MikeRapp
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Posts posted by MikeRapp
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It's not about the fact that it's an audio file. (Or that dci.org website is a dumpster fire, really).
It's the fact that podcast is a word that means something specific. Putting an audio file on the web is not a podcast. A podcast has to have an RSS feed with audio attachments. The entire reason that podcasts exist is so that they are easy to listen to because each episode is downloaded automatically by podcast players, whether that's Apple's Podcast app (the most popular), iTunes, 3rd party apps like Overcast (on iOS), Pocketcasts (on Android), etc.
For several years, that's EXACTLY what FieldPass was. You could subscribe in a podcast player and listen to each new episode when it came out.
When they stopped offering that feed, and just started throwing audio files on websites, it ceased to be a podcast. And, it ceased to be easy for people to listen to easily. That's why it's annoying.
Agree 100%. A Podcast has built-in subscription software to make it easy to listen without having to visit a website and navigate through what is, quite frankly, a navigational train wreck. I do not want to have to visit that, or any, website to listen to a Podcast.
Watching the season preview broadcast at DCI.org via their embedded player was almost impossible to figure out. The subscription software in and of itself is archaic...at best. There is no telling how much money DCI costs itself by using that software system.
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Those are super great shows, but 2014 still takes it all for me. The use of the La Strada theme throughout is just wonderful, and the ballad is pure gold to me.
The field-sized opening drill mimmcing a film reel...awe inspiring. That concept was such a risk, because how many people know anything about Fellini, but they brought it home and made it personal in a way that only BD does that well.
I do yearn for the more jazz-driven days old, especially given how freaking amazing BD plays nowadays. If they want to stick to their general theme direction, a show about ragtime or big band would be drop dead amazing.
Listen to Quincy Jones' CD Q's Juke Joint, and tell me it wouldn't blow your mind to hear 160 Blue Devils players perform some of that stuff!
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I've been having your complaints too but I listened to Cape Fear and realized that the trombone motif throughout the show just sounds very similar to Sweeney Todd, but isn't the same. BD just slowed the tempo down a little so the similarities end up coming out more than they are supposed to. Yes, there is a quote from 2008, but after many listens, I'm realizing I can live with 20 seconds of rehashed music. The rest of this show, especially the ballad, is pretty unique
For me it has nothing to do with the trombones (which I feel were over-used) or the narration. It's the marching structures and intricate playing segments (brass and percussion) that at times sound almost cut and paste from parts of the last two shows.
There is something to be said for a style that is identified with your corps. People criticize BD for being focused on obscure literary or artistic story lines but that's their "thing," and they consistently kill it. I know if their designers were on this thread they would rightly point out how each of the sections I would reference are in fact unique...but this is the first show in a long time where it feels "been there done that." No question the show will evolve and get better, with props and an actual ending. They'll march better, play better, etc. But there are sections of the show where at first blush I literally thought they were using parts of the last two shows.
The dance segment to Justin Beiber... regardless of what you think of using Bieber as a music source, as soon as they go into that segment I found myself saying, Oh come on, really? This year's version of last year's dance segment using a surprisingly obscure piece of pop music. Meanwhile, the other top corps all appear to be launching significantly new, fresh and unique show concepts.
They will no doubt knock the technical scores out of the park like they always do, but show design...seems alarmingly predictable. And I didn't feel that way three seasons ago. Ink felt like a bit of a rehash of Fellini, but Fellini was SO unique and SO well executed that I didn't care. This show seems like part three of a three part act where they ran out of ideas.
I don't cheer for BD to fall. They are the gold standard, in every possible way. But right now, they have the farthest to go from a design standpoint of all the top corps.
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I know it is dangerous and unfair to compare one era to another, but it seems as if most of the 6-9 place corps would smoke the field even a decade ago. The sheer complexity of the shows is off the charts. It's difficult to understand how kids can learn and execute these shows at any level, and yet they're going out there and doing it.
The scores are continuing to rise across the board, and that means the differences between shows is almost inconsequential to the viewer/listener. I can only imagine how difficult it is to execute a show with the complexity of Propoganda, knowing that it's very unlikely you will have a realistic shot at medaling! Kudos to ALL these corps, they are really bringing their A games.
One footnote, the one thing that really has blown me away is the level of achievement/complexity that Crown's guard is already displaying. You can already hear people in the crowd gasping, and they haven't even played a show yet. I have no doubt BD will be at the same level. Pretty amazing!
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Just watched BD's preview-day show. WOW! As I said in a few other threads, this show will be a beast. New, fresh, with fabulous music and beautiful drill. It's all there for BD to three-peat. Certainly a top 2 show if you ask me. Their marching technique already looks amazing. I'd say they are about 1 point in front of Carolina Crown at this point. Both Crown and BD will be tough to beat, as I see it now. That might change as I see other shows and get a better read on things.
