Armin's Tribute To Mao!

Armin at Skate America 2010
Isn't he adorable? Cute as a button!

  

I found out last night that US Figure Skater, Armin Mahbanoozadeh plays the piano. Via Youtube of course, and he is wondeful. So talented right? Makes you want to hate him a bit more, but he is adorable and also very nice. I sent him a message on Youtube saying how much I loved the videos of him playing pieces that Mao-chan has skated to in the past. It's always surreal sort of talking to athletes that you see on TV right? Not that it had ever happened to me, but when he emailed back in response (short but sweet nonetheless), I thought it was just, WOW. Wow that he is a fellow Mao-chan fan, and Wow that he even replied! I can only imagine how hectic their schedules might be, but it was definitely an OH EM GEE moment for me. And cutting it close too seeing as 2011 is less that 48 hours away. He now counts in my wonderful 2010!

Anyways, I asked him if he'd mind me posting his videos on Tome since this blog is partly a Mao Asada shrine and because he played some of my favourite Mao music.

*On a completely unrelated sidenote however, can I just interject that I am not playing Figure Skating expert?. I am not Scott Hamilton (not that I want to be..). I am fairly new to the game of skating fanbase and politics, and I'm not as deeply rooted in it as some of my 'critics' so whenever I post something about Mao, I am merely commenting, or praising (or maybe sometimes obsessing) about what I see. As much as I like getting hate mail (can't say I didn't expect them), it would be nicer if people don't shoot down my opinions. It's a matter of personal taste people! My god, it's Britney and Christina all over again!

Anyway, moving on, Armin replied and said that he wouldn't mind at all that I post some of his vids, which I thought was really great of him. So in light of my happy mood and his talent, not only is this entry about his piano playing, but I'm also posting his Skate America performances for which he won the bronze medal. Congratulations!

Skate America SP


Skate America FS


His jumps are sooo big right? Fabulous! I also love the fact that he skated to Avatar. It's so fresh and contemporary, and as much as I appreciate a skater skating to Georges Bizet's Carmen, or Schehere-fucking-zade, changing it up a bit always gets extra brownie points from me. Well done on the win Armin!

Now on to the main show! Here are Armin's Mao Asada Tributes. I'm really over the moon with these because these are my favourite Mao pieces. Not only that, anybody who can play Fantaisie Impromptu with panache will always be after my heart. It's one of my favourite Chopin pieces, and Armin just kills me with his performance! Also in here; Mao's 2010 Gala piece which is Chopin's Ballade no.1 in G minor, her Olympic Free Skate to Rachmaninoff (not my favourite, but it's still hauntingly good), her 2006 SP to Chopin's Nocturne 9 no.2, and Debussy's Clair de Lune which Mao skated to in 2007 as a short programme.

Here's to you MrNimra ^^ hope you like the post and wishing you all the best for 2011!

Chopin Ballade no.1 in G Minor


Chopin Fantaisie Impromptu


Rachmaninoff Prelude


Debussy Clair de Lune


Chopin Nocturne Op9 no.2


There you have it! Great skater, and wonderful pianist. Hope to see more in the future!

Also, shout out to my BFF Tasha who has a piano in her room and is currently my teacher! OMG I want HIS hands. I want to play Fantaisie like that! I'm so jealous!!!!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, I am not good at all, save for a top form performance of the not-even-grade-one tune for the Secret Garden, a few bars of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata (right hand only!), and the right hand for the Pan's Labyrinth theme. And I don't think I'm getting anywhere past that at all. 

xoxo