What makes an Olympic Program an Olympic Program?

[moonvine]

I often hear statements like “that’s not an Olympic program” or “now that’s an Olympic program.”
What makes a program “an Olympic program” or “not an Olympic program” to you?

For me it is quite simple. If a skater skates it at the Olympics - It’s an Olympic program. If they don’t - It’s not an Olympic program.

If Keegan (please dear skating Gods) skates his LP to “Mountain Song” at the Olympics - It’s an Olympic program in my opinion.

What say you?

 

[rabidline]

NESSUN DOOOOOOOOORMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

I'm with you, LOL. If a skater skates it at the Olympics - It’s an Olympic program. If they don’t - It’s not an Olympic program.

 

[Arriba627]

I prefer to see something with some emotion to it, some highs and lows, nothing sappy that drones on and on, and no voiceovers. I'm fine with war horses.

 

[4everchan]

It is a matter of personal taste but to me, it is when there is an emotional climax

 

[streams4dreams]

NESSUN DOOOOOOOOORMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

What do you mean?? Look at this gem, skated at the Olympics


Joking aside, I also see this very literally, and consider every program skated at the Olympics an Olympics program. That said, although I wouldn't call any program "not an Olympics program", I did have a strong reaction when I first saw Amber Glenn's short this year of "now, this is an Olympics program!" Not really sure why though, could be in part that she just unapologetically bought into Madonna, could be the choral bits, could be the step sequence that the crowd can get behind. Unlike @Arriba627's answer, I feel these reasons are very specific to this program, and would not necessarily make me feel that way about another. It is a very interesting question though, and I look forward to reading other thoughts!

 

[TallyT]

Yes, any program skated at the Olympics is by textbook definition an Olympic program. However, there are programs, programs, programs and

and I think most people have

with stars and bells and sparkles, thrills and chills (but please, not spills) in their subconscious when saying that someone's program isn't. This is after all, for pretty much all except a handful of skaters, their one moment to shine on a big international stage and I do think they want (and we want for them) to absolutely be the most memorable 'them' they can be, to have the biggest and best chance to make the audience and their country cheer and remember, to (if even in a small way as number 4 in the second or third group) to shine. The right - or wrong - choice of program and music can be crucial.

 

[DancingCactus]

I agree, the program has to have an emotional arc. Nothing worse than one note droning or relentlessly cheerful without any ups and downs. Personally I think neither Madonna nor BSB are Olympia worthy in any iteration.

Also, Nessun dorma all the time every time

 

[Arigato]

Come on, now. Haven't you ever heard a song and known it was going to win song of the year at the Grammy's? I did. And it won. Every Breathe You Take by The Police. Well, haven't you ever seen a program and said that program belongs at the Olympics? I did. But I assure you the program didn't include a voiceover telling me: "You know nothing."

 

[Mathman]

I think that @Tally T has the right idea (post #6 above). When we say "Olympic program," usually this is shorthand for "a program of such excellence that it is worthy of being presented at the Olympics -- the premier showcase of competitive figure skating."

As for Nessun Dorma, this is great music. We have many examples of great programs to this music and also of flat and boring programs to the same music, so this is a different question. Plus, a skater might have a great program but not deliver a great performance of that program.

Shizuka Arakawa at 2004 Worlds and Shen and Zhao at 2003 Worlds are examples of performances set to the music of Nessun Dorma that was -- well, World Championship-worthy.

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

Of course we're not in the mind of the skaters, but I think that some skaters may want to skate to a music which resonates deeply with them, but which will be hermetic to most viewers, and this triggers "this is not an Olympic program" from these viewers, who can be fans. Of course I very much doubt that Daria Usacheva or anyone has ever been enthralled by Je suis malade yelled nuancelessly by [name edited], sometimes one really wonders the motivations of some program choosers.
I agree with the stars in the eyes factor, which of course is different for each viewer, you have classical music lovers and those who find it uniformly boring, metal lovers and those who find it inaudible, and the like. And there's the idea we each have of what the casual quadrennial Figure Skating watchers will watch, love and remember.

