Skating Music Signatures

[1KwanFan]

Since it's the off season I thought it might be fun to talk about signature pieces of music for skater's. What pieces of music are a skaters signature piece? What's that one pice of music that you associate with a certian skater?
Here's my list:
Shen and Zhou-Turnadot
Alexei Yagudin-Man in the Iron Mask
Timothy Goebel-An American in Paris
Sale and Pelltier-Love Story
That should be enough to get this started. Just curious to see what others think. I haven't been a big skating fan that long so my list is rather small.

[Krista]

hmm

Brian Boitano - Appalachian Spring
Shen and Zhao - Nutcracker
Gordeeva and Grinkov - Requiem
Miskutunik and Dmitriev - Rachmaninov
Alexei Yagudin - Broken Arrow or Winter
Evgeni Plushenko - Moulin Rouge
Sasha Cohen - Malaguena
Angela Nikodinov - Giselle
Chen Lu - Madame Butterfly
Maria Butryskaya - Otonal

Just some off the top of my head

[lexeoe]

Michelle Kwan - East of Eden, Rachmaninoff and Lyra Angelica
Jenny Kirk - Chicago
Debi Thomas - Meditation from Thais
Paul Wylie - Henry V

[Tejada1981]

I can't even remember Yagudin's Broken Arrow. When did Chen skate to Madame Butterfly? Giselle is Nikodinov's best choreographed program but her signature program? I agree with the rest of your choices and would add Man in the Iron Mask by A&P and Bolero by T&D.

[kgrama]

Michelle's Fields of Gold (if we can include exhibition pieces as well)

Michelle's Salome

Michelle's Romanza

Ilia's Rhapsody in Blue

Alexei's Winter

Torvill and Dean's Bolero

Kurt's Casablanca

[Krista]

I made a mistake on the Chen Lu one. It was Butterfly Lovers I believe.. In 98. Im just going by what I remember as one of their most powerful performance routines. Not necessarily a general consensus :)

[edenlover]

Michelle--EOE

Todd--1492, and First Knight (from 96 Worlds)

Dorothy Hamill--Romance, from the movie "The Gadfly" music composed by Shostokovich

Janet Lynn--Afternoon of a Fawn

Debi Thomas--Meditation from Thias

The Carruthers --America the Beautiful, by Ray Charles

Boitano--Napolean and Josephine, from 88 Olympics; remember how marvelous it was?

Underhill and Martini--Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers (exhibition number).

Jenny Meno, Todd Sands--Nessun Dorma

Paul Wylie--JFK (as a pro) and Henry V (as amateur)

John Curry-- Don Quixote

Sasha--Malaguena

Katerina--Carmen

Other signature pieces are on Magic Memories on Ice Volume III--you can still buy copies--used and new--if you just look for it.

I'm sure there are many more...just can't think of them right now.

[lexeoe]

Nancy Kerrigan - Neil Diamond medley from Lillehamer and the music of her SP from '92 and '93
Kristi Yamaguchi - Malagueña, Samson and Delilah

[belladella]

John Zimmerman - SOI - A Little Less Conversation
The cameraperson loved John in this number

N Mishkutenok and A Dmitriev - Liebestraum

[Fozzie Bear]

Pretty much any music Michelle has skated to since 1995 I associate with her (except Bolero :| ). Every time I saw Johnny's SP last season I'd get flashback's of Michelle's Rondo program. :lol I'd say any of the music she's used pre-2002 could be thought of as her signature--I've yet to see any other top skater use these unique choices.

Maria Butyrskaya - Otonal, Scene d'Amour, Fever

Chen Lu - The Last Emperor, Butterfly Lovers

Fumie Suguri - Pink Panther, Paint It Black

Shen&Zhao - Turandot (a little bit of Shizuka's program seeps in, too, when I hear this music), Nutcracker

Elena&Anton (can't spell their last names, lol) - Lady Caliph, City Lights

Torvill&Dean - Bolero, Barnum, Still Crazy After All These Years

[GardenKitty]

John Zimmerman - SOI - A Little Less Conversation
The cameraperson loved John in this number


The cameraperson wasn't the only one. ;)

[lexeoe]

Torvill&Dean - Bolero, Barnum, Still Crazy After All These Years

Bolero definitely is Torvill and Dean's.
I'd also add Tango Jalousie to Sale and Pelletier.

