General Yuzuru Chat

[lazuliblade]

1 hour ago, Yuazz said:

Random question 

 

Does anyone know who did the music cut for yuzuru's program? His music cuts were so good. Sometimes other skaters have bad music cuts and randomly put the music together and it sounds weird to me. But yuzuru always has a good one. I love Seimei, Otonal and Origin music cuts. I wonder if he did it himself or it's his team

 

1 hour ago, Sammie said:

Seimei he did it himself, I don’t know about the rest but I always love his music cuts. Everything just fits.  

 

10 minutes ago, KatjaThera said:

As for music cuts, there were some really bad ones even at ACI and I was joking that after Yuzu retires, ISU should hire him as a music consultant and have all program music go through him first. That would save the world from really bad music cuts lol

 

I'm quite sure both SP and FS are at least rough cuts by him, with him then hounding some poor music editor with fine-tuning them. The risks of working with a perfectionist lol

His music is edited by Keiichi Yano. You can read an article about it here, and see a subtitled version of the kiritoru program about him here (I've already time-stamped it for 7:25).
Keiichi has also talked about editing Hope&Legacy, and how he went straight to Joe Hisaishi's studios to ask permission to edit the soundtracks because he didn't want to run into copyright issues like what happened in the past with another skater. I can't seem to find that interview at the moment, but I'll search for it. I'm trying to remember if it was a video or an article... I know there was also a behind-the-scenes article/video where people talked about Yuzu's crazy requests regarding music - like seeing if it was possible to do a live guitar riff for his Parisienne Walkways program for an ice show. I'm really going to have to hunt those down. I know I shared them somewhere before.....

[Xen]

12 minutes ago, lazuliblade said:

 

 

His music is edited by Keiichi Yano. You can read an article about it here, and see a subtitled version of the kiritoru program about him here (I've already time-stamped it for 7:25).
Keiichi has also talked about editing Hope&Legacy, and how he went straight to Joe Hisaishi's studios to ask permission to edit the soundtracks because he didn't want to run into copyright issues like what happened in the past with another skater. I can't seem to find that interview at the moment, but I'll search for it. I'm trying to remember if it was a video or an article... I know there was also a behind-the-scenes article/video where people talked about Yuzu's crazy requests regarding music - like seeing if it was possible to do a live guitar riff for his Parisienne Walkways program for an ice show. I'm really going to have to hunt those down. I know I shared them somewhere before.....

Was the live guitar riff last year during FaOI? Where he did PW in Chopin 2.0 outfit?

 

For more stuff about Yuzu and music/sound, we also have translations from @gladi

https://wherespacepooh.tumblr.com/post/162588835769/the-world-of-figure-skating-music-spun-by-sound

So no, Yuzu doesn't edit his own music, but he does have very clear ideas about what music he wants to skate to and how it should work with his layouts. And is a demanding overlord about it.

 

The live guitar riff: this one? https://wherespacepooh.tumblr.com/post/162748997764/behind-the-scenes-of-the-grand-ice-shows-according

 

 

[Yuazz]

@lazuliblade & @Xen 

[rockstaryuzu]

5 hours ago, TallyT said:

 

(Err, sorry, this got long)

 

Though one has to say, that even if he hadn't managed that 2nd OGM he'd still be the biggest most glittery star of the sport... and conversely, had someone like Patrick (and this is no slur against him) done it, he  wouldn't have IMO reached the insane heights of, as you say, rock star adulation Yuzuru gets (I personally doubt that even Shoma would have quite reached it, let alone Nathan or Boyang, but I've no proof there, YMMV. Nor could they handle it as well.) Yuzuru has that unique charisma, the changeable, elusive personality, the intellect and emotional intelligence, the looks and camera-appeal, the dramatic aura/cute dorky side, the backstory with its rise from tragedy and the trouble and grief (and stumbles, which kept it all from getting even slightly predictable) along with way, the fairytale culmination last year from injury right through to crown. And he's a genuine, amazingly good person as well as a fiercely driven fighter.

 

Yes, he has his faults like anyone else, but honestly, if you invented Yuzuru for a fictional hero, you'd be slapped down for him being too fantastic... it's no wonder that he's the ultimate star of skating, IMO he'd be a star in whatever field he was in, but then you marry it with a body and mind almost designed to be the perfect skater and a deep love and gift for everything that makes the sport unique, the athletic side and the artistic.

 

And even the timing, with the rise of social media and the internet meaning that fans around the world can 'get together' and follow him, virtually or quite literally. I'm not about to say there won't be another skating rock star of his standing in the future - Takahashi fans did, and look what promptly happened - but they are going to find it hard to match the lightning in a crystal cage.

 

Or, to put it in a nutshell, as another friend and recent convert to the Hanyu side did : He's superb, and it doesn't hurt that he's adorable. 

 

I have to agree with you that Patrick and now Nathan were/ are unlikely to ever reach a similar status, but that has a lot to do with how skating is regarded in North America vs in Japan. I've no doubt that had either of them been Japanese/ Japan-based skaters, they'd have their own massive fandoms. And I suspect that if Boyang really starts winning, and starts maximizing his programs to make the most of his own skills and style, he will have a Yuzu-like following of his own, at least within China.

