2017 Internationaux de France Free Dance

[Ic3Rabbit]

The incomparable Lea Salonga. Just recently she was a guest vocalist at Kristi Yamaguchi's ice show Golden Moment in Hawaii. Sorry for the O.T. topic:

Yes and she is amazing live.

 

[cell]

I mist be the only one who likes C/B' s Imagine... it's not a masterpiece, but I enjoy it and don't mind the music. I really like the way the lifts build in the last segment of the program. I'm not sure however how the program resembles Lobacheva/Averbukh's 2002 FD?

 

[Gotlev]

I mist be the only one who likes C/B' s Imagine... it's not a masterpiece, but I enjoy it and don't mind the music. I really like the way the lifts build in the last segment of the program. I'm not sure however how the program resembles Lobacheva/Averbukh's 2002 FD?

No you are not the only one. I find that FD very beautiful and enjoyable, in spite of the female singer and the weird voice over (I'm was shocked for a second, as if there's an announcer starting to say something mid-programme...). I find them a very beautiful couple to watch and wish them all the best!

 

[matcha]

Both Evan and Maddison are looking really skinny this season! Watch closely at Maddison's legs (I like to watch the foot placement and edges especially in Ice Dancing). Maddie's feet from knee down are very skinny and lack strength, very weak foot placement. Strong foot placement is especially needed in Latin dances. Look at Tessa's feet and Maddison Hubbell's feet, very strong controlled edges and foot placement.

Such a shame, Maddison is skating from knees down instead of from the core of her body.

I also agree with the poor editing of this music, the soft female vocal is weak and forget about the instrumental bit of the music, that part lacks pucntuation, hence doesn't allow the skaters to accent them in their moves. Extremely poor music choice. Yes, either use John Lennon totally or none at all.

Madison went vegan recently maybe that's why. When I did I unintentionally lost a lot of weight too. She has always been little though.

 

[Gotlev]

It's funny… I simultaneously agree that Moonlight Sonata is their weakest FD of the quad in terms of the emotion it stirs in me (vs. all three other programs, which = *ALL the FEELS*) —> while ALSO believing that this actually *is* their best / most accomplished program of the quad—and could very well become *the* iconic program we'll eventually look back on as career-defining (à la Bolero + Torvill/Dean).

Ha, so I find myself a bit conflicted… P&C's last three programs moved me profoundly, in a way no other ice dance programs have ever made me feel. The last two programs, in particular, sort of wear their hearts on their sleeves—and the emotion the programs evoke = so immediate and accessible and unfettered… It's exuberant but delicate and so, so, lovely (…again, #AllTheFeels). Moonlight Sonata, I think, represents a more mature, sophisticated, grown-up version of P&C —> it's their trademark heart-on-the-sleeve etherealness + a more intellectual *formalist* approach… In many ways, it's the polar opposite of last year's rather avant-garde program —> which I think embodies P&C at their most free-form + abstract + emotion-based style of storytelling. Moonlight Sonata is much more controlled and focused—and I think it's absolutely genius —> the most cohesive, thoughtful, nuanced program they've ever done.

That said, while their other programs speak to me on an almost purely emotional level, Moonlight Sonata engages me on a more *intellectual* level—which isn't to say it doesn't also stir me on an emotional level… it's just this more mature, formalist + structured approach makes that emotional engagement with the program fundamentally different from how I engage with their earlier programs. It's hard to really articulate well —> but I feel like their earlier [heart-on-their-sleeve-ier] programs take you on this journey of emotions from moment to moment as you progress through the program—whereas Moonlight Sonata's emotional wallop is less immediate / in-the-moment-to-moment —> but rather, its power comes from the *cumulative* effect of the program / their interpretation of this music that hits you really as the program builds toward the end. And my *heart* of course wants another program in the same vein as their last three (yay, accessible-emotional-joy[et al.]ride!) —> while my *brain* appreciates the complexity and maturity of this program that still does generate its own (but *different*) emotional power. [That moment, post-lighthearted-piano-tinkering, when Gabriella collapses onto Guillaume with the piano 'crash' = *swoon*… 襤 —> probably among my, like, top-three all-time favorite choreographic moments… (ha, you know—just after Sotnikova's Olympic gold-winning choreographed hand wave… :handw: :-D )

Anyway! I apologize for the long + ramble-y post! And I hope my attempt to articulate in words these rather complex emotions hasn't resulted in *total* gibberish … But your comment really helped to crystalize my thinking feelings about Moonlight Sonata in comparison to P&C's other programs of the quad… And I'm *really* curious to hear anyone's thoughts on this—and whether you might have a similar (or entirely different) take on P&C's Olympic-year free dance.

Cheers...

—Michael

Thank you Michael, you put the perfect words to my feelings here.

 

[Mirunna]

Yeah, I still attribute Scott's fall to nervosity after hearing P/C's score.

I feel like this is where math comes into play. V/M's PB in the SD is 82.68, and the max SD score is 85.3, meaning there's only 2.62 points left on the table. Moreover, they are no longer given the cushion over P/C in the SD. The max FD score is 124.7, which means that P/C have 4.12 points left to max it out. And V/M haven't been able to score over 118 yet... This is just theorising of course, but I thought this was interesting to point out.