There are several segments in their show that almost look and/or sound 99% like segments from the previous two shows. It doesn't help that their uniforms are essentially the same.
I don't know if that will impact their GE scores, or if it should. But it is disappointing for me, at least. Once they get the back field props in it will make it feel fresher, but there are 20 second sections of the show where it feels you could almost cut and paste from one of the previous two shows.
BD seems to get tagged by following a formula and really, until this year, I felt that was sort-of unfair. But right now, and I know it's only June, the show just looks and sounds sooooo familiar. No question their marching and playing is amazing, as it always will be, but I was hoping they would reinvent themselves, being the de facto leader of the activity right now. I have no clue what Bluecoats are going to unveil, but at least they are committed to surprising people every season. Same with Crown and Cadets. I expect more of BD, especially considering the resources they have at their disposal.
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I'll just say this and then I'm out. Cadets have had quite a few "storylines" that have been relatively successful (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2005, 2011, for example). They may not have been deep in storyline as other corps and they may not be the WGI type that we've seen recently, but a great story in drum corps is as relative as a regular book. Some people love many Stephen King novels and others may not. My point is that some people who are coming on here claiming that Cadets show this year looks like a lower-tier type show before the season has even started yet have clearly missed the part that shows evolve over time. Look at what happened to Crown last year. So many people came out claiming that show wouldn't have a foot to stand on and look at what happened. I think some people need to take a step back and realize this is only the beginning. It's ok to criticize a show, but how about noting specifically what's not liked instead of sitting behind a computer with your two cents implying you know more about drum corps than anyone else (not talking about you; if the person is reading this, he or she knows exactly who I'm talking about). It kind of makes you look like a jack@ss.
Angels and Demons may well be my favorite DCI show of all time. It was, and still is, a colossus program that, in my opinion, cannot be over-estimated on any level.
It is, in retrospect, the absolutely perfect example of what I am talking about. And I think that is my frustration with Cadets right now. They are clearly capable of creating and executing a show that could score 100 in today's drama-driven style.
I still marvel at the fact that no DCI corps has since gone with two different uniform colors for effect.
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No, No, No! That's not factual. Yes you do.
We love his shows and, almost by extension, we know and love his organization.
I will say that, with as much as a corps like Cadets has "at risk" every new season, it does my heart good to see how consistently transparent he is with all things Cadets. That's why criticizing his risk-taking is difficult for me.
Given his incredible history in this activity, he has indeed seen it all. But at this point, it seems inarguable that the activity is changing, morphing into some new thing where playing and marching are just two-thirds of the whole. Many are "crediting" Winter Guard for the change, but I tend to believe that Blue Devils and Crown have simply shown what is possible if you focus on that last third. Maybe Bluecoats fits into that as well. To me, those three corps are truly writing a new book on what drum corps is and can be.
Look at the rise Blue Knights have taken by going a similar "story-driven" route.
I find it a bit ironic that this has happened during one of the lower eras of DCI history for Phantom Regiment. They sort of made their name on this idea, literally.
George has already proven he can max out scores on marching and playing. Unfortunately he is also proving that will no longer be enough to finish ahead of those three corps...perhaps there will be more this year. I have no doubt they will max out a concept focused on statues coming alive, but will that be enough? Guess we will find out!
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My opinion is that you overstate his "cred" and vastly understate the cred of his staff.
But, hey, love his kids and his shows.
Maybe so, I don't know the organization one thousandth as well as you do.
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Thank you. Luckily the kids are told not to come on DCP because it tends to be Cadet unfriendly. Social media brings out the worse is some people. It actually saddens me because I love drumcorps so much and it's such a small community of people that are into it yet we throw daggers at one another on here. I would never watch a preview show and then decimate it. I try to be constructive and balanced if I don't love it.
Cadet-unfriendly?! Look at the number of threads and posts dedicated to Cadets! If you have this much interest in one corps, you're going to have a certain amount of "negativity." And I think George not only knows this, but is baiting us into it by choosing to be so open about their process.
That's why I am always so careful in my criticisms of Cadets. It takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there like George does, I cheer for the guy, and want his "way" to succeed. But that doesn't mean I think everything he does is perfect or at times even good (and no doubt he would agree). George has SERIOUS street cred in this activity—but I think the past three show concepts leave a lot on the table for a corps as talented and experienced as Cadets. It feels like George is saying, the concept is a throw away, it's just a vehicle for the real show which is playing and marching. And clearly that is not the way DCI is headed. I for one think Cadets could, and should, be up there with BD, Crown and Coats in show concept and "showmanship," but they have to invest in a story or a "message" to get there.
