What are the three worst musical themes in figure skating?

[elbkup]

Roxanne is interesting because I find the theme much more tolerable as Tanguera.

But imo the “true” rendition is Sting’s .. hands down. With gravel-like voice

 

[noskates]

Please, let's don't let iluvtodd get malade! I do think sometimes the overused music is because the choreographers just get lazy. I notice Misha Ge is the master at using the same music. I also don't like seeing the Junior or Novice skaters using BIG musical renditions because their skating just can't generally keep up with it. Could be wrong but....lazy. Probably the music is already cut to the right time length, etc.

 

[Diana Delafield]

Please, let's don't let iluvtodd get malade! I do think sometimes the overused music is because the choreographers just get lazy. I notice Misha Ge is the master at using the same music. I also don't like seeing the Junior or Novice skaters using BIG musical renditions because their skating just can't generally keep up with it. Could be wrong but....lazy. Probably the music is already cut to the right time length, etc.

I saw a tiny girl about 8 years old skating at a level lower than Novice to what her mother said was the kid's own choice: very loud over-orchestrated themes from "Superman". It was impossible not to giggle no matter how hard you tried to stifle it.

Can I add that I hope for a spell of dry weather and put away the Umbrellas of Cherbourg for a few years? Particularly with mimed gestures of holding one?

 

[TallyT]

I saw a tiny girl about 8 years old skating at a level lower than Novice to what her mother said was the kid's own choice: very loud over-orchestrated themes from "Superman". It was impossible not to giggle no matter how hard you tried to stifle it.

Awwww, that's as cute as a small boy pretending to be Batman (though I hope her costume isn't a cape made up of a towel or pillowcase, as my nephews used till their mom bought them a couple of Hallowe'en knockoffs they could wreck saving the world in the back yard.)

 

[Diana Delafield]

Awwww, that's as cute as a small boy pretending to be Batman (though I hope her costume isn't a cape made up of a towel or pillowcase, as my nephews used till their mom bought them a couple of Hallowe'en knockoffs they could wreck saving the world in the back yard.)

No, this was a low-level competition and she was in the usual sparkly skating dress, not attempting to actually portray Superman. She just liked the music. Unfortunately the music was so big and overpowering it was crushing her, like a big shoe stomping on a tiny insect. This was about 1980 and it was the John Williams soundtrack music to the 1978 film with Christopher Reeves.

 

[cocteautwin]

My types (although the list could be sooo much longer):
1. Adagio (hate it!!!)
2. POTO (especially parts by Sarah Brightman, I find her so overrated singer)
3. Big spender for junior girls
4. Any cover of Creep (I like Radiohead's original one ocasionaly if used smartly with a real understanding of a theme; covers are unbearable)
5. La la land (mediocre, boring movie with mediocre, boring music, plus overused as hell)
6. Pop variations of classical music, ble, tasteless
7. Sad, slow, boring pop songs (ballads) sang by second-class artists, especially covers; it's been a plague for quite many years recently
8. Papa can you hear me (no he can't!)
9. Entire so called rock opera genre trash, especially with french lyrics
10. Anything by Filippa Giordano (Una voca poco fa, french Habanera etc.)

 

[4everchan]

My types (although the list could be sooo much longer):
1. Adagio (hate it!!!)
2. POTO (especially parts by Sarah Brightman, I find her so overrated singer)
3. Big spender for junior girls
4. Any cover of Creep (I like Radiohead's original one ocasionaly if used smartly with a real understanding of a theme; covers are unbearable)
5. La la land (mediocre, boring movie with mediocre, boring music, plus overused as hell)
6. Pop variations of classical music, ble, tasteless
7. Sad, slow, boring pop songs (ballads) sang by second-class artists, especially covers; it's been a plague for quite many years recently
8. Papa can you hear me (no he can't!)
9. Entire so called rock opera genre trash, especially with french lyrics
10. Anything by Filippa Giordano (Una voca poco fa, french Habanera etc.)

very complete and accurate list

 

[cocteautwin]

very complete and accurate list

I was "inspired" by the announcement of Lim/Quan free dance to Adagio. Had to put my frustration somewhere and remebered about this thread.

 

[Jeanie19]

My types (although the list could be sooo much longer):
1. Adagio (hate it!!!)
2. POTO (especially parts by Sarah Brightman, I find her so overrated singer)
3. Big spender for junior girls
4. Any cover of Creep (I like Radiohead's original one ocasionaly if used smartly with a real understanding of a theme; covers are unbearable)
5. La la land (mediocre, boring movie with mediocre, boring music, plus overused as hell)
6. Pop variations of classical music, ble, tasteless
7. Sad, slow, boring pop songs (ballads) sang by second-class artists, especially covers; it's been a plague for quite many years recently
8. Papa can you hear me (no he can't!)
9. Entire so called rock opera genre trash, especially with french lyrics
10. Anything by Filippa Giordano (Una voca poco fa, french Habanera etc.)

