2026 Olympic Season | Music Suggestions

[Lamente Ariane]

Once rock music has been mentioned, may I suggest, well... a Nightwish medley?

The intro has to be from Planet Hell - I can absolutely see a skater speeding up and - boom - quad!

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the vocals should rather follow from a different piece, a comparatively lyrical one (take a breath, do middle-program spins), let's say Nemo:

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Then, for the second part jumps, climax and ending - this should be of course an excerpt from Over the Hills and Far Away, the best know Nightwish piece - yes, I know, it's a cover

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I’ve been thinking for years someone with powerful skating and explosive jumps should skate to Bless the Child!

 

[FaustinaF]

I love your suggestions!! Wonderful ideas from all of you

 

[Lamente Ariane]

Also, as much as I enjoyed Stellato/Deschamps’ Interview with the Vampire program last year I have to point out that they didn’t use my favorite track from that score, which is still up for grabs if anyone else wants to go for it…

Claudia’s theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiQndEQXf-E

 

[DancingCactus]

I'll take pre 2000s rock music, video game music, animemusic, movie music...anything but the usual warhorses, whiny balads, lyrical classic stuff, pseudo- intellectual voice overs, pseudo rock... hell, I'd take some Wagner even. Something with some oomph.

 

[Karoltyna]

you know there's a metal version of Solveig song? or better a cover with lyrics (that have nothing to do with Grieg)

Did you hear what Sir Christoper Lee did to Torreadors March?

 

[Magill]

Not so much a suggestion as a guess. I wonder if anyone goes for the Bow And Arrow, the newest skating hit by Japanese star Kenshi Yonezu, which is the opening song for the ongoing Disney Plus skating anime "The Medalist". The series is very popular, the song speaks directly about skating and is currently at No 6 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 List while the music video showing Kenshi Yonezu singing and Yuzuru Hanyu skating to it has been No 1 on Japanese YouTube hitting no less than 10 million views within 10 days.

Another video showing Yuzuru skating a full SP to it with a competitive layout has just been published like two days ago (and is sitting by now comfortably at No 2 on the Japanese YouYube Most Watched list, just behind their joint video with Kenshi which is No 1). Yuzu explained the song has a perfect length for an SP so, having been given full artistic freedom as to how to perform it, he took the opportunity. But, of course, he is not coming back to competitions so the song is up for grabs and I wonder if anyone goes for it. Mind you, for those willing, they might even try to negotiate with Yuzu using his choreo as it is all ready, with 4 Lz, 3A and 4S-3T layout from the back-to-back Olympic champion!
The song's speed might be a bit of a challenge though, it is pretty fast! Otherwise....
I recall Yuri On Ice soundtrack was present there on the Olympic ice for Pyeongchang Olympics, and despite not medalling it is still there on the Olympic channel, so I am really curious if anyone picks this one up, especially from among the youngest skaters.
For those interested, both videos are linked below - the first one is the full SP by Yuzu, and below the music video with the footage of Kenshi singing and Yuzu skating interchanging.

 

[Anna K.]

As far as I know, Susumu Hirasawa's music has never been skated to, which is surprising indeed. Knowing how strict the copyright law is in Japan, I wonder if he has refused his permission? If this is the case, I'd like to:
thank him deeply because knowing his themes, they would have been most likely warhorsed to death by this day;
to pray for somebody to approach him with a creative choreography idea (Mr Hirasawa is a creative person, so it needs to be) for a top skater/pair asking him for exclusive rights to perform because something sad happened during this Olympic quad, the great manga artist Kentaro Miura (author of the Berserk manga, to the 1997 anime version of which Hirasawa wrote music) sadly passed away, and skating to the equally great Hirasawa's soundtrack at the Olympic Games would make a fantastic tribute.

