stevedb1975

Slow down. That wasn't at all my point. I was responding to someone who accused me of not listening to pop music or having any clue about it. That's all. But if you want to read more into what I wrote than exactly what I wrote, I can't stop you from doing that, I suppose.

Let me go about this another way. Most of today's music critics have the exact same things to say about today's pop music as most of today's drum corps critics. That being, melody is nothing more than a girl we knew in high school, variety is non-existant and most of today's top hits (or top corps) sound the same. It's a fact, there is a huge parallel between the two. Now, are there exceptions? Yes, but the fact still remains that most of today's pop hits follow a formula. And yes, it's generally to get radio play. And that formula causes artists to have to conform to the formula to be accepted among the elite and have true success (sound famillar?)! Son, if you only knew who you were talking to, and how involved in the industry I really am...

Let me get this straight. We want a drum corps activity where the music is more entertaining, more melodic, carries more dynamic contrast and offers more variety and less sameness among corps. So, we are suggesting that we go to pop music (today's pop music) where melody rarely exists and is stale at best, has the same 4 chords on every song, has no variety, ZERO dynamic contrast (it's all compressed) and sounds the same as the last 12 songs you heard on the radio (which is generally the same 12 songs from the same 6 artists cycled multiple times a day. Oh that is a grand idea to solve our "entertainment problems". :blink:/>

JUST in the 60s and 70s???????? :shutup:/> :shutup:/> :shutup:/> :shutup:/> :shutup:/> :shutup:/> :shutup:/> :shutup:/> :shutup:/>

This just proves how shady the drum corps activity really is. Granted, much less now than it used to be. But when I think back to the days of drum corps staff members sharing joints with corps members, much less hiring a murderer to run a drum corps, I find myself shocked that there are not more staff members (former or otherwise) doing time in prison. For the record, I had a staff member threaten my life on two occasions. Granted, I don't think they really would have done it. But hindsight 20/20, I can't help but wonder just what that would cost a caption head these days. If 60 minutes only knew...

Now THAT I agree with (key word "could"). The youtube partners program is a huge money maker for channels that average over one million viewers. And DCI does happen to have one themselves that boasts over two million video views... http://www.youtube.com/dcifannetwork So,.................? Why are they not capitolizing on it? I have a hint on why....anyone anyone...Buler....Buler?

Have you looked at the G7 lately? They've tried TWO OTHER TIMES already to break away from DCI and FAILED due to a lack of funds, infrastructure and basic business resources. And do you KNOW who bailed them out BOTH times? That organization that you say is "stuck in 1996".

Lets be real, The G7 won't go anywhere. They've tried this TWICE already and were bailed out by DCI both times with a compromise because they didn't have the ability to materialize their threats.What is more likely a possibility is that they will fail yet a third time, create more division than the first two times and the activity will cease to exist forever. Good work, guys. Can't have your way, kill it.

That would be a neat trick, considering that they have already attempted this very same absurdity TWICE and failed miserably. They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, expecting different results, expecting different results, expecting different results, expecting different results...

That's great advice! Maybe the greedy, selfish and arrogant G7 should read it.

Someone on the DCI BOD needs to grow a man organ and say F--K YOU G7!!!!!!!! YOU are the very ones who have ruined this activity and caused it's financial ruin with your bloodsucking greed!!!!!

I have to agree.

First of all, I don't mind this thread going in this direction one bit. I figured there would be a few who would be less positive on today's trends and that is perfectly fine. However, one thing you said made me scratch my head a bit. Strange! I think BOA is more "visual development with musical accompanyment" and less "melodic" than DCI is. I'm pretty sure most who are current on both circuits would agree. In fact, I've even heard some critics say that it's BOA's evolution that moved DCI in that direction. Personally, I don't mind it. I think the stuff that's going on out there in both DCI and BOA is all great stuff. I'm just surprised you see the DCI to BOA comparison in the context that you do. Oh, and for the record. I happen to also prefer BOA designs over DCI designs. But for the opposite reasons as you. I think designers take greater risks with top BOA programs than they do with top DCI programs and I like that. And many of the designers in the top 12 of both circuits are the same.

Anyone notice how the checker board seems to change every several years in terms of brass writing trends. In the mid/late 90s pretty much through the mid 2000s, it was all about 16th note runs. Which arranger could out write the others with their running 16th note licks? And which hornlines could out perform all other hornline's runs? Lately, it seems like multi-tounging is the new trend (double and tripple tonguing). Corps still do runs of course but now the big contest is who can out articulate each other? Makes me wonder what the next new trend in brass arranging will be. Obviously, there is always going to be some of ALL of it (as there always has been a little of all of it in every time period), but it always seems like there is always one common trend that drives the time period. Regardless of what the next new trend is, lets have some fun with this and talk about what our favorite multi-tonguing moments were of 2012. I know Crown had some great moments...a whole bunch in fact. Any others stick out?

No, it's not opinion. Statistical figures are FACT. YOU are the one posting an opinion. I'm presenting factual information based on statistical figures and trends. Nice try. You lose.

Yeah Mike, I know your stance on "opinions" and respect it. Even though, I don't exactly agree. I think people should be a little responsible and less reckless with their opinions. Provide some VALID information to support your view. To admit that you have never seen a show and give an opinion on it has no value and is completely worthless. See the show. Examine the stats and then form your opinion. Otherwise, I don't consider any of it credible and frankly... consider it annoying. I appreciate your very settling and calming interjection though.

