Rachael Flatt's New SP

[Olympia]

In the context of the original opera, "Summertime" was actually a lullaby sung by a mother to her baby. Not that I'm saying it has to be performed as one. The words certainly work if they're meant to apply to the point-of-view singer or dancer rather than to the point-of-view person's child. I'm just bringing it up to show the song's many potential scenarios. To me it's always been hopeful and mournful at the same time. One of my favorite interpretations of it vocally was Fantasia Barrino's performance of it on American Idol. I'm not a regular watcher of that show, but thank goodness I was watching that season. By the way, Fantasia was only about a year older than Rachael when she sang it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WWtGpEqpV4

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

^^^^^
Great response Olympia. I will drop the idea of it being a blues, and think of it as a lullabye. It works and should work for Rachael.

 

[Mathman]

hmmm... well... my favorite program to the song Summertime also doesn't give me that feel... but, then, I don't think that's what Sasha Zhulin's choreography called for

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02zumkuDohc

one of Kurt's best... and it's not a litteral interp of the song, but it completely follows the flow of the music... me likes.

That's Summertime?

 

[Puchi]

I hope Rachael surprises us all with this new program. For some reason I think it's gonna be a good one.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

MM -

You are using a Master Interpreter of Music. In this connection, I feel as though he was showing the struggle of life as blues music. Thoroughly confused now. Is it a lullabye or a blues? Maybe both. Which one will dominate?

 

[Mathman]

MM -

You are using a Master Interpreter of Music. In this connection, I feel as though he was showing the struggle of life as blues music. Thoroughly confused now. Is it a lullabye or a blues? Maybe both. Which one will dominate?

My question was more literal. I don't think the music that Browning was skating to in that program is "Summertime." I think it is a different song.(?)

 

[islandpaddler]

My question was more literal. I don't think the music that Browning was skating to in that program is "Summertime." I think it is a different song.(?)

I just watched the Kurt clip. The announcer said the music was "All Alone." Funny, I always remembered it as "Summertime" too.

 

[Mathman]

Here is it -- All Alone by guitarist Joe Satriani.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdQDGYyivSw

Edited to add According to You Tube, Kurt did skate to Summertime in CSOI 1999, but the video is not available at the moment.

 

[Olympia]

MM -

You are using a Master Interpreter of Music. In this connection, I feel as though he was showing the struggle of life as blues music. Thoroughly confused now. Is it a lullabye or a blues? Maybe both. Which one will dominate?

Joe, it could be both. Blues is an idiom, while a lullaby is a genre, and a song with a particular purpose--to get the kiddy to slow down and go to sleep, secure in the knowledge that he is loved and protected.

As I understand it, strict blues has a particular kind of chord progression and an A-B-A structure, so in that sense, "Summertime" is not blues, though it can be "blues-y," or blues-tinged. It can also be re-orchestrated so it sounds even more like blues.

What it is more truly is jazz. Jazz is a huge river, of which blues is just one feeder stream. Gershwin used a lot of jazz idioms in his work, because he felt that jazz was a uniquely American form. The work that "Summertime" is from, Porgy and Bess, was designed to be a jazz opera, and when it's performed in its original form, it's sung by opera-trained voices. But "Summertime" is often interpreted in a whole host of different styles, with more jazz-pop voices. I bet we could find an interpretation by Ella Fitzgerald somewhere, for instance.

What I'm getting at is that there are a lot of versions of "Summertime" out there, both vocal and instrumental arrangements, with a lot of different moods, which means that many different skaters could bring something special to it. Torvill and Dean used a marvelous orchestration of it (a harmonica, performed by Larry Adler). Plainly this ain't no lullaby!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmztHpSIT4E

 

[ImaginaryPogue]

The interpretation by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong is legendary.

 

[Nadine]

All right, IN has of today the newest interview by Rach & her coach!!!!! :thumbsup: arty:

What I'm most interested in is to see if she actually goes for the 3L/3R combo.? Of course the 2A/3T is a no brainer, but the former is what I'm concerned about, I'm wondering if she's going to save it for 4CC or Worlds?

Regards the music for her new SP, she says after NHK Trophy she & her team definitely planned to scrap the old one for a new one, even earlier than that way back in September or so they weren't getting good reviews or feedback on it from the judges, officials, reporters, fans. So she flew down to Canada to see Lori Nichol, and tada this is the music they settled on while out for a ride in the car.


