Yuzuru Hanyu: 2014-15 Season

[Fer]

A little disappointed but still hope for the best. Jeffery will choreograph a lot of programs next season so it's not a bad thing to have a choreographer who can pay more attention to Yuzu's LP and make it unique?
The programs Shaelynn made for females skaters are really good I think. Although I really really hope Yuzu chooses a different style of music for LP this time. I will pray

 

[hamaguri]

I hope he could work with Pasquale Kamerlengo, maybe...

Very much so! I know the possibility is low…

In last year’s FaOI Makuhari, Kamerlengo choreographed for yuzu for the first time (Ienaiyo).
It was a light program for show without difficult elements, but it really took advantage of his perfect shape. Especially, the pose like ballet is my favorite! (around 1:35)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRfI_qeUuEU

 

[daphenaxa]

well I would have preferred he tried a new choreographer to experiment more. But i am ok if he keeps Shae Lynn.
I am a bit surprised with the consensus here against POTO. I personally adored this program, I really think it was a defining program for him in terms of style. It seems to me that he kind of has found the style he wants to go for. It is more manly, more mature and still dramatic but more nuanced and refined than his previous skates in terms of both emotions and moves.
It is funny because I just recently saw the TSL interview with Bourne where she talks about choreographing for Yuzu and she said he wanted to show that he had strength and weight to his skating and I think she really got him and managed to do that. It really transpired to me with this program that he was a man on the ice this year and less a boy going through the motions.
Regarding the transitions... well to be honest I prefer that he doesn't overpack his program with them just to say he has them, for example like Javi does in his program. His program is too busy, it makes it look sloppy and eventually just goes against the feeling of a complete piece of art. It just feels like different elements assembled together to get maximum points. Whereas for Yuzu unlike last year and even more the year before, where it was really obvious, it felt like a complete program and not just the some of its parts.

 

[unico]

He sets challenges for himself. But I don’t think he ever sets unrealistic challenges for himself. I think he plans the most difficult layout that he believes he can skate clean given his abilities. (So this season his LP was simplified due to the difficult circumstances he had. He did skate a clean LP at WC 2014.) His mentality is probably the same regardless of whether he is the challenger or the defender. His layout for both the SP and LP at the last olympic season (2013-2014) is very similar to the layout used in the season before (2012-2013). (He didn’t skate very clean in the 2012-2013 season.) It’s very likely that he will have the same/similar layout in the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 season. (My guess is that his goal is to have 2 quad SP and 3 quad LP by the next Olympics.) But I believe that’s because it’s very difficult to skate his planned layout cleanly by 2016-2017 yet. So he will repeat the layouts in the next season. If he does skate the planned layout perfectly every time in 2016-2017 (probably very unlikely), I believe he will upgrade the difficulty even in the Olympic season. (It probably won’t happen because I don’t think he can skate those ambitious programs perfectly and regularly by 2016-2017 yet.)

Exactly, that was my point, there is a limit to how far he can challenge himself before it is unreasonable. He really hasn't performed 4T/4S free programs cleanly at all from 2012/2013 -> 2013/2014 -> 2014/2015, so that why I disagreed with "once he performs it clean, he challenges further". I think it's more that regardless of consistency in competition, he will continue to challenge to find his own limits (which I also agree is around 2 quad SP and 3 quad LP) in time for 2018 where I absolutely do not think he'll add more content for the Olympic season, unless his best is not good enough to win and he needs the BV to challenge (which I doubt, that is a lot of content). The Olympics is the worst time to have a sloppy performance and win, let alone repeat your OGM by winning with relatively poor performances twice, so to challenge new jump content the Olympic season is... asking for trouble.

Edit: I forgot that Bourne did Abbott's SP 'A Day in the Life'. Watch, and enjoy.

 

[Meoima]

I think Shae-Lynn is a good choice, much better than David Wilson.

If you asked me, I hate POTO musicals, I hate the cheesy concept, the poor music and everything that goes with it, I never think POTO can bring something decent to any program at all. I think Shae Lynn has done a great job with that horrendous material. And in the end I think Yuzuru got a decent program, decent choreography with the worst music of all. So that's a huge effort from Shae-Lynn.

And Yuzuru has shown a new side which brings out more "weight", "power" to his skate. So maybe this time Shae will give us something new. I really like her programs this seasons, from Ashley LP to W/P free dance. They are all decent and memorable.