The most delicious suggested piece is, of course, the main characters theme:

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Also, the Earth theme has a similar vibe, it may be added in a medley or used separately:

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and similarly the Behelit theme:

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Or, in a different approach, a program could be built on extracts from the Murder theme (the piece is long, slowly building), since the manga itself is not all roses, it is in fact a piece of dark fantasy classics:

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maybe Forces could be mixed in for more energy and fight:

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But what am I talking about, the whole soundtrack is great

I even like the opening and ending songs that were not written by Hirasawa; while the opening is divisive, most anime fans hate it for being "different style" (I like it because this "different style" is punk rock, ha ha), the ending could absolutely be a skating piece that would make a great Berserk tribute if Hirasawa's music was not available. Here's the full version of song:

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[Weathergal]

I would have picked Edvard Grieg - In the Hall of the Mountain King is such a good piece to skate too. Solveig song as well

I love Grieg and wish more skaters would use his music.

Michal Brzezina skated to "In the Hall of the Mountain King," albeit a modernized version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00xaIEojmuc

 

[ladyjane]

I just can't help myself. A man or pairs could do a programme to this lovely piece by Murray Gold 'the dark and endless Dalek night' (and yes, I am a Doctor Who fan) from series 4 (2008). We've seen Star Wars and Dune programmes, why not from my one of my favourite series?

 

[ladyjane]

Another mighty favourite would be some pieces of music from the soundtrack of Robin of Sherwood. There is quite some choice, as it takes more than a half hour in total. Most of the Robin Hood programmes are from 'the prince of thieves' but personally I am more into the 80s serial (1984-1986 to be precise) and the wonderful music from Clannad.

 

[ladyjane]

Or the recently launched missing numbers form season 3 of Robin of Sherwood (with Jason Connery as Robin) with some lovely additional nummers by Clannad. Press on the right for the various numbers.

 

[DancingCactus]

Okay if someone really skated a Berserk themed program, I would sell them my non existant children. Although that program would be NSFW work various reasons. Also, I don't think any figure skater would make a convincing Guts based on physical presence.
Hm, maybe a pairs program with the guy being Guts and the woman being the sword?

 

[Anna K.]

Okay if someone really skated a Berserk themed program, I would sell them my non existant children.

You won't be the only one...

Hm, maybe a pairs program with the guy being Guts and the woman being the sword?

Nah, the woman can't be taller than the man in pairs

Why not Ryuichi Kihara as Guts in a romantic theme with Riku Miura as Casca though?

 

[DancingCactus]

I'm not convinced...

 

[elektra blue]

Or Mischa Maisky with Gavotte from Flames of Paris .

Flames of Paris has been among my skating wishes for years!

Is it as good as the surf rock version of Swan Lake?

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you tell me

the vocals should rather follow from a different piece, a comparatively lyrical one (take a breath, do middle-program spins), let's say Nemo:

i second this with my blood (in a pentacle, of course )

I just can't help myself. A man or pairs could do a programme to this lovely piece by Murray Gold 'the dark and endless Dalek night' (and yes, I am a Doctor Who fan) from series 4 (2008). We've seen Star Wars and Dune programmes, why not from my one of my favourite series?

you know i started to see every Rasputin program as a Doctor Who program

Okay if someone really skated a Berserk themed program, I would sell them my non existant children. Although that program would be NSFW work various reasons. Also, I don't think any figure skater would make a convincing Guts based on physical presence.
Hm, maybe a pairs program with the guy being Guts and the woman being the sword?

Gatsu and Grifis

ps i have another suggestion, also another one of my etnarnal skating wishes, Pink Floyd - Confortably Numb and Wish you were here. do i even need to link those two monuments of modern music?

 

[TallyT]

Not so much a suggestion as a guess. I wonder if anyone goes for the Bow And Arrow, the newest skating hit by Japanese star Kenshiu Yonezu, which is the opening song for the ongoing Disney Plus skating anime "The Medalist". The series is very popular, the song speaks directly about skating and is currently at No 6 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 List while the music video showing Kenshiu Yonezu singing and Yuzuru Hanyu skating to it has been No 1 on Japanese YouTube hitting no less than 10 million views within 10 days.

