Yuzuru Hanyu: 2016-17 Season

[asiacheetah]

Yes I love it. Tbh both of his programs this year are my favourite so far and I've been desperately trying to find piano sheet music for H&L

Have you tried looking them under the original song titles? View of Silence and Asian Dreamsong by Joe Hisaishi.

 

[teeannroo]

Have you tried looking them under the original song titles? View of Silence and Asian Dreamsong by Joe Hisaishi.

No not yet- I'm hesitant because H&L is a mix of the two so I might not like the individual pieces that much but I might try it if it's impossible to get H&L without paying

 

[vadrouille]

It's not "dislike", it's more like... "less enthusiastic". This is still men skating and drama is valued and appreciated more. The general public prefer theatrical movements I think. Yuzuru has strong threatrical sense so I have no doubt he can handle it well as he has handled it in the past.

I do think if he skates clean and consistent, he will get huge scores regardless. But Yuzuru isn't Zhenia Med, isn't Satoko. He can't skate clean back to back all the time especially with such difficult layout and crazy transitions.

About classical music choices, I do think it's safer cause it's more universal and in such a season like Olympic. But it doesn't mean he has to force himself to skate to it. I am sure he can find some classical music pieces that suit him and still have wide appeal to the audience and the judges.

Thank you Meoima for your post. You wrote what I think also.
The competition programs SP and LP especially in Olympic season are not the place to experiment some kind of music not universal or loved by the audience and judges at large. I don't think the audience dislike his music Hope&Legacy, but we prefer other music more suited to our taste and our feeling. For me, the music H&L is too subtle, too quiet, too monotonous, not significant for us to be interested. I prefer to hear the music of other skaters competitors, like Nathan' SP and LP ballet music, Shoma's, even Patrick's LP music. Of course, it is only my opinion and feeling.
I have seen live H&L at the arena in Autumn Classic Montreal, Skate Canada in Mississauga and GPF Marseille. I think that more than half of the audience are his fans who travel the world to see him skate. In spite of our enthousiasme, the atmosphere is excited only for jumps, more quiet than usual during his performance or even after his LP. At GPF Marseille, he lost the LP to Nathan and Shoma, he won overall because of his lead in SP.
I hope that he will think about it more deeply to choose the music for next year Olympic and listen more to the advice of his coach and chronographer .

 

[pexcornel]

Hello.
I bought the score from a youtube fan for 4 euros.
The link is in the description.
Trust me, 4 euros is nothing, because its a combo of 2 pieces of music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byOejzhnuvc

About the music itself, it's quite elaborate, modern and traditional in the same time.
You like it more if you try to play it and understand it.

 

[AppleEmperor]

Hello.
I bought the score from a youtube fan for 4 euros.
The link is in the description.
Trust me, 4 euros is nothing, because its a combo of 2 pieces of music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byOejzhnuvc

Woah this is so beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing :luv17:

 

[PatricksGaze]

Even AWG brings us more Yuzuru Post-AWG interview with Liu/Wang

We've all seen this --> Liu lifting Yuzu up, damsel-in-distress style

But apparently he also got to unzip Yuzu out of his costume According to Liu's partner, Wang, they were both in the changing room in Shanghai. Yuzu was just done with his performance and was all drenched, so he asked Liu for help getting out of his costume. Fans on weibo all clamoring for details waxing speculative poetics on the experience now. :

http://sports.qq.com/a/20170226/023653.htm

Wow, that sounds romantic Thank you for the translation. Could you please translate what "Yuzu jokingly said to him"? Did they talk more about Yuzuru in there?

 

[narcissa]

Even AWG brings us more Yuzuru Post-AWG interview with Liu/Wang

We've all seen this --> Liu lifting Yuzu up, damsel-in-distress style

But apparently he also got to unzip Yuzu out of his costume According to Liu's partner, Wang, they were both in the changing room in Shanghai. Yuzu was just done with his performance and was all drenched, so he asked Liu for help getting out of his costume. Fans on weibo all clamoring for details waxing speculative poetics on the experience now. :

http://sports.qq.com/a/20170226/023653.htm

My face ----> :eeking:

Sorry, I never have anything interesting to add. But I had to comment.