I don't have problem if this time he chooses musical again, because there are ton of way to make good programs from musical with cleaver music cuts.

And I don't get why everyone think Lambiel is a good choice for Yuzuru. I never see Lambiel's choreography for anyone remarkable at all except the one Lambiel did for himself. Lambiel is not that good at choreography for other skaters honestly.

 

[daphenaxa]

I am not sure what Lambiel has choreographed and for who so I can't judge really. But yeah I think people are saying Lambiel in regards of his own programs. Which you know, are fine... I am not a big Lambiel fan tbh lol
And omg David Wilson. Seriously. I know a lot of people love him but I mean. A lot of his programs are quite... bad? I mean this "Notre dame de Paris" one for Yuzu 2 years ago. I am still uncomfortable thinking about it. Romeo 2.0 was a bit better but that was honestly difficult to do worse!
I hope he DOESN'T choose a musical next year. I would like him to have just a slight more sophistication and musicals are inherently a bit cheesy

 

[Hanmgse]

I'm kind of lost. So is it confirmed he'll work with her ? I actually like the idea if that's the case. They've worked together already and I liked POTO a lot. Honestly I worry more about his music choice LOL.

 

[firal]

I'm kind of lost. So is it confirmed he'll work with her ? I actually like the idea if that's the case. They've worked together already and I liked POTO a lot. Honestly I worry more about his music choice LOL.

According to the person behind the tweet, she will be posting the interview with Brian Orser on ice network in coming days. (I was scanning through twitter and saw someone replied to her original tweet, asking where s/he can see the article). So I guess we might find out more!

 

[Meoima]

I am not sure what Lambiel has choreographed and for who so I can't judge really. But yeah I think people are saying Lambiel in regards of his own programs. Which you know, are fine... I am not a big Lambiel fan tbh lol
And omg David Wilson. Seriously. I know a lot of people love him but I mean. A lot of his programs are quite... bad? I mean this "Notre dame de Paris" one for Yuzu 2 years ago. I am still uncomfortable thinking about it. Romeo 2.0 was a bit better but that was honestly difficult to do worse!
I hope he DOESN'T choose a musical next year. I would like him to have just a slight more sophistication and musicals are inherently a bit cheesy

Lambiel has choreographed for Machida sometimes ago, then for some ladies like Liza Tuk and Korean skaters. I saw nothing special in those choreography. They're not bad, but not something stellar or memorable to begin with. I think Lambiel's choreography only works for himself.
David Wilson is actually not a bad choice for SP, he did some great job with Daisuke's garden of soul. But well I hope it's Jeff again for Yuzuru SP.
And people who complain about Yuzuru POTO should take a look at Kanako's LP, or Mura's. I'd say no one can make masterpiece from that terrible musical. What Sae-Lynn has done is a phenomenal effort and it paid off, I think from now own there will many people continue watching Yuzuru POTO.
Glad to know it's Shae-Lynn, not David Wilson.

 

[TheGrandSophy]

I think all these possible LP choreographers have some hits and some relative misses. So, although difficult, one has to just wait and see really. S-L may choreograph something really special or it may be slightly more humdrum. Fingers crossed for the first.

 

[Sorrento]

Lambiel has choreographed for Machida sometimes ago, then for some ladies like Liza Tuk and Korean skaters. I saw nothing special in those choreography. They're not bad, but not something stellar or memorable to begin with. I think Lambiel's choreography only works for himself.
David Wilson is actually not a bad choice for SP, he did some great job with Daisuke's garden of soul. But well I hope it's Jeff again for Yuzuru SP.
And people who complain about Yuzuru POTO should take a look at Kanako's LP, or Mura's. I'd say no one can make masterpiece from that terrible musical. What Sae-Lynn has done is a phenomenal effort and it paid off, I think from now own there will many people continue watching Yuzuru POTO.
Glad to know it's Shae-Lynn, not David Wilson.

