Jason Brown

[Ross74]

Looong and lovely interview with Jason!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXGMXan3ieI&feature=youtu.be

I adore this interview! So much to take in, I already forgot what I wanted to comment on. I have to admit I'm not thrilled about the LP being in the same style as The Piano. After two years, I was hoping for something very different. At least he made a point of stressing that the new music will be more powerful. I loved the T & I music by the same composer, so I can only be hopeful.

ETA: Relistening to parts... I really like hearing Jason talk about integrating everyone's vision into the LP choreography - Rohene's, his, and that of the composer, when the arrangement hasn't even been completed yet. I'll forget I heard "interpretating... "

 

[el henry]

Javier Munoz left a lovely comment on Jason's instagram post

javiermofficial This is AWESOME! SO EXCITED! Cheering you on with everything I've got!

Hamilton fans are as passionate as Riverdance fans and if Jason brings down the house (as we know he can), the SP has every chance of going viral. While that's not the goal -- competing at the Olympics is the ultimate prize -- if he can bring new fans into the sport along the way, that's all for the good.

Javier Munoz continued the praise on his own IG account:

"Such a genuine, bright-light, and inspiring person....will never forget meeting Jason along with his coach and choreographer both of whom shared the same light and energy. Cheering for you and your team @jasonbskates wholeheartedly"

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWbuAd4gh64/?taken-by=javiermofficial

Well, finally it's official, and the SP video was all I hoped Jason's vLogs would be, including Rohene looking, well, miffed, about the choreo

Can we possibly hope for a showing soon?

 

[Tavi...]

Glacier Falls is only about 2 weeks away. Maybe 3. Usually he's there and usually there's a thread about it by now and the list gets posted - but I haven't seen anything.

I love that Javier Muñoz quote!

 

[mintx]

I watched the whole interview. It was sooo Jason. He was refreshingly honest about nationals and so detailed explaining his his thought process. He even gave some progress on quads and his hair. He gave lots of great insight into his summer training too.

Just like all of us I really really want him to make the Olympic team, with all his planned quads and a killer nationals. I love his music this season! Hamiliton and an original but more classic composition will both be unique and play to his strengths. Ahhhh! Go Jason! Go go go!

 

[StitchMonkey]

So he said in his interview he has 2 quads (sal and toe) planned for his free... so i am guessing his lay out would be something like.

3A+3T
4T
4S
3A
3Lz
3F+2T
3Lo
3Lz+1Lo+3S

I wonder how much in the second half. I am intrigued.

 

[DorYiu]

Yay, no La La Land!

I was a bit worry too, seems like there will be more than a few la la land program for this season. So, yay, no la la land.

Oh, I need to watch Hamiliton, do my home work, but I can't fly to NY :shocked:

 

[Tavi...]

So he said in his interview he has 2 quads (sal and toe) planned for his free... so i am guessing his lay out would be something like.

3A+3T
4T
4S
3A
3Lz
3F+2T
3Lo
3Lz+1Lo+3S

I wonder how much in the second half. I am intrigued.

Since he will be attempt the two quads and he says the FS is really hard otherwise, he might not be able to backload it as much as usual - so maybe 3-5? I'm guessing eventually he'd want the 3A-3T in second half, but that might be a bit much for now.

ETA when do the program requirements (30 seconds shorter, 1 less jumping pass) change for FS - 2018-2019?

 

[Mrs. P]

I believe the new rule goes into effect for 2018-2019.

I also wonder if there's a possibility of seeing a 3A-1L-3F instead of the 3Z-1L-3S and if one of the quads would be done in combination, like a 4T-3T. Those combos way more potential points than his 3Z-1L-3S standby because of the 4T/3A GOE scale of values. That would be kind of crazy ambitious with two quads though.

 

[Tavi...]

I believe the new rule goes into effect for 2018-2019.

I also wonder if there's a possibility of seeing a 3A-1L-3F instead of the 3Z-1L-3S and if one of the quads would be done in combination, like a 4T-3T. Those combos way more potential points than his 3Z-1L-3S standby because of the 4T/3A GOE scale of values. That would be kind of crazy ambitious with two quads though.

Hey thanks for your thoughts on the rule changes.

