Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier | Page 38 | Golden Skate

Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier

the RD will be full fun... and the FD will be gorgeous.. I feel it ;)
You all know I'm a huge fan, but these musical selections don't thrill me. I'll have to see the programs before becoming a believer.

I'm a little worried that the Beach Boys will land like their Elton John did in the Olympic season — badly (and tacky, rather than sophisticated and unexpected).

And I love Annie Lennox, but her Whiter Shade of Pale is so drab and one note. I just can't envision an entire FD to it. There aren't any built-in highs and lows.
 
So I've been on the fence since hearing Piper and Paul are doing Vincent Reimagined for their FD.

I loved Vincent. It literally brought tears to my eyes the first time I saw it. It was an amazing program. I also didn't think there was unfinished business there.

Piper and Paul have always struggled with material in the Olympic season, and I can't help but wonder if this is their version of playing it safe. I'm just not sure it's going to work for them. How do you tread the line of having enough new so that it's interesting? I admit, I wanted to see something that was a bold new concept for them. Will this be original enough, or just bore the judges?

My takeaway, I guess, is that I have to see it. Maybe it will be brilliant. But I'm going to need to see a lot of new for this to work.

It's a risky choice, with the fix being well and truly in the last couple of years for Chock/Bates — no matter how they actually skated, and with the return of Fournier-Beaudry/Cizeron (which I personally find underwhelming, but it looks like the judges are going with it, and their fed is pulling out all the stops — you can't help but feel sorry for Lopareva/Brissaud, even if they were never my favourites.)
 
Vincent : it's been long ago enough that maybe it can work.

I would have liked something new. For sure. Rules have changed so there will be new stuff in it... I think it's okay as it will be their last FD and it's probably the one that put them on the map.

And, if really, the fix is in : CB, Italians at home and FB-C for Olympic medals, then, they might as well skate to something that is "them"

I don't know.. I am also on the fence. I always like new programs... and to me, their best work is Wuthering Heights... but whatever.. let's see how it goes.
 
Vincent : it's been long ago enough that maybe it can work.

I would have liked something new. For sure. Rules have changed so there will be new stuff in it... I think it's okay as it will be their last FD and it's probably the one that put them on the map.

And, if really, the fix is in : CB, Italians at home and FB-C for Olympic medals, then, they might as well skate to something that is "them"

I don't know.. I am also on the fence. I always like new programs... and to me, their best work is Wuthering Heights... but whatever.. let's see how it goes.
I thought Wuthering Heights was also their best work.

Hitchcock was a brilliant concept and program, but their skating skills at that time were not at the level they had achieved by the time they did Wuthering Heights. For me, Vincent and the Joni Mitchell are both a close second, though I've also really enjoyed them doing tango.

I agree they are the most likely, politically, to get bumped off the podium to make room for Fournier-Beaudry/Cizeron, what with the Olympics being in Italy (otherwise I would say the Italians are definitely the most vulnerable). But that's why I wanted them to go for broke. Pull out their most avant-garde idea and just go for it — make sure everyone knows they should damn well be on the podium and it's a travesty if they aren't. I just think any kind of retread gives the judges/officials an excuse to lowball them.

I'm nervous for Lajoie/Lagha this season too. They were ready to step onto the worlds podium, now nobody is talking about such a thing. And they're actually part of the political juggernaut.
 
I thought Wuthering Heights was also their best work.

Hitchcock was a brilliant concept and program, but their skating skills at that time were not at the level they had achieved by the time they did Wuthering Heights. For me, Vincent and the Joni Mitchell are both a close second, though I've also really enjoyed them doing tango.

I agree they are the most likely, politically, to get bumped off the podium to make room for Fournier-Beaudry/Cizeron, what with the Olympics being in Italy (otherwise I would say the Italians are definitely the most vulnerable). But that's why I wanted them to go for broke. Pull out their most avant-guarde idea and just go for it — make sure everyone knows they should damn well be on the podium and it's a travesty if they aren't. I just think any kind of retread gives the judges/officials an excuse to lowball them.

I'm nervous for Lajoie/Lagha this season too. They were ready to step onto the worlds podium, now nobody is talking about such a thing. And they're actually part of the political juggernaut.
judges will have seen a dune repeat.. so maybe they won't mind a Vincent repeat...but I agree with you. I guess the RD will be where it matters most.
 
judges will have seen a dune repeat.. so maybe they won't mind a Vincent repeat...but I agree with you. I guess the RD will be where it matters most.
Oh boy, the Dune thing. Apparently they're even using the same costumes — and that program was just last season!

The rhythm dance has been where the judges have (unfairly) made sure Chock/Bates have it in the bag the last few seasons. It's been blatant, not subtle. They've put them so far ahead that nobody could catch up, even when I think just about everyone agreed Piper and Paul had the best rhythm dance by far last season.

Anyway, I haven't heard anything yet about what they're doing for their RD this season. Just, for the love of God, no clown costumes! The tacky Halloween attire for the Elton John still gives me nightmares.
 
Finally finished glitter and gold. Piper and Paul stole the show for me, I cried in episode 3 for them and everything Piper has been through... I haven't been as tuned into ice dance in past seasons so I didn't know them as a team very well but I love how Paul supported her after the gpf. He is a great partner and they seem so close. I want a medal for them so bad... so disheartened after the team short today but still hopeful in the individual event.
 
Piper and Paul had the gold performance for me!
Yes, their best work is Wuthering Heights (I got to see them live at Montreal Worlds, and in my opinion they deserved the gold there), but this Vincent is as close to WH as it gets!

Their creativity, their passion, their mesmerizing performance skills, the work they put in telling their story is evident in everyone of their routines!
When you say: Piper and Paul's Hitchcock, Evita, Both Sides Now, Wuthering Heights, Starry Nights, etc., almost everybody with some knowledge in figure skating would know what you are talking about! They've created MOMENTS on ice with every program skated.
Not many dance teams have memorable routines but regarding Piper & Paul I will rewatch their programs for many years to come!
 
What a stroke of genius to bring back Vincent for their Olympic FD.. it was breathtaking, beautiful and made me cry.. 🥲 Hope they continue because ice dance will not be the same without their creativity. Congrats on the medal! 💙🌻🫶🏼😻💙🌻
 
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