Have you ever watched a figure skating program that truly took your breath away? The best routines are a stunning combination of dizzying spins, graceful choreography, and impossible-looking jumps landed on the thinnest of blades. Set it all to music, and you get, well, pure art.
Now, about that music. Today, figure skaters can get pretty creative with their accompaniment, choosing from a variety of genres and styles, but until just a few years ago, it was a different story. Not until the 2014 Olympics did the International Skating Union (ISU) start allowing figure skaters to use music with vocals and lyrics in their performances. (Ice dancing has allowed music with lyrics since the 1997-1998 season.)
Let’s just say it was the right choice. Now, skaters get to pair soaring elegance and strength with some of their favorite pop songs, and it’s as perfect a combination as you’d expect. Ahead, check out some of our favorite pop-song figure skating routines, paired with music that’s probably already on your playlist.