I often wonder if the older school DCI shows would score well today. Shows like Frameworks and The Machine are really more like what George is tending to go for, where the concept is just a box for the members to work in. There is a part of me that still loves to watch those shows, they are largely what got me into DCI, but not having the theme/story/message aspect to a show is a risky move in an era where medalists are scoring in the super high 90s.
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I think Cavies will rise. But I am also a homer.
Their new show feels a little reminiscent of Bluecoats, which is interesting. (So does Crossmen). There is a lot to work with in the show concept to make it edgier and more "Cavaliers-like."
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Wow, I really do not get the negativity towards the visual show design that is coming out. To me it is interesting, fresh, and different.
And anyone saying they look like a 10-17 place corps, that is just ridiculous and stupid. There are several great visual moments. I am an alumni yes, I am biased yes. I also can be very hard on them. Last year at this point people were raving about the brass and percussion and all I could do was point out how dated and stale the drill looked.
It may not bring a championship this year, but I think it has the potential to, and I also think it is a great step forward in design evolution for the corps.
Cadets will likely never finish below sixth if only due to the level of ability within their technical staffs. Big drop off in infrastructure, recruiting, training and culture below sixth. Knights look like they may be on the verge of becoming a fixture at the top tier, but it's virtually impossible to unseat the heavyweight DCI corps due to recruiting and infrastructure. The fact that Cavaliers fell so far out of that tier says a lot about how poorly they managed their administrative direction.
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I have huge respect for George on so many levels. The drum corps culture and growth we now love would probably not exist were it not for his passion and work ethic. The Cadets carried the DCI banner higher than anyone for many years, at times when no one cared.Maybe people aren't getting the "deeper" meaning just yet. It's sloppy and incomplete.
I also really respect George's desire to run an open process. He gets that 400+ pages on Drum Corps Planet is a pretty good benefit to not having one a-ha unveiling moment, and that ongoing energy benefit everyone. George essentially directed this activity through its worst, lowest times, with shows that many times exceeded historical achievements.
That said, it discourages me when I see perhaps the proudest drum corps in the activity floundering, and that is what it feels like right now. Statues come to life? His explanation on the broadcast, for me, made it even worse. It sounded so flippant, so haphazard, and frankly so boring.
I am older, I suspect, than most here. And I never had the opportunity to march. So take my comments for whatever you think they are worth. It just hurts my feelings when I see arguably the greatest corps in drum corps history looking so lost. I picked cadets to win it all this year, and right now I don't see them medaling.
They abandon their traditions (no problem with that, times change) for a mostly naked dude who doesn't play an instrument, doing goofy muscle poses on a pedestal? What?! There will be a documentary about the activity and half of it will be covering a corps that literally MADE the traditional drum corps ethos...and is now focusing its show on a guy wearing a loin cloth...who is supposed to be a statue...while the corps is playing Pines of Rome...which has been covered so many times that it is almost boring. "We picked Pines of Rome because we wanted to feature French horns, and sort of went from there." Hello, Cadets? Anyone home?
And the original title of this show was Stoned? Huh?!
This is happening at a time when so many corps are reinventing themselves, and succeeding at it. Cavaliers are certainly a heavyweight, with massive traditions, and they are moving out of their box to compete. Will they succeed? Who knows? But they appear to get how to represent their past while looking to a future.
Crown is doing a western. Awesome! Will it work, who knows?
Bluecoats are reinventing the very concept of a DCI show. Three years running. Incredible! I still watch Tilt and get goosebumps.
BD, sticking to their legacy, but no one can argue with their otherworldly commitment to excellence and training at every level. I don't always love their direction but I cannot argue with their overall show impact and technical achievement. They are dominating the field, and will probably be a medalist yet again.
I truly hope this show evolves. Dramatically. The activity needs cadets to help lead the future. Just very worried about what this season may bring for the organization.
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Ending is so set up for the trademark crown formation.
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you must be really new to drum corps - that would NEVER work ;-)
I AM BLONDIE!
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My one complaint is that they need to do a better job at drawing attention to the characters and to the story as a whole. I'll see some story elements but it takes me several views to see them and I have to actually look for them.
Now that you mention it, I totally agree. One of the things BD does well is they make the story TELLING central to the show. They force the drama and most of the set pieces to the front third of the field, and they stage left to right, right to left, as opposed to front to back. This makes it much harder to march around, but it also makes it much easier to follow the story.
The set piece is so gigantic, and I am sure that is why they have it back of field, but the people standing on it are miniscule by comparison, and waaaaaay too far away to know what the heck is going on.
Maybe if the killed someone on the drum major's pedestal?
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Wow is that a good show. Felt like a placeholder ending though, but I can't wait to hear this one develop!
Mike
They will add their signature crown formation at the end. They didn't add it last year until, I believe, Nashville.