 

[Yatagarasu]

I hope that he will think about it more deeply to choose the music for next year Olympic and listen more to the advice of his coach and chronographer .

I am sorry but we don't know that he didn't listen to the advice of his coach and choreographer, and chose the two Hisaishi's pieces against their advice. It's also unfair to imply he didn't think deeply about his choice of music. What he obviously didn't think about is popularity and for the most part Western sensibilities but that is a lack of pragmatism, not a lack of depth. In fact we know that Hope and Legacy as a program means a great deal to him and that behind it, lies a lot of thought and emotion.

Now while I am all for Yuzuru choosing a more dramatic piece because that would make his life easier in a very difficult season, and it would satisfy the need for 'excitement' that apparently exists, that a contemplative piece like H&L cannot produce, it is still Yuzuru who has to skate to this music and interpret it.
I hope that he can find a compromise between what's popular in today's fast food skating and what is his desire but if he cannot? I'll still support his desire first, and what he feels fits him best, even if a lot of the audience ends up being bored. If he cannot connect to the music, then it's all just skating by numbers and Yuzuru's skating has never been that and should not start being that now.

 

[mcq]

I am sorry but we don't know that he didn't listen to the advice of his coach and choreographer, and chose the two Hisaishi's pieces against their advice. It's also unfair to imply he didn't think deeply about his choice of music. What he obviously didn't think about is popularity and for the most part Western sensibilities but that is a lack of pragmatism, not a lack of depth. In fact we know that Hope and Legacy as a program means a great deal to him and that behind it, lies a lot of thought and emotion.

Now while I am all for Yuzuru choosing a more dramatic piece because that would make his life easier in a very difficult season, and it would satisfy the need for 'excitement' that apparently exists, that a contemplative piece like H&L cannot produce, it is still Yuzuru who has to skate to this music and interpret it.
I hope that he can find a compromise between what's popular in today's fast food skating and what is his desire but if he cannot? I'll still support his desire first, and what he feels fits him best, even if a lot of the audience ends up being bored. If he cannot connect to the music, then it's all just skating by numbers and Yuzuru's skating has never been that and should not start being that now.

I agree to this. He should skate to music that he wants to skate to and can connect. For me POTO is more enjoyable than NDP also because of this reason, possibly, and why RJ2 is still more enjoyable to watch than NDP. And HnL is more enjoyable for me than POTO, RJ2 and NDP.

He can't make everybody happy with his music choice, anyway. Some people dislike LGC to their bones too; I saw many who completely hate that program, as well as many who think it is a masterpiece. It's not like if he uses warhorse, there won't be people complaining. Just choose a music that he really wants to skate to, whether it is a warhorse or not. I don't think they (the judges) would hold it against him just because of his music choice/program.

 

[xeyra]

He can't make everybody happy with his music choice, anyway. Some people dislike LGC to their bones too; I saw many who completely hate that program, as well as many who think it is a masterpiece.

Well, this fan here absolutely loves LGC and the why is only about 20%ish related to how well those pants fit him. :cool14:

 

[Marin]

All I can think about now is his LP combo not music really, he hasn't landed it since Boston and it has become some kind of mental block for him, he risks so many points .. I blindly hope that either he will change it with loop combo or do that as second jumping pass after lo.. he can't afford loosing that combo any more. In my heart I still have tiny tiiiny hope that he will change layout just like he ditched Chopin lutz after Skate Canada

 

[vadrouille]

I agree to this. He should skate to music that he wants to skate to and can connect. For me POTO is more enjoyable than NDP also because of this reason, possibly, and why RJ2 is still more enjoyable to watch than NDP. And HnL is more enjoyable for me than POTO, RJ2 and NDP.

