cadet93 Posted July 3, 2008 Posted July 3, 2008 Hi, this is just an observation, but it seems that much hoop-la has been made about The Cadets narrative shows as somehow being out of character with the True Identity of Drum Corps. Why do so many people think that is the case when other Corps have members running 'not marching' in an attempt to 'risk ubsurdity' I guess, or portray Samuris? My question is the following: Are Cadets blemishing the musical aspects of DCI anymore than BD/Cavies are the Visual? Talk amongst yourselves... Quote
I play the baritone good Posted July 3, 2008 Posted July 3, 2008 (edited) Yeah. Running instead of marching is over the top, but it's still body movement. Corps have been doing wacky visual moves since the 80's, running for short bursts instead of marching is nothing that crazy. And for me personally, it's not the fact that Cadets are using narration. It's the CONTENT of their narration. It is SO LAME and completely portrays the corps as a huge group of nerds. "When I was in high school, I didn't really fit in..." Wow Cadets! THAT'S how you're going to attract new people to the activity on ESPN2, make DCI look like a bunch of dorks! I initially fell in love with drum corps because it was like marching band but "cool". Members looked bad### in their uniforms instead of ackward like high school bands. Their visuals were sharp and angry, it was "hardcore" and it really made it possible for me to justify my love for the marching arts to my friends. Now the Cadets... ugh. If they want to use narration then use it to do something AWESOME instead of doing h.s. band shows from the 90's. There is NOTHING innovative about these Cadet shows, they have been done by hundreds of marching bands over the past 20 years. It's just disgusting. Edited July 3, 2008 by I play the baritone good Quote
Hrothgar15 Posted July 3, 2008 Posted July 3, 2008 Yeah. Running instead of marching is over the top, but it's still body movement. Corps have been doing wacky visual moves since the 80's, running for short bursts instead of marching is nothing that crazy. And for me personally, it's not the fact that Cadets are using narration. It's the CONTENT of their narration. It is SO LAME and completely portrays the corps as a huge group of nerds. "When I was in high school, I didn't really fit in..." Wow Cadets! THAT'S how you're going to attract to people to the activity on ESPN2, make DCI look like a bunch of dorks!I initially fell in love with drum corps because it was like marching band but "cool". Members looked bad### in their uniforms instead of ackward like high school bands. Their visuals were sharp and angry, it was "hardcore" and it really made it possible for me to justifiy my love for the marching arts to my friends. Now the Cadets... ugh. If they want to use narration then use it to do something AWESOME instead of doing h.s. band shows from the 90's. There is NOTHING innovative about these Cadet shows, they have been done by hundreds of marching bands over the past 20 years. It's just disgusting. Quote
Cainan Posted July 3, 2008 Posted July 3, 2008 The way I see it with this years edition of The Cadets (and last years as well) is that there is pushin the boundaries and then there is crossing the line. Well, The Cadets have crossed the line and now the line is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY over there! Quote
BigSnareline Posted July 3, 2008 Posted July 3, 2008 Hi, this is just an observation, but it seems that much hoop-la has been made about The Cadets narrative shows as somehow being out of character with the True Identity of Drum Corps.Why do so many people think that is the case when other Corps have members running 'not marching' in an attempt to 'risk ubsurdity' I guess, or portray Samuris? My question is the following: Are Cadets blemishing the musical aspects of DCI anymore than BD/Cavies are the Visual? Talk amongst yourselves... BECAUSE IT JUST IS! Quote
SACMellos2010 Posted July 3, 2008 Posted July 3, 2008 AMEN!! Never thought if it that way but exactly right in my opinion. Learn to march and play at the same time then you may impress me. Marching/running without playing is not in my opinion what Drum Corps is all about! So yes it is no worse for Drum Corps than narration. THANK YOU FOR THAT VIEWPOINT!!! Quote
Dale Bari Posted July 3, 2008 Posted July 3, 2008 Hi, this is just an observation, but it seems that much hoop-la has been made about The Cadets narrative shows as somehow being out of character with the True Identity of Drum Corps.Why do so many people think that is the case when other Corps have members running 'not marching' in an attempt to 'risk ubsurdity' I guess, or portray Samuris? My question is the following: Are Cadets blemishing the musical aspects of DCI anymore than BD/Cavies are the Visual? Talk amongst yourselves... Taking this post at face value, I would answer this way: Not having seen the current Cadets, BD, & Cavies shows, I can only say as someone above said, the "absurd" running and portraying samurai are part and parcel of the unfolding history of DCI. In the 90's, I saw lots of plumes bobbing and brass players pulling their mouthpieces off their lips to run to the next picture. In the 80's I had no answer when I heard my mother ask, "why isn't that line straight?" when she saw a wavy company front shot from the endzone on the video. I think it is well documented that older dc fans have bemoaned the loss of precision in favor of speed and "artistry" ("" because some people deny that these things are actually artistic). This observation has trickled down over the years, and no one particular moment can be pointed with an, "Aha! That's the cause!" Nor can one particular person or corps can be pinned with "causing" it. (Although some may try to pin it on the narration whipping post corps - the Cadets.) Lastly, all these particular "egregious" visual blemishes still fall into the category of taste; they're egregious only in the eye of the beholder. Narration is a bit more cut and dried - it took a rule change to get it in, and it is quite distinguishable from the rest of the audio presentation. Hypothetical: As a person who may be pre-disposed to disliking movement that waters down the historical marching precision I enjoy about DCI, I'll have to take your word for the truth about BD or Cavies. When I see them, I may have a different reaction. As a person who may be pre-disposed to disliking narration, I don't have to take anyone's word about Cadets - I'm pretty sure I'll dislike their narration. Quote
Gary Matczak Posted July 3, 2008 Posted July 3, 2008 Yeah. Running instead of marching is over the top, but it's still body movement. Corps have been doing wacky visual moves since the 80's, running for short bursts instead of marching is nothing that crazy. And for me personally, it's not the fact that Cadets are using narration. It's the CONTENT of their narration. It is SO LAME and completely portrays the corps as a huge group of nerds. "When I was in high school, I didn't really fit in..." Wow Cadets! THAT'S how you're going to attract to people to the activity on ESPN2, make DCI look like a bunch of dorks!I initially fell in love with drum corps because it was like marching band but "cool". Members looked bad### in their uniforms instead of ackward like high school bands. Their visuals were sharp and angry, it was "hardcore" and it really made it possible for me to justifiy my love for the marching arts to my friends. Now the Cadets... ugh. If they want to use narration then use it to do something AWESOME instead of doing h.s. band shows from the 90's. There is NOTHING innovative about these Cadet shows, they have been done by hundreds of marching bands over the past 20 years. It's just disgusting. Excellent post! Quote
cadet93 Posted July 3, 2008 Author Posted July 3, 2008 In my opinion, it is such a weak argument to criticize narration as making the corps 'look like a group of nerds'. Maybe the narration is intended to point out reality and things that are true, or at least provoke some thought. The music, marching, and spinning can still be amazing, and set a drum corps apart from being as you say 'nerds'. That response seems very ignorant to me. -- Anthony Quote
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