cadetzoid
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Posts posted by cadetzoid
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This does show how subjective judging is in this activity. Of course the training on how to use the sheets and the value of a tenth when using those sheets to assign a numerical value to art should lead to reasons for a judges' ranking sand ratings. I also wonder about how placements aim the designers. If you want to win, design like the winners- but using your own brand. This makes designers either re-invent themselves, or move out of the way for younger designers that may be more affected by current trends in the activity. I remind myself and other fans that the current generation of performers DO NOT want to do an old school show. AND, old school to them means the same as it did to me when I marched- old school 5+ years ago.
My take for Ss and Gs:
BLOO: Aesthetic=10, Intellectual=9, Emotional= 10
BD: Aesthetic=7, Intellectual=10, Emotional= 7
SCV: Aesthetic=6, Intellectual=8, Emotional= 6
CC: Aesthetic=9, Intellectual=7, Emotional= 7
BC: Aesthetic=8, Intellectual=8, Emotional= 8
CAVIES: Aesthetic=9, Intellectual=8, Emotional= 10
BK: Aesthetic=7, Intellectual=9, Emotional= 9
And for my poor Cadets, too many aspects of all three just didn't get taken care of in the off season.
Cadets: Aesthetic=5, Intellectual=4, Emotional= 4 It just wasn't an idea that could inspire pageantry design in 2019. Inspire social discussion, human rights, a TED talk, etc, sure.
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1) STOP doing social justice shows despite your recent woes. 2) Get a design team that does much better planning, organization, overall execution of the design process- scope and sequence than we have seen this year, and last year to some degree, though last year's show was MUCH BETTER CONSTRUCTED!!! 3) Realize it is the perfect time to reinvent yourselves while keeping some traditions/isms that will allow the community to say- "yeah, that seems a Cadet inspired show". 4) Realize this year's show, that I predict will fall a few more placements this season before all is said and done, will not attract a lot of new and highly skilled talent, making the early planned, thoughtfully mapped out, and seamless winter time show design all the more important.
That said, this show has its moments. The opening is stately and when executed well, is pure class. The percussion section is particularly good, especially the drumline. The brass moment in the Ginastera on the stairs is amazing when it fires on all cylinders. The guard has some ver musical writing. The full tutti ensemble music statements are fantastic. While this all isn't enough these days to stay in the top seven or eight, it doesn't mean the corps is not good or that the members do not deserve a great summer. I hope they hold their heads up every day and that the design team continues to tweak the show for the better.
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4 minutes ago, tigger2 said:
BUT, look at the last two days on GE. Waymire had Blue Stars 2 tenths behind SCV in rep two days ago. So, Jones having them 1.5 from Cavies seems to tell a story of perhaps Blue Star's greatness but not necessarily SCV nor Cavies lack of it.
I am expecting Blue Stars and Crossmen both to turn some heads as the summer progresses, placing ahead of Cadets and threatening BK when all is said and done. Their shows are better constructed and much more effective. Unless Cadets make major changes, I fear the show falls extremely short in several ways including the awkward and un-followable lackluster narrative. I know this thread isn't specifically about Cadets, but with Nola Jones and Mark Waymire both making a rep number statement within a few days of each other in support of the Blue Stars' program, maybe my predictions have supported merit.
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Seems PR alumni are gearing up to be the next destructive, microscopic, self-serving Madison alumni. Be careful. Be every careful. Caring is not always the same as being supportive. It is about the members today in 2019. Today's members will NEVER have the same goals, experiences, tastes, interests, performance prowess as those from 2009, 1999, 1989, etc. Thank God.
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Crown is so good. I love the changes and additions. It this keeps going . . .
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Loved it Stars. As I asked about Crossmen, will BK be better than this? So good and uniquely them! HARD AND ENTERTAINING. Eager to see it again.
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Crossmen were the %#@!. So good. The best they have been in decades. Loved it and clearly a finalist. Will BK be this good?
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Well well Phantom, not any where ready to lay down and die. There is a lot of great material there!!! Dirty? yes. Unfocused at times? yes. But the best show of the evening thus far for sure. Could be really strong by the end if the right decisions and cleaning take place. Won't be top ten, but that is such a tall order these days. I really enjoyed it!!!
