Tony L.

You know, I've just watched Southwind's show and I'd never considered it that way. I'd always thought of Cadets '91 as the dance of life, and some are ready to do it at different times than others, while some are not. I really didn't see much of that in Southwind's show, but I will take another look at it and consider if the two are really related. Honestly, after watching Southwind's show, I really wish they had explored the idea of the "outsider" a little more -- both musically and visually. I think the "loop" is whatever one makes of it and Southwind has (as of now) not gone past the the literal. If they push their interpretation of both "the loop" and the concept of being outside the "loop", that's where the real value of the show lies. I think they're on to a great show, they just need to push the limits of it. Unfortunately, when a show is based on original music, it relies on the visual to give meaning to it (see Cavies 2001-2003). If SOuthwind can't give meaning to the show visuallly, then the music is really wasted. Let's hope they really give meaning to the show as a whole in Pasadena!

Weren't Montreal's Finals the largest attendance totals? I know on the DVD for the one year they actually did record in Montreal, the crowd at Olympic Stadium looked huge!

I'll be at the Ritz-Carlton Wed.-Sun.

Really liked Boston overall (and I rarely say that), but is it just me or are the frames, easels, and crutches essentially usesless? I've not seen them live, but why would you make half the guard stop doing equipment work just to march drill with the easels in their hands? While I appreciate the concept of the flag paintings coming from the easels, they just don't need to be on the move and in the middle of the field. And the frames take equipment out of the guards hands. What a waste. Overall a good show otherwise -- easily 3 or more points higher than Colts.

Wow, what an easel line!

I can log in, but I only have a black screen with a white box that I can only assume is where the screen should be! Anyone else having a problem?

While '91 has some fantastic shows -- especially the Cadets ballad (I still maintain that the Copland piece was one of the most theatrical presentations ever) and the Blue Devils (a show I referred to as "technically proficient without a heart" when I first saw it) has really turned into one of my favorites; but, I still think that best year top to bottom has to be 1990 with 1992 a close second. I have a theory that the years when DCI is absolutely solid from top to bottom, the champions are hopelessly undervalued because they aren't necessarily that far ahead of some other fantastic shows. I still think 1990 Cadets and 1992 Cavies are two completely under-appreciated and under-valued shows of all time. And the reson why is that everyone else was soooo strong.

I need a pair of tickets for all three nights. If you have any you're looking to sell, please post a message or email me. Thanks.

Is it just me, or do the Bluecoats' new uniform appear to have an "M" on the top when viewed from a distance? In the pictures that someone posted from the dress rehearsal, they looked like they could have been Magic with that big "M" on their chests. They still look ok though -- and maybe they can sell them to Magic when they're finished with them.

I'm shocked that I am only the 3rd person to vote for this, but 1987 Garfield Cadets!!!! HM: 1982 BD, 1999 SCV, 1990 Cadets.

1987 SCV HM: 1994 Cadets (The West Side Story noone ever talks about!), 1984 BD, 1991 Cavies.

1987 Garfield Cadets: The show is simplicity at its best. So seemingly simple, but at the same time so demanding and effective. THE Company Front was just one of those moments in drum corps history that will never be forgotten. Just absolute genius!

Tough call here: 1990 Star wins though. HM: 1988 BD; 1993 PR; 1987 Cavies (the most under-rated Cavies show ever!); 2005 PR.

Most have already been mentioned, but I will add one soloist that had one of my favorite bari (could have been euph.) solos ever -- 2000 Cincinnati Glory soloist during the Willow Song. Truly unforgetable! Also, as a section, I distinctly remember seeing Blue Devils live in 1994 and as the opener kept building, I remember being absolutely floored by what I heard -- the demand and the execution were simply unbelievable. And maybe I'm a little biased as a former bari player, but I have always maintained that the quality of a hornline is measured by how strong the bari section is -- if it isn't strong enough to add the full lower/middle voice, then the balance and overall warmth of the sound just isn't there. In particular, in my opinion, a corps like Madison's best years (overall soundwise) have always been when they've had a strong bari line.

Can't wait to hear the extended solo voice end the show -- that should make for another summer of fun on DCP! As for the music itself, it could definitely work for the Cadets, but it is more than a bit redundant - thankfully enough they do not have much time to really dedicate to it according to the current lengths of the other pieces they've unveiled. I'm also a little concerned about the fact that the three pieces we've seen from them are so different -- going to take a lot for them to put htese together to form a coherent whole. But I don't really seriously doubt that they will pull it off.

Allow me to clarify. When I say worst case scenario, I mean simply from my perspective for what I would like to see in the theater. I think we all would agree (and in fact I believe I specifically said) that I'm just happy to go see Drum Corps in the theater and I'll gladly support the activity regardless of which shows were selected. And to say that the 8 shows I've selected as the worst case scenario is not necessiraly a dig at those shows (except for my comment about the 2006 Caview show). In fact, the majority of the shows I selected was simply because they've already been shown. I like virtually all of the shows that made the Top 30 and can see how they made the cut as the Top 30, I simply would rather see the others over the 8 that I selected as my worst case scenario.