I too am wondering if we might see a quad combo and the 3A-1L-3F. But I want him to remain injury free - no repeat of 2015-2016 please! Hopefully things will be different this time.

Anyway, I'm planning on making the trip to Skate Milwaukee this weekend on the off chance he's competing there - if he does, I may just be able to bring back a first hand report on the new programs!

 

[Tavi...]

Heh heh - NBC has picked up on the fact that Lin Manuel approves of Jason's new DP;

https://twitter.com/nbcolympictalk/status/885594043887046656

 

[karne]

I was listening to it again last night and I have some concerns. The song is very exposition-y but it is very exposition-y on the subject of American politics, to which my reaction varied (during the song) between "what the heck are you talking about?" to "oh my flippin' god I'm so flippin' sick of American politics". I can see why Kori and Rohene were worried.

I hope they were very careful when cutting this as I do think there's a good chance of losing the attention of people who have no clue about the history or politics involved.

 

[Mrs. P]

I was listening to it again last night and I have some concerns. The song is very exposition-y but it is very exposition-y on the subject of American politics, to which my reaction varied (during the song) between "what the heck are you talking about?" to "oh my flippin' god I'm so flippin' sick of American politics". I can see why Kori and Rohene were worried.

I hope they were very careful when cutting this as I do think there's a good chance of losing the attention of people who have no clue about the history or politics involved.

That hasn't stopped Hamilton from being a worldwide obsession. Also one key component of Hamilton is that most, if not all, the characters are played by people of color. Basically juxtaposing the Founding Father narrative with the diverse America of today. The Olympics is the PERFECT venue for this sort of thing.

http://www.hypable.com/hamilton-diverse-cast/

This is interesting to read too: https://mic.com/articles/135387/the...oom-where-it-happens-from-hamilton#.gv6ttRm55

 

[el henry]

TBH, unless you're a "Hamilton" aficionado, most of the history goes right over the heads of Americans. I have had a little bit more book learnin' than the average American, and when I went to listen to the song, had no idea what the characters were rapping about. After a while, I fast forwarded to the tune part, which I really liked, and when they started rapping again, I skipped it.

I think I remember that Aaron Burr killed Hamilton in the duel. Right? And Hamilton had something to do with the banks.

But wanting to be in the room where it happens, I think --and hope for Jason's sake-- is universal. :agree:

 

[Tavi...]

Jason's back in the Chicago area!

https://instagram.com/p/BWgU8hpgT7u/

Regarding the music, I think it's important to remember that it's 5 minutes and 19 seconds long! That's about twice as long as a SP, so they'll cut a lot.

I'm guessing a lot of the conversational stuff (where the words really stick out) will go, and they'll keep the more thick textured musical parts (where the words are not as prominent), so that unless you already know the lyrics you'll probably only catch a few words here and there ("room where it happens, room where it happens....."). I think it'll be tough for non-native English speakers to get a political message. And don't forget we'll be watching Jason rather than just focusing on the words!

Basically, I'm guessing they'll cut this into an upbeat, jazzy piece of music which showcases Jason's dance and performance chops. That's my thought anyway - but I guess we'll know soon enough!

 

[Arriba627]

^^^Oh my -- can only imagine the stir he must have caused at the Northbrook Ice Arena. It is such an inspiration when the kids get to see an elite athlete like Jason. So nice of him to take the time!

 

[Mrs. P]

Thinking more about the concern regarding Hamilton being American-centric...

Lin-Manuel Miranda has more than 1 million followers on Twitter. And his work has worldwide popularity In 2015, a version of his musical "In the Heights" (which Jason refers to in his YT video) was done in South Korea. And Hamilton will have a run in the UK this fall (http://www.hamiltonthemusical.co.uk/).

I thought this point was interesting: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/nov/05/why-hamilton-is-making-musical-history

As the act progresses, Jefferson’s influence on Burr deepens. By the time Burr breaks out into his great second act number, “The Room Where It Happens”, his musical style has subtly shifted, as he picks up Jefferson’s Dixieland jazz. Burr’s song is the kind of gospel-inspired, choir-backed showstopper that composers have used for more than a century in American musical theatre to get audiences on their feet, from Cole Porter’s “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” to Frank Loesser’s “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat”. But unlike those songs, which are great fun but almost entirely meaningless, “The Room Where It Happens” is a foot-stomping, barnstorming, surge-to-your feet instant classic about – the historical record.