 

But you are right, it's very hard to beat Yuzu's backstory, personality, physique, and skill for appeal. And he's got that pure and intense thing going g for him too.  I agree that if skating ever sees another one like him, it won't be anytime soon.

[rockstaryuzu]

4 hours ago, Anki said:

 

The answer to that would be Yuzu hasn't signed with any big agency.  A lot of skater's fame are also due to their agency's heavy promotion in the media, creating buzz, sporting rivalries, and extending their commercial activities.  If he had signed with a big international sport agency like IMG, given his achievements, they would have made the whole world know him as the GOAT by now. Those earnings ranking publications also get their data from agencies, hence you would not see Yuzu in one - how much he earns only he and the tax office knows. Yuzu achieved his fame and popularity of today without any agencies' help, so imagine what it would have been like if he had an agency that promoted him further.   

But I can understand why Yuzu doesn't want an agent given he likes to be in control of his life. As someone whose job previously had some association with agents, sponsors and celebrities, I can tell once you sign with one, you have no freedom - they dictate what you say and do in the public,  and how to run your career. 

Judging from internet activities and attendance at competitions and ice shows, if we are talking about the amount of dedicated fans that will follow him around the world, I think Yuzu beats Yuna in that respect, even if comparing across the two eras. Not to say he has reached a certain level of popularity in China like no other skater has, which is new potentially big market, with next Olympic at Beijing.  It is a pity he doesn't try to commercialise on his fame as much as he can, but also remember a lot of sponsors add extra pressure on the skater and distract them from their skating with commercial activities. I think Yuna is a rare case of where extreme commercialisation of her fame hasn't affected her performance much, but there are many times where too much pre-Olympic puff and pressure end up costing the gold medal - Michelle Kwan and Mao Asada are examples that come to mind.  In that way I think Yuzu's has been clever in taking the minimum amount of sponsorship to earn enough for himself but not so much it affects his focus on skating     

 

After his PC win, he, as far as we know, hasn't take up a single new advertisement, despite based on Japanes news, the amount of money Japanese companies are willing to pay him is top tier, not just amongst athletes, but all Japanese public figures. That is a crazy demonstration of having no interest in money if you ask me - most Olympic winners go crazy on trying to cash out their title as much as they can. But I wouldn't be surprised any sponsor that signs him now would require a commitment to not retire by a certain time, which is probably why he didn't take up any - I am sure Yuzu wants to run the rest of his career on his own terms. 

Also, I believe Brian tends to advise his skaters against doing this kind of promotional work while they're actively competing. If I'm not mistaken, he's on the record in more than one interview as saying that agents and endorsement contracts are nothing but a distraction to the skater, and that there'll be time enough to get those types of things after retiring from skating.

 

The reality is that Yuzu's now in the zone where advertisers are always going to want him, so he can pick and choose on contracts and hold off until he feels it's time to take advantage of offers. 

 

 

[TallyT]

I tend to think their money is their own business, but... yes, from everything I've read, Yuna is in the crazy rich sportspeople category - she's Korea's darling (they don't have the number of sporting superstars that Japan does, so little competition for the role) made the most of it as a smart businesswoman, and nothing at all wrong with that. 

 

The thing is if he isn't already (and we don't actually know, I suspect the public doesn't know the half of it) Yuzuru could be in the same financial league - even though there are other Japanese skaters competing for the public's eye, he has the lot of them beaten hollow, and yes, if he with or without an agency decided to cash in, he'd cash up big. No doubt of that.  And as for public worldwide fame outside skating and the massive Asian fan followings... he could have that too. No one could possibly think he doesn't know far better than we do what he could parlay his success into ... if he wanted to. But he doesn't.

 

He is clearly and undeniably not interested in money; not only does he not pick the advertising big bucks, but both lots of Olympic prizewinnings he promptly gave away, and the gift that went with the People's Award, he politely declined.  He has never shown the slightest interest in the lifestyle and trappings that wealth could bring him - apart from his earphones, he doesn't seem to have any great indulgences and with all due respect, how much can you spend on even the best of those? He's a private, somewhat reclusive sort so the idea of doing anything to increase the level of fame and adulation he already gets would probably horrify him (though I think he'd do it for his beloved sport or his beloved Sendai, and those are the things I can see him using it for when he does retire.  That is, if he doesn't decide to ninja permanently on us). And he doesn't want other people apart from his family trying to 'help' him run his life (okay, to an extent he has to let them - the JSF for instance, and maybe Brian when necessary. But even the JSF and Brian, I suspect, find it a job and a half).

 

 

 

 

[TallyT]

15 minutes ago, rockstaryuzu said:

Or, to put it in a nutshell, as another friend and recent convert to the Hanyu side did : He's superb, and it doesn't hurt that he's adorable. 