GOOOOOOOOOO RACHAEL!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Nadine]

p.s. I can't wait to see Rachael's new dress for Nationals. And I'm hoping that Mirai, Agnes, Alissa, Ashley, et al, also have brand new ones as well. This is our Golden Globes. Watch out Natalie & company, here come US Nationals!!!!!

Oops, and not to forget the men, I hope they have brand new duds as well, though I have to admit Ryan Bradley is the one I'm most curious about ~ what kind of outfit will he wear for his "Bugle Boy" routine? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pfCFU3Mqww

 

[Mathman]

What I'm most interested in is to see if she actually goes for the 3L/3R combo.? Of course the 2A/3T is a no brainer, but the former is what I'm concerned about, I'm wondering if she's going to save it for 4CC or Worlds?

She better bring everything she's got to Nationals. The other ladies will. :yes:

 

[blue dog]

Perhaps Rachael needs to watch the film, "Black Swan," and unlock her own inner black swan.

 

[Nadine]

Lol, blue dog, funny I already think Rachael has. Seriously, that's why I've been a fan of hers since I first saw her debut at Nationals in 2007 as a fresh-faced 14 yr. old. And she hasn't been afraid to change her style as she's grown both as an artist and a young lady, including cutting her hair this year into an attractive style to signify her entrance into adulthood; she's now 18 yrs. old.

She honest to God blew me away at 2010 Skate America in Portland, Oregon, with her FABULOUS LP, and I have to be honest I had my doubts beforehand, but not afterwards, never again. This is why I'm so excited to see what she will bring forth with her new SP. Surprise me, Rachael! arty:

 

[Tonichelle]

My question was more literal. I don't think the music that Browning was skating to in that program is "Summertime." I think it is a different song.(?)

you're right, for whatever reason that link is not the one I had last night! weird....

anywho, here's the real link... again... I hope... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=froSWG-VX8I

and it is, indeed, summertime. This was not his best skate to it, but it is apparently the only one on youtube.

 

[aftertherain]

Flatt Healthy Heading into Nationals

From: Required Elements (Blog)

Flatt and coach Tom Zakrajsek also acknowledge the East of Eden/Michelle Kwan connection in her new short program, choreographed by Lori Nichol (who also choreographed Kwan's East of Eden). Zakrajsek tries to play down the Kwan connection by pointing out that it would be hard not to ever reuse music. [pparently, Lori Nichol suggested the music.

Guess you guys were right.

As I have stated before elsewhere..I do think that if Flatt is trying to win fans over to her style of skating, this might not have been smart since so many of us will involuntarily compare her short to Michelle Kwan's.

Sigh.

P.S. What is Rachael's style anyway? I can't seem to figure it out ... :think:

P.S. #2: Honest question: How do you pronounce her coach's last name?

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Joe, it could be both. Blues is an idiom, while a lullaby is a genre, and a song with a particular purpose--to get the kiddy to slow down and go to sleep, secure in the knowledge that he is loved and protected.

As I understand it, strict blues has a particular kind of chord progression and an A-B-A structure, so in that sense, "Summertime" is not blues, though it can be "blues-y," or blues-tinged. It can also be re-orchestrated so it sounds even more like blues.

I can see you have an interest in Music, Olympia. I like that.

I have a trouble with the Lullabye being classified as a musical genre. So much of it depends on the lyrics. The music is sweet lentemente(sp). I've forgotten all my musical terms. But Summertime can be played and sung in a slow jazzy way. I've seen Porgy at least 3 times, and the black voices have a certain gospil tone to Summertime with blues influence. However, there are several versions but it's not quite the lullabye of Brahms. Would you say Wagner's wedding march is a lullabye? or a slow March?

 

[ibauer]

...
As I understand it, strict blues has a particular kind of chord progression and an A-B-A structure, so in that sense, "Summertime" is not blues, though it can be "blues-y," or blues-tinged. ...

I'm not trying to be pedantic here, but the structure is A-A-B. "St. Louis Bluse" is a good example:

I hate to see that evening sun go down
I hate to see that evening sun go down
'Cause my baby done left this town
etc.

"It Ain't Necessarily So" is much closer in structure to a genuine blues tune, but yes, "Summertime" has a blues feel to it even though it's not an out-and-out blues.

 

[Serious Business]

Summertime makes extensive use of the pentatonic minor scale, just as in blues. It's not strictly blues in its original version, but the influence is there. Subsequent covers of it of course can easily blues it up.