Does anybody else feel this way?

[IAD]

I don't know why, but I have not been impressed with any of Michelle's programs after Lyra Angelica. Maybe it's just that I'm not used to the increased speed(I feel that everything's rushed), or I'm paying too much attention to her positions, etc. after the whole layback thing, or maybe I'm expecting too much from Michelle, but something is just not the same. I am not saying that her jumps, footwork, spins, etc. are lower in quality, but her skating doesn't move me the way it did pre-1999. I still enjoy watching Michelle, I'm just saying that relative to the period from 1996-1998, I don't like her skating as much now. I feel like something is now missing from her skating.

[Brian]

I love Dante's Prayer, East of Eden, and The Red Violin, although I really was not impressed with One More Time, and Kissing You. I "liked" Carmen and Ariane, but was not that crazy about them.

[sw10025]

Maybe you just didn't like her choice of music last year. That has a real impact on how people feel about a program. Her programs were well choreographed, well executed, polished, well performed, but I personally felt that her music wasn't as original and 1st class as it could have been. She's such an exceptional skater that she deserves only the best music!

[Willowdale]

IAD, I guess you feel that way just because Lyra Angelica and Rach were TOO great. :)

[ILLINOIS]

I love her 'One More Time' skate debut or whatever... It was heart warming, but yeah, she's getting boring.... She needs a little help from Madonna on how to reinvent yourself with new looks and moves and etc.......

[Brian]

There are some MK programs I don't like, but I never find her skating boring. I totally disagree that MK needs to change her appearance. Now I would not mind if she skated to some upbeat music, and apparently in her new short she is.

[eilaram]

I guess I am strange, but I do not feel that way. I think I am possibly the only person in the world that likes Ariane better that Lyra. (I am just sad that I never got to see it truly perfect). In fact even the Nationals Lyra was a tad boring (compared to other MK programs, not boring at all compared to other skaters) for me. I think if anything, she has gotten less boring for me. But that's just my opinion and I have a lot of strange ones.

[Willowdale]

I don't think MK is getting boring! She is getting better day after day! See how much she's improved her layback spin and charlotte spiral! Isn't it enough to impress all her fans and her non-fans? :) I guess it would be good idea for MK to skate programs choreographed by other than Lori. It may give her totally new look. Anyway, I believe MK is the most exciting and the best skater of todays. :) :)

[Joshua]

I don't feel unimpressed by her post Olympic programs. I love to watch Ariane and Kissing You. And with other programs, like FOC and OMT, I just feel that they haven't been able to match the package and magic that her '98 programs did. I would find it extremely hard to put together programs that could exceed such expectations. For me, I think music choices is a big factor, because the music is harder for me to accept in comparison to that of say Rach, Lyra, and Taj Mahal. Michelle is never boring to me. She doesn't need to reinvent herself, she just needs more influence beyond Lori Nichol or Lori and Michelle need to develop a wider range of style together, IMO.

[Willowdale]

OoJoshuaoO, I totally agree with U!! Oh well, to me, figure skating is the most interesting sport, so I find almost every skaters' performances great unless it is too wierd or too bland. :) I even enjoy my leat favourite skaters' performances from time to time! :) BUT, **MK** is more special than any other skaters and her skating has never been boring to me and it will never be boring!! As MK has said before, Michelle is only a human, so she may not be perfect. Michelle's skating is more difficult and more artistic than any other ladies'. Let's not expect TOO MUCH from her. :)

[wonder]

Elaram, you are not alone. I am the second one who appreciate Ariane over Lyra. Ariane is extremely challenging. You have to be very precise to get the effect. World Pro performance is near perfect, only wish she had the triple-triple and the speed at National. Too bad she did not have chance to fully develop the program.

[Icare]

I think as real MK fans, we should allow MK space to grow and experiment, and we should also wish her to "peak" around 2002 Olys. MK is really doing a lot for a lady her age, and we should not strss her out. She chose to go to UCLA so that 2002 is not the only thing on her mind, and she has chances to grow in many ways. Who knows, UCLA probably offers good music appreciation classes, that will expand her horizon, and the possiblity is just limitless. BTW, before I criticize others, I always first imagine if the criticism were toward me, see if it is fair to me as a normal person, or if can hurt feelings. Usually, it is easier to critizie than to execute. So, I always work harder on what I am doing, and criticize less on what others are doing.

