Cardman

Really? Why? I think it was one of the few things that was completely unnecessary. Why is there a red tarp being pulled up onto the center of the field and then pulled back down? It doesn't make any visual sense to me. It's been in their show now for a while, but I still don't get it. Maybe there is more yet to add later?

I really like Boston's show this year. That looked like a new ending (didn't watch them last night.) I wish the camera were just a little higher and panned out just a little more. Being this close makes it a little tough to read some of the forms. Good job, Boston!

No, not original music, as far as I know it sounded like "New world symphony" re-arranged to me. Have to check their repetoire above...

I hope so. I'm not too hot on Blue Stars' show (I miss Houdini...) but BK's show is just too "out there" for my tastes with those guard head pieces and all the electronic garbage kills it for me. I still wish them luck and may the corps with the best performance win.

"This just in...Blue Stars show stopped due to self-imposed thunder. Story at six."

Was that new drill just now at the end of that piece? Nice.

www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums

You have GOT to be kidding me. Get over it. It's drumcorps, NOT art. I can't stand this kind of mindset, as if something is unusual or "out there" and done well that it is "good". Bunch of artsy, fartsy mumbo jumbo. Go back and watch four corners again. It WAS the cleanest that year, and well deserving of the title (though I did enjoy Cadets' show more than Cavies' in the end.)

Eh...I still call tubas "contras". You can call them whatever you want, really. I mean, who's gonna stop you? "Oh, I really love that passage the farfindinkles just played..." See? Try it some time. People will stare at you.

Okay, I just got back from the contest a while ago, came in here to see the scores (I knew Blue Devils would win before they even started their performance) and see that BD is ahead by more than two points? No. I'm sorry, but I watched their performance tonight (despite previously designating them my hot dog corps this year) because they are just so awesome, but I'm sorry, there is NO WAY they were that much better than Cadets and Phantom. I actually thought they had kind of an off night tonight. There was a soloist who fracked in one spot and some of the transitions to forms just didn't seem very crisp for them compared to what they've been doing this year. I LOVED Phantom's show (favorite show of the year). I had a newbie sitting next to me, and she felt the same way I did about Phantom and BD, that is, Phantom is my favorite show and BD my least favorite. Being back to back really made the differences that much more apparent. You had a lovely, easy to follow story with full melodies marched very cleanly (Phantom) followed by all kinds of randomness (yes, I know it's da da, don't start.) cleanly marched drill (other than the issues noted above) and some pretty great musical moments (the biggest reaction from the crowd came after the jam session and they end in the large triangle form) They NEED to change that ending. Everyone was just sitting there, not clapping or anything for a good couple of seconds, so I cued everyone around me by telling them "it's over." They will take the title this year, I am sure of it. Blue Knights, I gotta say, what the heck are you doing? Those guard outfits were terrible! And the head dress??? Are you serious?? I almost thought BD was going on early it was so absurd. WAY too far out there for my tastes, but hey, I wish em' good luck and I liked the plume change from blue to red. This show is just not my cup of tea is all. They did seem to tone down the electronics a little, thank goodness. I left before Cavies went on to beat traffic. It's a long drive back to Oklahoma. I'll see em' on fan network tomorrow anyway.

I'm going to Denton instead also. I figured I'll see everyone I would've seen in Broken Arrow and then some. Plus, the stadium in Denton is great for drumcorps. Wow. I love Oklahoma. I'm sorry you feel it's the "worst". It's really great here, actually. Now Texas on the other hand... nah, I'm not one of those people that hates on other states. That would be really stupid.

I hate all the pre-recorded garbage that corps play these days. I can't think of many examples at all where I was okay with a sample or sound effect that was coming from the synth. It's ruining drumcorps for me, personally.

This year, show-wise: BD < Crown Cadets < Phantom SCV < BC All imo, of course.

I hate it.

Man, there are a lot, but here are just a few: Harry Connick jr. (92' BD) which, incidentally led eventually to me listening to Frank Sinatra (Harry is a big fan and says so a lot) who became and remains one of my favorite singers ever. Nessun Dorma (91' Phantom) I bought the opera just to hear it and it's amazing. (though, this is the only opera I ever listen to.) West side story (94' Cadets of Bergen County...this was the first time I heard them do it. Later found out about 84'.) I LOVE West Side Story (though, ironically, not in drumcorps anymore...sick of it.) The movie is great (I like it better than the original play) and it's fun to sing the songs from it. That's all for now. I'm tired.

