luv4corps

When OC decided to use the song in their ballad (completely separate of Bloo of course, an interesting coincidence) I got obsessed with it. I found the lyrics to be absolutely brilliant, so clever, and so indicative of modern consumerism. The song sounds like some sort of religious experience and then when you know the lyrics, it is such a surprise. Somebody's picking up every crumb you drop.

Drum man from Texas, I really appreciate your comments. All season long.

I don't see a discussion here of people thinking they got screwed... at all. I think people are simply discussing how/why this happened. You can express that kids were devastated without saying you got screwed. You can also express how you think things should have gone. Still, it doesn't mean you feel you got screwed. Personally, as a high octane OC fan, I can be a sport and admit they got beat. Doesn't mean I agree with the result. But I can agree that judges saw it differently than I did.

I saw some Cadets members at the Indy airport and they were proudly wearing their medals. I think they're OK. I felt a little bad during retreat when the two Blues were shaking hands and hugging and the Cadets just turned around and marched off the field in perfect unison.

Thank you SO much for this. I feel vindicated and validated. I thought the cut-off was about Mandarins too. So glad someone else agrees with me. Although methinks we are severely outnumbered in our opinion.

BD designs an amp that really does have an 11.

BDA- good one!

I sat in the blast zone for prelims, the 200s for semis and the 500s for finals. The 500s were my favorite by far and I was surprised by this! The sound was way better than I thought it would be. (Even in the 200s, I didn't understand a word of Colts' narration as it was entirely jumbled by echo). The trade-off for finals was the bird's eye view of all things visual. I saw things I've never seen before up there. I also appreciated the seriousness of the fans around me. Not a word was spoken during performances. My biggest complaint about LOS is that the seats aren't set high enough row by row so as to allow a good view. I am short in stature and much of the time, 40% of the field was blocked by a large person sitting in front of me. Luckily for finals I was against the wall in the 500s and spent most of my time standing. The view was SPECTACULAR!

Minimal rain risk if you have finals out west. Please oh please? Once in awhile? Bay area maybe? It's not so hot there. That would be a little handier for us NW folks, since I am fairly certain OR or WA will not be in the running in the foreseeable future. Although if ever these states were in the running, the weather would have a high percentage chance of cooperating because it's darn near perfect in these neck of the woods in August.

As a member of the audience at large, and a parent of a MM, I agree that at times, I find myself more concerned with the safety aspect of things happening on the field than how the corps are performing. I can't even count all the times I asked myself "Oh my God, Is that safe?" as I watched all the shows. One mistake could spell disaster. This is a legitimate topic. I think a detailed discussion of just how safety issues are handled would be productive. Sports, cheerleading, all of these activities have to adopt a set of best practices regarding safety. Drum corps is no different.

So well said. Thank you. 11 guys in green polo shirts really sums it up. If they called it right, they called it right, and even if they didn't, it is what it is - subjective.

Yes, the moving forward of so many corps. Yes, I get that and it is very apparent. Open class especially. I am starting to agree with the folks who say DCI should eliminate open class.

Editing in Jeff Ream's comment quote here: "with Open class corps going on the same sheets as World Class this year, it shows BDB and SCVC planned for the new sheets, and to max them out as best they could." Yeah I pretty much knew I'd get responses like this. And I respect the opinions and total objectivity of you all. It's a year to chalk up to experience I guess. Never underestimate BDB and VC! Obviously those organizations know exactly what they are doing. Concord CA should be throwing a victory parade for all the Blue Devils this year.

I just got back from Indy and it has taken me awhile to decide what to say in this thread. So here goes: I know you cried and so did I. You gave it everything you had. You pushed through adversity. A year of growth can happen when the scores didn't quite end up where you hoped they would or thought they should. This was a year of growth. Your show was beautiful and moving and full of difficult content. The last time you ended in disappointment, remember what happened? You came back the next year with a title. Here's to continued growth in a corps that is working its way, bit by bit, to bigger and better things. There will be disappointments along the way and everything is not always fair. Crown worked their way up. So did Bluecoats. OC is on their way up. A toast to 2015!

I fear I may be alone in my opinion, but from a pure enjoyment standpoint, Crown was my favorite show this year.

I did not see their semis performance but I saw their finals exhibition performance, from excellent seats in the 500s. I watched it with my son who performs with OC. He was very honest and said their marching technique was probably a bit better than OCs, but that it broke down in the second half of the show.. likely due to fatigue (his words). To my eye, there were some visual issues similar to OC's visual issues. For BDB to be 15 and OC 19... it's hard to take, whether its fair or not. Last year, BDB placed 20th. From 20th to 15th in one year? OC had some of the most difficult music and drill in corps history, was a hit with the audience, and lost not only to BDB, but also to Vanguard Cadets (by a tenth). Ouch. No one in OC saw this coming. And I think I can speak for Spirit and Academy, Pacific Crest as well. This was a blindside, as they had never competed head to head against either VC or BDB. It's a devastating blow for WC corps in that range. I just can't help but feel bad for these kids, and since I'm mom to an Oregon kid, I will speak of them. They gave the best show in corps history and for the first time (I think) since the corps rebooted in 2007, their score dropped between prelims and semis. I know this thread is supposed to be about BDB. I congratulate them for an absolutely amazing show that got them 15th place. Clearly the judges loved them and many people on here as well feel they deserved it. But I'd sure love to hear from someone who understands where I am coming from. I don't mean to sound like a sour grapes parent... really I don't! I am trying to raise some good points: 1. no head to head competitions prior to Indy between open and world class corps in the same score range 2. Maybe, just maybe, there were some scoring anomolies this year? As scores were all over the place all season with corps in this range. Just a few days prior at Centerville, OC beat Academy and Spirit on the same night with the same panel. They were ranked 15 going to Indy. They dropped to 19. Really? It's funny - Academy walked off the field after semis and thought they'd blown it and they cried. OC walked off the field and thought they nailed it. Members and staff were celebrating at a buffet dinner when they received the shock. No one, not staff, not member, not parent... when all days were happening in June, would have imagined in their wildest dreams that things would end this way. (Note: I made a few edits to this so it will not match up perfectly with quotes that happened right away.)

Congratulations to the Blue Devils organization. An unprecented finish by the B corps and assured championship in worlds. They really know how to get it done.

For me, they evoke birds of paradise... or birds of some sort.

yes, this.

No one has mentioned Cascades... just out of semis and losing to 7th Regiment. I am not so sure about that. I saw both shows.

OC has some work to do convincing the judges considering where they're seeded, but it is all within the realm of possibility for them to finish 15th. Even 16th would be a great accomplishment in this field. Academy's show is going over very well and Spirit isn't going down without a fight.

Here is my very humble opinion: OC had not yet performed that big breakout show. Maybe Centerville was just that. This season has kind of been fits and starts for them. With no rain and a couple of good practice days, they've been able to make some great progress. If Centerville was too high, I'd add that Allentown was too low. But of course, time will tell. They have to perform for the big big show now. I'd still be very happy with 16th, but realistically, even that will be a challenge to hold onto. At this point, they just have to perform their little hearts out and let the chips fall where they may! Go OC!

Amazing what a few sunny days can do for a GE score! They did have a great spot in the order last night. Still though, of course they are seeded behind Academy at prelims. They have to dig their way out and upset the apple cart convincingly...in the first of the two most important shows of the season. BTW: OC's drumline is KILLING it this summer. They were 4th last night, above Colts. Way to go guys!

Right now, 15th place. That is such an amazing accomplishment for this corps. Just wonderful.

Congrats OC and well earned. A few sunny days and look what you can accomplish! You have the momentum now heading into Indy.