HurcsGuyGD. Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 All afternoon I've been looking forward to coming home and watching the top 8 drum corps in the world battle it out. From what I've been reading on dcp this is shaping up to be one of the best seasons ever for drum corp. Brought the projector home from work, plugged in the bose to the laptop and prepared for an evening of big, loud and live home style version. I even had my girlfriend, someone who has never seen a drum corp show, sit on the couch watching. I have to admit for the first time in the 25 years I've been either participating or following this activity, I finally feel like one of those "old timers" who just dont get the direction of this activity. Im not talking about electronics, vocals, preshows, or any other of the rule changes that have taken place over the last 5 to 10 years. I dont see the diversity or passion written into the shows anymore. There is no question the kids in this activity are highly trained, extremely hard workers with a passion for perfection that many of our nations youth will never achieve. There was not a single show tonight that grabbed me, threw me down in my seat and then made me jump up before the last notes screaming like a little school girl with goose bumps covering my entire body. Did anyone else notice the crowd reaction during the performances and after the last note? Yea!!!!!!! Great job kids, we can tell you're very talented and work very hard, my ### hurts so its time to stand up! After the Blue Devils (actually every corp) final note, and seeing the look of utter confusion on my girlfriends face, I almost felt like I needed to appologize for wasting the last few hours. I then decided I needed to show her one of my favorite shows of all time. Without saying a word I played 1988 Santa Clara Vanguard. After the corps disapeared she leaned over and said "now that was something I could get excited about and would pay to see!" I then realized what's missing from todays activity. Diversity, Flow, Melodies and Passionately written shows! Im sure I'll be blasted by the younger generation for expressing my disatisfaction and that's fine, we all have a right to an opinion. It was just a sad realization this evening that for the first time in nearly 25 years I realized I am losing touch with an activity that has given me so much joy over the years. I know they are not as loud and boomy as they used to be but I still dig the new stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Brace Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Just to clarify something for you. I am not a BD hater. I have been a fan of this corps since I saw them for the first time in 1977. But the last few years they have relied to much on guard and gimmicks. In the late 70s and 80s they were able to trounce other corps by spreading that hornline all over the field and still playing incredibly well. So, just to be clear here....they play Stan Kenton. It's not just about guard and gimmicks. Their show kicks serious butt and is extremely inventive at the same time. This is not your grandpa's drum and bugle corps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musclebud Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 So, just to be clear here....they play Stan Kenton. It's not just about guard and gimmicks. Their show kicks serious butt and is extremely inventive at the same time. This is not your grandpa's drum and bugle corps. It's great that they are playing Stan Kenton, so have lots of others. But chairs and mirrors are still gimmicks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRASSO Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 . This is not your grandpa's drum and bugle corps. I recall Grammy had a nice mirror, and Gramps had a nice folding chair though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Other Mike Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 I recall Grammy had a nice mirror, and Gramps had a nice folding chair though. Difficult to hit the high notes with false teeth though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Ream Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 I agree with Lance and the OPbreaking up is often a slow process, step by step I almost wish I was a line in the sand guy and could have made a clean break it's difficult, you feel something is taken from you, cheated it's out of your control, so go with til you can't I wanted to storm out but find it's more like.... softly, as I leave you ok do you step over the rifle line on your way out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.E. Brigand Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 I doubt very much if there is a song, tune, etc. that was played by a DCI Corps today you could whistle, hum, etc. leaving the stadium like you could in the "old days" when Corps played "recognizable music". Sadly I think the arrangers/designers are putting together these shows nowadays for their own egos. I have't seen any shows yet this year (fingers crossed for weather Tuesday!) but a fair bit of the source material is certainly hummable. It would take a lot of work by BK or Crown, for instance, to render "Nimrod" unmelodic. I'm whistling it to myself right now! More than a few others among the classical pieces are equally memorable. Moving forward into the realm of film music: "Laura" is of course one of the all-time great themes, and Chaplin's "Smile" is a lovely tune, which was beautifully performed by Nat King Cole. As for pop tunes, there's Cyndi Lauper, Tears for Fears, and Bon Jovi! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Ream Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Better than wasting time going to a board saying how much you hate something the board is devoted to. no offense, but the message of unhappiness by the paying public needs to be said somewhere. would you suggest they flood Dan's email? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Ream Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 Stop calling todays drum corps BANDS!! BANDS PLAY RECOGNIZABLE MUSIC !!! no they dont, but please remember one of the biggest corps directors out there said drum corps is marching band Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Ream Posted August 2, 2010 Share Posted August 2, 2010 You can't make both old school and new school happy at the same time.There is too little overlap, if any at all. I 100% disagree. If you don't believe me, I suggest you go watch Phantom and Crown 08 and SCV and cadets 09 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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