[LYRA1]

Icare, that was well said and I totally agree.

[skatingfan]

I basically agree with Brian, with one minor point, I like OMT better than Kissing you. I think most of MK's programs are very appropriate for her age and feelings at the time. After Olys, she is more grown up, and has to try more grown up programs, I guess. MK is impressed with the music OMT, adn KY, but it does not mean these are good skating music. In addition, One More Time is about MAJOR MOURNING OF LOSS OF LOVE , ( I have never seen the movie). I think she has to drawn deep into imagination to skate to the feeling/emotion of that song. Kissing You is about mourning of love loss again? whatever R&J is supposed to be, where in her real life has she experience that. Salome, and DOD, and TM are different, b/c she was telling story with her skating, so she does not need to have the Salome, or TM or DOD kind of experience to be able to tell a story. I watch Kissing you with the volume turned to zero, and I like that much better.

[KeithB]

This has been a full range of thoroughly reasonable responses, depending on individual taste in music and other points of style. Michelle's '98 Nationals performances were stupendous to the point of being hard acts to follow, and I would have been pleasantly surprised to see her do anything that would clearly surpass them. I find plenty of merit in almost everything she has done since then, and I respect her choices of music she finds personally touching, even if they are rather ordinary by impartial critical standards. As we all know, many of us have been clamoring for her to depart from her usual "classical" style, and her new SP should be a dream come true in that respect. Suitable adaptations of the Beatles' music are marvelous for pops concerts by classical orchestras such as the Boston Pops, and they should be likewise for competitive skating. Keith

[chippy4mk]

I think Michelle's skaing being "So smooth and effortless" may not be exciting to some people watching her on TV. But I am quite sure that skating experts generally know that she is executing very difficult moves with such ease. That makes her a really exciting skater. By the way, I remember reading some artice about Lori Nicol and she said because Michelle skates with such ease and smoothiness even some judges miss the technical difficulty Michelle executes.

[Deetlebug]

Interesting topic. And well thought out, well articulated thoughts from everyone!!! Way to go MK Fans!!!! She'd be proud of ALL of us in this post, including IAD. As for me...well, where do I begin. When Michelle skated her 98 programs - especially at National's - they just blew me away. I loved them to death. They hold a very special place in my heart. BUT - after her emotional growth after her Olympic "disappointment" she has blossomed into a truly rare beauty. I absolutely LOVE Ariane. It was dramatic and intense and it had beautifully new innovative choreography. I especially love the cresendo it builds to at the end. I also love Red Violin, Dante's Prayer and her remake of East of Eden. I think we've seen some of her finest work SINCE the 98 season. Now when I watch Lyra I find that it's missing something for me. It's still a beautiful and remarkable program and it will never lose it's luster of perfection (all those 6.0s can NOT be forgotten!), but I find that I like Michelle's more mature skating since the Olympics better. In it I can see the seeds of the future. And in that future I can see Michelle (and Frank & Lori) surpassing the 98 season programs when the 2002 Olympic season rolls around. And what I find most amazing about that is that at the time of her 98 programs I thought that she would NEVER be able to equal or surpass that magic again!!

[Sharon]

Well said DeetleBug. Almost exactly my thoughts. I still love the 98 Nats performances though, they are still special to me since that's when I first became a fan of hers. Since then, I've loved everything. The obvious and subtle differences are there, in every one. It's such a pleasure to watch her. Each one is different for me, makes me feel different things. I too enjoy her more mature skating. Maybe because I'm older? I also think she's dreaming of, or in, love! We're fortunate that as an "artist" she skates what she feels - and allows us to see and feel it with her!

[taf2]

I agree Sharon & Deetlebug-I also like her skating more as time goes on. It's like watching "Best of MK" tape. You see her as a little girl, and throughout the tape she is getting better & more mature. "Kissing You" will probably never be my favorite program because I don't care for the singer, but I loved Michelle's body language in it. She was so relaxed & free, so comfortable to watch. "Ariadne" at World Pros is one of my favorites-I have always thought that "that" performance would have won Olympics, even with lesser tech content than Tara, as far as jumps are concerned, because the rest of the program was so strong & it did have 7 triples. I have watched that performance countless times & it always blows me away. To me, that is the program to exceed, not Lyra at Nationals, which was beautiful but not as exciting.