He can't make everybody happy with his music choice, anyway. Some people dislike LGC to their bones too; I saw many who completely hate that program, as well as many who think it is a masterpiece. It's not like if he uses warhorse, there won't be people complaining. Just choose a music that he really wants to skate to, whether it is a warhorse or not. I don't think they (the judges) would hold it against him just because of his music choice/program.

I am sorry that my post seems to mean what I don't want to. Even if each of us the fans has our own limited knowledge of music, it is the skater who choose the music he likes to skate too. He has no obligation to skate to universal music to please the audience.
Yuzuru can skate to what ever music he likes.
I think it is normal that the choice of music is discussed between the skater and the coach, even with the choreographer.
But the final decision is the skater's decision.
I don't mean that Yuzuru did not listen to the advice of his coach.
Sorry that my post sound critical and not fair to Yuzuru.
It was not my intention at all.

 

[pexcornel]

My experience and opinion on the last 2 years music.
Chopin: I actually discovered Yuzuru because of it, I was practicing exactly the Ballade that period and I was making my Christmas tree and I put the skating on the TV because it was good music and it was in Barcelona (GPF2015) and I live 200km south of BCN, I thought it will be good background for my tree decorating Long story short, when I heard the ballade playing and THAT GUY SKATING I was like WOW. And I felled in love with his skating INSTANTLY.
Seimei: Obviously I watched the FP after it and with that record 330 and that music, my opinion, SEIMEI is genius.
Lets' Go Crazy: I saw it live in the venue in Marseille and it was AWESOME, everything was in place, the music is great.
H&L: Just beautiful, I am learning it now on the piano.

 

[Meoima]

I think Hope and Legacy is nice. And if he wants to express a more delicate side of his skating then this season, it's the best choice to experiment. There's no problem with trying out new style.
My point is Olympic is very much different, there's a lot or coverage and politics going on, and he should choose something else which still suits him and he likes it of course, but still has mass appeal.

 

[gladiolusc]

Wow, that sounds romantic Thank you for the translation. Could you please translate what "Yuzu jokingly said to him"? Did they talk more about Yuzuru in there?

Haha, Yuzuru jokingly said to him that they could do pairs skating in the future. So, mystery solved, guys, it's going to be Liu/Hanyu

 

[sallycinnamon]

I sincerely hope that he chooses a piece of music for his next program(s) which he really wants to skate to, which would suit him and as Yatagarasu said, something which is maybe a bit popular in today's world of figure skating.

I am sure that his team is already analyzing the effect of Hope & Legacy in PCS (PE/IN) and they will do so after the end of season, before they decide which music they will choose for the next season. As Orser said they save the best for the Olympic season, so I have full trust in Yuzuru, in Brian, in JSF and everyone around him who may influence his decision on the matter. I am absolutely sure that they will consider every possible opportunities and that they will try to find something which would suit him and at the same time they fans and judges would like too.

Personally, I am sure I will like his choice, whatever it will be. I liked all of his music for competitive programs so far, so I'm very positive about next season too.

But his choice is not something we can influence. The only thing we, as his fans can do is to stay positive when we support him, and trust him as much as we can. Because Yuzuru feels the support, the energy of his fans and maybe it's the only way we can directly influence him in some way.

Because of this I dedicate my milestone post for the positivity of our community, that it reaches Yuzuru and makes him an even stronger, better and happier skater.

 

[Meoima]

Haha, Yuzuru jokingly said to him that they could do pairs skating in the future. So, mystery solved, guys, it's going to be Liu/Hanyu

They do look very good together.

 

[Yatagarasu]

Sorry that my post sound critical and not fair to Yuzuru.

It's totally ok to be critical! We often do it here (see me and the 4S-3T combo, I imagine everyone's sick of me by now ).
It's just that with the music, it's very subjective and I think it's natural that we all want to 'enjoy' his programs. On the other hand, as mcq points out, he'll never satisfy everyone in the audience, and of course the most important person who has to be satisfied is himself. So at best we can look for some formula that goes like this -> Yuzuru can connect to it + relatively accessible/popular = best combination but that is pure pragmatism from our side.

