luv4corps

For the most part, yes. But for fans who never marched, it more has to do with when you became a fan. In my case that was 2011. I am not ready to make a full top ten list quite yet. I absolutely love to watch drum corps live and I want many more seasons under my belt before I can truly present a top ten. The hit that I get when I'm sitting in the stands is quite a bit more visceral than when I see a show on a screen. This thread also gives me many shows to watch before my FN sub runs out! I've seen a smattering of the classic shows, but nowhere near all that appear in these lists. My favorites so far: Phantom 2008 - this is a show that did it for me from a screen. So much passion. It blew me away - and made me a permanent, loyal fan of PR. Cadets 2011 - the Cadets came to my home town, Portland, so I saw this show live. Even as a total newbie I knew this show was special. (2011 was also my first trip to Indy and it was then I fell in love with ALL the corps. I caught the bug.) BD 2011 - because I'm old enough to appreciate the music of Burt Bacharach. For a BD show, it was pretty straight-forward with not a lot of props. I was also fortunate to "stumble" upon BD, Cadets and Cavies warming up at Military Park on prelims day. I was just taking a nice stroll after dark. I didn't know what I'd found till later. My son is jealous to this day of that fortuitous discovery. I've been to Indy four times now and I always spend time at Military Park. OC 2012 - My son's corps won the open class title that year and it was thrilling. The show was pretty good too :) Crown 2012 - The year I fell in love with CC. Crown 2013 - Just an amazing show all around. Crown 2014 - So creative. Loved the opening vocals. Love their shows even if there are problems. Bloo - 2014 - They squeezed everything artistically possible out of one word and caused a sensation. Well done.

As a fairly new fan to drum corps (last five years) I have to chime in and say that I appreciate and respect the fact that corps have their own identities, traditions and styles born of history. Troopers should stick with the Americana theme. Trick it out. Make it fresh. Dazzle us, yes. Step out of Americana, no. That would not be Troopers.

I'm so glad someone asked this question. But I want make sure I'm clear about styles. Shakos/tall plumes: like Blue Devils, Cadets, or Oregon Crusaders Helmets: like Phantom Regiment, Bluecoats, or Spartans Aussie hats with a feather: like Santa Clara or Cavaliers Specialized hat: Troopers, Academy, Pioneer Topless shako hat thingy: Crown Please feel free to add corps and/or head coverings to this list. My personal favorite is the helmet. I love the cascading feathers. I started this activity watching open class and I still love the Spartans looks about as well as any.

I nominate "simulacrum" as the DCP Word of the Year. (I wish I knew how to pronounce it.)

Congrats to you and BDB, Spontaneity. Thanks for sharing your story.

So true. Academy's show became one of my favorites. Last year, well, let's just say everybody needs a bathroom break. For OC, there isn't even a question between this year and ALL other years, not just last year. To blanket all these shows into a "not as good as last year" doesn't cut it. That's why scoring can be so misleading as to the real value of a show. 10 years later, your show is a number in an archive. Oh sure there are favorites that are talked about for decades, but I'm talking shows in general. The only 13-19 corps that would truly fall into the "not as good as last year" category is Spirit.

I am very surprised by this too. If a corps is too long getting onto the field, there is a penalty (OC San Antonio 2012). Seems that show length ought to be part of the same time allotment/restriction as entering/exiting the field. I actually thought it was. Or maybe it is that you can be short, but not long?

This was my top show. Entertainment-wise. After semis I asked myself, "what shows am I most excited to see again?" Crown's was at the top of my list. Ever since I entered the activity as a fan, I've loved everything CC has fielded.

Yes, I did know that. My statement was more for the purpose of rhetoric. And along those lines, wouldn't they have to apply? No one is automatically moved to world class, or for that matter, open class (as in the case of Pio). But all these questions being raised and discussed are compelling.

Out of respect for drum corps, I just deleted what I first wrote here... and am going to tie up my hands.

