kdaddy

This is brilliant.

I'm with you, though I think this show has a more logical flow. I always felt in 2013 that 20 tunes were put in a hat and five were drawn. That said, PR is very formulaic (same could be said of, say, the 2008 show). This is my favorite corps, so I tend to be more critical as I want the best for them. I look forward to seeing them in Akron.

Also, icons of the last 200 years: Lincoln, (FD) Roosevelt, Kennedy, Bocook

How does the Cadets show take any sort of stance on FDR's policy decisions? The show seems to me to be about great speeches given by three titan presidents of American history with the backdrop of a great American composer. The three chosen presidents happen to be somewhat liberal, but look deeper into two larger common themes: (i) they are iconic, and (ii) they each represent turning points in American history. Perhaps you don't support the side of history on which they stand, but that makes them no less historic figures. No president is without controversy (except I think we can all agree that Martin Van Buren had outstanding sideburns). One option is to not share these great words and do a show about fluffy kittens (though this would offend me, as I'm allergic). (and I won't respond to FDR prolonging the Depression...)

I would like to average the two ends of the aggression spectrum: JD Shaw and Don Hill. (though my impression of Don Hill is now clouded by 2013 - his 2012 arrangement was appropriately aggressive, in my opinion)

Just to be clear, you contradicted me. And that's okay.

I have no info on this, but I suspect that the videographer is just a contractor. And I suspect that the drones are the property of the videographer (e.g., maybe they use them for outdoor weddings or other events). And further, I suspect that the videographers are probably not getting paid wedding rates when working with drum corps (so the cost of the drones may not necessarily be passed on to the corps). I assume the drones are only used for promo videos and tour dvds - do we know that they are actually being used to clean drill?

Maybe handing out lyrics to You'll Never Walk Alone. Reimagining To Tame the Perilous Skies with drones...

The closing shot of the BS video was just of a brass arc. My favorite shots of the BS video were of the rifle toss and the guard. Regiment's video showed a lot of drill from up high. (and the shot through the trees then over the field was better than the final BS shot) Ultimately, both videos were the first step into using this technology for both corps, and I look forward to what they produce the rest of the season.

Give the students in the corps a little credit. They're old enough and surely mature enough to accept any criticism the OP gave. And he wasn't criticizing them in the first place. It's natural for someone invested in an organization to have high expectations and to even be hypercritical. Your reaction (essentially accusing him of not actually being in the corps) has been just as inappropriate as OP.

Regiment's drone footage has been significantly better (more dramatic, better produced). But this was nice.

When Regiment and Blue Stars duel with drone camera work, fans win!

Incredible

Jeremy, I'm with you. Some BK shows are difficult to take. 2000 and 2006 come to mind. But dark and brooding can be great. 2007 comes to mind. 2012 aside, I think they were heading in the right direction with Marc Sylvester (and I think both made a mistake by parting ways with each other, regardless of who initiated the break up). BK appeared to be more entertaining with him designing the shows, but they still felt like "BK." I think 2013 was not a step in the right direction. As for stepping it up competition-wise, I wouldn't worry about it. As was pointed in a prior over-the-top-homer post, top six is more difficult now than ever. I think it's a little naïve to recruit for and design a top six show. Being competitive among corps in its current peer group (e.g., BAC, Scouts) is a reasonable expectation.

Generally, I prefer the original. I just like to hear the arranger's take. But a few cases where I prefer the arrangement: - Crossmen 90 (the New York Voices stuff is cheesy and unlistenable) - Regiment 12 (I don't care much for opera, so several other shows would also fit in this category)

I think the PR ballad is the Horner/Howard stuff. And it seems that the Dracula stuff is in the "conflict" section before the closer.

Have the musical selections been officially announced? (they teased on Facebook, but I haven't seen anything official)

With you 100% on this one. Great use of Bach woven throughout (same tune also used by Academy that year). I'd add 1996 BD. Someone else mentioned that BD shows grow on you over time, like a rash (I'm paraphrasing). None more for me that 96 - really weird show musically at the time, but very tame by today's standards. Another is 1994 Colts. I listened to that show a few times back in 94 and thought it was cheesy. Now, I realize the genius of Chuck Naffier all the more.

This is generally attributed to John McKay, former coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: "I'd be in favor of it."

But my question is *how* do you mock communism in a drum corps show? This is one of my more anticipated shows in the season. Not because I'm all that excited about the theme, but because I look forward to seeing how they plan on doing it.

I've not seen it on Youtube. But if you ever hear a recording, you'll hear wild applause during the first quiet/slow section (in the first two minutes of the show) - that's him making it back to his spot.

I really like it a lot (except the dots on the sleeves).

I appreciate that they let the students introduce and describe the music.

And my first thought was, "oh, he wrote something other than Sorcerer's Apprentice?" :)

This source material is incredible.