Favorite show this year: Phantom Regiment Runners up: Carolina Crown Cadets Bluecoats Spirit

News flash: BD did NOT win in 2008. They LOST to Phantom Regiment and deservedly so (and I LOVED BD that year!)

Yes, sadly two pieces I didn't care for the first time. Probably two of my least favorite pieces played by the Blue Devils ever. No, he is right. Go back and listen to the reactions of the crowd, both after the Blue Devils (and compare it to the reactions of the other corps) and then listen at the end when they are announcing the drum majors for the different corps. BD got one of the weakest (if not THE weakest) responses from the crowd. Oh, and he can speak for this fan (on this topic) any time. Perhaps a little harsher than I would have put it, but I pretty much agree with everything you just said. I had never actually seen the video for that song, and now I wish I still hadn't lol. Still, I'd watch that video 10 more times before watching the Blue Devils show once more. Yes, I can hum melodies from Phantom Regiment, Carolina Crown, Bluecoats, Santa Clara Vanguard, Cadets (who doesn't know "Jingle Bells" anyway?), Cavaliers, Spirit of Atlanta (Luck be a lady tonight!, classic song.), etc, etc, etc as the king would say...

I agree with the OP.

Amen to all of the above. Keeping your religion to yourself is one of the worst things you can do. That's one of the biggest problems with society today. If you're not sharing your religion, you're not really living a "religious" life. And no, I'm not saying you should "shove it down their throats". Nobody likes that. It should show in the way you treat others and how you behave. That's a HARD thing to do, especially when we all have our own internal desires. I'm using generic terms here because I know religion is supposed to be banned here. Just responding to the above.

SUTA: "Stop Using The Amps". You're welcome. No. Scouts have not been the "most entertaining corps" for me since 1999, I'm sorry to say. I love Scouts, but this year's show is not the great and wonderful thing that Scouts fans are trying to make it out to be, as far as I'm concerned. The arranging is awful, imo. I want them to do well, but man, it's just so choppy and lacks emotion (yes, even with the rotating company front) The only moment in the show that I really love is when they finally bring the company front forward and start to play. Why can't the rest of the show be that straight forward? That's one of the biggest problems with this activity today, imo. Too many corps are tryiing to be "sophisticated" and be seen as "artful". It's a bunch of pretentious baloney if you ask me. Just march and play. And when you play, play the music as it's written, or at least don't chop it up SO MUCH. In my opinion, every corps should take a cue from Phantom Regiment in regards to arranging. I can't remember a recent year where I didn't enjoy their musical arrangements. To each his/her own though. We'll just see how everything turns out.

I'm sorry, but there is NO WAY that SCV was better than Bluecoats tonight. I actually like SCV's show this year, but man, are they dirty still. Their hornline also can't hold a candle to Bluecoats' either, imo. I'm honestly shocked. Not shocked that BD took it all though. Did you notice the crowd's reaction? Yeah. You can also hear it in the crowd while they're announcing corps drum majors. Carolina Crown and Phantom Regiment got the biggest reactions. Go back and listen to it again if you don't believe me. It's too bad these new judging sheets apparently don't mean much. Oh well. No one can stop me from liking corps A's show more than corps B. I thought Crossmen would make top 12 tonight, beating Blue Knights, but I was wrong. It'll be interesting to see how finals pans out.

Wow. Well then I'm more than happy to oblige by leaving early. Exactly what I thought. The single peanuts clip before was annoying to me but not horrible because it was very brief. Now, there is just too much going on there. You can't even make out all the clips as some are laid on top of each other. Let's hope they tweak this some more and remove some stuff.

Well, BD hasn't taken out all of that super annoying talking that goes on during their show...looks like this is still a hotdog corps for me this year. It's a shame too, because the kids are absolutely amazing. Awesome marching/drill. Check. Awesome playing/musicality. Check. Entertainment. Check.(sporadic) Annoying as hell to the point of infuriating me and wanting to punch a baby. CHECK. I bet they win, too. Yaaayy for new judging sheets ensuring we are getting more entertaining shows At least they go on last next week in Denton so I can leave early and beat traffic... Sorry, but those are my true feelings on this show. I SO want to like them, but they won't let me by their awful choices. Next year, perhaps.