OD's IMO. And their improvement that year was very apparent.

1991 FD - 7/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVS5uFLGtgU
Some very nice skating but artistically quite forgettable. You can see why many urged Dubova to let them update their style the following year.

1992 OD - 8/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AmWJ4aaDbg
Very energetic and exuberant polka. Nice stuff.

1992 FD - 8.5/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rgaw0QaH_f0
One of my personal favourites. What's preventing me from giving it a higher rating is that the first section is kind of meh and Oksana sort of lets go of her line and finesse in this dance.

1993 OD - 7/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLtu32o7NFw
I really like how it covered the ice and I also loved the energy and joie-de-vivre this dance has. That being said, it's still one of their weaker ODs.

1993 FD - 8.5/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiHi7-jjWKo
Really effective program. What's funny is that I hated this free dance at first but later on, it became one of my favourites

1994 OD - 6/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alBCWZGoxiQ
Some good skating but very open choreography and it's not really a rhumba.

1994 FD - 6.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POZQuju705c
It was a great idea and it suited Oksana's style perfectly. But it was not well choreographed.

1995 OD - 10/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EqTmB96Jbk
IMO, this is the greatest OD of all time

1995 FD - 7/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoEgkIUrIto
Not sure what to make of this dance as they never performed it to full strength. I honestly found it boring.

1996 OD - 7.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzP3VxHMVm0
This dance suited them well but the choreography was a little too open for my taste and they skate a little too far apart from one another.

1996 FD - 5.75/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrpC9QEXAZs
I hate this free dance with a passion. They were very lucky that almost all of the free dances that season were very underwhelming.

1997 OD - 10/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pFeVnhwkSU
Some of their best work. Their speed, energy, and amazing content was just incredible.

1997 FD - 9.5/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMsoZSXp2-4
Arguably their best free dance. I wish we had go to see them perform it at full strength though. Their running edges here were incredible and I really like how those edges phrased the music (something that was often missing during their Linichuk years)

1998 OD - 7.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD0UKQ4TG8A
This OD should've worked well but it fell flat. I still admired the content though.

1998 FD - 9.75/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXNmarKjyiY
Many find Memorial Requirem to be overwrought but I was really wowed by the choreography. They kept carving out huge patterns on the ice with their edges from within complex handholds, everything was done with little set-up time, and it didn't stop until the very end. Yet they were able to maintain amazing speed and flow over the ice.
 
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VGThuy

Well-Known Member
Messages
41,020
You don't like the music of My Fair Lady? :eek: To me, it's one of the best scores, if not the best, scores ever. I saw it on Broadway this past year after seeing a bunch of shows and my gosh it was so glorious and reminded me that they really don't write music and lyrics (and the book) on Broadway in this quality anymore.

Honestly, I think the sound quality wasn't the best but it wasn't nearly as bad as whatever it was Oksana Baiul used for her Broadway medley 1993 and 1994 LP.
 

AngieNikodinovLove

Frangi & Piazza & Paul & Hektor & Theo. Oh My! šŸ˜
Messages
12,674
I thought it'd be fun to try to rate programs from some of our favorite skaters. I tried to rate the programs on the basis of the choreography/character (I don't care whether it's a literal or abstract or disassociated interpretation from original intent of the piece but am trying to rate the "character" that the skater is attempting to portray for that specific program)/musical phrasing but you also can't take away the context of the program actually being skated to by the skater at that particular time and competition. My grading system is from a A+ to F grading scale, but you guys can come up with your own.

Anyway, I'll start with Michelle Kwan who I think is the perfect skater to start out with as her competitive programs really were a showcase of where she was at that particular point of time in her career.

*This is not meant to be a statement of whether she should have placed higher or lower in that particular competition of the videos I've shown. Just what I think of the programs. Some times I may give a middling grade and still think she should have placed higher and maybe vice versa (who am I kidding? I'm a kwanatic).

