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behold888

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    Cavies Struggles

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    Its " Cadevaliers " and it will still be apt once again if either The Cadets or the Blue Devils win the 2013 DCI Title. We usually have someone besides the Cadevaliers ( Cadets, Blue Devils, or Cavaliers )win DCI every 12-15 years or so, before things return to normalcy the following year once again for the next decade or so. The last non Cadevaliers to win was 2008 ( Phantom Regiment ) by less than half a tenth over the Cadevaliers ( but a wins a win as they say ). Crown appears to have the best chance right now to upset The Cadevaliers, with Phantom Regiment also a dark horse Corps to perhaps do so this season.

    Well look at you, you called it!

    Cavaliers And Their Antics

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    6NR1S.png

    Talk about an XtraordinarY head rush, amirite?

    But in all seriousness, what were your thoughts on this? Was it awesome? Did you get sick of it? Personally, I really enjoyed it. I feel like it's something a lot of corps might do various twists on in future designs. Or I'm crazy, either way...

    They were beating a dead horse. Funny the first time, but they did it one too many times, I think.

    • Like 1

    Finals Week Predictions

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    My finals wishlist/predictions:

    1 - 98.75 The Cadets

    2 - 98.3 Blue Devils

    3 - 96.5 The Cavaliers

    4 - 95.95 Carolina Crown

    5 - 94.05 Santa Clara Vanguard

    6 - 93.8 Phantom Regiment

    7 - 93.4 Bluecoats

    8 - 90.5 Boston Crusaders

    9 - 89.25 Madison Scouts

    10 - 89.0 Blue Knights

    11 - 88.2 Blue Stars

    12 - 85.8 Spirit of Atlanta

    I was actually kind of close!

    Why do the Cadets suck in even years the past ten years?

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    I think a lot of corps have the same issue in a way. It may vary between corps, but a lot of times I get the impression that when the design team is successful in one year, they try to duplicate the success, but they choose the wrong things to copy. Examples:

    Cadets 05 was incredibly successful, so the designers took the form and tried to just amp it up, and ended up (IMO) overdoing it, and missing that a big part of The Zone's success was just its complete novelty. Doing The Zone Part 2 is exactly the *wrong* strategy to take out of winning so decisively with The Zone.

    Crown 09 was a huge leap forward for the corps, coming in second, and in a lot of ways it was a really special show. So in 2010, they designed a show with a lot of the same elements, but they felt forced the second time around. Puck was incredible, so we need another section like that. Only the music didn't really fit. They copied drill from their 2007 and 2009 (at least) shows, and ended up using the ending from 2009 as well. I think the "Second Chance" theme might have worked had they not tried to make it work both visually and using "second" symphonies and movements. They just pushed that theme too far.

    Bluecoats 10 - Bluecoats 11 felt very similar to the Crown 09/Crown 10 sequence. A year of success followed by an attempt to duplicate the success using very specific design elements, even if they don't quite fit the second time around.

    Just my thoughts on the general topic. With Cadets, I think that explains 06 and 08, not so much 10.

    That's just it. When it's forced, you don't think clearly and things don't quite add up. I mean the design team, not the members. When Cadets announced their music as "Angels in the Architecture" I was glad to see them involve some other music as well because it's limiting or too literal otherwise. Likewise with the second symphonies, etc. The judges don't care about that... use whatever music fits. A name is just a name (on a piece of music).

    Why do the Cadets suck in even years the past ten years?

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    I was looking at the recent drum corps seasons like one would look at a baseball season or player (I suppose it makes as much sense why a pitcher can strike out more people at home vs. away as to why the Cadets are better certain years).

    i was also thinking about starting this thread, but not using the word "suck" lol

    I think of it more as "hitting the mark" than suck, and yes, it is relative to other corps.

    As an alum, I will speak candidly and brutally honestly in the next few sentences about the even numbered years. 2004 was an experiment in a new direction, after a member poll was administered. then came 2005, still experimental, but the corps had work ethic and talent, and it was avant garde enough to impress the judges.