[Calum]

I agree with Eilaram, Wonder, and DeetleBug in preferring Ariane to Lyra. In 1998, Rach was the program that really blew me away -- what an absolute gem of a program, and what a feat to make a short program that must be packed with required elements into an artistic tour de force. I could appreciate Lyra's perfection, but I felt it lacked drama or major changes in mood or speed -- even the different pieces of music (Allwyn's Lyra Angelica and Satie's Gymnopedie No. 3) were similar in mood and speed -- whereas in Rach there was a dramatic change from the more lyrical piano trio to the more intense piano concerto. I thought Ariane also had a lot of drama and was exciting to watch.

[eilaram]

I'm glad to find out I'm not alone. ITA Deetlebug.

[K8lyn]

I hated Salome - the costume, the make-up, the choreography, I felt it was too "old" for Michelle at the time (she was only 15). Lyra, Taj & Dante's Prayer are my alltime faves. Michelle has stayed eligible longer than most and in eligible skating you are obviously limited to certain music, choreography. I think this is the reason a lot of her programs are repetitive. Classical type music definitely suits her style. But her exhibitions are also slow, I wish she'd try something a little different for those.

[Sandy]

Maybe Michelle needs to start doing dramatic programs again? I have always loved MK skating to dramatic programs that tell a story such as salome, taj mahal, dod, romanza, and others. I think they are just more exciting to watch! Salome would always be my favorite program because i loved the music and the dramatic flare combined with michelle costume and the storytelling. I really wish Michelle would do another one of those programs. However, Michelle will never be boring to me whatever she chooses to do--i am a fan for life!! :) SAndy

[Teddy99]

NO I DON'T!!! Michelle boring? puuuulllllease give me a break! I will NEVER tire of Michelle. I love all her programs...yes some more than others but I love them all. I also LOVED Ariane...saw her at World Pros last year, that program was beautiful! You complain that Michelle needs to branch out a try different music.....is not her new SP different music? Then there was criticism about her layback...did she not change it? I mean good grief..it seems like some of you MK fans aren't satisfied w/anything she does! Michelle comes out w/new programs every season, I love them all in their own way. Rondo and Salome because it was her "coming out party" so to speak, Rach and Lyra...let the 6.0's speak for themselves, and FOC and Ariane because it showed the sophisticated young woman that Michelle has become. I'm excited about this season, and I look forward to seeing what she, Frank and Lori come up w/every year! Teddy99 - Keeper of the #1 Skater of the Decade:-)

[ILLINOIS]

We're not liking Kwan, but as true fans of hers, we just want to challenge her and make her a well-rounded skater 'cause after all, she's got what it takes to become a true champion. If I was Michelle, I'll try all sorts of techniques and travel the world for new ideas and meet different choreographers. And come on, if it werent for us fans, honestly complaining about her slow spins, I doubt it that she'll improve her spins. There's nothing wrong with a fan wanting Her to attack the ICE... (PS. You got to act and skate!! ACTING is the word!! You got skate and act it out)

[Icare]

I just wonder, who wants to explain the schedule of a full time college student.

[Sharon]

You've got to be kidding Illinois! What makes you think she's not a TRUE champion now? She's the most decorated single female skater of the decade, She's EARNED more perfect 6.0's than any other single skater, she's shown herself to be gracious and humble....What more would it take? I appreciate your wish for new innovative ideas and for her to do great in all things, but I believe she's known for a long time that she needs to ATTACK the ice to do her best. She's mentioned it several times in interviews, in fact, she just did at the post Keri interview.

[Jubal316]

with those who prefer Ariane to Lyra. It's more mature, more dramatic, more passionate... I've often thought that in spite of the beauty and perfection of Lyra, the music did not lend itself to give Michelle that spark she needed to beat the "show biz" of Tara at the Olympics. If Ariane had had the opportunity to grow to its full potential, it would have been incredible.

[sw10025]

I hope we call all agree that Lyra and Ariane were both wonderful programs, particularly in comparison with most of the muck that eligible skaters put forth, but in a different style. While I really liked Lyra (and loved the Rach program) even at the time I thought it might be a little subtle and low-key for Olympic judges, who seem to prefer more dramatic, in your face programs. Ariane, OTOH, was much darker, more tense and dramatic. One program isn't necessarily better than the other -- one or the other is just bound to appeal more to you based on your personal preferences.

