2016-2017 Programs by Discipline

[dorispulaski]

I love under pressure...and I love Queen, but I have yet to be totally satisfied with any of the Queen programs I've seen so far. The more I like a song or piece of music, the more demanding I am that the skater lives up to it.

Yes, that's true. I like that Under Pressure has some really interesting rhythms, and that Chock and Bates have a fine ability to hit the beats of music, a combo that has been mostly missing from ice dance since Davis & White and Virtue & Moir stopped competing. (skaters that have a great sense of rhythm coupled with music that has some interesting rhythms to challenge them.) There is a chance here for a really good, memorable program... or not, as always potential does not always become reality.

Freddie Mercury and David Bowie deserve a great ice dance memorial I agree that the great Queen program has not yet happened.

I think I trust Dean and am just excited Chock/Bates are moving away from unconvincing lust/romance territory and opening themselves up to another theme. I think Evan hasn't had the opportunity to explore his musical chops and Chock, with better direction and teaching her to dial it back a bit, has the potential to really give us something great.

From your computer to the skate gods ears.

 

[dorispulaski]

Of course, David Bowie's presence should be in the program!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUU67fcSKOU

From their twitter, I am sure David Bowie will be featured.

Chock & Bates ‏@chockbates
We're excited to announce our free dance this year will be to "Under Pressure" by #Queen and #DavidBowie! ️

 

[Hyena]

It worked really well for the Shibs to put in another Coldplay song to improve their overall "build" of their program. I wonder if Chock and Bates will do something similar? I think the song has a nice ebb and flow on its own but maybe another song might differentiate parts of the program.

All this is a long-winded attempt to justify my suggestion that they also use Vanilla Ice. :

 

[Astrid56]

'Under Pressure' is a complicated/challenging mix of rhythms, tones, and danceable harmonies - so it has plenty of high and lows. Not your typical skating music and, definitely, a brave/challenging 'choice' but with the right choreography, it can showcase the right duo's dancing and skating skills. I got so excited when C/B announced they will skate to this piece with Christopher Dean choreographing it. The latter is known for his offbeat/varied music choices and choreography, to name a few: Hat Trick, Cecilia, Bolero, their routine to Yo Yo Ma's Six Gestures. I don't know why this piece is such a problem to some.

 

[Hyena]

Astrid, in case that post was directed partly at me, my post was tongue-in-cheek and (clearly) just an excuse to enjoy some Ice Ice Baby.

And in case it wasn't, now I've done so twice.

 

[Astrid56]

I love under pressure...and I love Queen, but I have yet to be totally satisfied with any of the Queen programs I've seen so far. The more I like a song or piece of music, the more demanding I am that the skater lives up to it.

Years ago, Gordeeva and Beroev (In Ice Age) skated to a Queen's piece "Who Wants to Live Forever' and it was wonderful, powerful, and, I think, that program effectively communicated the message and power of that piece. The routine was so simple - a typical pair's show program - (Beroev is not a skater but an actor by profession) but it was surprisingly wonderful - thanks to Gordeeva's and Beroev's great interpretative skill and speed. Anyway, of course, this piece is so unlike 'Under Pressure' but I'm just writing about it to note that a skater(s) did skate to a Queen's piece and did a wonderful job of it.

 

[Astrid56]

Astrid, in case that post was directed partly at me, my post was tongue-in-cheek and (clearly) just an excuse to enjoy some Ice Ice Baby.

And in case it wasn't, now I've done so twice.

Nope, it wasn't. Simply expressing an opinion ..., I think, and a bit of exasperation over some views/reactions to the piece.

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Shen/Zhao's "Who Wants to Live Forever" short program for the 2009-2010 was also well-received to the point that many pairs have followed suit. Some fans may have grumbled about it at the time, but I suspect a lot of it was some people thinking S/Z skated old school compared to the way pairs had evolved that Olympic cycle and some grumblers were Savchenko/Szolkowy fans who knew their path to gold wouldn't be as easy with S/Z being back.

 

[Snow63]

Agree 117%. Both of them can act so that's a bonus. Stretch those boundaries you crarayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyzyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy kids!

Not so sure about that, at least in my favorite SD of them (you know what I'm talking about) Evan looked as awkward as someone can look. Still adorable

 

[WeakAnkles]

It worked really well for the Shibs to put in another Coldplay song to improve their overall "build" of their program. I wonder if Chock and Bates will do something similar? I think the song has a nice ebb and flow on its own but maybe another song might differentiate parts of the program.

All this is a long-winded attempt to justify my suggestion that they also use Vanilla Ice. :

Not Nice Baby.