Lambiel also worked with Akiko Suzuki, Denis Ten, Daisuke Takahashi, Florent Amodio and last season he worked with Michal Brezina (who said he is going to work with Lambiel again because he loves the elegance Stephane brings on ice) and with a dance team Zhiganshina-Gazsi. And let's just say that he helped them all to polish their performances, Denis's spins have improved so much, same goes to Tatsuki Machida. Every single skater who worked with Stephane contributed from that. He may not be the best choreographer just yet in comparison to the big names but he is just the beginner, okay. He may become a stellar one for the others, he may not, we shall see. Anyways as long as he has his own FS school- he will not disappear from FS arena.
One more thing: when you say nothing special you have to also keep in mind that every skater who does a program has to also live it and bring his or her own personality into the program that is created by someone else. And if the performer can't do that for whatever reason (lack of skill, knowledge, maturity)- it is not only choreographer's fault, it's just lack of symbiose of these two- the creator and the performer.
My fav POTO of all time is by Akiko Suzuki, it was a marvellous one. To me that program sold me the musical totally. Even though I will not be a fan of this kind of music, it is just not my cup of whatever you like to drink.
And I think that it's actually quite interesting what may come from a second year collaboration. It may be a success, it can also be a failure. But it's not like the next season is decisive in his future developments. So- another experiment. Let's

 

[Lindacrow]

I think in this case, Shae will be better. As much as I would love Buttle to do a LP for Yuzu, he is doing a lot of skaters programs next season and he will be busy, so its good to have a choreographer that will have more focus towards him. I do hope Buttle does Yuzu's SP though!

 

[Sorrento]

Very much so! I know the possibility is low…

In last year’s FaOI Makuhari, Kamerlengo choreographed for yuzu for the first time (Ienaiyo).
It was a light program for show without difficult elements, but it really took advantage of his perfect shape. Especially, the pose like ballet is my favorite! (around 1:35)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRfI_qeUuEU

You know... lots of the programs that are skated to the live vocals are basically "beautifull skating to the music that is played", they are so generic, very much the same, hard to remember and... boring to me, no matter who choreo's them. Big name, new name, no name- you name it. Very few skaters have an outstanding EX number in their career. That is why I do prefer programs for competitions and those created for the show do not impress me much. Sorry, I just state my own opinion, you don't have to agree with me at all.

 

[Sorrento]

More than not wanting Carmen the only choice that would truly, truly, kill me (okay, being melodramatic here) is BOLERO...

I would also hate it if they choose Tango Roxanne, I'm fed up with this music, ugh. I think Patrick should do Bolero the next season. To show those Russians how it should be performed.

 

[Sorrento]

Now that I've mentioned Suzuki and Hanyu's "feather-like" skating in one post, I'm imagining a bird-like program like Suzuki's 'O'. I mean, yes it was choreographed by Camerlengo, but he and Bourne work very closely so, well : Nevermind.

I fell in love with Akiko's skating for the last four or five years of her skating career, she became so artistic and she was consistent and brough so much soft and elegant energy to the ice. Really miss her in competitions.

 

[hamaguri]

You know... lots of the programs that are skated to the live vocals are basically "beautifull skating to the music that is played", they are so generic, very much the same, hard to remember and... boring to me, no matter who choreo's them. Big name, new name, no name- you name it. Very few skaters have an outstanding EX number in their career. That is why I do prefer programs for competitions and those created for the show do not impress me much. Sorry, I just state my own opinion, you don't have to agree with me at all.

I understand what you said. Thank you for your comment!

 

[Terrapin]

well I would have preferred he tried a new choreographer to experiment more. But i am ok if he keeps Shae Lynn.
I am a bit surprised with the consensus here against POTO. I personally adored this program, I really think it was a defining program for him in terms of style. It seems to me that he kind of has found the style he wants to go for. It is more manly, more mature and still dramatic but more nuanced and refined than his previous skates in terms of both emotions and moves.
It is funny because I just recently saw the TSL interview with Bourne where she talks about choreographing for Yuzu and she said he wanted to show that he had strength and weight to his skating and I think she really got him and managed to do that. It really transpired to me with this program that he was a man on the ice this year and less a boy going through the motions.
Regarding the transitions... well to be honest I prefer that he doesn't overpack his program with them just to say he has them, for example like Javi does in his program. His program is too busy, it makes it look sloppy and eventually just goes against the feeling of a complete piece of art. It just feels like different elements assembled together to get maximum points. Whereas for Yuzu unlike last year and even more the year before, where it was really obvious, it felt like a complete program and not just the some of its parts.

