euphguy

"Jim", your comments are highly inappropriate and unnecessary. Since when does not posting content and numbers to a website equal doom for a corps? As far as the corps payment history, get real. I can think of most corps with some type of debt/payment issues. Has Mempho folded? I didn't think so. I really hope your "business" stays afloat with comments like that...however, I wouldn't be so sure.

I have to agree with the original post. I'm not very fond of Vanguard's show. The arrangement is not doing it for me at all, and the only thing truly doing for me is the guard (much improved thanks to Jenifo).

I have uber respect for them, but was anyone else slightly disheartened to hear that the Marine Corps band is performing at Finals again? Last year, I specifically remember waiting anxiously for their performance to be over so that the real show can start. Is that mean? OOPS!

I think it's going to be close between Crown and Cadets, and I'm not predicting a winner. I was VERY impressed by clips of both corps. I definitely think Cadets will move up to medalist standings this year. Usually, when they drop to 5th one year, they come back the next year with a vengeance!

Last year, they were like Fan Networks kings in terms of postings. This year, there's hardly anything. Do you think this has to do with the feedback they got about the member cam sessions and stuff? Or, do you think they're trying to surprise people and avoid the fate such as last year at finals? SPIT!

Precisely! At least in terms of the order.

I am upset as well about the 08 DVDs. I felt like the guard and percussion cam, as well as the multiple commentaries added a lot to the overall quality of the DVDs. I used to take turns watching my favorite shows in different respects. The current DVDs are not worth the money, and thus I will no longer be purchasing them if they remain this way. I have DVDs back to 99. Huge mistake DCI folks!

I don't understand the want/need for the change. Perhaps location. However, for the people saying it's a "step down," are you kidding? It's a COLLABORATION. Adam Sage's design is excellent, and regarding the comment proposing the superiority of the Crown guard over PR's guard in the last 6 or 7 years, you may want to take a look at the scores. Only in the last 2 years has Crown's guard topped PRs. And, Adam has only been with PR since 05. Thanks and have a nice day!!

By far one of the worst I've seen is 2004 Glassmen...the sabre soloist at the beginning. Not even close! OUCH!!!

I though Crown or Cavies would win it! I was VERY shocked to hear them announced as the Spirit of Disney recipients, although not upset about it in the least. I actually said anyone had a chance BUT them because of the violence, and everyone around me in the stands concurred.

I like the finals judging panels. All the judges I dislike are elsewhere. I wish Michael Gray were there though.

Good call, I'm so glad to see he's not judging. Someone other than BD has a chance of winning!

Not to jinx it, but am I the only one who's beyond excited about the very REAL possibility that they could take it all? only .15 off from Devs (although diff. shows). This just SCREAMS GE!!! GO REGIMENT!

It's interesting. The ONLY one we have in common is......PR 08. GO REGIMENT!!!

I heard it's terrible during football season. I should imagine it will bad here as well, although less people.

Is it just me, or does this lineup (particularly the top 12) have the potential for the most changes/flip-flops ever?

This is definitely one of those topics that can be easily misconstrued. To simplify, what are some of your favorite musical moments in corps' shows that have changed for the worse or for the better? Yes, I understand improvements will be made and are necessary. However, I feel some do it better than others. Examples, Cadets had just changed the opening hit to last longer with the chord, and I thought this would propel them into a more lively, top-challenging show. Then, for some reason, they changed it again to a less effective (of course, IMO) intro with an almost complete rewrite. It didn't sound the same at all. Just curious. Also, SCV's arrangements tend to get lower in terms of range with each rewrite, and the mellos seem to be almost obsolete now in comparison to the beginning of the year. There were issues then, but some modifications and tweaks may have fixed the problem better (IMO). Crown's extension of the end is an example of a good rewrite, IMO. They simply extended it to add more Visual and Music GE, with the guard now backfield, and the forming Crown in the front to blow our faces off. Similar changes were made to Phantom's book. Boston is night and day from the beginning of the season, IMO. Thanks!

Agreed!

Thanks to someone's generosity, I've been helped! Thanks! Bump.

Well, IMO most of the difficulty usually comes from the weapon work. Flags can be difficult as well from personal experience, but lets face it. The more weapon tosses (and the higher they are) you toss, the more potential there is to drop. Crown tosses a lot, and catches solid most of the time. This is what I was referring to in comparison to last year. For example, last year's opener for Crown in the rifles was excellent, but only 6 for a little while. The numbers this year are more evenly distributed for weapons/flag ratio rather than last year, IMO. This is what I was mainly referring to. Did anyone else notice that the flags do the toss-turn around-catch solidly this year, whereas they had to take it out last year?

This time, Crown deserved 2nd to PR IMO. There were some uncharacteristic drops. HOWEVER, the Cadets? If you watch the shows on fan network, I think most will agree that the Cadets shouldn't have been .2 higher than PR or Crown.

I am having a difficult time comprehending why some corps have changed some of the best musical moments of their shows. I understand that changes are quite necessary to keep the shows "fresh" and increase the effect of the music. However, I feel like some corps' arrangers do this better than others, particularly this year. Does DCI penalize corps (subliminally) for not making suggested changes to their musical repertoire? Does it ultimately come down to the corps' arrangers and the musical excellence of the music ensembles of the various corps? I just wanted to get people's opinions regarding this. Some corps that have done a great job with rewrites for the better this season are: PR, Crown, and Boston Crusaders. Some music changes that I'm not particularly impressed with are: SCV, Cadets, and Blue Stars (in that order). Please let it be known that I like all the corps' shows mentioned above. Those that have made changes that I felt were not good changes took out some of the best moments for me. What about you? Or is it ultimately up to SELLING those rewrites?

Poor SCV. Excellent drill design, but the Music GE seems to get worse and worse for me. I don't think the answer is to lower the range of the parts to try to accommodate. Seems like the mellos are almost obsolete now.

My favorite musical moments from the Cadets are dissapearing due to rewrites. NO!!!! The opening power chord was one of the best of the season. What happened?