[iloveskating]

I will add a few more that haven't been mentioned yet:

Boitano - Music of the night
Michelle - EOE
G&G - Moonlight sonata

Some skaters do not really achieve a sig piece IMO. The skater's interp of a piece has to be so outstanding that the skater & piece are inseparable, and immediately associated, by most people (who know anything about skating). Many elite skaters do not achieve this level, IMO.

[SamChez]

iloveskating:

Boitano - Music of the night

Fabulous! Loved the endless spread eagle, ala John Curry.

I'll add:

Paul Wylie: Carmina Burana - changed my life! All other attempts have had me closing my eyes to see Paul's magnificent interpretation.

[kwanette]

belladella and Garden Kitty..LOL!! Whee!

Rudy Galindo..Village People Medley...

[WorldsGreatestMK]

Rudy Galindo- Swan Lake (96 LP)
Michelle Kwan- Rach, EOE, Lyra, SOTBS, Red Violin, Taj. etc
Sasha Cohen- Hernado's Hideaway(sp) 02 exhi)
Sarah Hughes- Don Quiote (sp) (01 LP)
Todd Eldredge- First Knight (96 LP)
Johnny Weir- Otonal and Dr. Zhivargo (05 and 03 +04 LP)
Sale and Peltier- Love Story
Shen and Zhao- Turadont (???)
Shizuka Arakawa- Turadont (04 LP)
Tara Lipinski- Rainbow (98 LP)
Ina and Zimmerman- Shine on you crazy (02 SP)
Tonya Harding- (wow I can't believe I am writing this) (94 SP)
Nancy Kerrigan- ??? (93 SP)
Irina Slutskaya- Cotton Eye Joe- 02 Exhib
Alexei Yagudin- The Man In the Iron Mask (02 SP)
Evegeny Pleshenko- St. Petersburg 300 (03 LP)
Phillipe Candeldoro- D' Artananian (98 LP)
Nicole Bobek- Dr. Zhivargo (95 LP)
Chen Lu- Rach (96 LP)
Lang and Tchernyshev (sp)- Still Loving You- 03 Free Dance
Bebe- ???-05 LP and SP (Harry Potter)
MicheleFan2004- (floor skating LP)- Have A Little Faith In Me
(LOL)


That's ALL FOR NOW!!!!!! :)

[edenlover]

I can't believe I forgot Wylie's Carmina Burana! I can even see the costume! The arm movements were wow!

Truly his finest work; the finest Carmina Burana, IMHO, that ANYONE has ever skated to that.

Can anyone upload this? TongueNcheek? You always have susch good files!

[tongueincheek]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/Tongueincheek/BreakdanceEmoticon.gif http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/Tongueincheek/BreakdanceEmoticon.gif http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/Tongueincheek/BreakdanceEmoticon.gif http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/Tongueincheek/BreakdanceEmoticon.gif http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/Tongueincheek/BreakdanceEmoticon.gif http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/Tongueincheek/BreakdanceEmoticon.gif http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/Tongueincheek/BreakdanceEmoticon.gif


Paul Wylie Carmina Burana 1994 Vail Skating Festival (http://www.savefile.com/files.php?fid=2929809) From Savefile.com,a .wmv file.

[edenlover]

TNC You are a gem! What is the emoticona? What is Stuff on my cat? I'm missing something.

[tongueincheek]

The emoticons are break-dancing smilies. Heh.

My siggie is a link to stuffonmycat.com where people put veeerd stuff on their cats and send in photos. Like my personal photo. It's not my cat. But I think it's fun to humiliate cats. Then they spit a hairball at you to get even.

[edenlover]

Cats are very smart!

And that was a WOW performance. Those spread eagles and ina bauers into jumps and other interesting moves were out of sight. It's right up there with Todd's 1492 and Brian's Napolean and Josephene in terms of power, in my book!

Thank you TNC! Now I can fall asleep.

[tongueincheek]

You're welcome.