It’s a turning point in the show in many senses: Burr stops waiting for it, and the gaps in the historical record become a metaphor for political exclusion. “The Room Where It Happens” is about the way in which historiography constructs mythologies of power, and it’s about realpolitik, how politics gets done. Burr sings, “No one really knows how the / Parties get to yes / The pieces that are sacrificed in / Ev’ry game of chess / We just assume that it happens / But no one else is in / The room where it happens”, before launching into his power verse: “I wanna be in / The room where it happens / The room where it happens.”

There's sort of a universal theme here -- the idea of being left out of power, not being "in the room." It's a construct that applies beyond American politics, honestly.

Actually, I think the SP is very reflective of Jason himself. Jason uses the power of performance/choreography to connect with the audience/judges and I think is a very subtle -- and entertaining way, at that -- to remind folks that, "Oh hey, this stuff still matters." It's what he said in the Golden Skate interview -- he's unwilling to give up the performance/artistry/choreography because the trend has shifted toward technically-heavy program.

Hamilton has a wide array of musical styles -- hiphop, jazz, opera -- to send some powerful messages in an entertaining way....this is why the musical has really had a huge impact in music theater.

 

[katmari]

Anyway, I'm planning on making the trip to Skate Milwaukee this weekend on the off chance he's competing there - if he does, I may just be able to bring back a first hand report on the new programs!

Have fun and keep us updated.

Basically, I'm guessing they'll cut this into an upbeat, jazzy piece of music which showcases Jason's dance and performance chops. That's my thought anyway - but I guess we'll know soon enough!

In the practice video the only lyrics I heard were the "room where it happens" chorus and Jason said in his interview that people who haven't seen the musical can get into it so I agree with you.

^^^Oh my -- can only imagine the stir he must have caused at the Northbrook Ice Arena. It is such an inspiration when the kids get to see an elite athlete like Jason. So nice of him to take the time!

Here's the twitter response of a person who was there:
Sammie Lisberg‏ @sblisberg
I've never seen more kids swarm a person than I did today when @jasonbskates spoke to my camp


I've been thinking of his FS and perhaps lightning can strike twice. Almost 20 years ago at the Nagano Olympics a male competitor with a pony tail who performed primarily for the audience skated to the music of Maxime Rodriguez and won the Bronze Medal. Philippe Candeloro's D'artagnan contains my favorite sword fight on ice (at 4:08) and that part remains one of my all time favorite skating moments period.

 

[Ross74]

Jason's back in the Chicago area!

https://instagram.com/p/BWgU8hpgT7u/

Regarding the music, I think it's important to remember that it's 5 minutes and 19 seconds long! That's about twice as long as a SP, so they'll cut a lot.

I'm guessing a lot of the conversational stuff (where the words really stick out) will go, and they'll keep the more thick textured musical parts (where the words are not as prominent), so that unless you already know the lyrics you'll probably only catch a few words here and there ("room where it happens, room where it happens....."). I think it'll be tough for non-native English speakers to get a political message. And don't forget we'll be watching Jason rather than just focusing on the words!

Basically, I'm guessing they'll cut this into an upbeat, jazzy piece of music which showcases Jason's dance and performance chops. That's my thought anyway - but I guess we'll know soon enough!

I'm sure this is what will happen. To those unfamiliar with Hamilton, I think the song will come across mainly as a slightly campy jazz number with a great build at the end.

 

[Tavi...]

I'm sure this is what will happen. To those unfamiliar with Hamilton, I think the song will come across mainly as a slightly campy jazz number with a great build at the end.

Why campy? In what way? I haven't seen the show.

 

[Ross74]

Why campy? In what way? I haven't seen the show.

Nothing to do with the show, and not in a negative way. Room isn't one of the Hamilton songs that I listen to a lot, so when I listened to it again this week, the non-rap parts sounded like a slightly over-the-top theatrical jazz piece, almost circus-like.