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Showing content with the highest reputation on 05/14/2020 in all areas

  1. This would be an incredibly fast way to kill drum corps.
    5 points
  2. Top 3 for me: 1st by a mile: 2016 - Relentless - I just love everything about this show. Music, visuals, guard, it's just the complete package for me. 2nd: 2009 - The Grass is Always Greener - The little celeste moment.... 3rd: 2017 - It Is - I didn't care for it much at first, but it has grown on me a lot. If it had just a few things tweaked... it could have been so much better. Other bits and pieces I've loved from Crown over the years: - 2008's Candide opening - melted me away in person! - 2007's Wild Horses - 2005's Angel - All of 2013/2014
    2 points
  3. BD wins like they do because they learned how that works. No matter what the rules are or how the activity changes they just know how to do it. THAT will not change until they themselves decide they had enough OR others take over who do not follow the BD formula.
    2 points
  4. So long as BD takes the big toy home, I don’t much care. What you or I think doesn’t matter one teensy bit. Ta-ta!
    2 points
  5. 2007 - Triple Crown: This was the first time I had gotten to see a live show, at Drums Across the Bluegrass, and the lineup was stellar in my opinion. I got to see Cadets, Phantom, and Crown that year at one show, all will fantastic shows. Crown just blew me away with a fun and energetic show. This will forever be my number one Crown show, and is in my top 5 all time shows. 2009 - The Grass is Always Greener 2016 - Relentless 2013 - e=mc2 2003 - Bellisimo!
    2 points
  6. Wasn’t this kinda how things were before DCI and the pageantry leeches dismantled it all?
    2 points
  7. To me this is an "old wives tale" kind of thing to say. I see where you are coming from, because a lot of people thought that way back in the day, but in order to beat a defending champion you simply have to score higher. You don't have to decidedly beat them. That is a falsehood. Winning by .1 or 1 is winning. DCI judges do not care what you did the year before. They don't spot BD 5 additional points because they won the previous year. Other corps are not warned that if they wish to beat BD they will have to beat them by 5.1 points in order to get the .1 win. The only thing that matters is your current show. I felt 27th Lancers deserved the title in 1980. They had the best overall show. BD was great and clean and had lovely music arrangements. They were a very close 2nd place to me.
    2 points
  8. 7 STEPS TO DRUM CORPS RESTART When it's time ... 1. Fold DCI and DCA, form one new national organization that represents everybody, senior and junior corps. 2. The mission statement is to facilitate the formation of as many new corps as possible. 3. Make electronics illegal, to make it cheaper and easier to start new corps. Reduce show length to 9 minutes with a mandatory concert number to make it easier for new corps to compete immediately 4. Divide the country into 8 regions. No corps competes outside their region until finals week. The goal is to get more corps on the field, by making it cheaper and easier for everyone to get into the game. 5. Reduce all corps appearance fees, and all corps membership dues -- focus on creating as many local/regional drum corps shows as possible, and incentives for local sponsors to hold a show. 6. Every show will have senior and junior corps competing, with full retreat at the end for the fans. 7. Start a circuit of judged winter concerts (on stage, no drill), so the competitive experience of the activity is not so focused only on the summer. The above is all possibly silly nonsense, and maybe even irrelevant given the state of the covid-19 crisis. But, if I had a vote, the activity would focus on growth, not art or music technology, for the next few years.
    1 point
  9. Bwahahah. You're my favorite poster here.
    1 point
  10. And most things were a hot mess with corps not having much to say about their own pathways. As far as the pageantry leeches, Who exactly do you mean ? Seems that they were the revered icons which were the ones who decided the pathway to exactly what you see today, the direction that was talked about way back then and how so many things including how people needed to think for the survival of the activity?
