- Joined
- Sep 10, 2009
He-he. The true aide-de-camp!Priceless moments for me: Mr. Watanabe (Dai's physical trainer) at 7:01!
He-he. The true aide-de-camp!Priceless moments for me: Mr. Watanabe (Dai's physical trainer) at 7:01!
Daisuke's FS... regardless of my criticism of the choreography, that guy IS a bonafide skating God!! This is undoubtedly the best Men's best FS I have seen or experienced all season. I practically had a weird existential experience overall watching Dai on this occasion like no other. I don't know about others, but during the step sequences, I suddenly became overwhelmed with an heartache that completely shook and surprised the heck out of me. After the rest of my logical senses caught up, I figured this is why Dai is the greatest most watchable male performer! He has the soul of the true artist. They can do that with the slightest touch when they are at ease with themselves and not seem to try so hard.
Last year, he took a rudimentary and repetitive piece of music to show case his expressions, versatility and commanding presence. This year he picked Morozov and did something on the surface of it feels quite generic and streamlined. Unlike others who have consistently pick music that complement them and hide their weaknesses, Dai seems deliberately handicap himself to challenge how much further he can push beyond one self. He absolutely got the music, the essence of music, the artistry of skating and did a masterclass of making the better than what is on the paper. Just a stunning skater, wonderful performer, a class of his own. Thank you for exist Daisuke Takahashi. If it is up to me, You should have got the Gold today based on what I saw today, which can not be measured by COP, its maths can not do it justice.
Dai's interview at World Figure Skating #56. Maybe smb. in the internet will make a fancier translation later:
Pics: http://twitpic.com/e/2kvw
Thanks so much, Deedee! Reading Os168's commentary again is such a pleasure. I think I agree with the idea that great skating artists are somehow at ease even in competition. They seem to know that they're in the place where they belong. Their skating isn't just for points. There's a lovely quote from the actress Tyne Daly. She makes a comment in answer to the old adage that a lot of stage acting is about breathing. The meaning of the adage is of course that an actor must, like a singer, learn breath control techniques. Tyne Daly said that she thinks of breath control this way instead: "I control when the audience stops breathing and when they start again." I think on some level a truly great skater controls our breath as we watch. It may be subjective--some of us will forget to breathe for one skater, whereas for others of us it will be another skater. But such skaters are very rare.
What a lovely quote Olympia. Funny enough, I saw Tyne Daly as Maria Callas in 'MasterClass' the stage play in London around April this year. I just love her and how she grew her career and matured as a stage actor from her Cagney and Lacy days. I didn't know what to expect, but I found her riveting, divine and beautifully heart breaking and ugly at the same time. Exactly what I'd like from my Callas fanfiction of my imagination and some more
About Dai, I absolutely agree the apparent effortless is what stood him as a master vs a student of learning where all the efforts are visible. Patrick with the right program can appear masterful but have not yet the maturity (other than stunning skating techniques) or range of work to be tested. Hanyu with the right program like Romeo and Juliet where the effort can become part of the performance and it is perfectly moving, but the real master are the ones who can make anything work and unafraid to try, experiment and even to fail. Sometimes the sport is too calculated towards COP maths, it failed to address the unquantifiable that is in critical and priceless in art. Dai rules supreme in his era in artistry and most importantly the philosophy and approach to artistry very well.
Kawai! Unlike foreigners Japanese skaters seldom kiss flower girls. The culture is different. But not this time. Maybe Dai wants to marry a Russian wife . (What a damn that I am married already .)And this is the Christmas gift to all Daisuke fans in the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94XXyUkSi7c
What Miyamoto is doing there with that stuff? www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsT2hbMhCQI
HAPPY NEW YEAR, DAi! :yay:
But it's not like he is talking much about his retirement except saying that he will retire after Sochi. He again says that Sochi is his main target and has been the one since he decided to continue in 2011. Vancouver became the past, and Sochi is the future. That Moscow Wolds was like a new start of a new life stage and now he has one year left to accomplish his aims. He realizes that there are younger competitors, and he is aware of necessity to stay strong to be able to compete and perform 2 quads in FS. He mentioned GPF where he won, and that is the start of the final loop (from to Sochi) to Sochi.The latest Dai's interview with NHK this morning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtfmIL3xImI
Hope there is someone very kind enough to translate it to English. (sorry I just can't, cause he talks about Sochi and his retirement. It's too hard/heartbreaking for me to do translatation...)
Deedee1, do you seriously believe that Dai will completely retired from skating after Sochi?
When Dai is off ice, why can't he be as cool as whenever he is on ice???
I love how he can be so dorky off ice it's super endearing.