MK's SP

[butterfly]

I just do not know what to think about it. It seemed to lack something. I am usually absolutely mesmerized by her skating and I just could not get that effect with this one. It just seemed dead in places and as if the choreography was not quite up to par with typical Nichol work. What do you guys think?

[susan ba]

i just watched it three times tonight... i defintely like it...but admit that it is very different from her normmal style. try it again. except for the dress, i have few criticism for this program. someone said the music was too choppy. i don't think so at all. music doesn't have to gradually change from slow to fast and vice versa. i loved the transistion between the spiral section to the section that followed it. (her timing might be off though) others have said that the music doesn't highlight michelle's spiral...not so. the music becomes more and more intense during the spiral. someone else said that the circular footwork section wasn't difficult. while she doesn't make quick turns in this section, her edging is great and she is very fast. check out how much flow she has and the control she has when she kicks up her free leg, turns, and kicks it up again without putting her free leg dowm. and choreographically speaking, lori has really filled this program with interstig moves that really fit the music. when the electric guitar is playing long notes, michelle is usually doing edge moves, when the music is more upbeat like towards the end, michelle is spinning or doing footwork. and speaking of spins, doesn't michelle seem like she's spinning pretty fast in this competition? the program is very free spirited like the music. ok, i just read your post again and realized that i wasn't quite commenting on what you posted. which part did you think was flat? i found so many things that i liked but can't articulate right now...but will try to share them with you if you like. personally, i always like hearing what others like because it makes me look at it differently the next time.

[muri]

it is because you don't like the music, but like Susan said take a look again.And Susan I also liked that move where MK kicked her left leg in the air, did a 360 degree turn without putting the left leg down then kicked it up again; neat & original. I also liked her moves after the lutz combo and her sassiness with her hands on her hips; cute! I liked this program it was playful & flirtatious. And I am no where near being a beatle's fan nor do I intend on becoming one, I think they are boring, but I liked that piece of music & I think MK did a terrific job. I am glad it wasn't sexy & provocative because if sexy & provoc isn't done right it can look cheap.

[Liz D.]

I love her new SP! I think it's a little different from her usual style, but I like the change. It's a little more upbeat versus classical and I think she performs it really well. I like the many different moves she does. I'm still mesmerized by her skating. I don't think it seems dead in places, on the contrary, it seems more "alive".

[kwanette]

The program is beautiful...At first the music annoyed me, but I have seen it now about 5 times, and I love it.Will it be listed as one of her more memorable ones in the favorites of the minds of her fans? Perhaps not. It is not Rach, DOD, or Romanza to me; however, people have been clamoring for her to do something different and this is and beautifully done, I might add.There is a total lightness and completeness in the way that she performs this...it refects her being 19...a new sense of maturity, and I think, total happiness with her life. Her face looks so different this year in all three of the performances that I have seen.(KY, TRV, DAY) In 98 at SA and NATS...pure joy and relief...last year in Carmen and Ariane...determination...almost IMO proveing that her best was certainly not behind her. To me it is an assured, confident, truly happy Michelle. I love her evolution...she has been with us for such a long time that the opportunity of seeing her physical, emotional, chronological and spiritual growth is astonishing. We have had that with so few...if any...other skaters. Most have been bleeps on the radar screen...to quote CB...but not Michelle. How fortunate we are....

[skatingfan]

She was cute at 13 and 14. She was adorable at 15. Then evolving into a pretty girl at 16, and 17. We witness the beginning of the beauty of her maturity at 18, and at 19, she is confident, and sensual. And she never lets up in improving her skating. Remember when Nicole beat her, Michelle worked so hard on her spiral, and we are blessed with her Kwan spiral now. People complain about her speed and layback spin, and she improved so much on that this season. Her work ethics is inspirational.

[showzi]

Very well said--Kwanette and Skatingfan. It has been fun watching Michelle growing up from a little girl to a mature woman, physically but more so emotionally and spiritually. At the beginning of the skating seaon, she always surprises me by her tremendous improvement in her skating skills and all sorts of other things. Is not she an inpiration to us all?

[badhairday]

Hmm, actually I really liked this program. I thought it was soooo cute! I thought that the red dress match the music and besides the slashes, the dress was gorgeous. I especially like the spiral part and how the music is so intense and then how it ends with a bam! I just adore this program.

[SJB]

I agree with susan ba's and everyone's comments on how good this program is, I really think it's masterly and that people will love it. But, butterfly, if you're referring to something seeming to be missing in her Master's performance of it, remember that reports from the competition said that she seemed to be a little tentative, like she was not really used to the program yet. It seems that she really improved her presentation at SA, that's why I want to see that performance so much! Keep watching, I'll bet that when we see her more comfortable with this program we'll be blown away by how great it is and how well she performs it.

[love2skate]

Oh man! I must be the only one who hasn't seen MK's short yet! I don't get cable =( and so the best i can do is picture all you guy's discription of MK's short! Most comps I do watch only show the long portion..does anyone think they can download her short on Quicktime? Much thanks of they can! =)

[Karin]

I just saw Skate Canada... I luv the program!!!...may be I was expecting a really bad program because of the reports that were a little disappointing...but I enjoyed it a lot!!!... I thought it was very mature...very sexy!!!... The Kwan-spiral and the rest of the spiral sequence was INCREDIBLE!!!...IMO...the sequence was right at the most intense moment of the music!!!... But the footwork though...didn't seem as difficult!!!...I think MK just needs more polish on it...it's eraly in the season...she never is bang on in the start ever...well...except for Rahmaninoff!!!...where everytime was spell-binding!!!...but give A Day in the Life more time!!!... MK needs to do the 3flip!!!...she needs to work on the speed of her layback!!!...But otherwise...just let the program take it's course!!!