Wow old grump I pretty much agree with you. Some very good points here. You said: I just think it is a slap in the face to Academy, Spirit and Oregon Crusaders for BDB to pop in 15th without the same amount of looks and comparisons within the World Class competitive framework. I've been trying to make the above point in a gentler way. Nicely done. You also said: You had your Finals. Congratulations. That's it. If you want to be World Class, then get your butt on a WC tour and compete against WC corps night after night where the WC judges can get multiple looks against you and your peer competition. I've also been trying to make this second above point in a gentler way. Nicely done. Bolding is mine.

This is VERY interesting. Hmmm.

These shows were WAY early in the season and all in the same area. That isn't really what I was getting at. Yes there might be an open class corps or two in a mostly world class show, but I'm talking about something different. I realize open class is on a reduced schedule. All these creative minds in drum corps, it could be worked out.

I don't want to believe this is true, but it is really true. The Concord organization knows exactly what it is doing. BDB will make finals sooner than later. The expanded open class sheets are giving them a golden opportunity to maximize, and again, they know to perfection just how to do that very thing. VC will get there too. I would imagine that open class will never be underestimated again... certainly not by world class corps in their range. That's for sure. I have joined the "get rid of open class entirely" camp... after what happened this year.

If BDB makes finals, and I'm sure that day is coming, they should be a world class corps and compete head to head with world class corps throughout the season. The big lesson in all of this: teaching/execution trumps designing. I read in another thread something to the effect that Crown taught their way to the top, rather than designed their way to the top.

I hate to blame their score on a recording. They had to change it of course because of copyright issues. I didn't see anything wrong with their timing but the possibility exists I guess. In semis they finally timed the door slam just right!

Would love to hear other's opinions on this. I have my own, but it's probably obvious what it is. Bottom line: BDB jumped five placements this year. In the past five years, no open class corps has placed anywhere near 15th. That is significant. Kudos to BDB for adjusting to the new sheets and maximizing. But shouldn't they be a world class corps then? How long till they make finals? My real point is: is open class even necessary anymore?

I'd like to add one more point to the discussion about open class not competing head to head against world class and then they come out and beat them. Since open class and world class are for all intents and purposes, separated, all year, is it really right that judges score them completely independant of one another all year until finals week? To clarify: not only does a world class corps not compete head to head against an open class corps till the end, NO world class corps compete head to head against the likes of BDB and VC until the end. The judges don't ever get a same show comparison until prelims. Scores got pretty inflated in some of the open class only shows. Just one example: http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/stats-calendar-recaps/?selMonth=7&selYear=2014 I don't think this is a good development in the activity. If they get the same sheet and high scores there should be more shows between all corps from same panels. If there is this much overlap, let's please make it fair.

Please for android???

Funny, I was just at the "Hymn of Acxiom" thread reading that VT acknowledged Bluecoats, wondering if she knew another corps used her song too and I found it here! I think it's interesting the way the song worked for both shows. For OC: I don't know if it was the intended interpretation, but all those eyes that the guard raised up at the beginning of the closer, even though they directly related to the raven's eyes and the narration, I saw them as an extension of "Hymn" as well.

I absolutely agree with everything you said. I will add that overall, gimmick is slowly replacing fundamentals. I am not saying it is less entertaining though. The ooooh ahhh moments are achieved in different ways, e.g., an electronic one-person-pushing-a-button pitch bend.

Yes it worked but that wasn't my point.

Congrats OC for marching 200 bpm and making it look good. And by OC I mean OR CRU not open class.

I can't deny that it seemed, um, disappointing that people went crazy over an electronic pitch bend, the push of a button, like something amazing was happening that required massive skill. It was effective, yes, and I loved the Coat's show overall but I think this manuever was overrated and perhaps, many didn't realize it was just an electronic trick?

Followed by "isn't that what you want?" meaning we not only accept but choose to be under constant online surveillance for the good of commercialism. The song is downright creepy! Worked for Nevermore. Worked for Tilt.