*Also, some of you might think I'm giving a lot of "B" grades or higher, but honestly, with a skater like Michelle Kwan who won medals and titles for like ten seasons straight with those presentation scores, you aren't going to get a lot of C level or below stuff. Without further ado:

1993-1994

"Song of India":

Kwan's opening moves and that double axel were pure skating heaven and there are some admirable choreographed moves to the splashes of the music moments, but most of the program is just there with some silly "Indian" arms.​
C+
"East of Eden"/Other

This is clearly a program just meant to show what this 12 going on 13-year-old legend in the making can do with the random changes of tempo in the music. I think it works.​
B+
1994-1995

"Yellow River Piano Concerto"
Energetic vehicle that hit its stride at Worlds. This program showed her off at this particular time perfectly.​

A-

"Rondo Capriccioso"
Good program to show her off her technical consistency. Some good transitions. Doesn't quite have the ability yet to match the speed or intensity of the music.​
B -

1995-1996

"Romanza"

Perfection. Lori would recycle this a few times for other ladies. The most notable for me was Fumie Suguri's wonderful 2005-2006 SP. Showed ladies skaters should try flamenco.​
A+

"Salome":

Perfect vehicle to make her a world champion. Made every skater's coach (and even Frank and Lori) think all they had to do was give their skater an "artistic" makeover to take them to the next level. We know there's much more to it than that. See Timothy Goebel. Made every American (and non-American) ladies skater from the age of 8-16 for the past twenty-two years put on make-up and put their hair in a bun.​
A
1996-1997

"Dream of Desdemona"

This program was beyond the 8-element short program. A fully integrated program. The music would be used twenty years later in the form of cobra boobs.​
A+

"Taj Mahal"

Better than "Salome" in almost every way and yet less effective somehow. That long fluff piece with The Wallflowers music was so 90s and adds to my experience watching this program.​
A-

1997-1998

"Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3"

No words. People will probably think I have the inability to be objective with her with three "A+" grades in a row for her SPs, but they were really that good.​
A+

"Lyra Angelica"

One of the best and most distinct ladies programs at the time and some consider this her best program ever. However, some times it feels like Lori gave Kwan a Janet Lynn program and Kwan isn't Janet Lynn. She's not quite in "the void" the way she was with Rachmaninoff.​
A

1998-1999

"Fate of Carmen"

I appreciate her newfound sexuality in this program (coded as "maturity") and lots of interesting bits. Underrated only because nobody talks about it, but limited anyway. That footwork sequence was out of style even in 1999. Probably the first "abstract" Carmen I've seen in skating. Lori will do a spiritual sequel to this of sorts for Fumie Suguri in 2004-2005 (Fumie's best program by far and my personal favorite ladies Carmen program). This all-black abstract Carmen would also find its way to Virtue/Moir though I'm sure it's all unrelated.​
B- maybe C+

"Lamente d'Ariane"

See paragraph for "Fate of Carmen" but much better choreography and Kwan was more convincing here. I chose Nationals over her clean World Pros performance because I think there was more fire in this one even though she fell. She discovered her ooze here.​
B+ maybe A-.

1999-2000

"A Day in the Life"

Interesting program. Introduced "A Day in the Life" to figure skating by Lori adding it to her collection that she rotates for all of her skaters. I like the footwork the best out of the rest of the ladies at this competition and miss footwork like this but what can you do when the judges at the time didn't think footwork really mattered that much in ladies skating. Spins went with the music very effectively. Her back cross-foot spin never looked better before or since. Some Tara fans at the time said Kwan looked like a fish out of water while saying Tara could have done this program better. Maybe, but this program really is a Kwan program at its heart and those who think otherwise missed the point.​
B

"The Red Violin"

Skate America:

Worlds:
Skate America had a fall but one of the most musical performances ever and probably the last time she had near unanimous 5.9s from judges from the Eastern Bloc. Worlds had much more speed/attack and more importantly, much better hair. But the front-loading seriously bothered me to the point of distraction and I think Skate America simply had a lot more nuances going on, but what can you do when the judges thought garnering speed on two feet was more important than anything else? Introduced The Red Violin to skating canon.​
Skate America: A/Worlds: B+

2000-2001

"Rush"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXQiSkJgtno

I understand why she dropped it. I just wish she had a crystal ball to show that it didn't matter as she was going to place second in the SP at Worlds anyway. Maybe she was afraid of dropping to like 3rd or lower like Butyrskaya. Either way, this was Kwan's best SP in a long time with excellent choreography and transitions and a new point-of-view choreography-wise thanks to Chris Dean. Third SP in a row where Kwan went for sexy and this is her most successful attempt. Least effective spiral sequence though I appreciate that kick on the beat on the third spiral and the program lost a bit of steam from the flying spin on.​
A-