Oh dear God NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

THE HORROR! OH THE HORROR!

:hopelessness:

 

[WeakAnkles]

Not so sure about that, at least in my favorite SD of them (you know what I'm talking about) Evan looked as awkward as someone can look. Still adorable

I find Evan rather adorkable myself. But take a look at the new exhibition program. He has genuine abilities. I really think he's so underrated as a skater. Particularly around these parts.

 

[VIETgrlTerifa]

I think the reason why Evan is under appreciated by fans is that Igor's choreography really doesn't showcase him nor did it give him anything interesting to do. I feel like he was spotlighted better with his former coaches with Samuelson.

 

[lauravvv]

I don't doubt Dean's choreography, what I doubt is the music itself. It's horrible. They are notorious for picking bad music which is half their problem. If being passed by a team you have dominated for 3 seasons isn't losing ground, I don't know what is. Miss Hubbell get ready!

Looking back at the history of teams who have won the top prize at Worlds and Olympics, they don't fool around with clownish music choices like, "Under Pressure" performed by Queen. That's not what a champion team would pick. That's music for second-to-last group, middle of the pack, 7th place finisher, low budget, out of ideas type teams.

This has tacky written all over it. The problem is this music in itself gives you nothing. No emotion. No drama. No buildup. No excitement. No crescendo. Nothing.

There's no argument period. I'm simply stating what I'm seeing (and hearing) right in front of me. And regarding your asking what's a bad music choice". I think I answered that in a post some time ago. In my opinion a bad music choice is a piece of music that contributes nothing to the program. No emotion, no buildup, no excitement... It's just kinda there playing in the background. I have disagreed with most of their music choices in the past, but this one I absolutely loathe.

Read (or reread) what other people wrote about this choice of music, and then maybe you will understand that the majority here don't share your opinion about 'Under Pressure' being a bad music choice for an ice dancing program or bad music per se/in itself which means that judges and the general public may not share your opinion either. Because it's indeed just your personal opinion which you state as fact for some reason. Your opinion is not a fact, nor does it mean that judges and the general public will have the same attitude towards this music choice as you, and that Chock/Bates will be unsuccesful with it. If they don't manage to regain their position as USA number ones with this music - neither nationally, nor internationally, I think it won't be because of the music itself, but either because they will loose to Shibutanis on technique again, perhaps failing to execute the elements and the choreography provided for them by Dean well enough at the same time, or because they won't be able to interpret the music properly, or both. But then it won't be on the music itself, but on Chock/Bates as a team. So I agree that this music + Dean's choreography can prove to be an overly challenging task for them. Which again does not mean that the song itself its wrong for ice dancing in general. In the case if Chock/Bates are not successful with 'Under Pressure', it will just mean that it was not the right match specifically for them.

Also, once again repeating what some other people have said here, I absolutely can't understand how someone can say that 'Under Pressure', a song with so many changes of rhythm and so many highs and lows, and with such words, does not have emotion, buildup, excitement and crescendo . It's like you are confusing it with some other song, or have listened to it long ago and are remembering only some part of it, thinking that that's how it goes from the beginnig to the end. And tell me what is so tacky and "clownish" about this song in your opinion? Please, don't mention how Mercury and Bowie dressed and/or behaved on stage (although I would't call any of it clownish or tacky either), let's talk only about music (if you do respond).

I was delighted to hear somebody finally pick the music by Queen. That was one of my wish list because the song can be very challenging but also refreshing at the same time.

Plus there is the added bonus of David Bowie!!! Unless they use some other version of the song :scowl:

Although 'Under Pressure' is officially a Queen song, and was played by Queen, Bowie was not just a guest artist singing some vocals on it - Queen and Bowie were the co-authors of the music. As Nicholas Pegg writes in 'The Complete David Bowie' (it's almost like a Bowie bible), you can actually tell which parts were written by Queen and which were written by Bowie just by listening to it. The final "This is our last dance" refrain even uses a melodic phrase from a very early Bowie song. Etc.. So, even without the vocals by Bowie, there is a part of him in this song.

I just think it's odd someone thinks Queen and David Bowie's "Under Pressure" has no highs and lows or emotional impact. I felt it when I first heard it when I was just a kid, and I certainly feel it now that I'm an adult juggling everything and trying to live up to expectations I set for myself and what society and family has put on me. I really look forward to seeing what Chock/Bates with Christopher Dean has to offer us, and I'm saying this as a huge Shibs fan (though loving one team isn't mutually exclusive from liking/loving the other).