    1 point
  11. Crown had execution. Bluecoats had effect. We all know what wins these days...
    1 point
  12. So, what you believe is happening is slotting.
    1 point
  13. 1992 was my first year on tour with a drum corps, my rookie year with Glassmen. I had tried out for Bluecoats the previous season, but I only lasted three camps before the ax fell and found me on the outside looking in. Some of my memories: My first drum corps parade in Appleton, Wisconsin, in full uniform. I didn’t know it until the end of the parade when I saw a bank sign show the temperature, but we just marched in 100 degree heat. It must have been a dry heat, I guess! Glassmen passing Bluecoats for the first time in years at the Wyandotte, Michigan show. I swear we stood 6 inches taller in retreat block that night. Wearing literal vinyl tablecloth overlays over our uniform jackets because the corps couldn’t afford new uniforms and wanted a different look. We called it the Spaceman Spiff look. Hosting Drum Corps Midwest championships for the first time in Toledo and all of us in awe of the lone contra player in the Capitolaires as they came off the retreat field. She could play! Spending a rainy free day in a Niagara Falls (US side) mall, followed up by the worst tour day of my rookie season when the entire corps was made to do “Dan Acheson push-ups”, basically planks we held until he said otherwise. Dan had caught the whiff of alcohol on some members’ breath as we boarded our buses after the free day and he was not amused. There’s that one day each season I marched when I wanted to go home. That day in Bellevue, Ohio, was it. Preview of Champions in Nashville, Tennessee. The lower deck went wild for us at Prelims. The upper deck did not. It turns out rehearsing facing the wall of the high school you’re staying at distorts your understanding of how you project your sound. Breaking 80 for the first time in the corps’ history at DCI South in Jackson, Mississippi. We would make DCI Finals for the first time there next season. My first birthday show on August 4th at Kings High School near Cincinnati, Ohio. It was the worst performance I had all season. At one point, I ended up five yards away from my actual set, and then panicked while the corps was in a hold (visual silence, as Tom Acheson liked to call it). It didn’t help that multiple vets felt it was their duty to remind me not to do that after the show. Coming up .1 short of 12th place at Quarterfinals. Brass was 10th, percussion was 19th. Coming up .1 short of 12th place AGAIN at Semifinals. Bluecoats (11th), Freelancers (12th), and us (13th) each dropped a single tenth from our QF score. Brass was again 10th, percussion was 17th, only because there were no more corps to place under that night. Watching my first ever live DCI Finals from the stands. Yeah, I was disappointed I wasn’t on the field as well, but I love drum corps and will never turn down a chance to see it in person. The day after Finals, one of the contras stole a Sidewalk Closed sign from outside of our host school. He smuggled it onto our bus, and then we put it in my car as I drove him home to Shaker Heights before heading home myself in Richfield. I wonder what his parents thought when they saw it? Winning Most Improved Brass (for the first time) completely unexpectedly. Thank you, Sandra Clark, for taking time during move-ins to work with me and make me a better player. You were a great friend and mentor and the world is a sadder place without you in it.
    1 point
  14. Favorites (warning - controversy): 2019 - Beneath the Surface. MAN that brass book! The show was captivating from start to finish, I loved the use of bulgarian music and Caroline Shaw, and they had probably the best ballad of all of 2019. The overall idea of the show was executed super well and the visual side of things was amazing, not to mention they had one of the best percussion lines in their history. Severely underrated show in a year of such competition. 2012 - For the Common Good. This was the first show I ever saw when I heard of DCI. While I never saw a live show until 2016, this was the first show I watched online. The writing was spectacular and I think it's one of the best uses of source music in drum corps history. Mixing Moren's "Dreams" with Fanfare for the Common Man was a great mix. The visual aspect was stunning, with seeming impossible-to-march drill in the opener and the closer's rotating cube and surprise Crown set. Stunning show. 2006 - In.trance.it. This show was (arguably) the one that really set Crown on a path to being the crowd-pleasing organization they're known for today. Visually, this show had one of the best uses of field space and not having props helps with that. There are so many different colors and textures by the brass, from enticing to funky to lyrical to powerful, and everything in between. For an 8th place show, this has got to be one of the best shows Crown has put out. 2010 - A Sec2nd Chance. I've heard there was controversy behind this show that the original idea got leaked and they had to scrap that and write a new show. Regardless, this show had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Mahler 2 has a special place in my heart and they execute it so well. The Danzon and Nimrod were amazing written and performed, there were a lot of nice visual effects by the members and the guard, and I loved the callback to 2009 where the couple finally gets to be together and they run off the field. 