"East of Eden"

Despite all the calls for her to do something different, classic Kwan is the best Kwan. Just pure skating. I docked some points after seeing it all throughout the 2001-2002 Fall season and thinking this program really does require Kwan to be on her A game to have the impact it needs which makes me wonder about the program itself or maybe Kwan was too bored by it by Fall 2001.That said this program was good enough that at Skate Canada 2001 when she and Irina both made major errors in the SP, Kwan was still able to place 2nd above a clean Suguri while Slutskaya was placed 4th with her attempt at lyricism. That says a lot to me at that point in time. Still think East of Eden should have been saved for the 2001-2002 season and she should have done this for the Olympics and Worlds, but it really doesn't matter since she placed first at the Olympics with Rach redux anyway.​
A-

"Song of the Black Swan"

Not a completed program at all. It looks like it was still looking for a point-of-view. Lots of nuances and choreography hitting the music. But this was not ready to be shown to anybody. That footwork looks like Lori/Michelle/Frank missed the deadline to complete their school project.​
C-

One of the few times where streamlining a program and taking out subtlety works in the program's favor. Footwork a bit simple but it's perfect anyway. Still the best ending of a ladies LP ever. Introduced Dvorak to skating canon.​
A+
"Miraculous Mandarin"

Messy and miraculous. Forget "Bells of Moscow", this is the real "lost" program. Those back kicks she did made much more sense here than in "Fields of Gold".​
A

2001-2002

"Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2"

https://youtu.be/6r5Tw5fMw8w?t=185

Not as good as 1998. A bit outdated by 2002 as skaters were constructing simpler programs to show off speed, but it was nice to see the solo triple be the fifth element instead of the third as was the norm in ladies in 2002 or second if you're Irina Slutskaya. I do live for that air punch on the combo spin and her hands in the flying spin showed Kwan wasn't just copying and pasting.​

No grade.​

"Scheherezade"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44JXNGSID1s

A program I only pretended to like at the time when campaigning for Kwan. The GWG version was much fuller before it became a program with no point-of-view and messily put together just to be serviceable to garner Kwan her elusive OGM that seemed to be hers so long as she didn't fall (whoops) while Irina was gonna get Worlds. And it actually was. I think Sotnikova and Zagitova took that serviceable enough thing to justify a OGM that has your name on it a new level though. Only Fumie Suguri had a better LP among the top 12 though sadly. Sarah Hughes' LP doesn't really count because Robin Wagner just cut from Kwan's best hits and put together a program...though I appreciated that Hughes had a program that seemed like it was fully choreographed. Somehow this inspired Yuna Kim enough to do a Kwan tribute program that was almost identical. I hope David Wilson didn't charge her too much for it...same goes to Kim's costume designer.​
Yuna Kim/Kwan:​
C

2002-2003

"The Feeling Begins"

Not the most choreographed program, but nobody else makes minimalism look as good. Clean movement and she makes Morosov footwork her own and with actual edges instead of toe picks. I forgive the FW all in one direction.​
A-

"Aranjuez"

Again, minimalism looks good. I think this is what the ISU had in mind when they wrote in the IJS that yes even crossovers can be choreography and transitions. When you do it as well as Kwan does, how can you debate that?​
B+

2003-2004

"Tosca"

She's lucky that she skates like Michelle Kwan because this program wasn't a program. It was "Aranjuez" remixed. You forgive "Aranjuez" because it was a rebuilding year and she was working on those basics again and rebuilding her confidence. No excuse here really. Still would have given her a 6.0 for that performance.​
C-

2004-2005

"Spartacus"

A Morosovian program but because Kwan skates like Kwan, it goes from serviceable program to a remarkable one. That spiral sequence to footwork to layback is figure skating. Probably the best footwork sequence she's ever done.​

B+

"Bolero" (oh boy)

Bolero 1:

Ok program with lots of potential. Never meets the potential of the opening moves. Made some of us excited again. Chris Dean for some reason picked the most strident and tinny drums version of the piece. Still seemed like a child of "Aranjuez" and "Tosca" but with Kwan looking more inspired.​
C+

Bolero 2:

The most complex and difficult version of the program. Lots going on, and at the time I thought she had a very long footwork sequence here but if only I knew of things to come after 2007. I appreciate her attempting to add substance though she sacrificed flow and comfort. First time I saw a ladies program end on the footwork sequence.​

C

Bolero 3:

Erased a lot of the development from Version 2.0. Not very memorable though the footwork had energy and stuff going on.​

C

Bolero 4:

Well, at least it looked like she was having some fun. Made me excited to rush into next season. At least she got the highest score for the footwork element (with Alissa Dyrt).​
C-

I'm not going to grade her "Totentaz" because it just wasn't a complete or ready program nor was Kwan in any real competitive shape to show it off.

Hey there.. Since I love Kwan too....

Id be very curious if you did a review and grade for the following: (you choose the year and performance)

Dante's Prayer

Hands

Fields Of Gold

^^^One of the above 3 songs is kinda tied with Angela Nikodinov's "No One Gives Up On Love" as my all time favorite program :)
 

VGThuy

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41,020
Hey there.. Since I love Kwan too....

Id be very curious if you did a review and grade for the following: (you choose the year and performance)

Dante's Prayer

Hands

Fields Of Gold

^^^One of the above 3 songs is kinda tied with Angela Nikodinov's "No One Gives Up On Love" as my all time favorite program :)

All A+s from me, no question. Dante's Prayer was exactly the vehicle I needed to see after Nagano and it's just beautiful. Fields of Gold is a masterpiece in every way and that Olympic gala performance was more than a figure skating performance. It was something rare to witness. Hands was simply gorgeous work and had Kwan move in a totally different way. Much more upperbody abandonment, different body shapes, and yet controlled and disciplined as well. Phillip Mills even cited it in his interview with Manleywoman.

I forgot to mention that 1999 Worlds was a dud of a competition for Kwan, but her exhibition to The Red Violin there to me outshone the entire ladies competition. I felt the same with her 1997 Worlds exhibition to Tori Amos' "Winter".

@gk_891, I think Grishuk/Platov's GPF performance of "Memorial Requiem" was by far the best performance of that FD. They seemed really on there and it had a bit more substance than the Euros and Olys version.
 

VGThuy

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41,020
Holy crapballs that was amazing. It actually resembles a proper ballroom quickstep!
And oh how I miss the days where dance was spent mostly in hold instead of the side by side we see now.

Agreed. I remember watching that OD for the first time years ago and wondering why nobody spoke about THAT program. The one Linichuk program I love from them.
 

AngieNikodinovLove

Frangi & Piazza & Paul & Hektor & Theo. Oh My! šŸ˜
Messages
12,674
All A+s from me, no question. Dante's Prayer was exactly the vehicle I needed to see after Nagano and it's just beautiful. Fields of Gold is a masterpiece in every way and that Olympic gala performance was more than a figure skating performance. It was something rare to witness. Hands was simply gorgeous work and had Kwan move in a totally different way. Much more upperbody abandonment, different body shapes, and yet controlled and disciplined as well

1000% agree on everything you just said including 3 A+s.

And YES Hands had her move in a different way with her upper body and with more abandonment.

So, "Dante's Prayer" ties for my top performance ever with Angela Nikodinov's "No One Gives Up On Love."
 

VGThuy

Well-Known Member
Messages
41,020
Angela Nikodinov's fluidity is STILL rare in figure skating today. She moved with her whole body and her "Just for You" and "No One Gives up on Love" showed that off so beautifully.
 

gk_891

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Messages
4,261
You don't like the music of My Fair Lady? :eek: To me, it's one of the best scores, if not the best, scores ever. I saw it on Broadway this past year after seeing a bunch of shows and my gosh it was so glorious and reminded me that they really don't write music and lyrics (and the book) on Broadway in this quality anymore.

Honestly, I think the sound quality wasn't the best but it wasn't nearly as bad as whatever it was Oksana Baiul used for her Broadway medley 1993 and 1994 LP.

If I'm going to be honest, I really hate Broadway musicals. I can tolerate WSS but I hated the music from The Sound of Music, Annie, The King and I, My Fair Lady, and almost everything else. I know I'm in the minority though!
 

gk_891

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4,261
Holy crapballs that was amazing. It actually resembles a proper ballroom quickstep!
And oh how I miss the days where dance was spent mostly in hold instead of the side by side we see now.