There's a reason why that song has resonated with so many throughout the decades and is used in many films as a mood setting piece.

This.

 

[Astrid56]

I find Evan rather adorkable myself. But take a look at the new exhibition program. He has genuine abilities. I really think he's so underrated as a skater. Particularly around these parts.

I'd liken Evan to Sergei Grinkov - a partner who relished showcasing his partner's beauty/value - Gordeeva. Evan acts like a frame to/of an exquisite picture _Chock. He doesn't compete for attention but rather tries to be a complement to achieve a cohesive and beautiful product/result.

Also, I think, Evan's behind this music choice_ 'Under Pressure' (Igor's - the 2013 and 2015 FDs). Chock while very artistic and creative, I don't think, is that socially-conscious: she's more into fun, art, fashion ... and girly stuffs. Evan's very musical, quite avant-garde, and more of an intellectual. The latest Exhibition numbers display these seeming attributes. He is a very different Evan _ a far cry from the Samuelson days: he's become confident _ quietly self-assured.

 

[Snow63]

I find Evan rather adorkable myself. But take a look at the new exhibition program. He has genuine abilities. I really think he's so underrated as a skater. Particularly around these parts.

He has abilities, no question about that, but I sometimes find him a bit 'wooden', especially in more fast tempo music pieces. And sometimes he tries too hard to keep up with Madison, not only movements but also expressions, and it shows on him, while it looks more natural on Madi. That's why I think it's extremely important for them to choose music which will be comfortable for both and has clear roles division.

 

[rosy14]

People,
here the whole world of experts, fans, journalists, bloggers, already KNOW who will be first at next Worlds and Olympics. So, Under Pressure, or not, Dean's choreography or not, the games are already settled.

 

[Snow63]

People,
here the whole world of experts, fans, journalists, bloggers, already KNOW who will be first at next Worlds and Olympics. So, Under Pressure, or not, Dean's choreography or not, the games are already settled.

And your point is?... Everyone should just drop everything and bow before Papadakis/Cizeron?

 

[rosy14]

And your point is?... Everyone should just drop everything and bow before Papadakis/Cizeron?

NOT AT ALL ! Make things difficult for them !
My point is that it has nothing to do with musics and choreos, but lot to do with how it is skated and how the judges have already formed an idea on the pair.
Shibs were deemed too scholarly, and they came up with "Fix you" , which is a good piece of popular music, but it's not Rachmaninoff (which, by the way, was good last year for Radionova). But they are young, American, good for them to choose Cold Play.
Last year our Cappellini/Lanotte changed type of music and style, Saint Saens and it went very badly (and Lanotte was injured). This year a well known Italian music score again. Perfect ! They won CoC (first time ever), they arrived third at GP final (first time ever, underscored), they were 2nd at Euros and went from 6th to 4th at Worlds.
P/C broke with Mozart (not a classic, no ?) and now they can skate everything they want, every way they want, simple or elaborated choreos, tow feet or single foot, too united, because in the eyes of judges, public and critics (not mine) they are the BEST NEW couple in the Olympic quadrennial.
And it is not the SD which makes you win, but the FD. So, stop fighting here one with the other. Just a suggestion.

 

[dorispulaski]

Personally, I am thinking of bowing before Bobrova & Soloviev

Nobody said Chock and Bates or the Shibs would win the Olympics or Worlds.

 

[Snow63]

NOT AT ALL ! Make things difficult for them !
My point is that it has nothing to do with musics and choreos, but lot to do with how it is skated and how the judges have already formed an idea on the pair.
Shibs were deemed too scholarly, and they came up with "Fix you" , which is a good piece of popular music, but it's not Rachmaninoff (which, by the way, was good last year for Radionova). But they are young, American, good for them to choose Cold Play.
Last year our Cappellini/Lanotte changed type of music and style, Saint Saens and it went very badly (and Lanotte was injured). This year a well known Italian music score again. Perfect ! They won CoC (first time ever), they arrived third at GP final (first time ever, underscored), they were 2nd at Euros and went from 6th to 4th at Worlds.
P/C broke with Mozart (not a classic, no ?) and now they can skate everything they want, every way they want, simple or elaborated choreos, tow feet or single foot, too united, because in the eyes of judges, public and critics (not mine) they are the BEST NEW couple in the Olympic quadrennial.
And it is not the SD which makes you win, but the FD. So, stop fighting here one with the other. Just a suggestion.

But it's for FD. And I disagree, it has a lot to do with music and choreo. And I don't think Papadakis/Cizeron are so unbeatable like you seem to believe.