Okay, so I decided to throw my hat into the choreography and MTK discussion.
I agree it is clearly very challenging program and music. I got a feeling that he was performing a tap-dance on the ice. Jumps and spins are just parts of the entire dance/footwork sequence. The beginning, the joyful steps and hops to the rhythm of the music leads to 4T-3T. Well, that to me is a transition he is working on. It is hard to isolate the transition from rest of his footworks, or the programs. His programs are FULL of dance moves and footworks to every beat and note, and he is skating to it with style and polish. It is ambitious, yet this is something only he can do. It will be a stepping stone for him later on regardless he goes clean or not this season.
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As my mere guess, Patrick wants to have his own voice, instead of accepting works by someone who knows his weakness and strength too well. He wants to challenge himself and bring unusual beats and moves to his skating from outside of box, which he started with Jeffrey Buttle and Kathy Johnson. As a result, I think he became versatile and original at the same time. He does not rely on a choreographer to search his style. He has his own vision and does not sacrifice dance moves and ideas for the elements, and it shows extremely well in the SP.
I love MTK as his SP to show his upbeat tap/jazzy side, along with Chopin as the LP to show the contemporary/lyrical side. It is a good balance.
I agree with what
MIM said about MTK being Patrick’s attempt at tap dancing on ice. As has been stated here before, Patrick skates like a dancer. Rather than having any “highlights” per se, his programs are intended to be viewed as an entire package, where each movement (including jumps and spins) only exists inasmuch as it contributes to the overall effect that he wants to create. There’s a thread in The Edge right now titled “Favorite Moves/Choreography,” and in my post there I mentioned only whole programs. I did this because (1) it would have taken me way too long to list favorite moves from all of my favorite programs; and (2) the overall effect resonates with me more than “highlights.” In other words, for me a highlight isn’t really a highlight unless I like the program overall (Jin's 4Lz is probably the only exception to that). Maybe I’m strange, but there you go.
Mentally, it does not seem to be due to nerves, especially at TEB, though a sub par SP quite likely contributed to and exacerbated the stress and pressure for the LP. Maybe he has not found the song easy to relate to. It seems he picked the theme of "Mackie is back in town" for his comeback and probably for the power ballard music as well. But the entire lyric about a serial killer may not be easy to relate to or ignore. Should he just skate to the music or should the words matter? As I suggested before, his choice of costume may reflect the confusion/indecision as it portrays neither the song's character nor the singer but seemingly to the era of another singer of MTK. As well, the under-performances may reduce the confident "I'm back!" into a bravado in his mind.
I suggested and I hope Patrick will make the program about himself being a metaphorical serial slayer of inner demons and obstructing issues of his comeback. Turn it into an inspiration and a character he can relate to and portray.
As usual,
VB, you hit the nail on the head. And your second paragraph would be a great way for Patrick to conceptualize/relate to the SP better. Team Chan should read it!
There certainly are some moves that appeal to the mass for cheers and supports. They give dynamics to the program effectively.
But the only thing that bothers me is the moves are quite formulaic in the current figure skating scene where a magic formula-dramatic moves- goes to every music and program. I remain skeptical of overusing it or, placing it without considering its context. I love how John Curry used spread eagle and Ina Bauer in his Nocturne program.
One foot gliding to spread eagle to ina bauer is beautifully integrated in the program and connects to upcoming steps. What made John Curry artist on the ice is not only certain dramatic moves he is doing, but the mood he generates by controlling and holding the position- there is no overdoing and overselling.
I know there are warhorse music and moves that may be perceived as being artistic. But, when you are a poet, instead of relying on commercial, or patterned expressions, you write your own poem. My interpretation of "Happy Feet" is that Patrick has the most abundant vocabularies that he can write with his blades and is capable of speaking the language fluently. As a young athlete who has learned compulsory figures in his young age and competed with "old school" skaters like Jeff Buttle and Stephane Lambiel, he more than anyone understands the importance of having and using his own language/vocabulary(ref. TSL interview with Lambiel). it is encouraging that he is not seeing the SS just one out of 5 PCs. He is using his SS and musicality to be his transition, interpretation, choreography, performance. As vivley said in the post before, it is a feat!
I know it is frustrating as Patrick's fan sometimes; his artistic vision is high and the current rules and demanding technical requirements make even harder to achieve it without some sacrifices (i.e. low early season scores, or hurt confidence). He is not perfect yet; I am sure it will be rewarded very high once he goes clean.

this whole post! THANK YOU for posting John Curry’s Nocturne. So understated but so effective. Stylistically, Patrick does skate like John Curry, except with more speed and more difficult elements. I had to watch it twice to realize that the ina bauer was an ina bauer because Curry didn’t do the obvious arch backward. I think it’s much prettier the way he does it. The other way looks downright uncomfortable, even painful!

As
qwertyskates said elsewhere in the thread, watching this work of art, you quickly forget about the wow moves and the costume and the program because you just get lost in the moment. When everything flows together so seamlessly, it’s not a “program” anymore, but rather it becomes a precious moment in time. The term “program” sounds so prescriptive and rehearsed, now that I think about it.