Indeed. They spend almost the entire dance in waltz hold (face to face). They're able to do so many steps at a million miles per hour yet they're able to maintain soft and fluid handholds. It's a real testament to what exceptionally good skaters they were.

Agreed. I remember watching that OD for the first time years ago and wondering why nobody spoke about THAT program. The one Linichuk program I love from them.

Same here. But I could've sworn that I once read years that Linichuk hadn't choreographed this OD. If so, it might explain why it was so good! Because not only was it their best OD but like I mentioned before, I think it's the greatest OD of all time.
 

VGThuy

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41,020
If I'm going to be honest, I really hate Broadway musicals. I can tolerate WSS but I hated the music from The Sound of Music, Annie, The King and I, My Fair Lady, and almost everything else. I know I'm in the minority though!

You just killed me. :p

I'm sure there's a style of Broadway musical you may like as it's a pretty broad host invoking different genres of music, and they're not all from the 1940s-1950s tradition but I won't press you too much about it. You know yourself more than I know you obviously haha.

Same here. But I could've sworn that I once read years that Linichuk hadn't choreographed this OD. If so, it might explain why it was so good! Because not only was it their best OD but like I mentioned before, I think it's the greatest OD of all time.

That may explain EVERYTHING, :lol:.
 

screech

Well-Known Member
Messages
7,409
If I'm going to be honest, I really hate Broadway musicals. I can tolerate WSS but I hated the music from The Sound of Music, Annie, The King and I, My Fair Lady, and almost everything else. I know I'm in the minority though!
Well there's some good jukebox musicals (Jersey Boys, Mamma Mia, Beautiful), and the new, upcoming Moulin Rouge musical has incorporated many new hit songs (including Adele, Beyonce, and more).
My favourite musical (Book of Mormon) unfortunately wouldn't work well for figure skating. The music is fantastic, but the lyrics... not so family friendly.
I'm looking forward to the RD for next year.
 

AngieNikodinovLove

Frangi & Piazza & Paul & Hektor & Theo. Oh My! šŸ˜
Messages
12,674
If I'm going to be honest, I really hate Broadway musicals. I can tolerate WSS but I hated the music from The Sound of Music, Annie, The King and I, My Fair Lady, and almost everything else. I know I'm in the minority though!

LOL, Chicago and MR have been the only ones I can get into. Unlike you I, in no way, can tolerate WSS. That's a channel flipper for me.
 

gk_891

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4,261
Anissina & Peizerat

1995 FD - 6.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iNdAF7uqUs
I've always felt the tango suited this team well.

1996 OD - 7/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_RWkuULmgQ
Badly undermarked. Full of content and great paso doble expression

1996 FD - 5.75/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3WYAsffofc
This bored me but I do admit that in terms of choreography, this was the most well balanced program that seaon.

1997 OD - 7/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpL9K4WyoTM
Another undermarked program IMO.

1997 FD - 7/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pZHMV8mlwA
They really got the thumbs down on this free dance but I liked it better than most. I thought it had very ambitious and challenging choreography.

1998 OD - 9.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLHEBOrl7MI
The best OD of the season.

1998 FD - 9.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSxXABXBpJM
Absolutely seamless. Couple that with their intense expression and passion, it made for an amazing experience.

1999 OD - 8.5/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMgEOtiy7Fw
Atmospheric program that captured the waltz mood really well.

1999 FD - 8.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3KDe8yuiEs
In terms of content, it was a step back for them in terms of what they're capable of. It had me on the edge of my seat though.

2000 OD - 8.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcUWaS8oXG8
I didn't like this OD at first but watching it again recently, it's much better than how I remembered it.

2000 FD - 9/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsvq-N7xAtc
Probably their most famous free dance but I honestly prefer their 1998 FD. I think one of the reasons for that is because I prefer the music of R&J to Carmina Burana.

2001 OD - 7.5/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxB-2J7ANTA
Well executed but they were capable of better. Especially with that straight line footwork sequence.

2001 FD - 8.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eOX9KqXe3Q
Like how they packed this program with content even though they never really looked comfortable with it.

