Nathan Chen

[yyyskate]

also the Chopin Mamamiia posted is the senior version with choreo stsq, and it is perhaps the only senior Chopin videos without horrible J&T commentary and its musical timing specially in the second half is better than national version!

 

[hhh]

I want him to have a new short program for selfish reason.
After multiple shows in Japan and 22 city tour in the US I think he will be a little tired of it too.

I like the song a lot but it sounds like an ex song and also for selfish reason, I hope he finds another master piece like Nemesis through someone who has vast music knowledge to enhance Nathan’s musicality.

 

[shine]

What about Shape of You for an SP Also I'm only half joking

 

[skfan]

I know it's been a day since this question was asked, but I have some thoughts about this.

I think after watching Nathan perform on Stars on Ice, that Back From the Edge would make a great short program for next year, with some extra choreographic polish and rejiggering of elements. Kind of like how Patrick took his Rachmaninoff Elegy exhibition and turned it into a short program the next year. Since we've all gotten used to the image of him wearing a white shirt over a black t-shirt, he could have a similar costume, but instead of it being a white shirt, it could be a white/ivory suit jacket over a black/grey t-shirt. Something striking and simple, but classy.

As for his Free Skate, I went back to watch the Chopin Piano Concerto FS that everyone has been raving about. I was trying to figure out why I didn't really remember that program, when I've been following Nathan closely ever since 2010. Looking it up on youtube, that FS was only performed 3 times that year, because Nathan had an injury and had to withdraw from his second JGP. That year at Junior worlds, I probably wasn't able to enjoy the program because I was sad for Nathan skating with an injury, and falling on his quads, and having such a wobbly axel, that I missed out on what a great program it was. He performed with such tranquility and a slight fragility... I definitely would love to see something like that for his free skate. I vote for a Mozart or Chopin piano piece for his free skate this year.

i clicked 'like' on your post because i like how deeply you thought about these programs, especially the way you analyzed your experience of the Chopin program in the 2014-15 season. but I only want to see Chopin again-- I don't want to see Back from the Edge as a short program. Because I'm selfish, I want a new program and a new costume. It may be even more bunchy than the one he's currently wearing, but in this case, I don't want to stick with the devil I know, I'd rather take my chance a new villain (a new shake-my-head costume)

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

What about Shape of You for an SP Also I'm only half joking

No please no! I hate that song!!!:eekn:

 

[zebobes]

I want him to have a new short program for selfish reason.
After multiple shows in Japan and 22 city tour in the US I think he will be a little tired of it too.

I like the song a lot but it sounds like an ex song and also for selfish reason, I hope he finds another master piece like Nemesis through someone who has vast music knowledge to enhance Nathan’s musicality.

This is true, but you must admit that getting the music out there early and performing it in shows has benefited the Japanese skaters a huge amount. Yuzu and Shoma often perform the next season's programs in summer shows. Nathan will be so busy with school this coming fall, this early leg up could help him a lot for next season.

I would love to see Nathan perform to different music, but last season, he sacrificed a lot of performance-admittedly, it was because of the quads. I guess I'm hoping that after so many shows, he will be able to live and breathe the music, which will make it easier to fit the technical into it.

 

[CanadianSkaterGuy]

I know it's been a day since this question was asked, but I have some thoughts about this.

I think after watching Nathan perform on Stars on Ice, that Back From the Edge would make a great short program for next year, with some extra choreographic polish and rejiggering of elements. Kind of like how Patrick took his Rachmaninoff Elegy exhibition and turned it into a short program the next year. Since we've all gotten used to the image of him wearing a white shirt over a black t-shirt, he could have a similar costume, but instead of it being a white shirt, it could be a white/ivory suit jacket over a black/grey t-shirt. Something striking and simple, but classy.

As for his Free Skate, I went back to watch the Chopin Piano Concerto FS that everyone has been raving about. I was trying to figure out why I didn't really remember that program, when I've been following Nathan closely ever since 2010. Looking it up on youtube, that FS was only performed 3 times that year, because Nathan had an injury and had to withdraw from his second JGP. That year at Junior worlds, I probably wasn't able to enjoy the program because I was sad for Nathan skating with an injury, and falling on his quads, and having such a wobbly axel, that I missed out on what a great program it was. He performed with such tranquility and a slight fragility... I definitely would love to see something like that for his free skate. I vote for a Mozart or Chopin piano piece for his free skate this year.

Agreed - I would like to see a contemporary to show off his avant gardeness and a classical from him to show off his artistry.

 

[yyyskate]

IMHO Back from the Edge does not suit for a competition SP.

Yep, solo shape of me for the short also just half joking.

This little fan wanna different programs, wanna Nathan broaden his figure skating vocab and style genre, that is all I want.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Here is my proposal for Nathan's programs.