Under appreciation: It has been stated so often by experts including some of the best skaters that Patrick makes the most difficult look easy. It is the highest compliments but also a problem in competitions. Surely judges knows this well, as many of them have expressed the sentiment with awe and respect, but they also seem to be influenced by the excitement level in the arena as they watch and dole out points. Audiences enjoy and applaud all kinds of shows of skills and expressions regardless of difficulty levels. As well, their reactions are not always 100% based on the performance but tinted with personal connection with the skater, be it because of sex god worship or maternal feelings for an adorable man child. Patrick's pure skating is under appreciated, as it has always been, and it puts him at a disadvantage when he does not enjoy a huge lead like he did.
The criticisms leveled at Patrick now are not new. Thanks for the reminder. That’s why I so enjoy the comments from his fellow skaters, because as skaters they have a better idea than we do of what skating really takes and, hence, their appreciation of Patrick comes off as more genuine. Plus, knowing he has a “heart of gold” doesn’t hurt (Meryl’s tweet for his birthday is just so wonderful). He is perceived as arrogant by many, but not by those who have gotten to work closely with him on the ice.
Thanks 4everchan, I won't give up on Patrick getting back on the podium, not yet, as I know he really is different and special, he is heir to the substance in skating, so I'm looking forward to numbers crunching!
And I'm so glad that you're here, Quertyskates! Ironically, I think that this GP has garnered Patrick some more fans like you! His sublime skating is a refreshing contrast in performance that is needed in today's points-driven atmosphere. I had heard good things about John Curry before, and watching the video you posted only confirmed this. I love the way that he took his time and was in no rush at all to deliver every step and nuance of his performance. My hope is that Patrick can skate in the same unhurried, awe-inspiring way, even if he is going across the ice three times faster than Curry ever did. There's nothing like seeing that beauty and sense of calm from a masterful performance.
Yes, Patrick is different and special and his programs ALWAYS have A LOT of substance. And he’s at his best when he skates calmly (which applies even when the music is upbeat). I think he skated very calmly in the GPF LP and it was amazing. Kurt said he was “really into the ice.” I could see his calmness even on the TV/computer screen.
He has never stepped down in his skating skills or the highest level choreography. These aspects of skating is just so uncompromisably Patrick Chan. I don't expect there would be trade off in order to add technical difficulty.
From the beginning of his skating career, Patrick has had long term plans and progresses that he follows. He adds upon a well built foundation step by step and I'm glad he does not rush but keeps his cool and to his plan.
I don't think that Patrick will remove so many transitions just to get more quads in.... Before the first 2-3 jumping passes, where he does the big tricks, he focuses on speed anyways, and it's not there that we see the most turns and steps...
I would also be surprised if he started to pose and smile to the audience and flop his arms around in an attempt to entice uproars
I think Patrick is the skatingfan ultimate skater. I think that his artistry appeals to real skating fans. And I think that he knows who he is as a skater and will not return, put himself through so much hard work and pressure, just to skate someone else's style.
I am not worried... He will skate his heart out in the style that we love him for.... I would be surprised if he started to hydroblade like crazy or uses cheap tricks to sway the public..... Actually, it's when he skates at his best, that people can appreciate the whole layout of his programs, their unity, their flow and their depth.
I'd be sad if he were going to sacrifice all of what we love about his skating just to add a silly quad.... I have said this before, when he retired, I was sad... but then, I felt... in a few years, he has done so much for the sport and I reached peace. Having him back is a huge BONUS!!!! So I enjoy his programs for what they are, winning is not a priority... judges and other skaters can do whatever they want... as long as, as a skating fan, we get some more gorgeous programs. He is so gorgeous to watch.
I agree with both of these posts. I don’t think Patrick will sacrifice much of his skating style. I think that his style has stayed similar to when he was 17. He has improved a lot and gained more depth and purpose to his movement, but he’s still the Patrick that we know and love. This is unlike Ashley Wagner, who had a complete artistic metamorphosis from 2011 to 2012, or Michelle Kwan from 1995 to 1996. Patrick knows who he is as a skater and will stick to that, albeit while increasing his technical content and exploring different program concepts. It’s just a matter of figuring out how to best integrate it all in a way that he’s comfortable with. He’ll never be Hanyu, but Hanyu will never be him (and you can put any other skater’s name in there and it remains true). Let’s keep enjoying Patrick for who he is, while we can.
Now, to end this post (sorry it’s so long) on a less philosophical note, I want to thank those who brought over all the versions of MTK. I think the original movie version best captures the sinister nature of the lyrics, but I doubt Patrick will ever skate to German lyrics. As far as English versions with lyrics, I like Louis Armstrong’s version the most for Patrick’s skating style. However, I think an instrumental version would have been best for the SP because it would still have the dancy feel but the audience wouldn’t feel so jarred by the context of the lyrics (a better costume would help as well). But, I don’t think Patrick would have gone that way either. He specifically said he was very excited to use lyrics in his SP this season. I just really hope MTK will go better at Nationals than it has thus far this season. Patrick needs a confidence boost with it going into Worlds.