[mano]

whatever that means. I liked MK's sp, but it didn't blow me away like Rach did (it will take a lot to do that). However, I enjoyed it in that it was different from her usual. I do however agree that it needs more footwork, sweeping ones that move with the slow electric guitar in the beginning or something that Kurt would do especially if you watch his Antares program. Sweeping spread eagles or Ina Bauers that are mixed in with fast footwork here and there. It's just missing something and I can't put my finger on it at the moment. I think she needs to infuse an attitude of sorts worthy of an electric guitar in the beginning, arm movements that mesh with it and just let her body do the talking. Sheesh, I don't think I'm making sense. I'm just bummed ABC didn't show the sp at SA 'cause NYTimes described it as a work of art and MK said she let it rip there.

[littleone4eva]

yeah, I wanted to see Skate America short programs! I think out of the 3 performances of her SP, SA sounds like the best one. She got a 6.0... The Masters was a debut, so she wasn't quite as comfortable, and it seems Michelle was an *little* bit off at SC... I WANTED TO SEE SA SHORT PROGRAMS!!! Oh, deep breathe!! hehe.

[sw10025a]

You're not the only one who hasn't seen MK's SP yet -- I haven't seen it either, and probably won't see it until the 14th at the earliest. I'm still hoping ABC will show it with the pairs and ice dance SA comp, but if not , they're gonna have to show MK's SP for Skate Canada, since the ladies field is so weak, they'll probably only show the top 3 finishers.

[Googoo]

I watched it twice today and really like it. I love the opening where she sways her sholders...very sassy! I thought the arm movements in the beginning were really with the music. I do still have a problem with the music during the spiral section. Plus with Roz talking at the same time it made it sound worst. Perhaps it will be better if the commentators are quiet. I suppose there could be more footwork. Love the end pose!

[Rene]

I like this program, but the whole time I was thinking...This will be SO MUCH BETTER when it is televised by ABC. To me every comp looks better on ABC. The camera angles, the directing, the commentating. It makes a difference to me. A client of mine is a sports editor at NBC(home of olys 2002) he has won 2 emmys for his work on olys. I keep telling him to tell his director and camera men to watch ABC camera work and copy it! He laughs at me, but he agrees and he said they're the best because they really know how to "suck you in". He swears that he relays the message and they get a big kick out of it. He thinks I'm crazy.

[GypsyEsmeralda]

I love Michelle's new SP. I don't understand saying the music is choppy it's not cuttings. The only thing that bother's me is the slits in hte dress. the program is provocative a little sexy and all around great! I love the music I don't know how you can complain about the beatles. LOL anyway my favorite part was the twists of the hips in the footwork. I don't think the jusdges will put a clean Maria over a clean Michelle. Michelle's is much more classy than Maria's monotnous, boring, soprano solo in a frothy sea foam green dress (think that credit card commercial) Maria has not improved this year. I think she is going to suffer from major pressue and I think she has too much pride. She seems like the kind of person who will be like I am champion I don't need to work as had cuz I am the best. (And if she keeps doing things like she has with Habenera she definitely will not win) She should be like I have to work hard to defend this title harder than ever. As Frank would say "Don't Defend attack" I think school is doing good for Michelle she seems more relaxed and carefree. Good for her. Anyway there is my rantings and ravings.

[Polo1882]

I never thought that there would be a day when I would actually have these words come out of my mouth, but *gulp* I disliked Michelle's new short program. Don't get me wrong--I love the Beatles and I love this orchestration of "A Day in the Life," but the program did nothing for me. I was able to get the impression that she seems to be having fun and is more relaxed, but the choreography doesn't seem to be really expressing this song. She seemed to have all the elements choreographed before she chose the music: I had a strange feeling I was watching another short program with this music. If Michelle wants to present herself as mature and sexy, she should come up with some more innovative/creative moves which accentuate this change: she had those same shoulder shrugs in her "Fate of Carmen" short last season. However, everything *is* performed with great polish and finesse. I don't know, I've watched it like five or six times already, but it just doesn't come across to me. I find it interesting to contrast with Maria's new short program to "Entente D'Amour." She has such a wonderfully haunting and almost spiritual presence on the ice when she skates it; all of the moves just flow and connect with each other. I also love her spiral a la Nancy Kerrigan where she extends her arm and her face just lights up. The music, also, is very lovely and beautiful and accentuates her new ice persona. Overall, I like that Michelle's skating to new music, but I wish she'd rework some of her choreography. I'd actually place Maria higher in the short program but then give Michelle the long...cuz I love "The Red Violin."

[littleone4eva]

I just think it's way to early to even be talking about the program. Usually, a program rather immeditly catches your attention or you have to it grow on you. I think TRV is a kind of program that immediately catches your attention, but ADITL may have to take time to grow on your before you like it. We should ask for opinions at the end of the season and see what people think... Only thing I wish, right now about her SP, is that the costume should be plain red with the little sparkles on it, instead of with the slashes, but oh well. And choosing if you're going to have sleeves or not, not half and half would maybe a little better, IMO... but it doesn't matter! Still love her!

[Googoo]

This game looks so adorable. I really saw how MK-like the figure is during the bow and during the sit spin. Don't her legs look so long in the game? Hee hee! Has anyone seen it in stores yet????