Phillipe Candeldoro- D' Artananian (98 LP) Yes, but what about this one (http://s60.yousendit.com/d.php?id=3IUTOAODK9C0C36U94JJEW3SWC)? ;)

And I know this is not really a signature piece for Jill Trenary, but it was my favorite number she ever did. As a pro, she skated to These Boots are Made for Walkin', a program choreographed by her hubby Chris Dean. She looks fantastic!s60.yousendit.com/d.php?id=1J64YX8STTWKS5P6XM8BC6C8W (http://s60.yousendit.com/d.php?id=1J64YX8STTWKS5P6XM8BC6C8W)

[Dragonlady]

I think of a "signature piece" as a piece of music that each time you hear it, you immediately think of that skater and you're annoyed not to see their program. While watching a junior male skater perform to Malaguena last summer, when the music reached that big crescendo I immediately thought "spiral - do the spiral NOW!!" and it was at that point that I realized how completely Sasha now owns that music. There are very few skaters who in my mind, have take complete ownership of any music in that way so my list is quite short.

Torville & Dean - Bolero
Kurt Browning - Casablanca
Alexei Yagudin - Winter
Sasha Cohen - Malaguena
Jeffrey Buttle - Take 5
Klimova & Ponamarenko - Air on a G String

I suppose the East of Eden is Michelle's signature music, because she's used it so often and in so many ways, but I personally don't like that music - never have. For me THE signature Kwan program is Song of the Black Swan.

[MKGrace]

Ilia Kulik - Rhapsody in Blue.

Michelle is the only one in my book with multiple signatures--Rach 3, TRV, EOE, FOG, DOD, Aranjuez etc. etc. etc. etc. :lol

[magicpixie]

Whenever I hear Malaguena I think of Kristi's LP. I'm not a Kristi fan, but that program was amazingly choreo'd and Kristi skated it well. Talk about a packed program.

MITIM = Alexei Yagudin
Romeo + Juliet = Anissina and Peizerat
Carmina Burana = Anissina and Peizerat
Legends of the Fall = Gusmeroli
Otonal = Maria
Masquarade Waltz = K/O

[MKGrace]

Alexei Yagudin - Lawrence of Arabia. Loved the program, music, costume, everything about it.

[SamChez]

Oh my God, oh my God, oh my GAUD! I can't thank you enough for this incredible gift! When we meet face2face, you will be gleefully adorned with MKF pin and keychain!

SaminaBurana

[tongueincheek]

You're welcome and thanks right back SaminaChez!

[lexeoe]

The best Legends of the Fall program I've seen was that of Liz Manley.

[Eeyora]

Mishkutenouk and Dmitriev-Liebestraum
Gordeeva and Grinkov-Moonlight Sonata, The Man I love
Brian Boitano-Napoleon and Joesaphine, Nessun Dorma, Music of The Night
Shen and Zhao- Turnadot
Oksana Baiul- Swan Lake
Janet Lynn- Prelude to the Afternoon of the Faune
Irina Slutskaya- Queen of Spades, Seranade, Culture
Angela Nikodinov- Sleeping Beauty, Just for You, To love you More
Torvill and Dean- Bolero
Paul Wylie-Henry V, JFK, This is the Moment
Kristi Yamaguchi, Maleguena, The Blue Danube, Doop Doop
Sasha Cohen- Dark Eyes , Rota's Romeo and Juliet
Philippe Canderloro- The Godfather
Elvis Stojko- Dragon, 1492
Chen Lu-Butterfly Lovers, The Last Emperor
Evgeny Plushenko- St Petersberg
Ann Patrice Mcdonough-Madame Butterfly
Alexei Yagudin-Lawrence of Arabia, Nutcracker, Gladiator, Winter, Man in the Iron Mask,
Ilia Kulik- Rhapsody and Blue
Todd Eldredge-Twelfth Night
Annisina and Peizerat- Carmina Burana
Katarina Witt- Carmen
Sarah Hughes- Bye Bye Blackbird
Sale and Pellitier- Love Story
Tonya Harding-Robin Hood, Jurassic Park
Berezhnayav and Sikherilidze-Barcelona, Meditation
Michelle Kwan- East of Eden, Man from Snowy River, Song of India Sabre Dance, Yellow River Concerto, Rondo cappricio, Greensleeves, Romanza, Salome, Taj Mahal, Winter, On my Own, Rachamaninoff Piano Trio #2 and Piano Concerto #3, Lyra Angelica,Satie's Gymnopidie, Dantes Prayer, A Day in the Life, The Red Violin, The World is Not6 Enough, Song of the Black Swan, The Feeling Begins. TAranjez, Tosca, Spartacus, Fallin and You Raise mME Up.