2002 OD - 9.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7e_wt2aaQw
Possibly their finest program.

2002 FD - 9/10 (both versions)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7o6ySzov28
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlgTnsd5Dqo
Absolutely fascinating program from both a technical and artistic perspective.
 

VGThuy

Well-Known Member
Messages
41,020
Anissina & Peizerat

1995 FD - 6.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iNdAF7uqUs
I've always felt the tango suited this team well.

1996 OD - 7/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_RWkuULmgQ
Badly undermarked. Full of content and great paso doble expression

1996 FD - 5.75/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3WYAsffofc
This bored me but I do admit that in terms of choreography, this was the most well balanced program that seaon.

1997 OD - 7/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpL9K4WyoTM
Another undermarked program IMO.

1997 FD - 7/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pZHMV8mlwA
They really got the thumbs down on this free dance but I liked it better than most. I thought it had very ambitious and challenging choreography.

1998 OD - 9.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLHEBOrl7MI
The best OD of the season.

1998 FD - 9.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSxXABXBpJM
Absolutely seamless. Couple that with their intense expression and passion, it made for an amazing experience.

1999 OD - 8.5/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMgEOtiy7Fw
Atmospheric program that captured the waltz mood really well.

1999 FD - 8.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3KDe8yuiEs
In terms of content, it was a step back for them in terms of what they're capable of. It had me on the edge of my seat though.

2000 OD - 8.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcUWaS8oXG8
I didn't like this OD at first but watching it again recently, it's much better than how I remembered it.

2000 FD - 9/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsvq-N7xAtc
Probably their most famous free dance but I honestly prefer their 1998 FD. I think one of the reasons for that is because I prefer the music of R&J to Carmina Burana.

2001 OD - 7.5/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxB-2J7ANTA
Well executed but they were capable of better. Especially with that straight line footwork sequence.

2001 FD - 8.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eOX9KqXe3Q
Like how they packed this program with content even though they never really looked comfortable with it.

2002 OD - 9.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7e_wt2aaQw
Possibly their finest program.

2002 FD - 9/10 (both versions)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7o6ySzov28
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlgTnsd5Dqo
Absolutely fascinating program from both a technical and artistic perspective.

Their 2001 OD, especially at Worlds, is why I wished teams were allowed to do only one rhythm back then. Their foxtrot section to Nat King Cole's "More" was sublime. The rest of it wasn't on the same level as that part.
 

gk_891

Well-Known Member
Messages
4,261
Their 2001 OD, especially at Worlds, is why I wished teams were allowed to do only one rhythm back then. Their foxtrot section to Nat King Cole's "More" was sublime. The rest of it wasn't on the same level as that part.

I agree.
 

VGThuy

Well-Known Member
Messages
41,020
Speaking of the greatest OSP of all time (or as Alex Shibutani called it once "the very hard dance"), I really hope the Olympic RD will be the Golden Waltz. That'll separate the kids from the adults.
 

gk_891

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Messages
4,261
@gk_891, I think Grishuk/Platov's GPF performance of "Memorial Requiem" was by far the best performance of that FD. They seemed really on there and it had a bit more substance than the Euros and Olys version.

Indeed. And it's surprising too because their Silver Samba compulsory dance at that competition didn't look as good as it should've been and they took a fall in their OD too. But their FD looked amazingly sharp.

Speaking of the greatest OSP of all time (or as Alex Shibutani called it once "the very hard dance"), I really hope the Olympic RD will be the Golden Waltz. That'll separate the kids from the adults.

Me too. That compulsory dance is unreal in terms of its content. What's incredible is that Klimova & Ponomarenko skated it six steps faster than the compulsory version.
 

gk_891

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4,261
Denkova & Staviski

2001 FD - 8/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDvthhQBHMs
Not as difficult as some of their other programs but I thought this program was an avant-garde masterpiece.

2002 FD - 7/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjhSZtNbPw0
This reminded me of their 2001 FD a bit but more cheerful and happy. But not as effective.

2003 OD - 9.25/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG6E6gSjTu0
One of my favourite ODs of all time.

2003 FD - 7.5/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KIsvS5l6MY
I like their first version of this free dance better as it flowed a lot better. But they still had the most difficult FD that season and IMO should've won the gold medal over both L&A and B&K.

2004 OD - 7/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7Zi6vbPxgg
Ok dance. I have to admit it's one of those dances that I forget all about after watching it.

