General Yuzuru Chat

[the50person]

PomeloPooh said:

Hey, I was just contemplating which of my favorite music I'd love to see Yuzu skate to, realized that I'm not sure what kind of music actually fits figure skating. What kind of rhythm makes skating to it easy/hard? Are certain styles or instruments especially fitting because of the nature of the sport itself? What are the qualities that make people go for the warhorses over and over again (aside from them being proven safe)? What do you think?

 

Then again all rules can be broken if one's willing :smile: I'll always remember the dude at 4CC that skated to iPhone's default ringtone... 

 

Good question...

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Romeo and Juliet 1.0 (

):

1) Dramatic and impactful intro that culminates in the first intro and only quad in the program.

He successfully grabs the attention of the audience.

 

2) 1:17 Music calms down for him to enter the spin, but still containing enough dramatic singing for him to utilise with his hands and highlight his spins.

 

3) 1:32 Calm. He (or the choreographer) deliberately places a jump here to highlight contrast between the loudness (I don't mean that in the sound sense) of the jump and the silence of the music. Step sequence. The music gradually builds up through the step sequence.

 

4) 2:30 Music continues to build up and then Yuzu does his famous RJ1.0 fall. 2:51 Music remains softer than the intro but contains suspense, and this fits in very well with the current situation (he has fallen, will he land the 3A3T?) and hence his emoting does not clash with the mood that the music calls for. He throws out the 3A3T.

 

5) Music builds and builds from 3A3T onwards all the way to the terrific yell before the choreographic sequence.

 

6) DRAMA. Famous choreographic sequence, ultimately climaxing at the biellman spin.

 

7) Music suddenly drops into an undercurrent and he does the chest-stabbing before ending the program.

 

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Chopin Ballade No.1 (

)

 

1) Quiet beginning. He strategically holds still so that he can draw the curiosity and attention of the audience via silence and stillness as opposed to using motion.

 

2) He begins moving and music slowly builds, in an unhurried manner, slightly languid even.

 

3) 1:10 music suddenly gets a bit louder, he does the spread-eagle, music gets even louder, 4S, music quietens again as he does transitions out.

 

4) Music builds once again, higher and higher, louder and louder, Yuzu gains speed and intensity, culminating in 4T3T.

 

5) Music softens slightly, then gets louder again as he matches the music and beat to do the spin. Music quietens again as he goes through the spin positions/variations (sorry not a tech expert).

 

6) Music is like 2), he does his transitions.

 

7) 2:26 There is a slight pause in music between 6) and 2:26. Music is louder once again, he does the 3A from counter entry. He enters spin.

 

8) 2:37 Music gets increasingly intense, his spins are also intense and fast.

 

9) 2:47 Music culminates, he exits spin and begins his sequence.

 

10) 2:54 A slight pause but it is very suspenseful, and Yuzu himself is stretched taut like an arrow on a bowstring, ready to shoot out.

 

11) 2:55 He does his sequence, the notes of the music run quickly and are full of intensity. It gets faster. He enters final spin.

 

12) Final spin, the notes of the music run more heavily and are less light as they were during the sequence, giving the effect of a dramatic ending. Yuzu punctuates final note with the ending pose.

 

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One of the reasons for choosing a piece might be due to the possibility of separating the music into identifiable sections.

For example, in a long program: an intro > gradual buildup > chorus/plateau for step sequence that gradually quietens down for the mid-program pause > interlude for a couple of 2nd half jumps > gradual buildup > DRAMA > end

 

Another might be that they have sufficient highs and lows that can be used with elements to punctuate and highlight the performance.

 

I don't know much about music so forgive any incorrect terms, but dramatic/lyrical (?) music run like stories, except they are written in the language of music notes. Yuzu and his team make cuts from different songs/tunes/soundtracks to make his program music and make it such that it has a narrative that suits his purpose.

 

A interesting read about how stories are plotted emotionally: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/ ... er/490733/

Skating a program is literally a skater up on stage to showcase the story they want to tell to the judges and audience. As the article says, Rags to Riches (rise, in FS case, rising slowly throughout) is popular, Cinderalla (rise then fall then rise, in FS case, high-low-high like RJ1.0) too. And Oedipus (fall then rise then fall, in FS case, low-high-low). And if you listen, you'll realise much program music take structures like that (do note the structures mentioned are basic skeletal ones, they have smaller peaks and smaller lows in between like the two programs above). Some structures popular in writing may not work in FS since the 'stories' are told through different mediums and what works in one may not work in the other.

 

(posting it here besides the music thread because I realise my post is not exactly about what music suits Yuzu/wondering what he will skate to, but more a discussion.)

[Fay]

I love that Shizuka fought back the Nagoya group’s attack on Yuzuru with such little effort. She only tells the truth and it works. Not to mention she's the Olympic Champion and World Champion, her words weigh much more than others, she is not some skaters who only medalled at WC just once (Sorry I have to throw this shade, I can't help myself).