2008 - Finis. To summarize this show up in one word, it would be classic. I swear, the designers probably just went to the Top 100 list for classical music and picked every iconic piece out there, but man do they know how to write. I love the fact that I can come back to the show and hear something different every time because they wrote so many easter eggs in the book. If it wasn't Phantom's year, this one would have definitely taken it (and I believe it should have placed higher than 4th). Honorable Mentions: 2004 - Bohemia. To be honest, I am one of those people that doesn't mind singing in drum corps when used effectively. The Seasons of Love was extremely lovely to hear and I think for a 2004 show, it was pretty ahead of its time. 2017 - It Is. That brass had to be one of the best books every written in the history of drum corps. I think that if the designers were to really hone in on the idea and if the guard was better, it would have won. The singing was a nice touch as well. Least Favorite: 2018 - Beast. The idea just never caught on with me. I feel like the show itself didn't really flow and overall it was just really flat and boring. The brass was stunning and the percussion was the best it had been up to that point but the overall show design just wasn't it for me. 2011 - Rach Star. Similar to Beast, this idea just never caught my eye. I like the concept of mixing popular rock songs with classical pieces but it just doesn't click with me. Brass is great as always but I personally feel like they've put out better shows. Don't judge me too harshly. I've loved Crown since I heard of drum corps and I always will. Even while I'm currently contracted at Phantom Regiment, my hometown love will never change.
    1 point
  15. I agree with you on much of this. 1994: Loved Phantom and did not have a problem with them in 3rd, but Cavaliers were amazing. 1995: I can go with you on this too. I thought Cadets would have had the show to win if they cleaned visual, but they were a visual mess until the closer. Great music and all, and their closer was my favorite patriotic ending ever; and Cavaliers were not that good in brass. BD was the only corps to have excellent visual -- and clean visual -- along with killer music. My only problem with BD in 1995 was GE. The show just did not grab me. Cavaliers and Cadets, at least to me, had vastly better GE. In the end I was fine with placing in 95. 1995: Also relating to Madison in 1995 I agree. How they did not win Music GE is a head scratch-er. As far as overall placement I think 4th was correct. Great show! 1999 Cadets were flat-out marching beats. Solid brass and drums. Killer demand. Lovely ballad. 2007: My initial thought for this year was that Bluecoats had a shot to medal. They were running 4th most of the season, but they never cleaned the feet nor did they build on some of the wonder GE in their Criminal show. Kind of an interesting side note: Bluecoats actually won high brass at Quarterfinals in 2007. Phantom Regiment came on like gangbusters at the end of the season and Cavaliers had real issues musically. I could have seen Phantom 3rd. Of course, I also think The Cadets were the best corps on the field that summer, but narration and other issues let BD get them in the end. Cadets actually beat everyone at the Stanford show just the week prior to Finals in Pasadena. 2015: I had Cadets in 3rd, but I was not surprised Bloo caught them at Finals. Cadets made many mistakes that summer from a design standpoint. Most of us are aware of that. No need to rehash all the poor decisions. It was not their best design...BUT Musically...WHAT A SHOW! That corps was talented and with a better product could have won. And you are right, it was the last we saw of the old, great Cadets. 2016: I love the Bluecoats and was so glad they finally got a title. I feel it was deserved, and DSU is a fantastic show. But I can see where you are coming from. After the Massillon show that year 2 of my buddies felt strongly that Crown had the best show on the field. Relentless is a fantastic show top to bottom. Their brass were unreal. With a slightly stronger ending I think they may have taken the title. And I did have them above BD. I like BD 2016, but Carolina and Bloo were both better in my book. 2019: I did have Carolina in 3rd as well over SCV. Both SCV and Crown suffered from show design issues. SCV had better percussion - but not by that much, and Crown had better brass. Crown won total music due to their overall music scores, and I actually think Crown marched a better Finals performance.
