rockstaryuzu

Earlier than the last quad? In that case it has to be Parisien Walkways, because that was the performance that first made me notice him. But I find when I watch it these days, all I can see is how far he's come since then and how much his skating has progressed. If it's any program at all, then GPF LGC. Because if I'm not mistaken, that's the cleanest performance of that program. And that program is absolute dynamite. Probably the best thing Jeffrey Buttle's ever choreographed.

Oh my sainted Pooh. is that a joke? Are these people actually watching the same Nathan Chen we are? Wow. If so, it's a shame that he keeps holding back so much. 🙄

See now, I would have pegged Chen as a skater people say isn't balletic enough. Guy looks like he never had a day's dance training in his life, and it's because his lines are often sloppy. Likewise with Zagitova, even at the Olympics. Although she was literally playing a ballerina, her elbows and knees were sticking out when they shouldn't have been, and her posture would sometimes collapse. I know just enough about ballet to know what people should look like when they're being 'balletic'. To my mind, Jason Brown actually exemplifies the term. And Yuzu has almost perfect lines but IMO when he was younger he would get carried away by his music and get a little wild and lose control of his arms a bit. Also, @kaeryth : Yuzu is unquestionably a genius. He has all the criteria for it. I approve of this poll.

No, you're not the only one who thinks like that. I think that having this type of expression of the music, where skater is conveying meaning and not just going through the motions, is actually a very important part of the sport. If it was only about the motions and the skills, why have music at all? Why not be like gymnastics, where the routines are traditionally performed without music? But skating does have music, and therefore a skater's ability to understand, express, and convey the meaning of the music matters greatly. Thus it becomes important for skaters to choose music that works for them... something Yuzu is very good at... slightly OT by-the-way here: I think it would be absolutely wonderful to see a males singles skater (not necessarily Zu but anyone who's up for it) do a proper Bhangra routine on skates. It would be technically challenging but massive fun to watch....and Bhangra is one of those "it's for everyone" cultural dances that would work no matter who did it.

When people say a skater's not 'balletic', don't they usually mean that the skater has terrible body lines though? Like, their arms are stiff or their posture's bad or something?

This is a pretty good way to put it. I think skaters who never get any say in choosing their own music lack this aspect, most of the time.

Try not to tell the Irish that their musical heart and soul is "European folk music" (said the half-Irish person)... it's so, so much more than that.☺️🇮🇪

I would love to see Yuzu do a kitten themed Ex...although he might be getting a bit old for it now.

Kazuki Tomono is doing a Riverdance program this year. I watched it and it's not bad, and I don't find it culturally inappropriate, but it's a difficult piece of music and he's struggling just to keep up with it. I actually don't mind at all when other cultures try Irish pieces because the Irish are everywhere spreading their culture anyway. On the other hand, when it comes to very culturally specific music, using it can come off as awkward or exploitative if the skater doing it isn't very careful. For example, European skaters doing Indigenous First Nations inspired pieces would look culturally tone deaf. But honestly it comes down to picking music that suits the skater. A lot of athletes just get this wrong.

No, I understood what you originally meant and I didn't think you were being offensive. Don't worry.

Well, any good Argentine (which is where tango originated, BTW,) will tell you it's for everyone. On the other hand, there's a whole manga, 10 Dance,.based at least in part on the idea that Asians simply don't get latin dance.

But isn't that almost the same as playing a fanboy character anyway?

I think it was Javi who said once in an interview that Yuzu is able to 'sell' (ie convince the audience of the part he's playing) every single program he does, no matter what it is. And Yuzu himself said in one of his Olympics interviews that he normally plays the character of his programs, and added that this is why he personally found H&L a more difficult program, because it was about himself and his life, and not another character. But the reason I think paso would suit him is because he has the fierceness and the commanding confidence to pull it off.

I dunno, guys. I understand why everyone likes the idea of tango Yuzu, but he seems way more like a Paso Doble guy to me.

I see Pooh's still got that Johnny Weir holey catsuit on....Zu sort your Pooh-chan out...he's under a bad influence....🤣🤣🤣🤣

At this point, Yuzu's really milking the whole tease-Brian-by making-him-carry-Pooh thing

Oh gawd I love that little smirk he gives there. I'm just going to agree with everyone on their choices, because I would be choosing the same ones! The only other one I would add is him helping Roman after the ACI medal ceremony. That was vintage Yuzu. And the way he smiles while he's enjoying the simple act of skating, whenever it is. There's just something nice about watching someone love what they do. Oh, and how could I forget? The moment in my profile pic! when he's being so extra and all the other skaters are helping him do it.

CBC has been pretty good about livestreaming lately. I use it.

Only a month left for me to win the lottery and convert my life to that of a skating nomad attending his competitions around the world...

Yes, but if he keeps doing traditional Japanese themed programs, sooner or later he'll have to wear makeup, like for kabuki or Noh theatre characters. That's what I was thinking of. Like this : https://www.kansaiscene.com/2013/06/kabuki-101/

So for everyone who picked new hair colour, what colour would you like to see? I think deep blue or purple lowlights hidden among the black would be lovely, but I like his natural hair the best.

I think no one even realized until after the media pointed it out.

Aww that's so CUTE!!

My choices in bold, above... Also : Bold and brave costuming choices: Plunging V neckline, or tights. I don't feel like I need to see Yuzu in tights. I'm gonna add one: 21. Beautiful celestial being Yuzu (HYK, H&L, Etude etc) or Fierce competitior Yuzu (Origin, LGC, Seimei, etc)

Yeah. And just think how many celebrities that guy hasn't seen on account of protecting them.