Music cover montage(?) I've just finished

I've created a Mao vid using her FP performance at Japan Nats. I changed the music to a modern Japanese chorus piece. It's quite different from the original 'Bells of Moscow', but I think it expresses sort of the same theme, in a Japanese way. The composers' name is Kenji Kawaii; I've always loved his music, and thought maybe it might match Maos' FP for this season. And...wow! It really did match, especially in the last step-sequence, I think. Anyway, I just sort of wanted to prove how brilliant I think Maos' FP for this season is after all. I know alot of people think it's too gloomy and heavy, but it's also very powerful stuff.

Well....feel free to try it out, if you feel like it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTXzU6f2hQ0

Mind you, this is my first attempt with music covers.
I'm more of a photoshop person, so I couldn't keep myself from decorting the footage with motifs (Japanese traditional family seals). So it ended up turning into somewhat of a promotion video; for good and for bad.

If you don't like it, I'm open to all critisizm
Thanks for watching in advance!

Gorgeous!!!!!!!!!! Can you send me this song please????????

PochinkoPotanko, this is amazing!

I don't understand Japanese, but I can feel the power behind the music and vocals. Then, reading your translation of the lyrics, it was possible for me to appreciate this piece even more. You're quite a poet! And I love your addition of the motifs. The super-imposed image of the bird on the ice was very beautiful.

Thank you for sharing this!

polosatik wrote:

Gorgeous!!!!!!!!!! Can you send me this song please????????

Thanks so much for watching!

The music I used is some music from a film titled 'Innocence' by director Mamoru Oshii. You can get the sound-track versions from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx8yS_swCes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE9X3RgdVjs

The next 2 are live concert footages of the composer Kenji Kawaii:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkIoPrtQjqA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJsEYwguuj8

Note that this is not traditional Japanese music, but the instruments used in it (drums and bells, etc.) and the way the chorus sings (chanting like as in traditional folk music) are all traditional. It's all modernly arranged, but the heart of ancient Japan is there.

I personally thought this music is a blend of powerfull strength and fragile beauty. And that's what I see in Maos' skating, too. Her moves being able to fit this music, and seeming as if they were really expressing it, IMO is enough to prove Mao has great artistry in her skating.

Thanks again for watching!

chineseteacup wrote:

PochinkoPotanko, this is amazing!

I don't understand Japanese, but I can feel the power behind the music and vocals. Then, reading your translation of the lyrics, it was possible for me to appreciate this piece even more. You're quite a poet! And I love your addition of the motifs. The super-imposed image of the bird on the ice was very beautiful.

Thank you for sharing this!

Thank YOU, for watching!
I'm not much of a poet (lol), so flattered by your compliment!
The bird on the ice is a Japanese crane (http://kaze3.up.seesaa.net/media/DY199_L.jpg).
The Japanese crane is not our national bird, but is loved as much.
Maos' red and black costume with some feathers, and the white ice under her, it just struck me that the Japanese crane would be a great motif for her. Japanese cranes are also known for its' beautiful posture, and of course, Mao's the one with the best of postures for me!
The other design-like motifs, are all traditional seals for families in Japan. There are countless numbers of them, so it took me a hell of a time, just choosing the best ones to use. I wanted to imply that what Mao was expressing in this program was, something many many families, many many people throughout time had to endure.

I think it was a real challenge for Mao; being the happy cheerful person she is, to skate this program. But she mastered it brilliantly. So no matter how many bash this program, it was a huge step for her to become a much more artistic skater than she already was. People will remember this FP, whether they like it or not. It will never leave our minds.

Thanks for reading!

PochinkoPotanko wrote:

polosatik wrote:

Gorgeous!!!!!!!!!! Can you send me this song please????????

Thanks so much for watching!

The music I used is some music from a film titled 'Innocence' by director Mamoru Oshii. You can get the sound-track versions from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx8yS_swCes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lE9X3RgdVjs

The next 2 are live concert footages of the composer Kenji Kawaii:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkIoPrtQjqA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJsEYwguuj8

Note that this is not traditional Japanese music, but the instruments used in it (drums and bells, etc.) and the way the chorus sings (chanting like as in traditional folk music) are all traditional. It's all modernly arranged, but the heart of ancient Japan is there.

I personally thought this music is a blend of powerfull strength and fragile beauty. And that's what I see in Maos' skating, too. Her moves being able to fit this music, and seeming as if they were really expressing it, IMO is enough to prove Mao has great artistry in her skating.

Thanks again for watching!

Thank you ! The music is truly beautiful! And I agree with you about the power of this music which suits Mao perfectly! I wish someday Mao will skate to this!

Thank you for the information about the Japanese crane and the many motifs, PochinkoPotanko! It will be wonderful to see Mao skate to this music, or music that is thematically similar to this .

I'd die to see Mao skating to some music related to Japan, like this one, I love the beats. They're so powerful and carry so much meaning.

Plus, her outfits could be gorgeous. I imagine her wearing something similar to Miss Universe 2007 dress. Although Mao never uses long-sleeve and loose-fitting dresses, it would fit her pretty well, I guess.

alyssa wrote:

I'd die to see Mao skating to some music related to Japan, like this one, I love the beats. They're so powerful and carry so much meaning.

Plus, her outfits could be gorgeous. I imagine her wearing something similar to Miss Universe 2007 dress. Although Mao never uses long-sleeve and loose-fitting dresses, it would fit her pretty well, I guess.

