Lysacek's LP music will be....Scheherazade.
This music choice gets a bit of a thumbs down from me, I have to say. Evan isn't exactly know for picking unique music (he's used Carmen, Tosca, Bolero and Gershwin medleys in the last few years) so maybe we shouldn't expect too innovative. But this announcement from Lysacek just cements my view that this Olympic season is going to be a lot of the same old, same old when it comes to music choices. We've already got a Scheherazade this season (Zhang/Zhang), 3 Romeo and Juliets (James/Bonheur, Sarah Meier and Kimmmie Meissner),3 Carmens (Dube/Davidson, Mirai Nagasu and Ross Miner) and 3 Phantom of the Operas (Patrick Chan, Weaver/Poje and Yukari Nakano)
I can see why skaters pick such music which has been used repeatedly in the past. They know it is going to be successful, as it has been skated to many times before, and the Olympic year is not the one where skaters want to take risks. Furthermore, it is easier for the audience to get behind music if they recognise it, so from thatperspective tried and tested music is a winner.
However, it seems that the negative aspects of using overused music totally outweight the positives. Firstly, it is easy for skaters and judges alike to make comparisons between the skater and those who have skated to it before; for example, though I'm sure Meissner and Meier will both be successful in their interpretations of R&J, doing it at the next Olympics after Sasha Cohen's iconic OSM-winning LP to the same music will lead to comparisons. This could also even lead to criticism for Meissner and Meier, as IMHO neither can emote quite like Cohen did, and this will clearly be demonstrated when they use her music, albeit to a different cut. The other problem with using famous music is that it instantly conjures up thoughts of the skater who "made it their own". After all, who watched Lysacek's Bolero SP without thinking of Torvill and Dean? I bet you no-one. And that is why some music is better off left alone and should be retired.
What do you think? Are the music choices this season unoriginal, or should skaters be allowed to be given the opportunity to interpret iconic music?
5 comments:
Well, skaters seem to be really going cautious this season but I was quite disappointed he chose this one out of the many overused music available. I expected more from a reigning mens world champ to think that the reigning ladies world champ skated to this in her winning free skate.
I just hope he'd surprise us with a unique performance...
You have to be careful calling all Romeo and Juliets and Carmen's the same. R&J is a huge Ballet and there are many different parets to be used. Carmen is also a huge opera so there are other parts that they could be using. Just an FYI.
I agree with you, I'm kind of disapointed with Evan's choice.
the thing with Sheherezade is that it seems like more girls use that music. It will be interesting to see how a male can interpret it; I have a feeling that the choreography and overall effect will be completely different. However, I'm with you on the R&J stuff...Out of the thousands of amazing classical pieces out there, that's the only one they think will make a winning program??
Recycle YES, Regurgitate NO
I cannot help but roll my eyes every time I see a skater clapping to Carmen in a black and red costume. It's about as monotonous as a NASCAR race.
However, when Sasha Cohen used a more playful, less familiar section of Carmen for her Olympic Short Program, I couldn't help but be intrigued. Her blue, yellow, and purple costume was very creative and helped to put her fingerprints on the program.
I hope this year's skaters follow her lead.
There are many different Romeo and Juliets: two ballets (Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky) and the music from the movie (what Sasha skated to). All are overused on the ice, especially the movie music.
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