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Tony L.

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Posts posted by Tony L.

  1. I agree with SexyGuard. Star was definitely not the first corps to use body movement through the entire corps. And I think if the question is simply which show was most innovative and epoch-shaping, then I would say that neither Star '93 nor Cadets '05 truly changed the activity (although the jury for '05 is obviously still out). I guess the point really is that very little (if anything) in this activity can't be traced back to some source. The activity evolves, and because of that, nothing is really revolutionary.

    If the question is which show annoyed more people, i'd call it a tie. I was shocked by the volume of negative responses to both shows.

  2. The Pledge of Allegiance was my biggest beef with Cadets '02. That was just pathetic (And I'm a big Cadets fan in general), but it was just too much! Also, if I remember their show correctly, wasn't the pledge (as they delivered it) anachronistic? I thought the show was set in the '40s, but wasn't the "under God" bit added to the pledge in the '50s?

    Anyway, that's why I found the Cadets 2002 show to be the Cheesiest. As a matter of fact, I really never even watch that show on my DVDs, nor have I listened to it.

  3. I got 5:

    1988 Madison

    1989 Phantom

    1992 Crossmen

    1993 Star

    1999 Vanguard

    But I actually watched my own Classic Countdown votes (the 5 above with 1978 Bridgemen, 1979 Spirit, 1987 Garfield, 1988 Suncoast, 1994 Blue Knights, 2000 Cavaliers, and 2001 Glassmen) this weekend. I think I like my lineup better. But we'll see. . .

    One very interesting thing is the way that i reacted to Star 1993 right after 1992 Crossmen. It was such a drastic shift and one that took from an intense emotional reaction (1992 Xmen) to one of intellectual intensity (1993 Star). I can't explain it, but Star's show just didn't connect to me immediately after seeing Crossmen, I can't explain why, and I mean I actually voted for Star 1993. It was really jarring and I will be interested to hear how others react IF these two are shown in the same order in the theater.

    And what is it going to take to finally get to see 1987 Garfield? I know that there are others out there who love this show, I just can't believe that my all-time favorite show will not make it for the second time!

  4. I would add:

    1994 Blue Knights (Tritico) (especially the ballad) Back when they were still the Blue Dots;

    1995 Colts (Sunday in the Park With George) One of their best years and one of their most sophisticated programs;

    1999 Colts (Voices) I loved this show (especially the Dies Irae) I think it's the best #12 show ever.

    1989 Suncoast Sound (Florida Suite redux) This show is even more effective now when you know it's their last Finals show ever;

    1991 Garfield (ABCs of Modern American Music) Cadets in a year when they were more concerned with experimenting than scoring. I love the Copland piece in the middle, most theatrical presentation ever;

    2001 Bluecoats I believe thiswas the year they did the Red Cape Tango, but I loved this show.

    1996 Bluecoats (Holidays) I even enjoyed the Labor Day tribute!

    1997 L'Academie Musicale: The colorguard were incredible and Pie Jesu as a closer was excellent.

  5. It's so funny that you raise this issue. I was actually just thinking about the same topic.

    For me, it is Garfield 1987. I just watched this again this weekend and I was surprised at the power that it still has on me. I absolutely would be happy to see this show in my last 12-13 minutes. Just long enough to get the resolution of the company front!

  6. 1) 1987 PBS Broadcast (highlights of 2-11 and full Garfield).

    2) Before (although my first show in 1988 was definitely a great one in Cincinnati 2 weeks before Finals):

    1 Santa Clara Vanguard 91.300

    2 Phantom Regiment 89.600

    3 Madison Scouts 88.200

    4 Velvet Knights 87.600

    5 Spirit of Atlanta 83.800

    6 Sky Ryders 76.100

    7 Freelancers 73.800

    8 Florida Wave 68.400

    9 Glassmen 51.700

    10 Limited Edition 45.900

  7. Well, I got four of my choices in and I am so excited that 1992 Crossmen made the cut!!!! That is one fantastic show and I can't wait to see it on the big screen. And 1999 Vanguard, one of the few shows that I've ever seen in June and knew that it was a championship show.

    As for the 2004 Crown and 2005 Bluecoats selections, I think they were probably aided by a few factors: 1) not corps more than once; 2) no obvious selections in the 2000s; and 3) a relatively limited number of selections for Crown and Bluecoats (while they've had great shows in the past, it'll be a long time before they make it in for the 80s or 90s since those decades are filled with the biggest drum corps classics from so many other corps). But let's face it, both Crown and Coats are two corps really on the rise, so I think they're great selections for the 2000s -- show two corps that are positioning themselves to produce more classics in the future.

  8. While the vocal portion of the show (i.e. singing) was nice, it really isn't "marching band" in that the persons singing are neither marching, nor playing an instrument. I think that the same is the case in Drum Corps. I also understand the need to push the activity and the art form of drum corps in new ways. But I am just concerned that this type of use of vocals is neither helpful nor beneficial to growth of the activity. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for innovation, but seriously, is knocking off BOA shows really the way to go?