[skatingfan]

1. First of all, about "boring". To me Michelle is never boring. If I can enjoy watching her , KY program w/o sound, her skating is not boring. 2. In my first message, I thought OMT, and KY are programs that required MK to skate to a loss of love theme, and that maybe taxing for her, b/c in her real life she never experienced it that we know of. Then I discovered that OMO has a similar theme and I love that program. I conclude that it is the music and absolutely not Michelle, that I do not like about those programs as much, same goes for reflection from Mulan. And KY is the only program, I prefer to watch w/o music. I also speculate that if another singer, e.g.Streisand sings to KY, or OMT or reflections with MK's skating, these will instantly become my fav programs like the rest of hers. 3. Dramatic story telling v Michelle being herself, i.e. TM, Salome, or Ariane v L.A. I love L.A. and Rachmaninoff the best b/c MK is being herself. Whether judges think the same, I don't know. 4. Classical v non classical music, I am bias, I love classical music, and I believe there is so much to choose from. 5. Programs I think MK did not have a chance to perfect, and would like to see her skate to again in the future. I love RAchmaninoff #3, and L.A., and maybe be Salome and Romanza too, I want these programs to be retired and live in our memories, somehow it adds to the legend IMHO. I want to see MK skate to Yellow River Piano Concerto, TM, DOD, and Ariane again. Yellow River - about 9 mos ago, there was a thread here about MK skating to more Chinese music in the future. I think Yellow River will be a good program for her to visit again. The piano concerto and cantata have to much to choose from. The cantata is about the joy, pain, trials and triumph of people living along the Yellow River basin for the past thousands of years. When Michelle first skated to that at 14, I was surprised she chose a piece of music with such a mature theme, she did a great job. I think as she matures, she can add more dimension to this. DOD and TM - obvious, such beautiful programs, Ariane - I believe MK only performed it 3 times, and she did not have a chance to fully develop the feelings of longing, betrayal, love and forgiveness etc 6. I believe Michelle will continue to mesmerize us with her future programs. I can't wait to see her BEatles program and lp.

[virginia girl]

For me, Rach will always be my favorite - the perfect blend of music and artistry. But I grew to really like FOC last year - it showed a greater maturity and passion in her presentation. For me, the problem with Ariane was that I just never warmed up to the music. Point is well taken about Michelle not having a chance to fully develop the program.

[kwanette]

Michelle has been competing for such a long time...we have seen her grow up before our eyes...I am so grateful for that.There may have been people who have competed in more nats. than she, but their performances were not always televised. At least a silver medalist since 94, and in the limelight, we expect so much from her. Everyone else is here and gone in a flash...OK, not Nicole, but Nicole is not Michelle....Michelle has raised the bar, and she is the standard by which all skaters are measured today. She has so many memorable performances...what other skater has made such an impact...can all of the experts be wrong?...LA and Rach were so special...TM and DOD would have been had she had a better 97...I LOVED Ariane for many previously mentioned reasons...and Carmen was good....her exs have been glorious....The last one...the more I watch it...about 7 times to date...is wonderful; she makes everything look so easy. I really don't want her to "SELL-OUT and do something silly...She showed in the closing of COI that she can move to different music...also in the 2nd Disney Special...I am NEVER bored....Her technical improvements this year are great...I know that they will get better...My final read? Had she won the gold in Nagano we wouldn't be having this conversation now.....

[Karin]

1 word... NO... that's all I have to say!!!...

[Willowdale]

Ditto to kwanette... Michelle's music selections are superb and she is the only skater who has both the best technique and the best artistry of decade. She has never been boring and never will be boring to me.

[Rene]

I view and compare Michelle's eligible and pro-am/exhibition programs differently. I have loved all of her competitive programs and think they have had alot of variety. As a program, I think Ariane was better. As a performance, LA at Natl's was the best. I am in the minority who doesn't want Michelle to skate to anything competitivly that isn't classical. It doesn't have to be slow, but it should CAPTURE you. I don't think Ariane music did. Boring? To be honest I can understand why some people can say that, but ONLY pro-ams/exhibition. I don't think it's boring. I take it for what it is. Beautiful, smooth, calm, makes you smile and good for about 100 viewings! One thing I do miss is attitude and drama. I think she had it in Carmen and Ariane, but I think the choice of music didn't help bring it out as much as it could have. It's also true that so much attention has been paid to EVERY ONE of her programs for the last 6 years or so, they will be more scrutinized. TL really only had to come up with 2 seasons. Nicole basically skates the same routine with the same costume and the same moves. Michelle is far ahead of the game in variety when you compare her to ANY OTHER SKATER TODAY, IMO.