To be honest, I attribute Scott's fall to a silly mistake, a hiccup, a lack of concentration. It was one mistake and a very uncharacteristic one for them at this level of the competition. Throughout their career, they brought their A+++ game when it mattered the most - even when injuries prevented them to being on top. Carmen FD, while plagued with slight errors during the season, was spot on at Worlds (despite D/W winning the gold in that event). They were also magnificent in their Latin FD at 2011 worlds, despite missing the entire season due to injury (I don't know who would have the confidence to pull off that FD under their circumstances, and defending champions) The issues they had with their programs during the Olympic season 2013-2014 were gone by the Olympics, when they put such a fight and the final scores were way closer than anyone would expect. Despite the fact that nobody saw them as threats to the Olympic gold, they sure skated for the gold medal. I am sure they are playing the math as well this season, but they are NOT nervous competitors, they strive under pressure with a "Plushenko" quality. It's like skating against their major rivals lifts up their performance ability. If you want to watch a pattern, I think they usually have issues at the beginning of the season and polish things up way better in the second half. Which is what I expect from them this season as well.
Having said that, I also think P/C are more mentally prepared to skate against V/M than they were last season. They look much more confident and in control, and most importantly, they are 100% confident in their programs, which was not the case at the beginning of last season. I would still put my money on V/M delivering based on their huge experience and champions attitude that they proved time after time, while I have yet to see P/C skating a clean and confident competition against V/M.
And I say this as a P/C fan who want P/C to win gold in the Olympics.

 

[Ender]

V/M did pretty well at Sochi despite messing up in the team event. I think they can be very concentrated when they want.

 

[icekiwi]

Madison went vegan recently maybe that's why. When I did I unintentionally lost a lot of weight too. She has always been little though.

I didn't know that Maddison went vegan recently. Is that a fact? If it's, then that's bad news. She and Evan are full time elite athletes, athletes need a huge amount of protein (my son was a competitive swimmer, so we know quite a lot about athlete nutrition, etc ). Meat, fish, chicken provide good sources of protein. At the level that they are training, the fastest way to get protein on a daily basis is from meat. Protein is needed for muscle building.

No wonder Maddison just seems weak in her movements. Just compare her feet placement and movements with that of Tessa Virtue and Maddison Hubbell, there's a mile of difference. That is such a shame. There's a bit of talk on YouTube that this is not the team that did the angst, energetic, edgy hip hop from last season.

 

[humbaba]

I didn't know that Maddison went vegan recently. Is that a fact? If it's, then that's bad news.

Going vegan has become quite popular among elite athletes, including many skaters. Google "vegan athletes" and you might be surprised. Here's a sample:


http://metro.co.uk/2015/08/26/13-vegan-athletes-smashing-it-on-a-meat-free-diet-5349835/

http://www.greatveganathletes.com/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...4b64f3d453f_story.html?utm_term=.7a6ec44d794d

http://www.businessinsider.com/elit...-and-what-made-them-switch-their-diet-2017-10

https://www.mensfitness.com/nutriti...-vegan-athletes-eat-get-and-stay-ultra-jacked

 

[lauravvv]

You mean it's from the soundtrack to the Ken Russell film. Now, that's hilarious!

Yes. I am not sure what's so hilarious about it, though. Plus, I forgot that Russell also directed 'Tommy' after 'The Who's' rock opera in which Roger Daltrey also starred (of course). Now Roger Daltrey's participation in 'Lizstomania', both as an actor and singer, makes seven more sense .

 

[MelDee]

I didn't know that Maddison went vegan recently. Is that a fact? If it's, then that's bad news. She and Evan are full time elite athletes, athletes need a huge amount of protein (my son was a competitive swimmer, so we know quite a lot about athlete nutrition, etc ). Meat, fish, chicken provide good sources of protein. At the level that they are training, the fastest way to get protein on a daily basis is from meat. Protein is needed for muscle building.

No wonder Maddison just seems weak in her movements. Just compare her feet placement and movements with that of Tessa Virtue and Maddison Hubbell, there's a mile of difference. That is such a shame. There's a bit of talk on YouTube that this is not the team that did the angst, energetic, edgy hip hop from last season.

Madi Hubbell is vegan, too. It doesn't seem to affect her negatively at all.

 

[lauravvv]

‘Imagine’ while great in terms of theme is not exactly musically compelling. Also John Lennon’s singing does not lend well to emoting and the female vocalist wasn’t inspiring. They could have chosen someone like Lea Salonga - hear her version of the song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oipZgrUtl3U and ask Sonia Lee to provide the much needed musical portion to lengthen the time and to provide a background for some important elements e.g. twizzle, Combination Spin.

'Imagine' - "not exactly musically compelling"? I wonder for what reason it is so well known and legendary then? I don't believe that just a theme would be enough to make a song so legendary if it was not "musically compelling", as you say. Even the fact that it's a song written by John Lennon, one of the leaders of the Beatles, would not be enough. Actually, if 'Imagine' is "not musically compelling", then a lot of Beatles songs are not either. Then what are they so famous for, I wonder?

Abou Lea Salonga's version - see below my response to icekiwi​.

Thank you Astrid56 for the 'Lea Salonga' version of 'Imagine'. Just watched the link. Wow wow! that was powerful and emotional, Lea really emphasized words, emoted feelings and punctuated notes in the song. Also the accentuated drum beats can give skaters room for choreography and punch in movements. This version could have been so much more powerful to skate to. The current mixed version is such a mixed bag and I truly hate the instrumental bits, very flat.

I disagree. Pretty standard pop/musical type singing (sorry to the Salonga fans - but it's not like she is some world-wide legend either) - although there are some good moments, and standard, flat arrangement. It takes so much from the song, making it yet another "big", overblown, old fashioned pop ballad. I know that many people like that style, but it's just not special enough, whereas the original version is. Even the version that Chock/Bates are using is more interesting. The female singer could have had a more distinct (not bigger) voice, but the part with the violin arrangement is nice and interesting although it's not big and bombastic (again, like many people like).