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Music City, Nashville TN: I loved these guys last year and was excited to see their 2019 production. It is early yet, but I found I was not as impressed with the show as I hoped to be. The talent level seems to be about the same as last year. I found the production to be hard to follow and pretty heady/aloof while also having a level of camp perhaps; seemed we needed to have some tongue-in-cheek secret conversation with those in the know to get it, the opposite of last year. Cool costumes and flag designs. Not a lot of crowd reaction. I think that is due to pacing issues and again, the headiness. Eager to see changes and an elevated accessibility.
Spirit of Atlanta, Atlanta GA: 2019 is their new 2011; the potential for a stunning, clever, and affecting production seems inevitable. Will that guarantee them a place in finals? No. Great energy with a lot of member buy-in makes this production already exciting to watch. Unique, fresh, and accessible makes this an attractive show. Lots of detail to add. More range musically and visually will help this reach its full potential. I REALLY enjoyed this offering. Excited to see it again.
The Cadets, Allentown PA: To get right to it, bluntly- The talent level in all sections is awesome. Much beyond last year. There are so many phrases, moments, vignettes to LOVE. That said, the transitions need a lot of attention. AND, the show concept needs to be THROWN OUT TOTALLY! (Enough of the social and moral restoration stuff). It (the show theme) is not at all realized, evident, or attractive as presented now. Call the show "Empowerment", "Equal", "US", "Together", "No Longer", etc. A ton of choices that would take this show intellectually to a much more effective place.
Boston Crusaders, Boston MA: So amazing in so many ways for 90% of the show. I find the Goliath character on stilts to be a point where the highly convincing production takes a dramatic and placement-lowering nose dive. It is totally silly and unconvincing. While the peg-laden wall props are too cool for school, when Goliath falls on one of them in his stilts, I am done and cannot take the show nearly as seriously as BD, BC, SCV, Crown, Cavies, BK, Mandarins, or Blue Stars. Rather than a medalist moment, it is just too amateur and never recovers. PLEASE rethink the death of Goliath disaster.
Bluecoats, Canton OH: I have watched BD and SCV many times and confidently state this is the show to beat. Boston (in its current state) is a solid fourth place. The top three are not set in stone, BUT Bluecoats 2019 is really competitive in all captions: brass, percussion, Visual, Music Ensemble, Guard, GE, Visual ensemble, etc. So smooth and collected. I am absolutely captivated every measure. Cannot stop thinking about this production. Brilliant!
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1 hour ago, Jake W. said:
Ok, I've given this a couple good listens, and my opinion is it's....actually far beyond what I expected. I'm certainly not making any claims of "Phantom's Back!!", etc., but I will at least say definitively that this reads much better than last year's neutered music book.
The opening breathy singing is a bit cringey to my ears. It implies the opposite of what the rest of the music book does, which is power. I didn't care for that at all, but I realize that it could just need to be paired with visuals in order to work properly.
Other than that....pretty solid all around. Of course the Carmina Burana opening statement is terrific, and I'll always be a sucker for that. The bulk of the opener after that is quite meaty & dense, and I love the mello rips and then the little jazzy return to Carmina Burana. Lots of thick music to sink their teeth into, but it reads as fairly lucid & accessible, which is something that last year's dense music didn't have --- it just seemed dense & knotty for difficulty's sake. Yes, FoEG being being broken up is odd, but the payoff statement is pretty nice. I trust that that whole section (including the Carmina Burana return in the mallets and then those delicious trombone rips upward) will be the visual high points of show, maybe a burning at the stake? The 30 Seconds to Mars part is actually...pretty current & interesting. The kids are clearly already really into that section. It's written well and ties into what comes after it beautifully. Transition back to Carmina Burana and that entire closer is just...well....quite nice. It's really refreshing and, frankly, unexpected, to hear Phantom come out with a music book loaded with passion & intent. I enjoyed listening to it and heard many shades of potential.
THIS.