Just read it. You know what it proves? It proves MY point. Madison actually started further down THIS year and is moving UP! Where last year they started strong and moved down. If last year is SOOOOO important to you, go look at last year's ranking trends compared to this year. Just look at it. Last year, they started near the big dogs until finally they pulled away while others like Boston and Blue Knights moved closer and eventually beat them. This year, the complete opposite is happening (at least so far). They started much further away from big dogs such as the Bluecoats while other corps like Spirit started right on their tail. Now, they pulling away from corps like Spirit, beat Cavies twice while increasing the spread (which is MIRACULOUS given the Cavalier's reputation and stature...regardless of whether it's a weak year for them or not). In addition, show by show they are edging closer to Bluecoats and caption beating them on a regular basis. The most important being G.E. You can try to spin this year as being "same ole $^&*... strong start but set up to peak early and get caught"...but it's simply not true. The opposite is happening. Now, who knows? Maybe it will happen. Maybe they will lose steam. I don't know. I have no ability to know what will happen in the comming weeks. Howver, as of right here and now, with the information and statistics we now have, Madison has started slower (more in the middle of the pack) and is gradually gaining strength. Their scenario is more comparable to Boston's movement from last year than their own 2011 movement.

No body said any such thing!!! Quit making crap up!

Uh...no. That's only part of what I said. It's "information", yes. What it is not is RELEVANT information to 2012. Especially when you look at the make up. Think about this. Madison's weakest caption was percussion. Not even in the top 12 in percussion last year. This year, complete turn around in staff straight out of Carolina Crown. Complete overhaul and already scoring in the 14s along with the big dogs. That one caption ALONE makes last year of no relevance to what happens this year. Visual, though not as weak as percussion last year, also a brand new staff straight out of Crown's roster and a complete overhaul. With those changes alone, you can't....CAN NOT...use last year as a reference to how they will be this year. Oh that's easy to answer. Without hesitation, I'll take this year without a complete panel...or NO panel...as a valid relevant reference to how Madison (or ANY corps) will be over what happened last year. Reasons why? All in my above paragraph. Last year is IRRELEVANT to 2012. PERIOD! That's a FACT!

I disagree. Sorry. As BigBadMadMan eluded to a few posts up, you can make an informed decision now based on current facts and statistics. Sure, "guess and speculate" all you want until the season starts and trends start to formulate. Then, check out the stats and make a more informed opinion. It is unfair to speculate on a corps based on last year, especially when so much of that corps make up has changed since last August. It's a new staff, a new corps and a different type of show. Last year holds no water to what happens this year. Yes, it bugs me when people use the past to tear down a corps current season. Especially when it's not even the same people (i.e., staff) that created last year' s show. But, if we must compare to last year. Here is what I see. Last year, Madison started above Boston and Blue Knights by 3-4 points. They gained on them all year long until both finally beat Madison. The difference this year? Madison started 3-4 points behind Bluecoats and have been gaining on them ever since. Madison started off one TENTH of a point ahead of Spirit and have been pulling away ever since (with a couple of slight moves from Spirit). Madison Started 1.1 ahead of Cavies and a few nights later increased that spread to 2.1 points. My conlcusion (based on past AND present experience). It's going the OPPOSITE direction from last year. Madison is GAINING strength and momentum, as opposed to last year starting strong and losing momentum. All of this, not just based on past experience but present statistical facts.

Why speculate when there are current statistics to base an opinion off of. Don't need to have a "finals leak". We have scores and stats from THIS SEASON already and he's going of of "past experience"? Why? That makes no sense.

That's pretty foolish. You are going to "stand by what you said" based only on "past experience"; even though they have a brand new visual and percussion staff from Carolina Crown who have overhauled their two weekest captions from 2011? AND...even though you admittedly have not yet seen the show? Credibility = 0 Suggestion: Why don't you lose your opinion and not form one until you have actually seen the 2012 Madison Scouts show?! That would make more logical sense than forming a blind opinion based on the past which has ZERO relevance to the present. And trust me, if you had seen the show, you would know that they are on a whole new level this year. Why don't you start by watching this (and reading up on a few recaps)... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYKMAFkBuuM "Past experience". You've got to be kidding me.

Not THIS well. They wern't beating Cavies. They didn't beat the Bluecoats in 3 different captions within the first two weeks of the season. I'm not saying this will end in the top 5 or 6 but I think it's safe to say this is a true improvement from last year. Especially in terms of design. Especially in terms of visual design. Anyone who fails to notice that has their head stuck in 2011 and is not looking at the current year and changes in the Scouts package for what it really is.

Apparently, the judges disagree with you. (see visual effect caption) http://www.dci.org/scores/recap/view.cfm?event_id=af675548-9a42-4c9a-8fc4-271f392b27e8 (see total G.E. caption) http://www.dci.org/scores/recap/view.cfm?event_id=6e98ba38-3586-40bb-9376-9473ffd1358e Sure doesn't look like they have a visual weakness. Certainly strong in G.E. Are you sure you are watching the 2012 season?

You should keep in mind that their demand the last few years has been far inferior to what they are doing this year. Far more room for growth this season compared to this time in 2010 and 2011.