[Anita18]

I may be the minority here but I didn't really like the music for Lyra Angelica. There are parts of it that I love (like that piano part where she's just dancing on the ice, no jumps or spins or anything) but overall the music didn't do much for me. Rach I absolutely adore because it was more dramatic, especially with the final seconds of the finale (never fails to give me chills) I seem to be more in touch with her dramatic programs, and I thought that FoC and Ariane were both very good (creepy music too!). The only thing about Ariane that annoyed me was that in the beginning, she was just doing jump after jump after jump and I thought, "When is she going to show us some choreography?" (I am personally disgusted that people pay more attention and want to see triple jumps more that the art in skating. That probably puts the pressure on MK to do so many of them.) I agree with the person (sorry-I forgot) who said that her choice of music was getting kinda icky, especially with all the love stuff. TRV was abosolutely wonderful as an exhibition, but I really didn't like the music for OMT or KY at all. Reflection was a nice choice, but after watching it again, I have to say, WHAT'S WITH THE STUPID INSTRUMENTS? The recording people mixed the movie and CD version of the song quite well, but in the version that MK skates to, it often has these weird instruments that remind me more of Pocahontas than Mulan. (I especially hate that loud drum beat at the way end when there's that pause. It comes across as downright corny to me.) I certainly don't think that Michelle is getting boring. When I watch her skating, I always find something interesting that I've always missed before. (I thought it interesting that Dante's Prayer has the same choreography as Rach before the 2 axel). And I always look forward to her new programs, just to see what she's been working on.

[Googoo]

Hmmm... Illinois? Not only should MK follow in the footsteps of Phillipe Candeloro but Madonna too eh? I'm really not taking you seriously here. MK is the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be in my not so humble opinion! Can someone tell me what this MYTHICAL EXCITING PROGRAM IS??? Okay lets choreograph an EXCITING AND DIFFERENT program for MK! Here it goes! 1)Michelle starts with her eyes wide open staring crazily at the audience, palm facing forward in the "stop in the name of love" position. 2)The music starts and she does a sommersault on to the ice, jumps up, and skates into the corner for a triple lutz combo. 3)After she lands she skates to the other side of the rink jerkily (NO MORE OOOZING! That's too booooooorrrriiiiiiing!!!) and lands a triple flip. 4)She does a few karate kicks (NOT FOC kicks! That would be unoriginal!) in the direction of the judges then skates to the other corner of the ice for a double axel. 5)She lands it punching the air victoriously. She does a NEW spiral! She starts on the inside edge, glides to her knee, gets back up, then glides on the outside edge. 6)She throws herself upon the ice dramatically, pounding it! 7)She gets back up and goes into the corner for a 3 toe/3 toe combo. After landing it she touches the ice with one finger than lifting up her hands, points that finger at the audience. 8)She skates by the judges, flinging ice shavings in their direction and then lands a triple loop. 9)She goes into a footwork sequence-- legs wrapping around each other crazily and sloppily (she learned this one from Candeloro). Then she lands a 3 salchow. 10)Finally she holds one leg behind her, bent, while making swimming motions. Then she lands a triple lutz. 11)End pose-- standing on her head.

[mano]

I must say I'm really warming to the idea of Michelle a la Candeloro. Don't forget to add the ever popular "Find a cute guy in the audience and give him a big fat kiss!!!"

[Karin]

Bad bad Googoo... I just finished commenting on that other thread with the best program ever!!! I say we give U the title: Chreographer of the Year!!!

[badhairday]

i think that Michelle improves everytime i see her... i absolutely fell in love with Ariane at Worlds Pros... people are always dismissing the fact at how difficult her program was.. i don't think any skater today can skate to the programs that michelle skates to..

