Michelle Kwan, Sarah Hughes opine on skating to lyrics

[sasha_davidovna]

Five-time World champion Michelle Kwan said she would have incorporated music with vocal lyrics into her programs had it been allowed during her competitive career

Comments

[eaweek]

Great to see some activity in this comm again!

Ice dancing has certainly produced some memorable programs with lyrics. I think it's a matter of choosing the right music for the right skater. People who complain about the introduction of lyrics need to think about all the dreadful lyrics-less programs there have been. If the music is right for the skater, IMO, it shouldn't matter whether the music has lyrics or not.

[elainetyger]

Seroiusly. When some poor skater from god-knows-where is skating around to what sounds like an organ grinder with a monkey hiding somewhere, I often wonder whether some lively singing might not inspire them a little.

[haruhiko]

Lol oh god. I expect lots of Wicked and Les Mis as well.

[sasha_davidovna]

Oh man. I'm a phan, but that's pretty ridiculous.

[jedinic]

I'm hopeful that it will lead to a lot more diversity in programs.

[haruhiko]

Misha Ge skating to Justin Bieber for the lulz plz

[sasha_davidovna]

Yeah, this is more or less exactly my (extended) thoughts on the issue. Although I don't remember any specific examples off-hand, I remember thinking that some skaters during the professional competitions of the 90s (which allowed lyrics) got scored higher because of popular and/or manipulative music choices than their actual skating, but it never seemed pervasive enough to damage the standings significantly, and I liked the variety it added in, so that's why I support this change. I also agree that ice dancers have rarely used the lyrics well, but the best professional skaters certainly did, and I think the best amateurs will do the same.

[anonymoose_au]

To be honest I totally hate that they've allowed lyrics. Call me old fashioned but I find them distracting and it just feels wrong! I tried to watch some skating programs the other day and I was like "Oh, Hell no."

Personally, I don't know why they changed the rule...if it ain't broke and all that.

Although I guess if someone skated to a Weird Al song or that I'm An Asshole song I'd laugh my ass off and love them for it. But at present it just seems hokey.