Don't worry, I am sure both Yuzuru and his team are thinking about next season and have been for a while but ultimately, it is his choice and the music must be something he can express properly. Brian and Shae aren't skating to it; he is. Maybe he thinks even too much about it but one thing you can count on, he will give it a lot of thought (as you can see below).

Since I hope you can get to enjoy H&L a little bit at least, there's a great interview with Shae that explains Yuzuru's thoughts about it, this part especially and while maybe you won't get much more excitement from program, at least you'll see why he did what he did and that may provide a joy of a different kind when you see him perform it. Understanding is after all worth more than a few seconds of excitement.

The Story of Hope and Legacy - any advice for the audience when appreciating the performance?

Shae: You can observe a lot from the beginning. The first scene, when Yuzuru steps out with reaching hands, it represents his first encounter with the ice. Imagination unfolds - probably it's his eventual goal to be at the Olympics. He reaches out his hands with hope, but he can't catch it. He retracts his hands. And then it's a series of step sequence "No pain, no gain. Alright, I need to step on the ice, and work hard" This is how a young Yuzuru meets with the ice. Imagine a curious little yuzuru with eyes wide open. He enjoys the wind that blows on him with every step forward, he loves the feeling of sliding.

As the programme continues, there will be moments of struggle and moments of joy. After the circular foot work, Yuzuru places his hand in front of himself and looks through his fingers. This represents how yuzuru sees his reflection in the mirror. He finds his reflection. A lot of times, you are your own biggest criticizer. He doesn't like his reflection. With fear and horror, with excessive strictness, he sees his imperfections. But then, he shakes it off, breaks the mirror and leaves. He wants to move forward. He doesn't allow him to spoil himself. He trusts his ability to move forward.

After the 4th quad, he places his hands in front of his chest, feeling the heart beat and the voice of his heart. He reaches the stage of facing his own emotions. This year, because of injury, he had the opportunity to face his inner self and feel the movement of the body. This is a new perspective, that is not only about focusing on skating, but also to feel your life as a whole and release your emotions... As if wings are grown, he will fly, fly to sky. The world is wonderful, the world is beautiful. Learn about yourself, learn what is freedom. Erase all your fear and doubts. The fact that you are living, living your life, be yourself...Feel the happiness.

The last scene is not very successful in SC (laughs) But it will be shown to everyone in the coming competitions. In fact, it returns back to the opening, where he reaches his hands and grabs tightly. He grabs victory and dream, but he doesn't want to have them all to himself. He spreads his arms, opens his heart, and wants to share hope and inspiration to the entire world. The last scene is for everyone who appreciates his performance. Yuzuru really wants to thank everyone. He doesn't just want to skate beautifully himself, he wants to achieve much more with his skating. To share with people around him, to everyone at the stadium and to everyone in front of the television. It is a great message: no sports can exist without audience. Yuzuru hopes that the audience becomes part of him, and he wants to share with everyone all of these. This is the actual story of Hope & Legacy.

You can read the whole interview that speaks a lot about Yuzuru and choreography of his programs here, thanks to cherryncy. It's an excellent read!

 

[mcq]

I am sorry that my post seems to mean what I don't want to. Even if each of us the fans has our own limited knowledge of music, it is the skater who choose the music he likes to skate too. He has no obligation to skate to universal music to please the audience.
Yuzuru can skate to what ever music he likes.
I think it is normal that the choice of music is discussed between the skater and the coach, even with the choreographer.
But the final decision is the skater's decision.
I don't mean that Yuzuru did not listen to the advice of his coach.
Sorry that my post sound critical and not fair to Yuzuru.
It was not my intention at all.

Haha I don't think you need to apologize, pretty sure most know you don't mean anything bad.
Anyway, I think it is completely fine if you dislike a program. I myself are not so fond of some of his programs (PW, LGC) and no matter how many people told me how amazing they are or how much they like them, I am sure it won't change my mind much. But, I am also aware that just because it is not something I enjoy, doesn't mean that everybody won't too or that the program is bad. It just means it is not my cup of tea. I think it is more important that Yuzuru skate to a program he likes, enjoys, and maybe means something to him (even though it may be despised by so many people) rather than skating to something that cater to many people's taste but he does not enjoy/like. He enjoys skating to classical music or warhorse too btw. He wanted to skate to POTO and he requested to skate to Chopin iirc.