Ok, so now that the voting is over and all we can do is wait, it occurred to me that I could very well show up at the theater and see 8 shows that would not include any of my favorites. And while I'm all for supporting drum corps in all of its formats, I just really hope that my worst fears aren't realized. So I thought what would be the worst case scenario for the Classic Countdown? Using the same rules as the Classic Countdown (i.e. one show per corps) I came up with my worst case scenario, but I wonderd what combination of shows would be least fulfilling, entertaining, etc. for others? Here's mine: 1975 Madison 1980 27th Lancers 1980 Bridgemen 1989 SCV 1996 Phantom 2000 Cadets (the show I consider the greatest threat to the one show that I really want to make it, 1987 Garfield) 2003 Blue Devils 2006 Cavies (Hated it last year and don't really suspect that it has grown on me since) Most of these selections are based simply on the fact thatthey've already been showcased in the Classic Countdown and it's time that other, equally worthy shows get their moments.

Phantom's versions was good, but I have to say that my favorite version is the Anaheim Kingsmen version from 1972 or 1973. I was just shocked at how strong they were when I first heard them (1972) and then when I first saw them (1973). Since I was only 1 and 2 years old repectively, I never actually saw them live, but even on the video, one can see that they had that champion's attitude -- they just seemed to carry themselves with such confidence. Much like SCV always seems to look like a champion even in years when the program may not be the strongest. So, if you've not seen or heard the Kingsmen versions, I highly recommend them!

Let me explain: 1. The point of #1 wassimply that if you vote for each of the MyCorps years, 1979, 1989 and 1999, then you are essentially not voting for any one particular show. So yes McCorps is likely to appear, but the chances that your personal favorite, MyCorps 1979, will appear are not increased by the vote because it gaines no ground on the other two MyCorps years. 2. As for the second point, here's the way I envision it. All Crown supporters vote for Crown 2006. But the huge block of Cadets fans split the vote between the five options (unless of course the Cadets fans vote for all 5 options in order to ensure that a Cadets show makes it), then it is possible that a Crown 2006 might appear, but no Cadets. Of course, the key for Crown, or Glassmen or Bridgemen or 27th fans would be to vote for those shows that would be less likely to have high vote totals. I doubt any of these groups are going to be thinking exactly in this way, but if they really wanted to, there could be a possibility of these 4 single choices making it over 4 of the Big 7. Like I said, I don't think that anyone is really giving this vote that much thought, but I was just responding to what I saw on here about the 4 single shows essentially batling it out to join the Big 7. Oh well, I'm going regardless. Afterall, if I show up and love all of the shows, then great! If I show up and hate all of the selections, then I get to do what drum corps fans do best, complain!

Two points: 1. Since a corps can only appear once in the show, I think that it makes little sense to vote for multiple shows from one corps. Now, I might see voting for two out of the 5 or 4, but if you spread your vote, you are essentially voting for none of them. To that end, I would just like to request that everyone select Garfield 1987 as the Cadets's selection. We've already had 2000 and 1984, so for the sake of seeing something different (and seeing my favorite show ever), let's vote for 1987 Cadets. Also, I think it would be really cool if both 1987 Garfield and SCV made it so that the audience can get another look at one of the closest, most debated championship ever. 2. For those of you who are so convinced that we will only see the Big 7 (Mad., PR, SCV, BD, Cadets, Cavies, and Star), I think there is a real possibility that we might see all of those with only one show nominated. The reason is simply that the fans of that corps only have the one option. So I think we could very easily see the votes for SCV, Cadets, Cavies et al. be divided and lose out to the block voting of Crown, Glassmen, 27th and Bridgemen. Any way it goes, it is going to be a very interesting vote! And I do think that DCI should release the official vote totals.

Here are my selections: 1979 Guardsmen 1987 Garfield Cadets 1988 Velvet Knights 1988 Suncoast Sound 1990 The Cavaliers 1990 Star of Indiana 1991 Blue Devils 1997 Crossmen

I too think that Prokofiev's ballet has incredible music and that it would make a great show. Not only is the music great, but you also get the benefit of a ready made story line that every fan knows. I actually always thought of SCV when I heard it, but I also had the idea of Southwind doing it after seeing how well they handled some of Khatchuturian music a few years ago. And 1988 Phantom was Tchaikovsky's Romeo & Juliet, not Prokofiev's.

I too worry about the skewing of the voting toward shows from the 2000-2006 period. I think it's up to all of us who have a pre-2000 awareness to make all of our computer literate friends/family/fellow drum corps fans aware of the vote so at least there's a chance that the voters' average age will be above 21. Now, as for who to vote for, I hope and pray that the voting public will see the error of its way from previous Classic Countdowns and finally vote for 1987 Garfield Cadets. After seeing the threads on here dedicated to that show, I can see that the show is the favorite of many more people other than just myself. So I almost don't care who the other 7 shows are, just as long as the night ends with that truly classic show!

I've seen some discussion on here about whether a piece of music such as 'Belshazzar's Feast" or "Magnificat" would qualify asa "one SONG show." I would just say that in my opinion the term "SONG" was being used in a broad way and not in the sense of one song (i.e. "Stairway to Heaven"). So in my opinion, just as a symphony has multiple movements and is generally considered to be a "one song" qualifier, I think the Oratorios listed above should also qualify. And what of a ballet suite like Firebird (Cavies '88 and '97)? Is that a "one song" show. I submit that it is.

For me, it was the video of the 1987 Finals: Garfiled's show was so incredible! It was like they were speaking a different language than every other show out there. It is still my all-time favorite and it's not even close.