One choreographed by Abbott the other by either Kurt Browning or Christopher Dean. Me=:luv17:

 

[yyyskate]

learn new choreo is fun for Nathan:yes:

 

[hhh]

What about Shape of You for an SP Also I'm only half joking

No...not funny I trust Nathan’s taste

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Just a little info for those of you planning to make the trip up to Sun Valley this summer to see Nathan.

That week leading up to it will have two performances by Ballet Sun Valley. Info here

 

[yyyskate]

i could not find Camden's FF also could not find US mean's thread in edge.
since both Camden and Nathan skated to chopin (here is the much needed relevance )
I will just throw it out here,
I had a thought Camden may skate to Tango next season for in the future. Just an idea popped in my mind today.

 

[oatmella]

I also don’t want to see a Back from the Edge SP

My fav music from any of Nathan’s programs is Chopin piano concerto no.1 but I doubt he would repeat a program . Otherwise would love to see another Chopin program from him or maybe a Mozart piano concerto (no.20 or 22). I don’t know if this classical program would have to be this season though

Short program could be something more unexpected ... I’m totally blanking on ideas here. I think he could do a great hip hop program

Thanks Mamamiia for sharing those 2015 Nathan program - had never seen them before or that ruffle white blouse! I find ruffles kind of distracting though and Nathan wore them in his baby ballet days too. Plus I’m guessing he’s going to continue with the Vera costumes.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Please no Chopin. It's been beaten like a dead horse by too many skaters, especially recently.

Leave the Chopin to Yuzu and others.

 

[oatmella]

I think Chopin would be ok if he stays away from the very popular nocturnes which I’m sure he would (like op.9 no.2, no.20). There’s a lot out there that hasn’t been skated to ... but his Piano Concerto no.1 music cut was just so good

What about a Shostakovich piece ?

 

[zebobes]

I think Chopin would be ok if he stays away from the very popular nocturnes (like op.9 no.2, no.20). There’s a lot out there that hasn’t been skated to ... but his Piano Concerto no.1 music cut was just so good

I have a fondness for Scherzo no.2, personally. It has a dramatic opening theme, with a beautiful second melodic theme, and I don't think anyone has skated to it before.

 

[skfan]

He does that in every performance as well - JGP Zagreb, US Nationals, and Jr Worlds!

I think he used to have a stiffer upper back when he was younger, which got much better when he went to train with Marina IMO. But this performance from JGP Zagreb was the least stiff to me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5h0sebFPGo&t=207s
Or maybe it was just the costume Anyhow, that was definitely my favorite performance of Chopin - he looked the most free there.

shine, I have to thank you for making me take another look at what I unfairly dismissed due to my dislike of the ruffle shirt. JGP Zagreb Chopin had the most beautiful opening of all his Chopin performances. He was so *on* the music from the favorite middle part to the end, especially the jumps. Too bad about the stumble during the steps

That season he was so hindered by injury. I'll forever mourn that the Chopin program was never shown to best advantage.

Overall I still find Jr Worlds 2015 Chopin the best version. But occasionally I think maybe Pacific Coast was best, or JGP Zagreb was best.

I'm still not entirely happy with Nathan's back posture and stiffness as it is today (and I found it compromised the Chopin program too). I find it objectionable even in Feel it Still sometimes--during a show, when there's no competition pressure, he's not even stressed out about skating with Ashley and having to coordinate his movements so he won't trip her. IMHO, it can only be *habit* and *lack of attention* that caused him to be so stiff and hunched, for his stroking to look so labored and inefficient sometimes

Marina did improve his stiff back some last season, but somehow despite all his fine work with Lori and her dedicated skating skills coach, toward the later part of this season I found his back stiff again, probably because of the high pressure competitions that won him many new fans here.

*sigh*

I'll root for him even when he picks music I dislike, costumes I dislike, programs that make me shake my head. But it would be so much nicer if his choices opened my eyes to new and wonderful possibilities. Then it's like a gift from the universe, a blessing i haven't earned but get to celebrate anyway

This season Nemesis was such a bounty. Huge thanks once again to Shae-Lynn

P.S.
Ic3Rabbit, it seems everyone skates to the same five (if not three or fewer) Chopin pieces. There are other Chopin pieces that haven't been over-used. I still want to see Nathan skate to Chopin, Mozart (esp. piano concerto 20 & 22), other classical pieces.

 

[shine]

Although in my dreams I would LOVE to see him bring back Chopin No. 1 once just so I can see what he can do with the music now as a much better overall skater, I don't really need him to skate to another Chopin piece competitively for another season simply because there is an ocean of classical music out there for him to explore. And as versatile and musical as he is there's no reason to not to expand his musical horizon. Mozart would be a wonderful start next season not only because I personally adore Mozart, but also because it's something he has noted himself - he clearly feels it.

 

[yyyskate]

if no chopin, maybe Nathan can skate to some modern piano piece but not from those very well known band.

“Last dancer” is mostly string instrument (cello, erhu etc.) thus for a change, a Piano centered piece would not be bad.