Another video showing Yuzuru skating a full SP to it with a competitive layout has just been published like two days ago. Yuzu explained the song has a perfect length for an SP so, having been given full artistic freedom as to how to perform it, he took the opportunity. But, of course, he is not coming back to competitions so the song is up for grabs and I wonder if anyone goes for it. Mind you, for those willing, they might even try to negotiate with Yuzu using his choreo as it is all ready, with 4 Lz, 3A and 4S-3T layout from the back-to-back Olympic champion!
The song's speed might be a bit of a challenge though, it is pretty fast! Otherwise....
I recall Yuri On Ice soundtrack was present there on the Olympic ice for Pyeongchang Olympics, and despite not medalling it is still there on the Olympic channel, so I am really curious if anyone picks this one up, especially from among the youngest skaters.
For those interested, both videos are linked below - the first one is the full SP by Yuzu, and below the music video with the footage of Kenshi singing and Yuzu skating interchanging.

I think Bow and Arrow would be good for an extremely confident senior skater and it might bring quite a bit of attention for the very large fandoms for the anime and the (hugely popular) singer. The theme for Yuri on Ice I have also found a very young song, so would be great for juniors.

Really, anime and Asian dramas (most of which have theme songs for every major character), like game soundtracks, are a vastly untapped source of both music and attention from these big fandoms. Yuzu's use of the latter in his shows was applauded by some of the creators (the reclusive creator of Undertale even went to see it, and his social media reaction was read by all the game's fans). These sources of music may not be Chopin or Beethoven but they are already loved. And may very well be less expensive than pop/rock (with the current mess on music rights and costs, something to think about).

 

[DancingCactus]

That makes me think that a Witcher 3 program about Geralt and Ciri would be great for a brother and sister team. No romance required, but still very strong emotions and some of the best music in video games.

 

[iluvtodd]

I love Grieg and wish more skaters would use his music.

Michal Brzezina skated to "In the Hall of the Mountain King," albeit a modernized version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00xaIEojmuc

Just for the record, Kurt Browning also skated to "In the Hall of the Mountain King" in one of the SOI shows (have to check the year), as well as in a "Halloween on Ice" show we attended.

 

[Magill]

I think Bow and Arrow would be good for an extremely confident senior skater and it might bring quite a bit of attention for the very large fandoms for the anime and the (hugely popular) singer. The theme for Yuri on Ice I have also found a very young song, so would be great for juniors.

Really, anime and Asian dramas (most of which have theme songs for every major character), like game soundtracks, are a vastly untapped source of both music and attention from these big fandoms. Yuzu's use of the latter in his shows was applauded by some of the creators (the reclusive creator of Undertale even went to see it, and his social media reaction was read by all the game's fans). These sources of music may not be Chopin or Beethoven but they are already loved. And may very well be less expensive than pop/rock (with the current mess on music rights and costs, something to think about).

Oh, I agree it would take an extra confident skater to go compete with a program made literally viral by a skater of Yuzuru's format and popularity, but this is mostly if we think of single men skaters. And, of course, it could be presented and perceived as a tribute which could take a bit of the burden off their shoulders. But actually, I imagine it could be a great piece for a female skater, too. That is, as long as she can speed across the ice as this is pretty fast and there is no escape from it, no matter the discipline.
In more general terms, though, we all know skaters worry so much about the perception of judges when choosing their music, and I wonder if anime and game music - especially with non-English vocals - is not simply perceived as more risky choice vs the simplicity of going for "Malade" once again. I would love to hear more of it around the rinks, though. I guess you're right it could also attract other fandoms' interest in FS, and the younger ones, to whom disco and such will never appeal. Missed opportunity, that is. Would ISU consider, for example, making game and anime music an official "theme" for ID's RD one of these seasons and would you think it a good idea? It would introduce the music to broader circle of skaters, coaches and FS choreographers, and also give it an official welcome "nod" from the judges that it is ok to use it for competitions for those who might need it. Any weak sides you can think of?

 

[Anna K.]

Oh, I agree it would take an extra confident skater to go compete with a program made literally viral by a skater of Yuzuru's format and popularity,

Even if we consider that "fans only" format is a synonym to "literally viral" (which I doubt but it's just me), there are two things:
1) these are show programs, which is a format very different from a competitive program;
2) Yuzuru will not compete in 2026 OGs.
So why should any skater care? And why to yuzuspam this topic anyway?