 

[gladiolusc]

I hope that he can find a compromise between what's popular in today's fast food skating and what is his desire but if he cannot? I'll still support his desire first, and what he feels fits him best, even if a lot of the audience ends up being bored. If he cannot connect to the music, then it's all just skating by numbers and Yuzuru's skating has never been that and should not start being that now.

I am sorry that my post seems to mean what I don't want to. Even if each of us the fans has our own limited knowledge of music, it is the skater who choose the music he likes to skate too. He has no obligation to skate to universal music to please the audience.
Yuzuru can skate to what ever music he likes.
I think it is normal that the choice of music is discussed between the skater and the coach, even with the choreographer.
But the final decision is the skater's decision.

I was going to translate this section from Brian's book actually, but Yuzuru got so distracting Just quick snippets here, and more terrible language than usual.

Because both Yuzu and Javi have become leaders of the figure skating field, in addition to picking song that can help them win, they must also pick pieces that can help their growth as artists. It's important for the development of the field that the skaters that everyone looks up to are able to bring new depth artistically while showcasing a breadth of skills. To turn various styles of dance into your own, and then to add the quads, the gorgeous spins into the mix. So the driving consideration for program choices has always been "what kind of skater, or person, are they evolving into, in two years?"

Yuzu will be 23, Javi will be about to turn 27. What pieces now, in the pre-olympics season, will bring them the best performance in the olympics season. That's how we think about it. It's like buying clothes for your kids. You foresee their growth, so you don't pick something that fits perfectly right this moment, but rather, something that will fit perfectly by February 2018.

Because of Yuzu's perfect performances in NHK and GPF, everyone will be looking to compare his performances to that gold standard. So, the pieces chosen this year are for him to "meet even more perfect ways to perform"

For short we chose rock music by Prince.
1. Yuzu's shown he can carry this type of music and move really naturally to music like this in PW.
2. Yuzu isn't a shy Japanese, he can turn into a rockstar.
3. At ice show finales when he dances to dance music, Yuzu really moves his body. He's naturally attuned to the rhythm.
Thus, good pick for him to find new talent while having fun.

For long, we chose a really beautiful piece, something very different from the short. Yuzu chose the pieces himself, and named it "Hope and Legacy". When Yuzuru suggested the pieces, he explained it this way.

"Legacy to me, is what's ingrained and carved into me up until this point in my skating life. In order to chase Patrick, we strengthened on quads and performance and won in Sochi. In the same way, the younger generation are also on this path. Hope represents the feelings of hope, gratitude, worries... things outside of performance that I've received from fans and supporters up till this point."

Yuzu is the type to skate his heart. Simply "great song" and "audience will be receptive" are not enough for him, there must be a purpose for his skating. When we heard his reasons, we settled on this piece without a moment of doubt. Pre-olympics season is also important on the technical side, strategically speaking. It's too late to add new quads in the Olympics season. As a vehicle for Yuzuru to explore his way around the battle of quads, it's better to have a piece that Yuzuru is naturally, emotionally attuned to as well.

As far as I can tell, finding the inner rockstar in LGC had been a success. It being the program that many commentators were doubtful about in the beginning, it's clear that Yuzu had found his footing and the way to communicate this program successfully now. Whether it be totally crazy like in GPF, or a little more subdued in 4CC.

I think we all can continue to look forward to Yuzuru's growth in expressing H&L as well. Those of us who love it can look forward to H&L becoming even more fluid, heartfelt and lovely. Those of us who don't, can still appreciate Yuzuru's attempt to communicate these more introspective thoughts of his. And hey, who knows, you might come to love it. And what's better than falling in love with a program and being surprised? Yuzu should have two more showings at least for us to look forward to :luv17::agree: