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Yes.

Black Eyed Peas Super Bowl Halftime Show! Very Overrated!

You can't win if you don't believe it's possible.

for me, it's as simple as this: I love the sound of a big brass choir playing custom arrangements by people who know what they're doing with that unique set of voices. it's not for everyone. just like the sound of a symphony isn't for everyone, or the sound of a bagpipe regiment for everyone, or the sound of an organ concerto isn't for everyone. but for the people who dig that timbre, we can't get enough.

I agree with all of these except phantom 2006. I think that Phantom 2008 is falsely hyped as one of the best shows of all time, but I disagree. Not saying it should have been a BD win or phantom loss, but people hype this show like its their job

Phantom 2008 Carolina Crown 2010 Phantom 2006 Cavaliers 2001 Blue Stars 2010 all great shows I just think they got/get waaaay too much hype/love imo.

$13 dollars LESS than a $17 seat????? I dont see anything like that on the Allentown ticket page. I dont see ANY Allentown seats for under $30 per night! ALMOST ALL of the Rockford seats are under $30 WITH FREE PARKING! Very, very few seats are $60 plus - maybe 200 to 300 at the most. I certainly havent called you 'stupid' but get the FACTS straight. Over 80% of the Rockford seats are UNDER $30 and about 25% of the seats are $17 with the worse view being at the goal line - no end zone seating here! WHERE can you see 8 of the top drum corps for $17 (SEVENTEEN dollars) and get free parking?????? Luckily there are less than 90 of the $63 seats left as I see it online. The majority are already gone....

What a good fundraiser! Heck, I'd send them a hundred if they'd promise to never put a character like little Geoffrey in a Cadets show again!

Heh, that's funny. I thought that, but it's a bit of a stretch. They're wacky and they're tacky. They're unscrupulous and they're sappy. They're hard playing, then they doze. When they're through, then they expose, The latest victim with their prose. The Whoville Family. Don't worry Andy, your title "The Master" is still safe.

This show belongs in the "most overrated of the past decade" thread.

most corps go into the season liking to think they could win, no matter how unrealistic it might be. and for the bluecoats last year, i thought they could do it and thats just based off of score watching, since we were rarely at shows together or i was more interested in getting something for the bus at a nearby store, so for the members to think it was a realistic chance shouldnt be too far-fetched... or bad troll

My favorites are 93 Star, 89 Phantom, 04 Blue Devils, 06 Phantom... and others. My vote went to 93 Star, I love that show. So intense, from start to finish. The minimalism in some parts is incredible. It sucks me in, and then blows me away at the climaxes. Love it, love it, love it. I almost voted for 04 BD. Oh. My. God. Great corps. And of course I went with Bluecoats 2010 for the second question.

I expanded in an updated post. I agree with your take that it is becoming increasingly indistinguishable from marching band (at least the upper echelon of competitive marching band).

So you're equating quantity with quality? Even at East you only get half of the top 8 beating each other up on one night. To me the pricing for the TOC events looks much like last years pricing at those same events -- which kind of shoots a hole in the "here come the super high prices for every ticket" prediction that many here were making. Additionally you're completely ignoring market economics 101 -- charge what the market will bear. If no one is willing to pay the premium price (which is admittedly very high) then the price for those seats will come down. Empty seats don't make any money. Finally I suspect that many of the people sitting in those seats are considering the ticket price a "small donation" to the corps rather than "the price for premium seats". If there are two or three hundred folks willing to make that donation then why in the world would the host turn their back on those patrons. The extra perks (premium parking, programs, seat cushions, meals, etc...) are more about saying "thanks for your support" than "value for the ticket price".

First person to mention science wins!

the extra cost is the price you have to pay for not being forced to watch the riffraff corps

Nah. Yeah, those runs from movement five are pretty awesome, but that was... what, 15 seconds of the 6 minutes Phantom played from Concerto? And difficulty isn't always about speed. I'd argue that Vanguard had the much harder book because of the challenging balance and blend issues, and individual voicing exposure on some of those chord progressions. SCV's book blows Phantom's out of the water with what they were trying harmonically with their ensemble.

Hey guys, if you are going to be snarky, at least learn something about the event first. The TOC shows are pre-existing events and so they're using their traditional names and adding "a Tour of Champions Series event". Rockford is a long time Phantom-sponsored show called "Show of Shows". Houston is "The exSIGHTment of Sound". Charlotte is Crown's "NightBEAT". Murfreesboro is "The Masters of the Summer Music Games". The New Jersey show is "Music in Motion". The premium seats are $27. The VIP $63 package does come with special parking, a program, and yes free food.

This is hilarious to me. I put this in the same category of people who freak out over a 5-10 dollar cover to see a band play in a bar. A night out with your friends is likely to top a 100 bucks easy and be half as fun with a hangover at the end of it, and lets face it, 63 dollars is for the best seats, pretty sure there are more affordable ones if the cost of 3 large pizzas is going to break the bank.

people, fans, students, members, musicians, educators, etc.

(RE) for every action there is a reaction Fugue in G Minor (Little Fugue)... Bach See who else played this Lux Aurumque... Eric Whitacre See who else played this Lollapalooza... Adams The beat my heart skipped A House Is Not a Home... Burt Bacharach Summer of 77... Burt Bacharach Walk On By... Burt Bacharach One Less Bell To Answer... Burt Bacharach Woman... Burt Bacharach I Say A Little Prayer... Burt Bacharach Wives And Lovers... Burt Bacharach God Give Me Strength... Burt Bacharach An English Folk Song Suite First Suite in Eb... Gustav Holst See who else played this English folk song suite... Ralph Vaughn Williams See who else played this Shepherds Hay/Molly on the Shore... Percy Grainger Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus... Ralph Vaughn Williams Rebourne Brave New World Creep... Radiohead Deus Ex Machina... Michael Daugherty Harvest... John Mackey Revolution Selections from Les Miserables... Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schonberg See who else played this 1812 Overture... Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky See who else played this Between angels and Demons Angels in the Architecture... Frank Ticheli Angels and Demons... Hans Zimmer Rach Star We Will Rock You... Brian May (Queen) See who else played this Iron Man... Black Sabbath Piano Concerto No. 2... Rachmaninoff See who else played this Symphonic Dances... Rachmaninoff See who else played this Paint it Black... Keith Richards & Mick Jagger (Rolling Stones) See who else played this Piano Concerto No. 1... Emerson (Emerson Lake and Palmer) See who else played this Bohemian Rhapsody... Freddie Mercury (Queen) See who else played this Pandora, a Dark Gift Selections from Joseph Vargo Selections from William Piotrowski Selections from Hans Zimmer Selections from Michiru Yamane Selections from David Gillingham Selections from Alex North Selections from Thomas Newman XtraordinarY Footprints... Wayne Shorter Jungle Tango... Jazz Mandolin Project Nature Boy... Eden Ahbez DECEPTION: The Jagged Edge Swan Lake... Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky See who else played this Danza de los Duendes... Nancy Galbraith See who else played this The Swan from Carnival of the Animals... Camille Saint-Saens See who else played this Mind Heist... Zack Hemsey Renewal Episode:Prelude... Nando Lauria Spinning Wheel... David Clayton Thomas Hallelujah... Leonard Cohen Back Home... Nando Lauria Ursa Major... Chuck Naffier My Mortal Beloved: When night meets day... I shall meet my beloved Original Music... Don Hill Moonlight Sonata... Ludwig Van Beethoven Can't Help Falling in Love... Luigi Creatore Romeo & Juliet... Peter Tchaikovsky Requiem... Giuseppe Verdi Petal Tones New York Morning New York, New York from the musical "On the Town"... Leonard Bernstein See who else played this Oh What a Beautiful Morning from the musical "Oklahoma!"... Rogers/HammersteinSee who else played this New York Mourning... Robert W. Smith Requiem... Robert W. Smith Empire State of Mind... Alicia Keyes The Forty Thieves: An Ancient Tale of Spices, Toxins, and Perfumes Octabones... PercaDu Spices, Perfumes, and Toxins... Avner Dorman Push, Pull, Twist, Turn Lauds (Praise High Day)... Ron Nelson Push... Robert W Smith See who else played this Adagietto, Symphony No.5... Gustav Mahler See who else played this The Mechanical Ballet... Philip Glass Serenada Schizophrana... Danny Elfman See who else played this Juliet East of Eden... Lee Holdridge Requiem... Giuseppe Verdi Requiem... Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Love Theme from Romeo & Juliet (A Time For Us)... by Nino Rota Romeo & Juliet... Sergei Prokofiev Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral (from Lohengrin)... by Richard Wagner Celebrate Original Music The Devil's Staircase Music of Samuel Barber Music of Avner Dorman Etude 13:The Devils Staircase... Gyorgy Ligeti ATL Confidential: A Tribute to Film Noir Harlem Nocturne... Earle Hagen and Dick Rogers See who else played this Sinvitation 7 Judith (Lust and Envy)... A Perfect Circle Sin of Pride... Chuck Naffier Sin of Greed... (includes Money for Nothing, Money, and the Theme from Scrooged) Sin of Gluttony and Sloth... Naffier, Johnson, staff et al 160 BPM (Wrath)... Hans Zimmer The Road Home The Old Church from Prairie Songs, No. 6... Stephen Paulus China Gates... John Adams Memory, 2002 from Nepomuk’s Dances, 3rd mvt... Marcelo Zarvos Muted and Sensuous from Four Piano Blues, 3rd mvt... Aaron Copland Mama... Edgar Meyer

1986 Sky Ryders dci.org Download of the Week Sky Ryders' show in 1986 was "The Wizard of Oz." For this week only, the video of the show is downloadable at a discount and the entire 1986 DCI Finals show in mp3 format is downloadable at a discount. Details are available by clicking the link above.

Just wondering which you shows you think were the most underrated, either with scoring, placement, or just the fact they may have gotten overlooked because of the amazing things on the field that year. My choices include Blue Devils 2000-This show was absolutely nothing short of amazing. Probably in my opinion one of the top 3 shows BD may have put on the field. This was one year, I could have possibly agreed with a 3 way tie for the championship, or at least a 2 way tie between Cavies and BD. Santa Clara Vanguard 2000-Another amazing show that may have not gotten the attention it deserved, simply because it was probably the best top 4 in the history of DCI. It also had in my opinion the best ballad ever put on the field. Blue Knights 2002-I never did figure out how this show didn't place top 12. The music and visual were fantastic, and I personally thought it was better than at least 3 of the shows that beat it that year. I also have to say musically, their choices of classical music that year have been one of my all time favorites. Cavaliers 2003-Another awesome show in the middle of an amazing 7 year run. I think this show possibly should have beaten Blue Devils that year. 2006 Cadets-Possibly the most mind-boggling show from the Cadets. I think the biggest problem with the crowd and this show, is the fact that most people were so disappointed in the direction the corps was taking, they never actually watched this show with an open mind. I also remember some very rude crowds, including the one at finals. I definitely thought this was one of the most talented guards to ever take the field. And the visual program, although a little busy was fantastic. Definitely a show that took several viewings, with an open mind, to really take in the whole thing. I wasn't excited to have the vocal solo, but she did do a fantastic job, and it actually did fit the show. 2007 Pacific Crest-I remember seeing them early season, and thinking they probably should have beaten Colts, Spirit, and a few others. This was a very solid show, and I think the limited tour may have prevented them from getting the scores they deserved. 2008 Cavaliers-This show was incredible. Early in the season, I really didn't think it was going to be anywhere near championship caliber, but by the end of the season, it was phenominal. Definitely was not a 3rd place show, and probably should have been within a tenth or two of Blue Devils, whose show should have won. Visually this show was the best on the field that year, and no one else was even close. The only thing Phantom had on this show was the drumline, and that should have only been about a 10th ahead. Cavaliers should have been at least 2.5-3 points ahead of Phantom. And within a tenth or 2 of Blue Devils. 2008 Blue Devils-I am not sure how this show didn't win. While Cavaliers should have been about 1-2 tenths back, Phantom had nothing on this show. I know people are tired of Blue Devils winning all the time, but unfortunately, Blue Devils are usually one of the 2 best performed shows every year. I am not sure BD should have won in 03, but they definitely should have won in 08. 2004 Santa Clara Vanguard-This show was another that just may have gotten lost in another great year at the top. Another great show with a stellar ending. I am assuming it was velcro, but velcro or not, a 7 second full costume change is nothing short of spectacular. Madison Scouts 2009-I am not sure at what point in the season the judges decided to give up on this show, but I really think they should have given it a better look. It probably should have been within tenths of making finals, just falling short to Colts. I didn't see a single caption that Troopers should have beaten them in, except possibly percussion. Colts 2009-How this show got beaten by Troopers has been a mystery to most band directors and corps staff I have discussed it with. Personally I think it got beaten by a miraculous storyline of a corps coming back from taking a year off, to making finals in 2 years. I have to say I really enjoyed the direction the colorguard took this year. It seems to me like they must have had a brand new colorguard staff. Colts were definitely one of the more entertaining corps in 2009, and definitely underrated. So which corps shows do you think were underrated this last decade?

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Crown 2009. Someone had to say it.

There have been a LOT of Cavies shows through the years that have left me wanting more, but James Bond was one of the coolest drum corps shows ever. Ever. Ehhh Verrrrrr. That drum book sounded like Steve Gadd and Dave Weckel butt###### and gave birth the Cavies drumline.

There is very little that makes drum corps a unique activity anymore. It is still very special to those that participate in it. But as far as unique, not so much.

Please, that hornline featured everything BUT balance and blend.

a silent auction to make him go away last year would have raised more money!!

Academy- Dark+Freddy and Michael Martin+awesome designers, this should be epic. Madison-Who's NOT excited for Madison? Regiment-very curious to see how they do with Juliet, but it sounds epic.

1. Blue Devils. They're just too good. 2. Cavaliers. Entertaining show. Good visual. Glad to see brass is back. 3. Bluecoats. Another entertaining show, they really personified like how the future would be. Enjoyed it a lot. Should have been a little closer to Cavies, maybe like 5 or 6 tenths behind? Something like that. 4. Cadets. The more I saw it, the more I enjoyed it. Visual demand like crazy. 5. Crown. Still a magnificent brass sound, a little step down from 2009, but they still sounded marvelous. 6. Blue Stars. I enjoyed this show a ton. Good brass book, and those mellos were insane. 7. Phantom. Beautiful. Didn't like the drill. But beautiful sound. 8. SCV Not very accessible music, but man the demand was ridiculous. 9. Boston. Concept didn't really go for me, but the music was awesome. 10. Blue Knights. Great music selections. Farandole was tight. 11. Madison. Sounded like easy musical arrangements, but the crowd liked it. Drill was kinda eh too. But well performed. 12. Glassmen. Didn't like the show when I saw it, but when I listen to it, I enjoy it. 13. Academy. Good brass, but concept and guard held them back. 14. Colts. Full of GE. Not a huge fan of the music, and felt they could have gave more. Clean though. What a comeback from late June/ early July though. 15. Troopers. I liked this show better than 09, and felt it was performed better too. Just other corps stepped up ahead of them. 16. Spirit. Decent brass. Visual was okay, but just didn't give me the knock out punch. 17. Crossmen. Dirty visually. But still in semis because they achieved more than everyone below them. 18. Pacific Crest. Barely gets the nod over Teal Sound because of their visual package. 19. Teal Sound. Very good brass for such a smaller corps. Great hope for next year. 20. Mandarins. This show wasn't that great visually (not a big fan of Myron's drill), but the music was arranged well, and the vocal stuff was cool and didn't take away from the brass. 21. Cascades. This show I felt was underscored. Brass was powerful for what numbers it had, and I liked the pit. 22. Jersey Surf. Good arrangements, just not a strong enough brassline. 23. Pioneer. I like listening to them on the cd, but visual just didn't cut it for me.

I would say 2004 Phantom - Apasionada. I mean yes, they got 4th place, but if I recall correctly, it wasn't a well received show. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the music for that show should have gotten much more recognition. It's always my go-to year when talking about Phantom shows (you know, besides 03, 07, and 08).

Agree with those ones. Oh yeah and add Bluecoats 2007 like some people before me said. That ballad with the high mello notes was amazing. They should have won brass that year.

Yeah...Bluecoats tubas are great...now all they need is a good tech...

after recently hearing some things, I'm going with BD. didn't think that would be the case, but am soooo glad it is.

ACLU... for some reason I'm not surprised.

I think SCV's was more faithful to the original, and honestly, probably more technically proficient... but Phantom's was a far, far better drum corps show. Mike

I'm guessing you didn't or wouldn't go to the website to see what you got for the money???? Lets see: VIP $63.00 These are the best seats in the house. This VIP ticket includes: an extra-wide seat; a seat cushion; preferred parking; program book; lanyard with a VIP badge; and a fabulous pig roast BBQ dinner with beverages before the show! Dinner is from 5p to 6:30p. Let's see - the reserved parking is about 30 yards (at the most) from the entry gate. (check) Food IS included. The pig roast has been a hit for years. (check) Program book. (check) Souvies (seat cushion and lanyard) (check) I'd say a place to sleep and transportation is your ONLY cost at VIP level. .....and VERY FEW SEATS are at the $63 level. MOST are $27 or LESS - with no frills and very good FREE parking. IF you chose to spend just $17. WHERE would you find anything close to this lineup for $17?

Waffles

I agree with a lot of what I'm seeing here. I have to agree with the one who said SCV in general gets less credit because of their musical choices sometimes. That being said, I'd like to add 2010 Phantom to the list. I feel like they didn't do as well as they should have because their concept was more vague and subject to interpretation than some of the other shows. Musically, they had the strongest moments of the year in my opinion. It was just a beautifully written show from a musician's point of view, and it doesn't hurt that their percussion section was not human.

Its too bad the Drum Companies won't make an Alumni Corps drum thats designed as in the past similar to the Ludwig Challenger or Slingerland TDR. Us old guys have a hard time lugging those heavy buggers.Add the carrier and ya got more weight. We use 10 lug snare and 8 lug tenor LUDWIG "SUPER CLASSICS" aka Challengers in our Alumni Corps with SLINGS!!! Tracked em down on EBAY had them recovered in red sparkle look, sound GREAT!! What a drum should sound like IMHO if you want that "traditional" sound.

2002 is technically proficient, amazingly well scored, tremendously balanced, and absolutely sterile.

1. Cadets- I have feeling they will put the punch in this show- and have it very reminiscent of 98. Insane drill. Incredible Mello runs. Dark theme already known. Drums with an aggressive book. 2. Blue Devils - Revisiting "88" in 09, and somewhat "91" last year- I don't know, just a hunch we will see more "92" with them this year? Fun, entertaining book. Jazzy. High Sop all over the place. In your face BD. If I am wrong on this, and it is at the provactive level of the last two years- no problem. Still anticipating what they come out with, as they would make this "anticipated" list every year. 3. Santa Clara Vanguard- It feels 99 to me. The video on the fan network shows staff talking about the first Texas shows, and how they have to have guns blazing right out of the gate. 99 was the most intense performance of a corps, I have ever seen live. It just seemed the corps had a drive that year. The music and intensity of the drill helped emphasize that. Thats what I hope they bring with this show...the music so far, from what we know, seems to have that intensity written all over it. Honorable Mentions: Blue Stars: There is a sense I get that they are on the same of ascension as Crown from last decade. I look forward to seeing continued success from them this year. Crossmen: I don't think anyone, from what we are seeing so far, could not be anticipating them. It seems like this year is an identity show for them. Academy: Liked the sound of the horn line and concepts of prior years. Putting it together into a Top 12 package. I think this is their year.

I am not.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the following do this year: Boston Crusaders Madison Scouts Blue Knights Glassmen Colts Academy Troopers Spirit Crossmen ( I know, I picked more than " three ". So sue me )

Maybe. I think at that point in the season the Bluecoats could have come out in 1st. We were certainly ready to do so mentally before the storm hit. Though, none of us will ever know.

gotta love the logic

well sure. They aren't top 8. the idea wasn't about what's best for anyone but the top 8

oh if you only knew.....

2/3 years if we see no movement to adopt more of the proposal. I'm sure some will always worry in the back of their mind, but I expect some time is needed because right now, some may be licking their wounds and waiting til things cool down