[nakayoshi]

Blame It On The Music. Why can't she skate to something normal? Chen Lu skated to "Black Magic Woman" Karen Cadavy skated to "All Coming Back To Me" Can't Michelle do the same?

[Karin]

Just what is the definition of normal??? LOL!!! Generalization, buddy!!! LOL LOL LOL!!!... There is nothing wrong with MK' musical selection!!!... Boy what is NOT normal that MK skates to!!! You have the nerve to say her music choice is bad... SO DO TELL WHICH ONES IN PARTICULAR???

[Joshua]

Bad music selections?! Why Michelle's got some of the best music out there, IMHO. And I just know that if you asked MK to skate to normal music, she would reply by saying, "But what is normal music?" I can just hear it, and I would agree completely. Concerning MK's Olympic performances, I can think of no other long program to date that I think MK should have used instead of Lyra Angelica. I believe that that program was destined for an Olympic year and rightly so. But, I think if MK used a more dramatic program, I think MK should have used Taj Mahal instead of Ariane. The music is so dramatic but also exotic and inviting. I think the choreography was even better than Lyra, although Lyra flowed best out of all of her lps. Now, I'm gonna have to tie Lyra and TM as my favorite MK programs. They both satisfy me, but in different ways.

[GinnySmith]

I loved your new program for Michelle! I would like to propose a new costume as well! She should wear a headset A.K.A Madonna, leopard leotards and sport one of those "pointy brassiers". I think this would put a stop to all of those who think she does the same thing all of the time!

[Icare]

Geeeezzz! This place is becoming one of the most entertaining place on the web! To me, cartooning Googoo's choreography and Ginny's addition will be good enough for me. Leave Michelle to her Olympic Kwest!

[littlepebbles1]

Why do you think Michelle doesn't skate to normal music? I didn't realize that if something doesn't come on the radio, it means it isn't normal.

[Willowdale]

Sorry, but I DISAGREE!!! Michelle's music choices are simply the best!!! Michelle, Lori and Frank always chose original and beautiful music. Don't you think Romanza, Lyra Angelica and Rachmaninoff are great music? Her music choice is one of the important reasons why I love her, and why I always sit and watch her. Love, Willowdale

[kwanette]

First Sandra, then Lori and now....drumroll please...googoo!

[kwanette]

The lovely, lyrical Chen Lu ....I hate to say this...kind of made a fool of herself with both Black Magic Woman and Peel Me a Grape. I saw her perform the former in Phila. at SOI and I was almost embarrassed for her.Please...the performance in Nagano and her reaction to it and her coach touched my already broken heart. I wish that she would return to softer music herself...like her 96 lp. I don't want MK to change and become untrue to herself...

[Rene]

Black Magic Woman? I WOULD CRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Stagebabe]

try and bash her after they see her new short?? I mean the loud whinning on the net about Michelle being all the same and boring (which has evidently made it here!) will more than likely be addressed when we all get to she her new short. However I am betting it won't shut up a single basher. But it will be amusing to see how they fit the Beattles into the classical music sterotype and same old Michelle falacy! I think we ought to take bets about the bashes that will surface the hour after the program hits the air! I must agree that I love to watch her most recent things! Lyra is great to watch because of the joy, but her skating as matured so much in the past year she is just thrilling to watch every time she steps on the ice!!!!!!!!!!

[Stagebabe]

try and bash her after they see her new short?? I mean the loud whinning on the net about Michelle being all the same and boring (which has evidently made it here!) will more than likely be addressed when we all get to she her new short. However I am betting it won't shut up a single basher. But it will be amusing to see how they fit the Beattles into the classical music sterotype and same old Michelle falacy! I think we ought to take bets about the bashes that will surface the hour after the program hits the air! My guess is that it will all be pretty predicatable! I must agree that I love to watch her most recent things! Lyra is great to watch because of the joy, but her skating as matured so much in the past year she is just thrilling to watch every time she steps on the ice!!!!!!!!!!

[Joshua]

Good idea, Stagebabe. I bet Michelle will be bashed with one or all of the following, from bashers' POV: 1. "Different music, but the same tired old moves." 2. "Can't interpret the music well. She should have just stuck to classical music." 3. "What a hideous dress!" 4. "Trying to pull the sex kitten routine. She's just making a fool of herself." 5. "She skates too slow" 6. "She's still using that weak 3toe for her solo triple"