I thought the drums in this music (esp in the last SS), sounded like Maos' heart-beating along with the program. "Bells..." is a fine peice of music, but I still think they should've used the piano version, for it has more 'beat' in it like the drums in the music I used for my vid. I really don't think there's anything wrong with the choreography itself, except that the orchestra version on "Bells..." doesn't help much in enhancing the energy in Maos' moves.

Btw, which Ms Universe dress are you talking about? The modernized kimono one (http://yoshiyuki.jp/mail_images/190613/riyo.jpg) or the Gucci (http://bp2.blogger.com/_awvs3lGv0zY/RlwzIy_hVgI/AAAAAAAAAOk/_E5QWP_iPa4/s1600-h/univ.jpg)? I personally think the best figure costume with long spreading sleeves is the one Dai is wearing this season in his 'Luv Letter'EX pro. But I also loved the costume Yukari wore for her 'Sayuri' pro. As for Mao, I think it may be time to get rid of those chokers, lol!

Johnny was commenting about her costumes in some US program after the Olys, and he said that Maos' recent costumes are probably all Tats' tastes, not Maos' (http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm9885718). Johnny only appears in the end part of this vid, plus you have to register (free) to see this, but they do alot of talk on Mao around the middle of it (first half is mostly about Dai), so it's worth seeing.

The kimono one would be quite complicated, since there's too much cloth on it. I was referring to the Gucci one. Plus, those dresses look gorgeous when skating cause they flutter as the skater gains speed.

Mao seriously needs a designer to create her outfits, cause the current ones are too old-fashioned and are not her style. Plus, I can't understand why she must wear those neckbands. It looks like she's really choking.

I'm gonna check the video.

alyssa wrote:

The kimono one would be quite complicated, since there's too much cloth on it. I was referring to the Gucci one. Plus, those dresses look gorgeous when skating cause they flutter as the skater gains speed.

Mao seriously need a designer to create her outfits, cause the current ones are too old-fashioned and are not her style. Plus, I can't understand why she must wear those neckbands. It looks like she's really choking.

I'm gonna check the video.

Definitely! She's GOT TO find a great designer!

I pretty much liked Ms. Universe 2007s' Gucci dress, too.
Though I thought Riyo Mori looks better with her hair up.
I think that was just about the first time a Ms. Universe wore something you can call latest mode. It was totally mature, exotic, but well balanced in calm colors. Most of the girls wear sparkling flashy stuff, but you have to admit they're not stylish but quite cheap. The girls only look good in them cause they're beautiful even without them.

And unfortunately, that was the same with Maos' case for her SP costume in Vancouver. She looked cute and pretty as she always is, but that was only because of her, not that pinkish unbalanced costume.

I've heard that there are designers who specialize in figure skating costumes, and am wondering if Mao has hers' created by such people....
If so, maybe she should switch to ordinary fashion designers or companies.
Okay, Gucci would surely be too expensive, but Lysacheck had his costumes designed by Vera Wang for this season, so it can be done.
And I know alot of people hated his costumes for this season, but I actually liked them, except for that stupid snake around his neck.
I also remember that Miki had her costumes for Torino designed by Emi Wada, who won an Oscar for best costume design for a Kurosawa film.

The only costumes I truely liked Mao wearing were the pink neck-hanging one for the Chopin pro, the one for 'Clair de Lune', and last seasons' tango EX. The others were mostly tolerable, but they usually match only the music, not Mao herself.

This is an interesting topic...anyways, I sincerely hope SOMEONE with great sense of taste would announce his or her candidacy for designing Maos' costumes for next season!

PochinkoPotanko, thank you!! This is one of most beautiful montages for Mao I have seen It's really powerful and the music is moving!!

Also, thank you for including the name of the soundtrack for us and the lyrics!

MaoMaoRevolution wrote:

PochinkoPotanko, thank you!! This is one of most beautiful montages for Mao I have seen It's really powerful and the music is moving!!

Also, thank you for including the name of the soundtrack for us and the lyrics!

Thank you for the compliment, MaoMaoRevolution!
Maos' skating and Tats' programs didn't need any of the design motifs I used to decorate the montage to prove their brilliancy, but I guess the stuff I added were expressions of my own understandings towards the program.

I used to make only comical stuff like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNKOaH76d-Y and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIU91TLGgRE. I think someone was nice enought to introduce the latter one in another thread long before I joined this forum. These videos had been removed from Youtube because one of our Japanese tv channels claimed rights, but were returned just yesterday, as Youtube judged them as non-profit personal use after my sending them a counter-notification concerning the removals. Some Japanese tv companies are a bit too strict on us montage makers. I can't imagine my stuff threatening thier ratings. I also find it strange they only made claims on my Mao videos, and another one which I made about Nobunari was totally left alone. As much as I hated it when they removed my videos, I can't stand it when they remove other Mao montages created by other fans which I had listed in my favorites.

With some help from a dear friend who had experience with the same kind of trouble in the past, this time I was able to get my videos back online. But I think most Mao fans give up when a tv company claims rights (esp Japanese montage creators), thinking they're the ones doing wrong thus they have no right to complain. But it seems that isn't exactly the case, plus the footages of the skaters in competitions belong to ISU and its' skaters, not the tv companies. The tv companies do have a certain amount of rights if they shot the footages themselves, but if not, they only bought the airing rights. So it's all kinda tricky, there's no neet for montage makers to just simply give up in such cases.

Btw, I love your avatar of the Shibutanis (they are the Shibutanis aren't they? Correct me if not)! Maia is just sooo cute!
I actually prefer the juniors when it comes to ice dancing.