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There is a lot of content in both brass and percussion writing. Some killer moments. The herald trumpet and trombone display is stupid good. The Rocky/Hamilton mashup was unexpected and quite clever. The voice overs seem forced and awkward, overly produced so they sound somewhere between cartoon characters and over actors, in this context. Do not care for the ballad at all. It does not help that so many commercials have used this tune for a variety of cheesy narratives. Though the ballad may have some visual intrigue, as a tune, I found it lacking in interest and emotional content that I do not think will be different live. My 2 cents. Excited to see it live.
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8 minutes ago, East9900 said:
I understand arranging a piece you may want to change things, but I have a big issue when the piece is arranged in a way that it's barely recognizable. This isn't solely a PR thing, but they seem to be the biggest culprits these last few years (with no blame on the members). There's nothing wrong with the originals, so why approach them in a "I believe I can write it better" philosophy?
I was really hoping they weren't going to do a "We are Joan!" It just seems too cliche for my taste.
As for the performance, the horn line sounds very young. It concerns me that there are some struggles during a stand still. Those things are only going to get worse on the move. I really, really hope they can pull this show off, but I am very concerned for them.
Feel free to rip my opinions to shreds. PR was the first drum corps show I ever saw and I've been fond of them ever since. I really want this corps to be at the top, but I just don't see that happening right now. A LOT of work needs to be done, and not just from the members.
I am curious as to which piece you think barley recognizable? Or were you just stating that as a general comment because there are certainly some liberties being taken here. I like that I hear energy and passion in the music. I like that I feel I can follow a narrative already. When in their position, trying to reinvent yourself yet remain to some degree what you have always been, while trying to crawl up the competitive mountain, the passion in some cases elevates your talent level. We will see. I am greatly encouraged.
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First, this concert venue is acoustically a nightmare. It doesn't hold sound well, it is extremely difficult for the performers to hear much past themselves, and they are playing into a hill. That stated, I NEVER get emotional connections or goosebumps to these early season concert in the park videos, but this one got me. My impressions:
- THIS is the Phantom Regiment we have all loved for decades
- Who better to play Carmina
- The arrangers did their due diligence at harkening back but making it new again
- The a cappella ending to FoEG is perfect
- The use of Carmina snippets throughout in various voices is a strong and intelligent musical thread
- I dig the vocal come-together moment
- I am more than fine with the nods to the Spartacus production
- Batterie sounds their best for several years
- The beginning really draws you in
- There are some voice leadings and minor pacing things that may need attention (though that may not be perceived when live and with visuals)
- Love the uniforms/costumes
- The visual team has their work cut out for them to make sure this is all elevated
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Mandarins easily in most every way. Scouts crowd response was mild at best until the end. Show depth not there and lots of performance issues.
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SCV for the win. Though they will not/cannot win all captions, they can win GE from all 4 judges. BD is laid back, smooth sailing, comfy enjoyment, and I love it. With SCV, I am riveted the entire time and not only mesmerized by the achievement of it all, but the rate and variety of effects throughout. I stay on the edge of my seat. Visually the most stunning corps. I love the uniforms. The props and their use are super intelligent. Seamless production which I believe to be harder than other approaches.
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On June 24, 2017 at 9:20 AM, Cappybara said:
Huh, very close to the same placement order as last year's finals, just like I said before.
DCI judging is so predictable
Though others have responded directly to this post, I wanted to make an analogy to professional sports. Though the draft for pro sports is something corps do not have, we could say that great teams often stay great year to year due to one, two, three, all of the following: consistent administration, reliable funding, consistent staff, consistent performers/retention, average/years of maturity/experience, fan base, history, etc.
The NY Yankees do not have any of the exact above listed components that they had in the 70s. 80s, etc. Even though they have periods of not being at or near the top, that always does not last long. Some sports teams have a sudden stent of success that then wanes- New Orleans Saints, etc.
For me, one or more of the components listed above can change partially or significantly and make a difference in placement. We can see several examples this year of such changes that will make a measurable difference is placement.