    And the narration on this was possibly the most insipid I've ever heard! I mean seriously: "When you were born, you were a pure individual. The light came from within." Huh?? It reminded me a lot of BAC's color show, which I have to say I actually really liked SO MUCH BETTER when I saw it in Orlando when they had no microphones.

    I just think that everything that the unit tried to convey can be (and has been) done in a "pure" drum corps idiom. For example, the bit about trying to fit in and .... well, don't you think that the ballad from Cadets' 1991 show conveyed this idea pretty well without the use of narration? And as far as the innocence of youth and the various apects of the growth of the individual, Suncoast '88 and Cadets '00 come to mind.

    The key to understanding a show should not be listening to a story or providing audio cues for the audience. I've always felt that Drum Corps is akin to the ballet in that respect. The story is told through movement, color, choreoraphy and music. To the extent that the human voice acts as an instrument and falls within the "music" category, I think I can accept it. But the narration (of the type in this clip) simply has no place in drum corps -- IMHO.

  9. '78 Bridgemen

    '79 Spirit of Atlanta

    '87 Garfield Cadets

    '88 Suncoast Sound

    '88 Madison Scouts

    '89 Phantom Regiment

    '92 Crossmen

    '93 Star of Indiana

    '94 Blue Knights

    '99 Santa Clara Vanguard

    '00 Cavaliers

    '01 Glassmen

    I've seen a lot of people include the '88 Suncoast show. I really hope that that and the '92 Crossmen shows make it in. Also I really think '87 Garfield and '89 Phantom are two that MUST make it in. Oh well, we'll see.

  10. I think that an arranger could easily get 11 minutes out of a full-length ballet like Raise the Red Lantern. Especially when the percussion get the type of feature that the music would demand. And there are several really beautiful moments in the music too that I think the Mandarins could use to create a whole new way of putting music on the field. I agree that the music may not be exactly what one would think of as drum corps music, but that is precisely my point for why the Mandarins should pursue it. It would let them tap into their Chinese heritage while offering fans and judges a truly original style of program and music. Oh well, too bad I know noone at the Mandarins.

  11. Just saw the National Ballet of China's production of the ballet "Raise the Red Lantern" by Chen Qigang this weekend at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and it was absolutely stunning. I really think it would make a great vehicle for the Mandarins (especially since a lot of the costuming actually already looked like Mandarins guard uniforms from the past). And the final scene when the first concubine along with the second concubine and her lover are whipped to death was simply unbelievable theater. It would be an amazing vehicle for the Mandarins to continue their growth as they move into Top 12.

  12. Honestly, while I think Crown is building something great for the future, right now I think the corps that is seriously knocking on the door for top 4 is Bluecoats. They have gotten into the mix recently and stayed there. More importantly, they are maintaining staff and membership and by doing so are creating their own unique identity. Mature talent and a stong cohesive staff are what will help Bluecoats, and hopefully Crown, break through. The activity really needs someone to do it.

  13. I completely agree with Prokofiev's R&J as fantastic music for Phantom. In my opinion, it is possibly the best ballet music ever written and it provides the corps with an instantly recognizeable visual "storyline". That's half the battle and in this case, everyone already knows the story going in. Great music performed well with a very accessible story, I think it would really work. (But then again, I thought this would have been a good show for Southwind to follow up their Gayen show with from a couple of years ago). Someone definitely needs to do this music.

  14. My first contest was on Aug. 2, 1988 in Cincinnati, OH. The following corps were present:

    1 Santa Clara Vanguard 91.300

    2 Phantom Regiment 89.600

    3 Madison Scouts 88.200

    4 Velvet Knights 87.600

    5 Spirit of Atlanta 83.800

    6 Sky Ryders 76.100

    7 Freelancers 73.800

    8 Florida Wave 68.400

    9 Glassmen 51.700

    10 Limited Edition 45.900

    All in all, a very good night for my first live show. Of course I actually first became a fan of the activity after watching the 1987 videotape (which I have yet to return to my former friend -- perhaps that's why he is now my former friend?)

  15. But, they always did have a "snippets" version of Finals where the Top 12 were all shown and got at least one song each. I don't think the broadcast needs to be full Top 6, but I do think they could have given the viewer a little more of actual performances. It has been done and it can be done again.

    What is a snippet anyway? Why don't we just have a nice rock song playing in the background and show a really cool (neatly editted) video montage of the corps. Now that would really make the activity look really cool on TV!

    The format is basically fine, but I think that they may have just gone a bit too far in the quest to deliver the "Snippet".

  16. My only problem was that they showed a grand total of 2 clips from Boston and Crown during the first 40 minutes! It was over 12 minutes before they even showed the Boston highlight. It just seemed odd to spend sooo much time talking about something before actually showing it. I think they should have had the brief intro with Rondo and then gone straight to the Boston clip. At least then, the viewer could have had some reference point for the subsequent 12 minutes or so.

    I just feel like the activity's product speaks more strongly than people talking about the activity. Don't get me wrong, I really thought the introduction of each part of the corps was really well done (especially the section where the drill on the computer was imposed on the overhead of the Cavaliers' performance from San Antonio). However, I just thought that at least initially, the audience should have been shown an example of what the activity is about.

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