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Fan of D.C.

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    Bluecoats 2014

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted · Edited by Fan of D.C.

    The Bluecoats' show is:

    -incredibly clean.

    -a series of set pieces relating to the general theme of the "tilt".

    -masterfully executed.

    -the first to marry full volume brass synth recordings with live brass.

    -slick in its handling of the tilt stage props.

    The Bluecoats show is also:

    -Limited in its range of emotion and tone How So?

    -Limited in its color guard equipment, color changes and range of style. Really, what do you know about color guard equipment?

    -Without thematic argument. Does it require an argument?

    -Without pattern. What are you talking about?

    -Without story elements, although not required. Well, guess you called yourself out on that one!

    -Without dramatic progression. Um, whatever!

    -Without depth of meaning. Really, how deep does it need to be? It's art and provokes thought and discussion.

    -Without cultural reference. ???

    -Without ties or reference to nationality, political scenarios, business, literary or historical references, science, the humanities other than music itself, psychology, sociology, architecture, or media. Wow, I have been watching drum corp wrong all these years I guess.

    -Without variance in musical genres within the show. Just wow, really reaching in this one.

    I'm sorry, I just do not understand your thought process when you are saying it is limited/without. Perhaps the only thing limited and without is your perception? Just sayin! ;)

    • Like 1

    2013 DCA World Championships Prelims

    in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions

    Posted

    C2 got the real shaft. They should be on Cabs' heels. I loved Atlanta (my fav show of the night) but they aren't better than C2. Heck, Fusion was far better than Empire overall. Statesmen sounded great, no doubt. But there is almost no demand anywhere in the program, and with that choice they should be squeaky clean. They aren't. Fun and exciting? Yes. But 7th.

    Yes C2 was good but from what I saw the guard was a lot less clean than the rest of the corp and just did not hold up to the rest of the package. Buccs, MBI, Cabs, Corp Vets, Fusion, Empire all signifigantly better quality guards than C2. I do not know with out seeing the recap but I would guess C2s guard would be 7th at best and I am not even sure it held up to that. JMO

    Another open letter to DCI.

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted · Edited by Fan of D.C.

    I will admit that deep down inside I was pulling for Crown and thought it was the most innovative production I have ever seen! With that said, I also loved BD this year and though the show was a bit strange at first viewing, I grew to love it more with every viewing. The Apollo was beautiful and stunning and woven in throughout the production masterfully. The BD performers presented sheer excellence throughout the production and deserved the win!

    For me this activity is still about what these young people are able to accomplish, and this year was nothing short of amazing from one corps to the next for me. I have been watching Drum Corps for over 20 years and just like a prior poster in this thread my first exposure was the 1987 PBS broadcast, and I have been hooked ever since. :) Yes, there have been some bumpy years along the way that I have wondered whether or not I liked where the activity was heading, and the use of electronics took away the purity of what my perceptions of drum corps is/was. As the years have progressed with the use of electronics I think that most corps have struck a balance and are using them much better since their introduction and in allot of cases this year have enriched the production value of their shows with their utilization of them.

    To the OP, I can relate to what you are saying and although I was not ready to walk away from the activity, I was angry, disgruntled and in complete dismay over BD's win in 2010. I hated that show and still do! It offended all my senses (yes, it left a bad taste in my mouth) and made me squirm through the entire production. However, as much as I hated to admit it, the performers were the best on the field and deserved it. I realize that as much as I wanted any other corps to beat it, I would not be willing to throw the members under the bus to have another corps win who did not execute at that level, and unfortunately there was not another corps in 2010 that presented the level of excellence BD displayed IMO. The corps themselves have had a hand in designing the criteria for which they be judged and performance, excellence and achievement of the performers is paramount to the sheets in every caption. Right? Perhaps the system could use some tweaking, but I do think the judges are doing their best to interpret them.

    DCA is a different animal, and I marched a DCA corps for 4 years. I agree their is a mutual respect that exists between all the corps in DCA even with some heated rivalries, however I think DCI corps are the same in that respect. I was at the Pittsburgh show this year when Crossmen and Spirit were both playing for each other after the show.

    In closing, what we value and call entertainment is going to be different for all of us. I love what I saw this year in DCI and enjoyed almost every corps. I have to chuckle when I hear people on here say that these corps are loosing their identities when in fact what I saw was corp after corps for the most part getting back in touch with it! Crossmen this year was a throw back to the Crossmen of years past, look where it got them. I can remember Blue Knights being weird in the late 80's and 90's can you? Well Phantom, need I say more. I could go on and on!

    All the best,

    LJ

    An Open Letter to DCI

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted · Edited by Fan of D.C.

    Some may call me a BD hater, if they asked what I thought of their 2010 production "Through the glass darkly". In fact there were very few shows through the 2000's that BD did that I liked. I understood why they won when they did, it was just the productions they choose to present were not my cup of tea. I came to realize it was not the Blue Devils I hated it was the material they were putting in front of me. I can go back to the 80's and 90's and I for the most part loved BD. After disliking their shows for so long I was expecting the same this year. However, I must admit this year they have made me a fan all over again, I just love it!

    Art and music are diverse and just like any trip to a museum or art gallery we can ponder it, see what emotions it engages in us and move on to the next exhibit. We do not have to like all of it! Like what you want to like, love what you want to love, and hate what you want to hate. They are all valid emotions and you are entitled to them!

    • Like 2
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