Monday, July 8, 2013

"Too Beautiful To Be True"

Fantasy on Ice: Johnny & Miki Ando.
Source.



Wow. The week has just flown by, and suddenly we’re hurtling toward mid-July and Johnny’s first performance date in Sun Valley

Unlike Johnny’s Artistry on Ice tours in China, photos and videos are usually forbidden at Fantasy on Ice, so we rarely get any pics or footage of his performances. So instead today we are relying on lovely eyewitness accounts through the words of @momochan313, who sent me a brief series of reports about the first show on Saturday, and sketches tweeted by @ayukovon. Following that are the few show photos released to news organizations that I could find, and brief video clips.

And then: Johnny’s happy reunion with a much-loved Japanese celebrity, plus Fan Loveapalooza!



Hi, Binky! I arrived at “Marine Messe Fukuoka” just now. It’s raining hard, and I really hope those who’re coming won’t be late.

(Johnny in the opening number, I think.)


I never expected “Swan Lake” comes first!!! 
Johnny was too beautiful to be true, 
including his facial expressions! 
His Tano jump was gorgeous!


Before “Born This Way,” 
Johnny was introduced as “Johnny Ga Ga.” :D 
It was so COOL!!!


After performing, he changed into something cute! :) 
At the ending, Johnny’s partner was Miki, 
and I felt they’re really good friends. :) 
It was a great show! :D




[“Beautiful Johnny Swan! Gaga was very exciting! 
Gaga costume is far more awesome when you see it live.”]



[“Johnny is too beautiful. He was perfect.”]













Tiny video snippet from the show 
beginning at about 00:45, 
with footage of the same number from which 
the above photos were taken.
Video link.


And an even tinier snippet: 
Johnny arriving at rehearsal, starting at about 00:13.
Video link.


Aaaaand a glimpse of Johnny at rehearsal, 
starting at about 00:25.
Video link.



Johnny Reunites With Shigesato Itoi.
The Whole World Smiles.

Photo tweeted by Shigesato Itoi: 
“With Mr. Johnny.”



So Mr. Itoi is basically a Japanese Renassiance man for the ages. Skip the Wikipedia and read about him here, on a site devoted to those obsessed with his video games. He’s a hugely successful video game developer / ad copywriter / online newspaper publisher / poet, novelist, essayist / voiceover actor / songwriter / TV guest star / ant-watcher / former gold miner / dance enthusiast / world-renowned interviewer / deeply devoted dog owner / man who should be Emperor of the Universe but because of his very nature would likely decline the honor, which is exactly why he’d be perfect. “He can do everything,” his online biographer says. I think that may be an understatement.

If you have not yet read Mr. Itoi’s unforgettable interview with Johnny from fall 2010, please go do so now. It is not to be missed. It is titled simply, “Johnny Weir!!!” Those three exclamation points told me immediately that I would love this man.

Part of the introduction to that interview reads, “their deep and colorful exchange turned out to be a delightful dialogue, surely to catch your heart.” Indeed. Mr. Itoi is the master conversationalist who gently elicited some of the most beautifully raw self-observations ever from Johnny, including this one: “My skating is how I speak. And I speak from my soul.”

Words cannot describe how thrilled I am that there is finally now a sequel to that interview, which I await breathlessly by refreshing Mr. Itoi’s blog every five minutes or so.

Photo posted by Mr. Itoi to his blog.


Photo tweeted by Johnny: 
“I @itoi_shigesato!”



Fan Loveapalooza!
Featuring Books, Banners, and Gorgeous Flower 
And Balloon Arrangements In Sizes For Which 
“Ginormous” Doesn’t Even Begin to Cover It.


Johnny autographing the Japanese edition 
of his autobiography. 
Later reports by fans on Twitter indicated 
that all the copies were sold out.


Photo tweeted by @piyoera: 
“Johnny banner completed!”


Beautiful flowers for Johnny. 
Photo tweeted by the Japanese Angels.


Close-up view. 
Photo tweeted by @momochan313.


Photo tweeted by Johnny: 
“I have the best fans! Thank you!! 
I ♥ Japan! @JpJWeAngels”


Photo tweeted by Johnny: 
“Thank you @JpJWeAngels for my 
beautiful birthday scrapbook!”


After all three performances were finished, 
organizers held a fan meeting on Sunday. 


Fan meeting photo posted to Instagram 
by designer Chris Benz, who was in Japan and 
flew to Fukuoka to see Johnny perform on Sunday: 
“Meet-n-greet



Bonus Round 1:
More Fan Love At The Hotel In Fukuoka.

All photos © Nanako Ugajin.



(Bonus Yuzu!)















Bonus Round 2:
Random Happy.


Photo tweeted by Johnny: 
“I love Mama-chan! @m1k1_ando”


Photo tweeted by Johnny: 
“Rose crown and @slambiel! Thank you Fukuoka!!”



And also ICYMI in all the Japan excitement: 
Queer Montreal released two videos and an article 
about Johnny last week!
Video link.

Accompanying wonderful article 
on the Tourisme Montreal blog:
“You can see on his face that the joy of skating 
is something found in his DNA...”
Video link.



Sun Valley tickets are on sale! 
Johnny is scheduled to perform again this year 
in Sun Valley’s gorgeous outdoor summer ice shows. 
More info and tickets here!



Johnny’s latest column for the 
Falls Church News-Press.
His columns are published every Thursday 
in the “National Commentary“ 
section—don’t miss a single one! 



A number of Johnny’s auction items have been relisted
which means if you missed out the first time around, 
you’re in luck: It’s not too late to own a piece of Weir Gear! 
Go check it out and see what treasures you could take home!



Please alert absolutely everyone you’ve ever met 
to “like” and follow the new 
on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr
Because he should be on all the things. 
With or without ice. 
But definitely with Viacheslav.



HE REALLY, REALLY IS!! 
Landing quads and kicking ass!
Read his comeback statement 
and the update on his website!



Please click to vote for Johnny 
once a day as “Best Sportsman”
Because he retweeted Luisa Lotka 
to tell us he wants us to! 



Need to see Seasons 1 and 2 all over again? 
Watch episodes online anytime on Logo!
Please be sure to check in with GetGlue
anytime you’re watching the show... 
or thinking about watching the show.... 
or wishing you were watching the show....



At last: Pop Star On Ice is now available on DVD!
Order yours today from the Pop Star On Ice website!



Johnny tweeted:
“Buy my single,’Dirty Love’ via iTunes.
Tell all your friends to as well. The more copies sold
takes me one step closer to making a video! №1!”

IN THE SAME WAY THAT IT NEEDS AIR.
You know what to do.
Please buy the song from Johnny’s website,
or just click the “Buy” button on the player
at the top of the blog!



Hey, Welcome to My World also is available
as an eBook! More info on Johnny’s website!


copyright 2013 / Binky and the Misfit Mimes / Lynn V. Ingogly / all rights reserved


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