    2006, IMO, was a "let's ride this wave and try to be INNOVATIVE" and at times, it seemed like they were throwing around that I-word just for the sake of trying something different, kind of fell out of drum corps mentality --- which i kind of respect, Sully was trying to make a work of art on the field... and if you look at it from that perspective, and you know what every drill picture means, it makes sense and is rather beautiful, with a cadet-style closer. however, the whole idea to do a part two show was IMO rather indulgent on the part of the designers. If outsiders think Cadets are snobs, that gave them every reason to confirm that suspicion.

    2007, the corps was hungry to get back in the hunt. we played, had an interesting idea for a show, was risky, controversial, but we could play. a good year

    2008, coming off the success of 2007, was another indulgent year. George loves NPR and had a need to share it with the world. I like NPR too, and maybe it would have worked if the show were put together properly. a format change was needed, and i was a spectator at this point, so i was just frustrated on the sidelines. however, IMO, the trouble started when he realized the show wasn't working and started ripping out stuff without regard for what was left. right after the opening fanfare, there's a trumpet thing, after which there used to be speaking, and in finals it ended up as empty space. i was embarrassed.

    2009, if you remember was in the planning stages in what seemed like the end of july 2008 lol. of course it was the 75th anniversary, so they had to make sure they did it right. I think it was a great year. Crown surged with a great show, otherwise, cadets would have been in a safe 2nd place, i think.

    2010, i thought this was a good year, actually, but it was probably too safe (and perhaps dirty?) to contend with the medals. i heard that a lot of members aged themselves out after the 75th, so it was a young corps.

    2011, a classic idea with some interesting twists and some risks taken and pulled off beautifully.

    in 2012, i think we can expect lots of rookies, hopefully NOT a part two show!!!, maybe something more experimental, and who knows, maybe they'll place 4th. back to the baseball analogy, the cadets (except for 1983-1985) have never won after a championship year. after 2000, they came close, at least they medaled.

    UMass wins

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    I just noticed this...

    Colin McNutt wins a championship - first time ever, but has won drums before as an instructor

    Michael Klesch wins another brass title - second time, and has won championships before

    Brian Tinkel wins drums this year and has won drums before as a member

    All have ties to University of Massachusetts. A good breed, for sure!

    Congratulations to The Cadets

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    I too must congratulate the Cadets. I am a die hard Devils fan and was definitely hoping for number 15 this weekend. But I have said ever since I saw Cadets in the theater in June that they had a really good show this year. I have some serious issues with a lot of the BOA feel in too many shows recently. Crown, Cavies (last year), Blue Stars, Bluecoats and even, with the props, Devs come to mind. That being said, there were some really good shows this year and Cadets had one of them. I have not liked many of the Cadets shows since electronics started. I hated 2005 and the "Tony Robbins Self Esteem" show in 07 (???) but last year and this year, Cadets have gone back to doing solid shows that really feel more like classic drum corps. So if BD could not have won this year, I am glad to see a solid drum corps show like Angels and Demons take the title. Congrats to their members, Hoppy and staff, alums and their fans. Enjoy it! But don't count on 11 next year...BD is getting 15 in just under 52 weeks! ;)

    You tease... lol

    but as for next year,

    Cavies are having a dry spell... or how about Crown? SCV?

    Random Stats

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    Another interesting stat in my opinion is that after the Quarters on Thursday and we had the placements of the 17 Corps, over the next 2 nights, with 2 sets of completely new judging panels totaling 16 judges, not a single Corps changed placement positions either up or down. Thats amazing consistency when one considers that its generally accepted by most people that show performance levels generally can change from nite to nite with most Corps. In this case, we had 29 Corps performances ( 17 in Semi's, and 12 in Finals ) and not a single Corps changed placement positions in the 2 days. I find this a most fascinating random stat.

    You're only feeding the fire to those who believe in slotting lol

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