Room_101

IIRC, he put Phantom BELOW Cavies in a music caption at an earlier show this season, which tells me he's probably doing the right thing: Being a professional, and judging exactly what's in front of him. ...and I'm glad! EDIT: Nevermind. http://www.dci.org/scores/recap/view.cfm?e...7d-d8927e9a6256 He put Cavies brass behind both Bluecoats and Crown...last night... ...d'oh. In any event, he seems to still be doing the professional thing!

Eh. The "big dog" was BD in 2009, absolutely. I think it's unfair to say they are the "big dog" in 2010. Up to this point, the "big dogs" have been BD and Crown, certainly. We will know who wins out when they first meet head to head, but I think it's unfair to go ahead and give this "title" to BD for the 2010 season. At least let Crown share it, as they are also undefeated (and were the next best thing to BD last season). And wasn't it 0.025? I don't think our judging goes to the ten-thousandths of a point.

Well, what they did on Finals night was also only ONE day out of the whole season...?

The drum corps audience wants three things: 1. Loud noises. 2. Music they recognize. 3. Loud noises. If a group doesn't have that, they shouldn't win. If a group does, they should win. Case in point: Phantom 2003. Any musician who has spent any of his life playing professionally will tell you that this is one of the most blatantly offensive hornlines in the history of the activity...yet for a great majority of people, this hornline is their FAVORITE! The music is "pretty," and boy is it loud. But man, those are some gross sounds. The point I'm trying to make is that people don't often understand the difference the EXCELLENCE of a group and the ENTERTAINMENT factor of a group. A lot of fans create their rankings based on how much they enjoy shows, while judges base it on execution, possibility for growth, and whatever they think "GE" means on that particular night.

I HATE this argument (about any corps, not just the Cavies) that they look or sound the same every year. To me, it is ridiculous. Professional musicians know that, when they hear Beethoven, it's Beethoven. It's the same with Mozart, Haydn, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Bruckner, the list goes on and on. This is because these composers have their own STYLE. Sure, each of their individual pieces have their own flavor, or gimmick, or whatever you want to call it, but overall this STYLE can almost always be felt. Student composers and theorists even play with this fact, as they will often create compositions IN THE STYLE of a particular composer. I just don't understand the fuss about how "Corps X looks and sounds the same as their show three years ago." It's a STYLE, people! Yeah, and did you see the Cavaliers' closer in 2008?! You aren't about to tell me that all that jumping wasn't ridiculous. Has anyone ever done that before?! (seriously, I don't know...)

I'm with you. Scouts a little lower score-wise, I'm thinking, but placements I think are right on.

Hahahaha, you win!!! Perhaps I should have said that BD and the Cavies "USUALLY" keep the seriousness of the activity in check...but not always!

I'm getting the vibe, for the second year in a row, that they're trying to be as "cool" as some of the big boys--Blue Devils and Cavaliers--who are known for their more relaxed attitude. However, I think they took it too far. BD and the Cavies are relaxed while still showcasing the seriousness of the activity. I agree with most of the above posters--Crown knocked us all down to college (or even high school) marching band with this performance

Clean did NOT win in 2008. Period. As for the OP's question, it's a mixture of all three (but not such a one-sided mixture that allows Phantom to win in 2008 ).

*shrugs* Never seen a store!

For what it's worth, NONE of my friends in the activity have ever used AJ Wright for anything. I was always kind of curious as to why they were a sponsor anyway. It just seemed so random. (Personally, I can't even tell you what type of business they run!)

And 2008!

It makes sense. It's a different kind of show from Crown than fans are expecting, I think. They did Finis, which was just full of in your face excitement, and then 2009, which was very similar. This year still has that excitement, but it's a much more refined, mature excitement. My opinion, at least.

But let's be honest...is it REALLY feasible for a group to improve almost three points in a single night? I'm NOT saying Phantom didn't deserve the number they got tonight, but, the way I see it, something was amiss either tonight or last night. Not knowing the judging panels from the past two nights, I would venture to say that the two panels were very different, and thus the difference in scores. Or, perhaps, they just had an "off" show last night, and tonight was really great. The possibilities are numerous. In any event, without taking anything away from their achievements, some extenuating circumstance likely cause a near 3-point jump in 24 hours.

Interesting...how so? And the Bristol parade always brings back great memories--what a fun day!

Ahh, good point...how could I forget?! In all seriousness, CrownMelloMom, a 2nd place finish for Crown at a show like this might be a blessing in disguise, because let me tell you...NO ONE on this Earth hates losing more than Matt Harloff! If a group does catch Crown, you can bet money they will be out for blood the next show out!

Why? As long as a) your son is enjoying himself and b) he is always improving then there is nothing to be nervous about! Really!

I'm surprised at so little love for Cavaliers 2000. Looking back, that ending was an incredible glimpse at the decade to come. Honorable mentions to Cadets 2000, and almost any Cadets show from the 80's!

Here is your earlier quote: "people saying BD ONLY won 07 because..." You specifically put "ONLY" in all capital letters! As you can CLEARLY see, I did not say they won ONLY because they were in California. There are three total reasons in my original post: 1)my opinion of a lack of physical demand, 2)Cadets narration, 3)Pasadena. I don't understand your confusion. And I realize I'm in the minority, but I still just don't get the Spartacus hype. Decent (not great) design with less than decent execution does not merit a championship to me. The flaws that people were so quick to point out in The Red Violin are all throughout Spartacus! Less than stellar staging, amorphous blob drill that means nothing, unreadable designs, visual execution that is in NO way comparable to the rest of the top 5, etc, etc. Great drumline, great emotion...but not championship caliber. Just my opinion, of course. Edit: I feel like I'm coming across as someone who just bashes every championship show. Sorry if I come across that way!

Re-read my post. I never said they ONLY won because they were in their home state. The main reason why they won was because, in my opinion, the physical demand was in no way equal to the second place performance. Also add the fact that the crowd would have murdered the judges had narration won a DCI Championship. The same thing happened in 2003, in Orlando--about as far from California as you can get! Finals being in Pasadena was just another reason to add to the list. For what it's worth, I think the Blue Devils should have walked away with the title in 2008. Yet, once again, the championship show had less physical demand (the jazz run at the end of Phantom 2008 is a joke!). I wonder what would have happened had Finals 2008 been in Pasadena! Also, shosta added Regiment's '96 championship to the list.

I didn't necessarily say there was! But I do think there are several years where the non-winners "don't get no love." I LOVED the Cavaliers in 2008, and I LOVED the Bluecoats in 2006 (and 2008). LOVED the Cadets in 2007, etc, etc. So many great shows that we seem to forget about sometimes!

Sorry to upset you. I'll state my opinions about every group EXCEPT yours next time!

megadrive hit it right on the head. The point is, a few shows each year have these "moments." It's not until they WIN that we subconsciously add this god-like status to the show, and then we seem to forget about the "moments" from other shows of that year.

And you are more than entitled to it!

If by "true BD style" you mean they won because their show was considerably easier than the 2nd place performers, then yes. See 2003 and 2007 both. The 2003 Cavaliers weren't as clean, but boy was that show difficult. Design-wise, it's the best show in drum corps history, in my opinion. As for 2007, had a)The Cadets not had narration, or b)Finals not been in California, the Blue Devils would not have won that year. That show was a walk in the park compared to Cadets 2007! Just my opinions!