 

It's funny seeing how much petty squabbling is there, isn't it! But yay, Shizuka, it's the truth and nothing but the truth!

[the50person]

I love that Shizuka fought back the Nagoya group’s attack on Yuzuru with such little effort. She only tells the truth and it works. Not to mention she's the Olympic Champion and World Champion, her words weigh much more than others, she is not some skaters who only medalled at WC just once (Sorry I have to throw this shade, I can't help myself).

 

LOL your avatar helps in the shade throwing xD

[tournesols]

  Shizuka is pure class, I wouldn't expect anything else from her

[OmNom]

Finally some words of sanity during this trying time  

Even if you don't like Yuzu's style, you cannot deny his skills and talent that have been sharpened intensely through hard work. He IS the best ever  

Sendai should become the new skating centre. I mean their results speak for themselves, there's no need for petty lobbying against other areas (unlike some)

[Altie]

Sendai people seem to be very classy, judging by these two representative 

 

Seriously, though, am I alone in thinking that Yuzuru and Shizuka have much in common in the way they behave ? A kind of charismatic restraint, eloquence and refined dignity they both share ?

I wonder if it's a cultural thing, or if it's just a Sendai rink thing (or if it's just in my head  )

[Lynnie]

AmudoBun said:

Those banner at Sendai station - I wanna steal it (I wanted to use the chicken stealing emoticon and it's not here anymore ><)

 

It's still here tho,  second page of smilies - now you can steal those banners! 

[Valkyria]

Already at a 1000+ members overnight, Planet Hanyu's gravity pull is strong indeed  

 

Also, good to see Shizuka coming out with the cold, hard truth. Sendai champions unite  

[AmudoBun]

Lynnie said:

AmudoBun said:

Those banner at Sendai station - I wanna steal it (I wanted to use the chicken stealing emoticon and it's not here anymore ><)

 

It's still here tho second page of smilies - now you can steal those banners! 

 

It is? Oo Yay I can steal it! ( i just rewrote the emoticon from your comment - I am on phone in a lecture so I do not see it ><)

[fluffypooh]

hello everyone

i was a gs lurker as well, but i am so glad we have a new home! thank you for setting up this forum, it looks amazing already!!  

[GoldMedalist]

OmNom said:

OMG I'm not emotionally stable enough for any B*st*n talk just yet  

My heart is breaking just trying to imagine what he must have gone through, physically and mentally, at the time

I wasn't anywhere near around the scene, and even I feel like a part of me dies every time I think about it

I hope we'll never have to go through it again, EVER

 

 

A year later, he is healthy and won his second worlds gold. So, everything is fine now 

[chiraya]

GoldMedalist said:

OmNom said:

OMG I'm not emotionally stable enough for any B*st*n talk just yet  

My heart is breaking just trying to imagine what he must have gone through, physically and mentally, at the time

I wasn't anywhere near around the scene, and even I feel like a part of me dies every time I think about it

I hope we'll never have to go through it again, EVER

 

 

A year later, he is healthy and won his second worlds gold. So, everything is fine now 

 

I thought after he finally won worlds (again) now I can watch Seimei Boston (never watched it yet) but apparently I still can't 

[xeyra]

the50person said:

PomeloPooh said:

Hey, I was just contemplating which of my favorite music I'd love to see Yuzu skate to, realized that I'm not sure what kind of music actually fits figure skating. What kind of rhythm makes skating to it easy/hard? Are certain styles or instruments especially fitting because of the nature of the sport itself? What are the qualities that make people go for the warhorses over and over again (aside from them being proven safe)? What do you think?

 

Then again all rules can be broken if one's willing :smile: I'll always remember the dude at 4CC that skated to iPhone's default ringtone... 

 

Good question...

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whole post

 

 

While we can't get the Like button, this will have to do.

[ralucutzagy]

chiraya said:

GoldMedalist said:

OmNom said:

OMG I'm not emotionally stable enough for any B*st*n talk just yet  

My heart is breaking just trying to imagine what he must have gone through, physically and mentally, at the time

I wasn't anywhere near around the scene, and even I feel like a part of me dies every time I think about it

I hope we'll never have to go through it again, EVER  

 

 

A year later, he is healthy and won his second worlds gold. So, everything is fine now 

 

I thought after he finally won worlds (again) now I can watch Seimei Boston (never watched it yet) but apparently I still can't 

Oh, I can't see that either, I saw it live on TV and it was more then enough... If I want to see SEIMEI I watch NHK 2015 version and I'm all set. 

[sallycinnamon]

Altie said:

Sendai people seem to be very classy, judging by these two representative

 

Seriously, though, am I alone in thinking that Yuzuru and Shizuka have much in common in the way they behave ? A kind of charismatic restraint, eloquence and refined dignity they both share ?

I wonder if it's a cultural thing, or if it's just a Sendai rink thing (or if it's just in my head )

 

I noticed the refined dignity, too, but I don't know if it's a cultural thing or Sendai thing.