[vanhs]

michelle - lyra
i like krisit over sasah for - Malaguena
torvill/dean - bolero
michelle - FOG
tonya harding - zz top or was it tone-loc..haha

[iluvtodd]

Brian B. - Music of the Night
Torvill & Dean - Bolero, Hat Trick
Michelle - Lyra, Salome, Winter, East of Eden
Paul - JFK
Brian O. - The Story of My Life
Todd - First Knight, Il Mare Calmo della Sera, The Glory
Elvis - Dragon

[Krista]

Just about every program Michelle did up until 2002/2003, is a signature program imo :)

[lavender]

I was pretty much thinking the same thing. All of Michelle's pieces up to 2000 for me. There's Winter, DOD, Salome, Taj, Rach, EOE, Dante's Prayer and even Pochantes. There's been some exhibitions and short programs like TFB but it was non stop from 96 to 2000+ .

Yagudin Winter.

Even if I wasn't gaga over the music Michelle put her stamp on so many pieces.

Sasha.. R & J and Maleng...

Sarah put her stamp for Don Quiote in a negative way so when I hear that music I think of her and kind of cringe. There's also that Caberet type of number that went on and on. Sorry.

I'll think of more later.

[berthesghost]

Although she's highly predictable and bland when it comes to her music choices, I'm shocked that so many find Sasha "memorable".

Her two strongest programs by far were TT's Swan Lake and Malequena, but those pieces will always "belong" to Oksana and Kristi in my mind.

Dark Eyes: Elena and Anton
Sweet and Tender Beast: Marina&Gwendel
Nutcracker: Shen and Zao
Carmen: Debi and Kat, even MK did a more memorable job

Sasha may be far from forgettable as a skater, but she doesn't even come close to "owning" any piece of music IMHO.

[berthesghost]

How could I forget Rach 2, which Lulu still "owns" IMO. 2nd place is Natalia and Artur. If it belongs to any Sasha, Sasha Abt put more of a stamp on it.

[lavender]

I think I'm going to have to do a search for Kristi's Malequena because I don't think I've ever seen it.

Oksana owns Swan Lake.

Michelle's Rach does it for me although I love Lulu's programs.

When someone mention Carmen most think of Kat. After Kat I think of Michelle's Carmen which tops Sasha's Carmen anytime. Even Fumie's Carmen tops Sasha's Carmen.

I don't remember Sasha doing Nutcracker.

[berthesghost]

This site fsvids.9.forumer.com/ (http://fsvids.9.forumer.com/) will probably have Kristi vids. Nats was clean and dramatic, but I think Olys was somehow more powerful, even with the mistakes. I think it's one of Bezic's best works, and right up there with Taj in terms of MIF packed. 7 planned triples including a 3z/3t, it could be competitive today, 14 years later.

As iconic as Mk's Rach SP is, I always think of it as Rach 3 and therefore a different music piece than Rach 2 which Lulu, M&D, Midoi, M&S etc... skated to.

I loved Fumie's Carmen! Unfortunately, I think it suffered from lack of air time. Fratianne's is another I'd list as more "owned" than Sasha's. Even Plushy's was more signature, although a total drag routine.

Sasha did "pas de snooze" this past season in the pink dress that looked like a Tara hand-me-down. It was the same section from the Nutcracker as S&Z used to light up the arena just the year before. Even Jenny's Nutcracker from 6 years ago was more lively.

[missmarysgarden]

Although its not my favorite program, "EOE" is so evocative of MK that I couldn't stand anyone else to use it. I feel that way about Salome and Lyra - that they are distinctively hers. And I'm totally leary of having to watch someone else skate to TRV this year! That's got to be either guts or a death wish.

[Fozzie Bear]

I loved Fumie's Carmen! Unfortunately, I think it suffered from lack of air time.
ITA! It's like ESPN forgot she even existed at Worlds. I liked Fumie's Swan Lake more than Sasha's as well.