2004 FD - 8/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6UuU4cOkAU
I know many hail this as a masterpiece but I was underwhelmed by it artistically. I still thought they should've won over N&K though.

2005 OD & FD - 5/10 (I thought both programs kind of sucked)

2006 OD - 7.75/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6Ac4Tz_UyA
Ignoring that error, some excellent skating but a little scarily aggressive at times. I also don't care for how Linichuk recyled K&F's chacha music from 1993.

2006 FD - 8.5/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI-8HM13P94
I was surprised at how much I liked this free dance considering they were being coached by Linichuk at that time. Very effective program both technically and artistically.

2007 OD - 8/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCstzJPgXhg
Really nice tango but I didn't like it to the extent that many others did. Part of my problem might be is the music as G&P had used it to better effect in 1997.

2007 FD - 7/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00EwMcunCNE
Fantastic skating but artistically I actually hate this program with a passion. I actually find it embarassing to watch.
 

VGThuy

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Messages
41,020
Yuna Kim

I actually don't know too much about Yuna Kim as I was more of an on-off skating watcher during this time, still recovering from my heavy Kwan uberdom, so I was excited to do this.

2006-2007

"Tango de Roxanne"

This was for Kim what "Romanza" was for Kwan. Not a big fan of the music edit but she showed lots of personality and fire here. Some weird body shapes and not sure how I feel about the way that footwork ended. My fave ladies Moulin Rouge program is still Yukari Nakano's SP from the season prior.​
A-
"The Lark Ascending"

Fluid, ethereal, and at times stunning program. This may be my favorite Kim program. Her arms were incredibly effective and she moved so freely. The choreography was married to the music near perfectly. I just wish her leg-line and toe point matched the beauty of her upperbody and the ending of the footwork could be more effective with the music. Wilson gave her some moves that didn't look as good because of it and sort of brought attention to it. But outstanding work for both.​
A
2007-2008

"Die Fledermaus"​
The program does not reach the heights of the opening moves. I also got distracted by the patented David Wilson face touch. I wish IJS allowed Kim to play with other spin positions because I think IJS requirements limited her options. I really liked the footwork here, but wish there had a bit more of that Akiko Suzuki-verve AND again her foot and leg positions on some of the moves detracted. I need to stop harping on her leg and foot positions because it's not going to change, but if Wilson keeps choreographing moves that show it off, then I feel compelled to comment. Loved the 2:20 mark with the shimmys but wish she kept up the intensity. Overall uneven with highs and lows.​

B
"Miss Saigon"​
First off, LOVE LOVE LOVE the take on the modern take on the traditional ao dai. A+ for fashion. I don't know why she changed it to a less character-specific and blah looking dress for Worlds. Now, with the important stuff out of the way, a nice solid follow-up. I think it lost steam during the middle portion with the "Sun and Moon" part of the program. There's no sense of the burning romanticism of the piece. Where I think fast skating hurts the interpretation. The footwork is very nicely choreographed and Kim uses her upperbody exceedingly well here. Nice variety of steps. However, her face and expression looks disconnected from the footwork, I guess concentrating on trying to get that level 4.​
B
2008-2009

"Danse Macabre"​
A total yes. Everything about this worked. New spin positions, fire, consistent musical interpretation, different ways in showing off her legline, incredible footwork. Girl wanted to win that title and it showed. Perfection. Only bad part was having to listen to Scott and Sandra's annoying sounding voices.​
A+
"Scheherezade" or as I call it "The Michelle Kwan Tribute Program"​
Choreographically, costume-wise, and music edit-wise, superior to Kwan's though I kept finding myself missing a lot of the Kwanisms. I wish her footwork didn't take as long as it took Kwan to do the back end of her combo spin, the charlotte, her triple lutz, and her footwork, but those were the rules that she had to play with. This felt more like a technical skate than an artistic one. The best choreo money can buy though.​
B+
*Yuna Kim/Kwan:​
2009-2010