 

I have to agree with you that Patrick and now Nathan were/ are unlikely to ever reach a similar status, but that has a lot to do with how skating is regarded in North America vs in Japan. I've no doubt that had either of them been Japanese/ Japan-based skaters, they'd have their own massive fandoms. And I suspect that if Boyang really starts winning, and starts maximizing his programs to make the most of his own skills and style, he will have a Yuzu-like following of his own, at least within China.

 

But you are right, it's very hard to beat Yuzu's backstory, personality, physique, and skill for appeal. And he's got that pure and intense thing going g for him too.  I agree that if skating sees another one like him, it won't be anytime soon.

 

Oh I agree that Patrick and Nathan would have immense followings (Plushy does!), but still not the same (for a start Patrick's personality - apparently a nice guy but not adorable - might get in the way though he's the 2nd most successful IJS skater ever).  Strictly speaking, Shoma is Japanese and more successful all in all than either Nathan or Boyang, and is definitely lovable, but he's still a ways behind Yuzuru and it isn't just the 2 OGMs, Yuzuru was pretty set on that other plane in 2015-16 when Javi was taking the Worlds from him.

 

It's like wildfire, incalculable and inexplicable. 

[MeowZu]

21 minutes ago, TallyT said:

I tend to think their money is their own business, but... yes, from everything I've read, Yuna is in the crazy rich sportspeople category - she's Korea's darling (they don't have the number of sporting superstars that Japan does, so little competition for the role) made the most of it as a smart businesswoman, and nothing at all wrong with that. 

 

The thing is if he isn't already (and we don't actually know, I suspect the public doesn't know the half of it) Yuzuru could be in the same financial league - even though there are other Japanese skaters competing for the public's eye, he has the lot of them beaten hollow, and yes, if he with or without an agency decided to cash in, he'd cash up big. No doubt of that.  And as for public worldwide fame outside skating and the massive Asian fan followings... he could have that too. No one could possibly think he doesn't know far better than we do what he could parlay his success into ... if he wanted to. But he doesn't.

 

He is clearly and undeniably not interested in money; not only does he not chase the advertising big bucks, but both lots of Olympic prizewinnings he promptly gave away, and the gift that went with the People's Award, he politely declined.  He has never shown the slightest interest in the lifestyle and trappings that wealth could bring him - apart from his earphones, he doesn't seem to have any great indulgences and with all due respect, how much can you spend on even the best of those? He's a private, somewhat reclusive sort so the idea of doing anything to increase the level of fame and adulation he already gets would probably horrify him (though I think he'd do it for his beloved sport or his beloved Sendai, and those are the things I can see him using it for when he does retire.  That is, if he doesn't decide to ninja permanently on us). And he doesn't want other people apart from his family trying to 'help' him run his life (okay, to an extent he has to let them - the JSF for instance, and maybe Brian when necessary. But even the JSF and Brian, I suspect, find it a job and a half).

 

 

 

 

I totally agree with this. Yuzu doesn't seem like the type who likes money or wealth so much. Even his family lives simply. I remember reading that they still live in their old house. He seems okay with everything for now in terms of financial stability...as long as he gets to buy expensive earphones hahahahahahahahahaha

[Yolo3a]

Kudos to his parents for who and how he is. 

 

Most likely he gives Mama Hanyu all the money and then begs her for earphone allowance. 

[rockstaryuzu]

4 minutes ago, TallyT said:

 

It's like wildfire, incalculable and inexplicable. 

Hopefully, not as uncontrollable, though. 

 

 

[Anzi]

14 minutes ago, MeowZu said:

I totally agree with this. Yuzu doesn't seem like the type who likes money or wealth so much. Even his family lives simply. I remember reading that they still live in their old house. He seems okay with everything for now in terms of financial stability...as long as he gets to buy expensive earphones hahahahahahahahahaha

 I am trying to picture that he gets a HUGE book-shelf-ish showcase where tons of earphones are sleeping together and waiting for their new friends to join in The Master's collection.

The ones chosed by Master Zu are lucky enough to company with him during the competition.

 

Suddenly become jealous to his earphones ; b

[rockstaryuzu]

4 minutes ago, Anzi said:

 I am trying to picture that he gets a HUGE book-shelf-ish showcase where tons of earphones are sleeping together and waiting for their new friends to join in The Master's collection.

The ones chosed by Master Zu are lucky enough to company with him during the competition.

 

Suddenly become jealous to his earphones ; b

Do you think maybe Pooh-san also has his own set for those times when he's resting quietly on such a shelf?

[Sammie]

Is this advertisement for the new photo book? 

[Anzi]

6 minutes ago, rockstaryuzu said:

Do you think maybe Pooh-san also has his own set for those times when he's resting quietly on such a shelf?

Pooh-san with earphones, what a perfect and lovely team!

[Sammie]

30 minutes ago, MeowZu said:

I totally agree with this. Yuzu doesn't seem like the type who likes money or wealth so much. Even his family lives simply. I remember reading that they still live in their old house. He seems okay with everything for now in terms of financial stability...as long as he gets to buy expensive earphones hahahahahahahahahaha

I read somewhere that his family had to move because fans and reporters keep popping up at their home and the neighbors was getting disturbed by all the noise and people.