    1 point
  16. It was a political post in a place where I was lead to believe politics are disallowed. Only for certain opinions I suppose. What is most depressing is that this site DCP along with DCI - many or most corps ,,,, will not be allowed to march this year and next if you take what some states are keeping in place. Some here will keep on cheering for a complete shut down, or even a limited shut down. All the while the activity will die with this overreaction. probably in that poll there is one that supports no school next fall, that will do drum corps and marching bands 0 favors. The traffic on this site is basically fans of the marching arts, the activity is in danger and We see folks post polls.
    1 point
  17. Hailing from northeast Ohio as I do, it was pretty great on only my second ever Finals attendance, and this time (unlike 2012) in great seats where the sound wasn't horribly distorted, to see the local corps win it all. Total serendipity, since I had arranged to get that ticket well before the season started. That top three was something else. And "Downside Up" was such an entertaining show. I was rooting for it to win. If only Bluecoats' show hadn't been so influential. "Relentless" was executed so well and is more like what drum corps ought to be, in my opinion, and too often abandoned since. (Not by Crown, exactly, but their three subsequent shows just felt so random.) Early on in the season, someone pointed out that Crown's drill was pretty cramped toward the front, but it's wide open compared by comparison to the staging that so often has been rewarded since.
    1 point
  18. what this says is....consistency. BD since 75 has been a machine. SCV has had periods where they were middle of the pack that keep them down lower. Cavies and cadets didn't truly become players til the 80's, giving BD and SCV a 10+ year head start
    1 point
  19. I feel the exact opposite. I thought BD was the best corps in 96, BD was the best corps in 99, and Cavaliers were the best corps in 2000. Of the 3, I feel 2000 was the one that could have legitimately been a tie. Mike Z
    1 point
  20. Full agreement on all of these points. However the list I could make of changes to the Top 3 would be it's own thread, so I will exhibit some rare self-control and (mostly) only focus on corps 4th and below that should have gotten medals. 1994 Cavaliers, bronze - Here's a weird one: Phantom was better visually but Cavaliers were better musically. I love Phantom's super-original show (the only DCI show ever to not have any color) but the Cavies had a great show too, and got hosed by the effect judges. 1995 Blue Devils, gold - I know what I just said, but this is still the most egregious screw job I've seen in DCI 1995 Madison Scouts, bronze - Should have taken Musical Effect by at least half a point over every other corps that year. Apologies if any of them are reading this, but 1995 Finals judges: you were on crack. 1999 Cadets, bronze - they were flat out better than the Cavaliers in every area except percussion performance. 2007 Phantom Regiment, bronze - The exact reverse of 1994. As sloppy as Phantom was visually, they were that much better musically than the Cavaliers. Cavaliers should have been 7th musically at Finals. But, it's DCI. Visual accomplishment is always credited better than Musical accomplishment. 2015 Cadets, bronze - Yeah, I know, I'm a Shostakovich homer. Maybe I'm being sentimental because this was the last great Cadets show. 2016 Carolina Crown, gold - *whispers* Relentless was the best show of 2016, sorry not sorry 2019 Carolina Crown, bronze - come on, now. Doesn't music matter AT ALL any more? 5th highest music score OF THE DECADE (and arguably should have been higher).
    1 point
  21. 1992 Santa Clara Vanguard - Early Season. Before all the major changes (sorry, I cannot get the video to embed). -They initially played Sunrise Sunset before replacing it with Chava Ballet. -Note the guard uniforms during the bottle dance. -Traditional Aussies https://youtu.be/sVamazJ_KnM
    1 point
  22. I could be wrong, but I remember hearing that it had something to do with them marching a few people who were aging out that season. I think they let them march until they turned 22 and then had them go home, and DCI didn't like that. Any thoughts? Sorry if that's way wrong...
    1 point
  23. unfortunately we, Nite Express, peaked about a week early and plateaued through Orlando. woefully underscored at Quarters, dropped for ~72's a week before to ~68 on D1 sheets. could've easily been in the hunt for 17. Sadly...shortly after quarters we would find out our fate, financially.
    0 points
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