A final component of success I want to mention is that while each of the aspects of success may improve one year over another, such does not always guarantee a placement change, because all other teams/corps have the opportunity to make improvements as well. Spirit, Cascades, Crusaders, and PC all seem better to me than last year in most all performance regards. But, they more than likely will remain in the same range as last year and possibly in the same order. The training, designing, and organizational aspects of drum corps keep improving measurably year to year. I love watching this and do not welcome its likely inevitable slowing at some point in the future.
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On July 10, 2017 at 2:13 PM, MikeN said:
I never thought this would happen to me... but watching the Minnesota show this weekend, I wish Madison had included voice to introduce each segment. I think it would make the program flow a bit more, especially if it were similar in tone to the monologues in the most recent Mad Max...
Mike
Had not thought this prior, but a great idea! Could make a big difference.
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Voice overs can make or break a show, that's for sure. It is rare that they are done well. The fewer the words, the better. Clear and effective. Not over the top of a million other things or fortissimo volume levels.
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5 minutes ago, shofmon88 said:
BD has a high brass section like no one else. They use the upper register so well.
I like this BD show. I don't say that very often.
Other people are saying this, but I hear tons of high brass tuning issues throughout, especially the beginning and then all high brass features. It make me wiggly every time I see/hear them. It is shockingly bad at times.
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Great read. Interesting and pretty thoughtful. I am not reading into this that you think this is the order, just how you see it right now based on the info you got. I do bet you are at least 91.66% accurate with who is making finals this year.
No, you don't need but even one viewing to write these insights. opinions.
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14 = too bando?
This coming from an alum who's corps has trombones.
DCP IS A JOKE
You have a right to get ###### at my post, to be down right offended, to let your neck hairs be all bristled up. Not sure it is all a bit uncalled for, but you know you and I don't. However, stating my post is the reason "DCP IS A JOKE" seems oddly irrational. I like Crossmen. Thought last year's show was bando and sense this year's will be part 2. Hope I am wrong.
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Fun as always. Reliable as always.
Yes, I simply copied an earlier post, added my own comments. My order is extremely similar. Thanks derbydawg for setting me
up with this.
1st: BD Thanks to a small child, they showed they can be at least a little emotional. They will need that
component to win this year. Judges may start calling them out where deserved.
2nd: Bluecoats Don't place this high until finals. Wow.
3rd: Crown Amazing, Still learning how to win come finals week.
4th: Cadets As good as last year. Need to become the innovators again.
5th: Blue Knights Judges actually put them where they belong. So refreshing and creative.
6th: Santa Clara Vanguard Very good. Not all captions firing. Behind on innovation.
7th: Madison This good all summer. Corps only gets better going into finals week. A few SCV scares.
8th: Boston Clips online look and sound great. Digging the show theme.
9th: Cavies Still don't have enough key people in place. Show theme has me worried. Seems bando, again.
10th: Phantom Just not willing to make needed changes. Usual talent didn't show up this year.
11th: Blue Stars Scare PR several times. Good staff changes. Mark Ford is really smart!
12th: Academy Have found their niche. Really entertaining and with quality.
13th: Troppers Again, so close. Great corps.
14th: Crossmen Really not a fan of last year's show. Really flat and not memorable. Original music is usually a yawn. Too bando.
15th: OC Show really caught fire last finals week. Improved talent all around.
16th: Mandarins Interesting show with more talent, especially perc and guard.
17th: Crest Better than 2015, but so are many above them.
18th: Colts Take a few hits from past staff issues
19th: Casades Picking up where last year left off.20th: Genesis Fastest improving corps.
21st: Vanguard Cadets Better than last year.
22nd: BDB Good. Too much smoke and mirrors catches up to them (may happen to mother corps as well)
23nd: SOA While they may be making smart money decisions, design and teaching continue to really suffer because this iswhere the old alumni have little to no modern day knowledge, as shown the past few years. .
24th: Spartans Great retention, clever show, well designed.
25th: Legends Their best year yet. -
LOVE the new Trooper's uniform. Bout time.
If between Bluecoats and BD, what influences your pick?
in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
Posted
If not a tie, Bluecoats. I love the no loose ends approach to design and the amazing control of the crowd the show has every second. Like someone said above, the forced transition in BDs shows always bother me, but more so this year. I love their organic approach to design, but I think that can cause the mad dash transitions BD has.