#8 is my most hated song. Love no he can't.

 

[Tutto]

I wish the ISU would make classical music a compulsory choice for either SP or LP, a skater can decide which, for ONE season only and see how it goes. I love FS but that love is being tested every season just a bit harder. A muted button it is, then

 

[noskates]

Cocteautwin - VERY well stated. I would just add Carmen and anything smacking of a tango. I know I'm sounding like a broken record but I literally mute the sound when anyone skates to that music.

 

[Diana Delafield]

I wish the ISU would make classical music a compulsory choice for either SP or LP, a skater can decide which, for ONE season only and see how it goes. I love FS but that love is being tested every season just a bit harder. A muted button it is, then

While I agree, I can hear then the arguments about, perhaps, a composition date cut-off, because composers are still writing new symphonies and concerti today.

Personally, I preferred the no-vocals rule. I find too often the lyrics are too distracting when they're meaningless and/or don't have any connection to the mood of the program. The skater is really just skating to the melody anyway and ignoring the words.

 

[Ruthypegs]

Elvis
Phantom of the Opera
Carmen

[I'm going to speak up in favour of Bolero (I love Ravel and would love to hear some different pieces of his music in skating). I am really hoping I get to see Kevin Aymoz skating it live at Euros.]

 

[Ruthypegs]

I saw a tiny girl about 8 years old skating at a level lower than Novice to what her mother said was the kid's own choice: very loud over-orchestrated themes from "Superman". It was impossible not to giggle no matter how hard you tried to stifle it.

Can I add that I hope for a spell of dry weather and put away the Umbrellas of Cherbourg for a few years? Particularly with mimed gestures of holding one?

I would LOVE more skating programmes with the Superman theme!!! Fantastic music choice from the 8 year old!

 

[ChiGal]

Any teen-girl power ballad...UGGHH! Think W. Houstons One Moment in Time, A. Keyes This Girl Is on Fire, and any sappy slow-moving teenaged angst-ridden song (think Billie Eilish). Ok to use as a non-competitive program, but just to cheesy for a competition. And yes, I agree with you Bolero commenters. It is an easy-to-skate piece of music due to the slow and plodding tempo.

 

[Diana Delafield]

Any teen-girl power ballad...UGGHH! Think W. Houstons One Moment in Time, A. Keyes This Girl Is on Fire, and any sappy slow-moving teenaged angst-ridden song (think Billie Eilish). Ok to use as a non-competitive program, but just to cheesy for a competition. And yes, I agree with you Bolero commenters. It is an easy-to-skate piece of music due to the slow and plodding tempo.

Anyone old enough to remember the 1988 Olympics (ahem) will have One Moment in Time burned in their brain. It was written as the Olympics theme song and every time you turned on a radio, or the TV coverage, there was Whitney warbling away. Skaters wouldn't touch the song for years after .

 

[elektra blue]

My types (although the list could be sooo much longer):
1. Adagio (hate it!!!)
2. POTO (especially parts by Sarah Brightman, I find her so overrated singer)
3. Big spender for junior girls
4. Any cover of Creep (I like Radiohead's original one ocasionaly if used smartly with a real understanding of a theme; covers are unbearable)
5. La la land (mediocre, boring movie with mediocre, boring music, plus overused as hell)
6. Pop variations of classical music, ble, tasteless
7. Sad, slow, boring pop songs (ballads) sang by second-class artists, especially covers; it's been a plague for quite many years recently
8. Papa can you hear me (no he can't!)
9. Entire so called rock opera genre trash, especially with french lyrics
10. Anything by Filippa Giordano (Una voca poco fa, french Habanera etc.)

i agree on everything but the french trashy rock opera me love me some trash

 

[moonvine]

Fix You
Whatever the heck that song is about keeping the light on. Turn it off already
Junior men skating to emo in all black (or at all)

 

[Diana Delafield]

I would LOVE more skating programmes with the Superman theme!!! Fantastic music choice from the 8 year old!

Trouble was she didn't use the character or theme at all, just a basic baby freeskate using the music, which way overpowered her. Thundered down from the speakers under the roof (this was around 1980), and flattened the poor mite.

For junior men, it would have been a good choice, the ones who skate like colts out of the barn, still a bit rough around the edges.

 

[TallyT]

I wish the ISU would make classical music a compulsory choice for either SP or LP, a skater can decide which, for ONE season only and see how it goes.

Aaaand cue sixty million and three programs to Swan Lake, Bolero, Carmen and oh yes, for a change Swan Lake........ (Actually, that would be quite amusing. At least for three weeks or so.)

The skater is really just skating to the melody anyway and ignoring the words.

If they are not English speakers, they quite possibly don't have the faintest idea what the words are (anyone remember a few years back a Japanese junior's team announced 'Strange Fruit'... luckily it got canned before she skated but it shows the problem). However, quite a few of my most beloved programs are to music with lyrics. And goodness knows, the RD themes the last couple of years would be really straitened without it.