"James Bond"​
Introduced James Bond to ladies skating. Some very nice moments, elements going with the music, music smartly edited. There's just something not lived-in with Kim and the music though. Some times she's seriously into it and looks great and other times she looks disconnected and doing moves just to do them. Not sure why Wilson choreographed a face touch in the end of that footwork. Took some points off for awkward gun moves that Kim didn't pull off well.​
Oly: B
ETA: Skate America version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9u1w0jNPbU
Wow! There is a big difference. None of the issues of her looking disconnected with this performance. I was convinced. Giving this one an:​
A+
"Gershwin's Concerto in F"​
Gave her points for doing a tano on the end of that 3/2/2 that actually impressed me and seemed appropriate to the character of the program. Nothing really seemed organic about this program. It seemed mechanical. It's designed "correctly" and has the proper highs and lows for an Olympic program. But there's an artificial flavor to where the choreography didn't really flow. The footwork seemed choreographed just to show off a more dramatic mood from what came before it.​
C+
2010-2011
"Giselle"​
I'm not sure if she understood "Giselle". She had the same dramatic yearning face she had in her Gershwin footwork but it lasted throughout this entire program. Overwrought. Elements didn't entirely go with the music. She did the Irina spinning during a music transition thing. More David Wilson face-touching in this program except there were like five of them here. It's like when Igor choreographs arm flourishes for Chock/Bates because he doesn't know how else to fill up the space. Tara Lipinski is an AWFUL commentator. The sound of her voice makes me miss Scott. It's that bad.​
D
"Homage to Korea" featuring "Arirang" and other pieces.​
This could have been a masterpiece. Shame she didn't compete the whole season to make this program Worlds ready. Wilson ran out of ideas as he has her doing another one of those pivot circles where her body goes sideways and her arm is in the air. I think he made her do it in every program. Probably would have been in the A-range if she was in top condition.​
B+
2012-2013

"Kiss of the Vampire"​
Not sure what this program was about and I'm not sure if she knew either. Lots of recycled moves. She looked to be in top shape though so that gave the movement the necessary snap it needed.​
C-
"Les Miserables"​
Nice to see her back in a costume that has some character in it. I kind of think this program would be better WITH vocals...something I almost never say. Glad to see her do a circular step sequences for the first time in her career, but I wish it was something interesting to watch (made me think about the differences between that and her "Scheherezade" or "Danse Macabre" footwork). Music editing was incoherent. More of a technical program than an artistic one but more artistic than Gershwin surprisingly. "On My Own" was the best part of the program. Great ending pose though.​
C+
2013-2014

"Send in the Clowns"​
I think this music requires more upper-body restraint and control than Kim has been trained and choreographed to do. Wilson believes in extraneous arm movements just short of windmill arms. Leg line issues are back to distracting me here. The music does NOT call for a David Wilson face touch but he gives her two to do any way. A pleasant program.​
B-
"Adios Nonino"​
I still maintain she was robbed as was Kostner. With that out of the way, her most authentic long program since "The Lark Ascending". Most mature program from Kim with the most emotional depth. She was beautiful here from beginning to end. Perfect marriage of skater at that point of time in her life and music.​
A
ETA: I was told by @binbinwinwin that I needed to watch the Skate America version of the "James Bond" SP, so I did and yowza. That one was on fire. I added a rating to the SA performance.
 
Last edited:

VGThuy

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Messages
41,020
I'm trying to figure out which skater to do next. Maybe I should just do a variety of different skaters next time.
 

Spun Silver

Well-Known Member
Messages
12,130
I'm trying to figure out which skater to do next. Maybe I should just do a variety of different skaters next time.
Oh come on. You know you want to do the Shibs! šŸ˜… It won't prevent them from coming back if they want to.
PS: I'm enjoying your reflections and this thread a lot.
 

VGThuy

Well-Known Member
Messages
41,020
Oh come on. You know you want to do the Shibs! šŸ˜… It won't prevent them from coming back if they want to.
PS: I'm enjoying your reflections and this thread a lot.

I actually want someone else to do the Shibs. I think it'd be more fun that way for me.

I know you love Klimova & Ponomarenko. Don't be put rating their programs just because I did so a little while ago.

I was thinking about doing them some time in the future.

I had no intention of making this thread into the VIETgrlTerifa's Program Review column, and was hoping other people would participate too. I am happy @gk_891 did, and hope others feel compelled to join the fun.
 

VGThuy

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Anyway, I probably won't have time to do this until the weekend at the earliest, but I think Gilles/Poirier will be my next go around and maybe the 2017-2018 SDs.
 

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