To complete the digression part, here's an audible version of Je Suis Malade, I think it's the original version:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[Marius]

I agree with most of the comments. When one think of an "Olympic Program" it's usually a program that has emotional highs and lows, a crescendo, a climax. IMO this is the perfect definition of Olympic Program (and it had its moment in Vancouver):

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

 

[Mathman]

When one think of an "Olympic Program" it's usually a program that has emotional highs and lows, a crescendo, a climax. IMO this is the perfect definition of Olympic Program (and it had its moment in Vancouver):

The costumes alone!

Here is another Olympics-worthy program from the same Games (2010).

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[jersey1302]

To me an olympic program means you're bringing championship worthy program or the program that is the best for you. That includes music choices that you thrive off of and music that the crowd can get into. It requires you to be fully invested in the program so you can sell to the rafters and the crowd can relate to and get into.

 

[drivingmissdaisy]

I rarely see their best choreographed programs from my favorite skaters at the Olympics. It's understandable though; the skaters are trying to compete with the best every year, and so you have to put out your best regularly and not "save" a program for an event which you might not even make it to. That said, Baiul's 1994 SP, Michelle's 1998 SP, Arakawa's 2006 LP, and Asada's 2014 LP were among the best programs those skaters put out at the Games and were truly "Olympic worthy".

 

[Mathematician]

I think it's just supposed to be impressive enough in whatever way to justify theoretically "spending" the most important medal there is on it. The medal which is only given every 4 years. Also, skating is orders of magnitude more popular at Olympics than otherwise, so its important to put your best foot forward to bring people in. The world is not in excess of skating fans right now unfortunately.

 

[TallyT]

When one think of an "Olympic Program" it's usually a program that has emotional highs and lows, a crescendo, a climax. IMO this is the perfect definition of Olympic Program (and it had its moment in Vancouver):

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtu.be

I agree with that program and the skaters but it does highlight the problem of pontificating on what makes Olympic worthy music, since these skaters and their costumes are glorious but to me 'Impossible Dream' is the equivalent of cheap and cheesy airport music and about as Olympic worthy as Chopsticks. (Ditto V/M's or pretty much anyone's Moulin Rouge, music to read third-rate bodice rippers too, but hey 25M views on youtube can't be all deaf can they?) Then you add in the generational aspect - these skaters are very very much younger than some of us and have very very different reactions to and tastes in music. The last few years, I can see - as in on my screen - quite a few of them who choose for had chosen for them Olympic Music Of The Classical Or Show variety visibly not really connecting with it.

 

[Arigato]

Philippe always put the audience first and they went nuts for his program at the Nagano OLYG. 1998. It's all about presentation here.

 

[discodisco]

Here's an interesting thought. When I heard that V&M we're going to be skating to Moulin Rouge for the 2018 olympics, I was so let down because I did not think that the music was good enough for them, so to speak but it was, in hindsight, good enough, and in fact perfect, for an Olympic Worthy program because it hit all the right emotions, it drew people in, and it has been remembered by so many people, fans and non-fans, because it had the perfect amount of drama and emotion and Sparkle and Technical brilliance to exist and be remembered under the Olympic lights.

 

[Mathman]

Here's an interesting thought. When I heard that V&M we're going to be skating to Moulin Rouge for the 2018 olympics, I was so let down because I did not think that the music was good enough for them, so to speak...

I agree with this sentiment. There is a difference between good music and a good figure skating program. If the only issue were "choose good "music" -- well, then your problems is solved. Choose good music.

But wait. What about the skating? To me, the music is like the loom on which the program is woven. The prpgram is the seqquence of figure skating moves that the performer executes.

To tell the truth, I am easy to please musically. Music should delight the ear. If it does anything else, too -- soothe the soul, stimulate the intellect, stir the emotions, get your feet to tapping -- yes, that's a bonus, as long as we don't get too far from the touchstone of charming the ear. That is why I tink that most any music is capable of supporting a marvelous figure skating program.

 

[viennaskater]

There are some programs which were skated at the Olympics which did not stand up to the rest of the field. Those ones are NOT Olympic programs. Usually it is a program which doesn't completely suit the skater's style, therefore they don't look comfortable, or if it's a music/theme which is too light and comical, unless the skater has that sort of character. And yes, there should be an emotional high point, which is why I think Stellato/Deschamps SP to Carmina Burana is Olympic-worthy (yes with the somersault!).