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Well obviously its early in the season and who knows, maybe they can pull it off. Def left a bad taste in my mouth though.
Obviously still very early, but the show seemed to be a mirror of Ink. Disappointing. But I didn't like Ink early either.
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The trend away from the more traditional corps style to a style more in line with drama is simply following the trend of show productions in general. Crown and, obviously, BD have proven that this is what works right now.
I think it is fine, but I don't understand the move to black.
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Given the past few years... if the line-up comes down to these two particular corps in spots 1 and 2 with a very competitive scoring margin... I'm thinking that I'm going to be raising an eyebrow, or two.
I don't like the premise of two groups battling for the top spot in an organization (DCI) that has come a long way from that mentality in the past decade. It will be hard to focus on these two groups without having to deal with about 5 or 6 others (maybe, hopefully more) messing up the premise.
It's a HUGE downer to have a show about 2 groups wrestling for the title, and having one or both of them not able to get it or having the two separated by more direct competition from other groups.
Picture early competitions where BD is bested by SCV (blown premise) or Cadets are bested by Crown, Coats, PR, Etc. (blown premise). Or even worse... one or both groups falls behind others during the season.
I don't like it. Seems fishy. Involves too much presupposition that would require a great deal of engineering to maintain. DCI should keep its distance and endorse it only after the season runs.
Don't get me wrong... the premise is HISTORICALLY accurate. But that's based on a long history and doesn't quite jive with the current times.
Which is why they will focus on individuals and their personal story lines, and not on the overall competition. To me, as a DCI fan, that is the downer. I would rather have a show that focused on the corps themselves, but that is not how these sorts of shows tend to roll.
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Looks like two of the leaders of the G7 attempt are going to get their ego's massaged and finances strengthened if this takes place.
And every other DCI corps would line up to be on the show. With any luck it becomes a huge success, and the producers add two more corps to next year's lineup.
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This is shrewd business by the network and the investors. There is a huge built in fan base with a very streamlined network to sell the airings, and these docudramas have increasing visibility on YouTube and similar web networks. Really it is a no brainier, especially when you consider the equipment companies that will want visibility on the show.
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DCI Was once "bigger than it is now". It;s been diminished for a number of reasons and lack of familiar music to the "general public" is one of those reasons. I realize the membership has changed greatly form BITD and with so many music majors involved you need to keep them engaged, but if the corps could find a happy medium between the 2 I think it would get some of those people back.
Can't disagree with this.
I do think there is a feeling among show designers that you need to have obtuse musical selections to appeal to the judges. But then I look at what appears to be the relatively unrecognized rise of Blue a Knights, and maybe that is not the case. They seem to have found that happy medium between innovation and familiarity, especially in show concept. Whereas BAC seems to have leaned heavily toward obtuse and edgy to their detriment.
Most of those here have a much more accurate view of the state of the activity. But I tend to believe the decline of the activity was a combination of several things, but mostly due to the fact that DCI was pushing corps to become World Class and tour well beyond their means way before they were ready. It had little if anything to do with show concept direction.
That said, I absolutely do believe that the diversity of the types of performances now being created is helping DCI attract kids who might not have chosen to participate 10 years ago. I drove my son to high school this past week and saw his school's band practicing with triangle ramps. He spontaneously blurted out, "Tilt!" And he has never been in a band in his life.
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Lower GE scoring and raise performance scoring. Put the contest results back in the hands of the marching members, not the designers.
I get what you are saying, but this is not just a playing performance activity. It is also a viewing activity. If you want audiences to be more than former marching members and families of marching members, the general show concept has to be equally important.
Despite what many think, I believe the diversity of the types of shows we now see and have begun seeing in the last six or so years is what is refueling the health of the activity. And the quest to achieve high GE scores is a huge part of the reason for this.
If you put any one of the top six corps of any of the last six years back on the field with the group of corps from say 15 years ago, I believe they would largely blow those groups away in most areas. Shows you want to see over and over again, for the so called general public, are what gives DCI a chance to become something bigger than it is now.
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2011 Regiment's "Elsa's Procession"
Glad it's not just me. I've been rewatching that ending for the last two weeks. No matter how many times I watch it, it still gets me.
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Bloooooooooooo! Bluecoats Official 2016 Thread
in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
Posted
The DCI judges strike me (in general) as being extremely aware of the competitive environment, and I would expect that they would be pretty harsh on anyone who would attempt to influence their scoring—especially someone from another corps.
I do think the general feeling around the World Class world has changed after the near meltdown of the entire activity a decade or so ago. Even though everyone is still very competitive, nothing wakes you up like the very real possibility that it could all go away. It's just me, but I feel like there really is a lot of "support" between all the corps, and we all know for a fact that it wasn't always that way.