When I hear Carmen now think more of Fumie's and Michelle's versions than Katarina's. Maybe because I wasn't a skating fan back in 1988. Katarina's program just had too much posing and so-so acting for me. JMHO.

[berthesghost]

Michelle is genius IMO at owning music. Lori may have picked unused things, but Mk so owned them that no one with any sense would reuse them.

EOE is a perfect example. Yes it's lovely, but IMO only Mk could take a made for TV movie soundtrack and make it into an iconic work of art.

Swan Lake and Nutcracker may be two of the greatest balletts ever, but medals non with standing, neither were works of art under Sasha.

[tongueincheek]

Sasha did "pas de snooze" this past season in the pink dress that looked like a Tara hand-me-down. It was the same section from the Nutcracker as S&Z used to light up the arena just the year before. Unfortunately, I think that pink dress made her look washed out and even thinner than she really is. It just was not flattering.

Shen and Zhao's Nutcracker Pas de Deux gave me chills. 2nd for that piece of music for me was Bechke and Petrov at the 1992 Olympics. The finished 2nd to Mishkitunok and Dmitriev, but it was the BEST they ever skated together, and I think it ensured that they would have a good pro career with SOI. When I hear Carmen now think more of Fumie's and Michelle's versions than Katarina's. You know, it's a pity that Debi Thomas's 1988 Olympics Carmen overshadows her performance at 1988 Nationals. Her Carmen at Nationals that year kicked all kinds of bootay. Her triple toe triple toe was perfection.

[berthesghost]

1. Both she and Debi used it in the famous battle of the Carmens - lots of media hype
2. She won the Olys with it
3. Immediately afterward, she starred in "Carmen on Ice" for HBO which I believe she won an Emmy for.

Kat was all over Carmen, like Joan Crawford on Pepsi. In other words: "I may not be a man-eating Spanish prostitute, but I play one on TV". ;)

[tongueincheek]

Good point about Carmen on Ice. She actually toured with Brian Boitano in this in the U.S. - I had the good luck to see it - she was really outstanding as Carmen in the tour - much better skating and dance moves and who could take their eye off that expressive face?

[berthesghost]

Yes. Wasn't it choreoed by Bezic, who I think won an Emmy for the HBO show too? I don't know who choreoed for them, but Frau Muller's students always had the worst programs. Blech. :x

[lavender]

OMG. This just tells you how memorable Sasha's Nutcracker is to me. I totally forgot she skated to it...just last season. :lol

After Michelle, Fumie's Carmen is my favorite. I hate to say it but if Michelle had skated to it...well let's just say masterpiece.

And I'm totally leary of having to watch someone else skate to TRV this year!

Who's skating to TRV this year?

Thanks BG for the link.

[tongueincheek]

I think I'm going to have to do a search for Kristi's Maleguena because I don't think I've ever seen it. Sorry I don't have the 1992 Olys program on vid clip, but here is 1992 Nationals, sans commentary. Yikes! I had forgotten that Kristi's hair ribbon thingy flew off in the middle of the program!

s5.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3O4RAT5EA7OYJ1YLEQLKIBUVFA (http://s5.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3O4RAT5EA7OYJ1YLEQLKIBUVFA)

[Fozzie Bear]

Lavendar, I believe Miki Ando is including snippets of TRV in her long program this year. I hope without a charlotte...

You know, it's a pity that Debi Thomas's 1988 Olympics Carmen overshadows her performance at 1988 Nationals. Her Carmen at Nationals that year kicked all kinds of bootay. Her triple toe triple toe was perfection.
I actually haven't seen her Carmen yet. I've hesitated in downloading her Olympic lp because I didn't think I could stand to see her self-destruct. Guess I should find the nationals version then, huh?

[tongueincheek]

I would definitely recommend skipping both 1988 Olys and Worlds - they were heartbreaking. :( 1987 Skate Canada was good, but 1988 Nationals was best. I have it on videotape, but have not yet converted it to vid clip.

[berthesghost]

Debi's Oly carmen would only be heartbreaking live, like MK's Oly Schez. Without the immediate pain of disapointment for lost gold, both are just good performences with a few small mistakes.