I totally agree with you. I remember being enchanted by what I had seen last summer during the training session and I am sure that had Yuzu have the opportunity to get back to Shae Lynn to polish the programme it would have been stunning. Contrary to when he skated to ND here Yuzu has a real connection to the music (which you could particularly see at COC for example) and as you say Shae Lynn managed to give more weight to his skating without getting rid of his natural lightness. As it is now the programme felt a bit empty because of these transitions missing and Yuzu holding back to be sure to skate clean till the end. But his POTO was till a hundred times better than Mura's or Kanako's long (that felt more like pieces put together without real sense of unity) and a thousand times better than Javier's Barber of Sevilla. Gosh this programme felt way too busy and just packed with content for the points, it made me miss Javier's long from last year so much!
I'm actually quite excited to see what new ideas are going to come out of this new collaboration with Shae-Lynn and I'm really relieved Yuzu doesn't go back to David Wilson. His choreographies just didn't suit Yuzu's style at all! Which is quite a shame because I have the impression they get along quite well and that Yuzu trusts him a lot.

 

[Meoima]

Lambiel also worked with Akiko Suzuki, Denis Ten, Daisuke Takahashi, Florent Amodio and last season he worked with Michal Brezina (who said he is going to work with Lambiel again because he loves the elegance Stephane brings on ice) and with a dance team Zhiganshina-Gazsi. And let's just say that he helped them all to polish their performances, Denis's spins have improved so much, same goes to Tatsuki Machida. Every single skater who worked with Stephane contributed from that. He may not be the best choreographer just yet in comparison to the big names but he is just the beginner, okay. He may become a stellar one for the others, he may not, we shall see. Anyways as long as he has his own FS school- he will not disappear from FS arena.
One more thing: when you say nothing special you have to also keep in mind that every skater who does a program has to also live it and bring his or her own personality into the program that is created by someone else. And if the performer can't do that for whatever reason (lack of skill, knowledge, maturity)- it is not only choreographer's fault, it's just lack of symbiose of these two- the creator and the performer.
My fav POTO of all time is by Akiko Suzuki, it was a marvellous one. To me that program sold me the musical totally. Even though I will not be a fan of this kind of music, it is just not my cup of whatever you like to drink.
And I think that it's actually quite interesting what may come from a second year collaboration. It may be a success, it can also be a failure. But it's not like the next season is decisive in his future developments. So- another experiment. Let's

Certainly I love Lambiel as a person and as a skater. If he works with Yuzuru and helps Yuzuru with some spin position that would be great. But overall his choreography until now, I don't know... i think the range is very limited and I don't know if Yuzuru'/ bombastic style fit Lambiel style too much.

About Shae Lynn, well look at all those POTO this season, I think Yuzuru POTO is the least terrible of them all ha ha. It's actually a decent program, just the voice is too terrible. Yuzuru is also someone hard to work with. It's not easy to earn his trust. Yet this time he seems to be pleased with POTO, and now he is doing another LP with Shae-Lynn, I expect the program to be more natural. The point is Yuzuru seems to trust her. They can produce something decent again.

I don't hope for masterpiece, honestly, but I think it will be decent. After all I have been in the phase anyone but David Wilson. :sarcasm:

 

[Sorrento]

About Shae Lynn, well look at all those POTO this season, I think Yuzuru POTO is the least terrible of them all ha ha.

I love that voice!I know it's not perfect vocally but as per giving the image of a Phantom Yuzu wanted to portray- it fits to me as a glove. And I think there's a different reason for Yuzu coming back to Shae-Lynn. He believes he did not do justice to her work as his POTO wasn't perfect last season. So in order to pay respect to her he is going to work with her yet again to show the new LP in full glory. Let's wait and see what he says himself about it. I am kind of curios if I got his mind.

 

[Sorrento]

I'm really relieved Yuzu doesn't go back to David Wilson. His choreographies just didn't suit Yuzu's style at all! Which is quite a shame because I have the impression they get along quite well and that Yuzu trusts him a lot.

You see... Yuzu might experiment with the others and then get back to work with David again, for Olympics. You never know...
And I agree with you that his POTO was actually a more mature program than his previous ones. But he had also grown into a young man and of course he looks and impress in a different way now. I think that as long as he connects himself to the music- the programs would be awesome to watch. Let's hope this would be the case for the upcoming seasons. I really want him to enjoy what he skates to during competitions.