Gross exageration of Debi's "meltdown" abound on the web. Nancy in 93, now THAT was a meltdown, but seeing Debi two foot a few jumps is hardly what I'd call a disaster. She won a freakin Oly medal. You'd think she'd skated like Latitea Hubert with the way people carry on about it. What is very telling in the whole "Debi self destructed" myth, is that it really points out the immense pressure she was under to win, all of expectations people had for her.

[TarotX]

And in the end Debi was the first African-American to win an Olympic winter games medel.

:RB

[tongueincheek]

It's true, she did very well at those Olympics, but I admit, it's still heartbreaking for me to watch her long program. Not because of her less that perfect triple triple or any other mistake, but because you can almost see the wind knocked out of her after her first minor problem. She just lost her excitement and drive, and after watching how driven she was from 1985-1988, it was heartbreaking for me to see her lose all her steam. Worlds was not fun to watch either, because she never got back that ambition or drive to be the best. She always admitted she just wanted to get through Worlds. I was always so proud she won the bronze, but I just hated to see that different Debi. That's why I like to think of 1988 Nationals, the last time I saw her excited and determined as an amateur.

I still can't watch Michelle's Oly Schez either. :(

[missmarysgarden]

Lavendar, someone answered before I did - but I wanted to elaborate that I believe it takes someone with the exceptional ability to be a conduit for a musical theme (read "MK") to use TRV successfully. Its a difficult piece of music, and Michelle just inhaled it and breathed it out. Miki strikes me as one of the least gifted in expressive skating - I just can't imagine her tackling TRV, even for a small passage.

[IceSkate98]

Michelle's Pocahontas from the 1997 Ultimate Four challenge.

Kristi's Reflections of Passion from 1995 Worlds.

Sasha's Malaguena from 2003 Skate Canada.

Tara's Color of Roses from 2002 SOI.

[tongueincheek]

Fozzie Bear, I finally got a chance to convert my 1988 Nationals tape to video - here is Debi Thomas's Carmen long program. I think she would have been so happy had she performed it this way in Calgary. Debi looked so full of joy throughout this skate. Interesting to remember that she consulted with Mikhail Baryshnikov (sp?) and worked with dancer George de la Pena that season to make her Carmen more dramatic and artistic.

Debi Thomas 1988 US Nationals LP (http://s45.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2H8QZSWDU40AH0AFBLM12K916J)

:SC

[Fozzie Bear]

TongueNCheek, you are awesome. :respec: Thank you!

That huge 3t/3t she did was gorgeous! As were the spins and MITF. This program definitely ranks up there as far as Carmens go. I much prefer it to Witt's (although I think they used very different music cuts). Debi interpreted music instead of playing the character like Katarina did. It's a nice contrast to her :hat short program.

[edenlover]

My thanks, also TongueNCheek.That was fun to watch again. I agree, Fozzie Bear, she skated to the music--and interpreted it. Witt stood around a lot and acted a part. I loved Debi's program; I loved Debi and wished she'd stayed around longer. I admire the fact that she didn't give up on herself after the Olympics. She went to the World Championships, still driven to reclaim that title. How many have done that! I hope she's happy, whatever she's doing.

[EastofEden01]

"Malaguena" - Definitely Kristi. Everytime I hear that music I think of the Albertville Olympics.

"Rachmoninov" - Chen Lu.....she did such an exquisite job and gave, IMO, the best performance ever given to these much used selections.

"Swan Lake" - Rudy Galindo

"Carmen" - Katarina Witt

"Liebestraum" - M&D

"Evita" - Nicole Bobek

"The Feeling Begins", "Concerto d'Aranjuez", "Scheherezade" - Michelle

"Claire de Lune", "Ghost" - Chen Lu

"Gladiator" - Alexei Yagudin

"Anastasia", "Sense & Sensibility" - Tara Lipinski

"Wild Thing", "Send in the Clowns", "Much Ado About Nothing" - Tonya Harding

"Speed" - Tara Lipinski & Tanja Szewczenko

[fdevine]

TongueNCheek, you're an angel! I had never seen some of these old programs. I'm especially thrilled to get to watch Paul's program. I don't have many of his and he's so wonderful.

grannie frances