JonW Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Can you give me an example of a good sounding pop song performed by a drum corps, that was originally written for guitar and synth? 1990 Blue Devils and "Tommy"? It didn't win, but hellfire, what an awesome performance. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CLD Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Tony Fox is proof that you CAN arrange contemporary stuff for horns. - Fight On! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supersop Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 To each his own, but I'm really tired of corps bringing out the "classics" to have them be not as good as they were originally. It just doesn't satisfy me. I feel like the definitive version of Simple Gifts has been achieved, so further versions just don't measure up. Same with Elsa's. As for SCV 2011, I'm not big on that show, mostly because the hornline was just flat-out mediocre. The last time a corps brought down the house was last night. Thank you Jersey Surf! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman1084 Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Just a couple of things from me... First, I love this thread. I'm not sure if we'll ever end up seeing more corps venture into popular music, but I do feel it could help garner more interest from the younger generation. It's actually funny that I came across this thread today. I went to the show in Lawrence tonight with a Drum Corps virgin. In fact, he had NEVER seen anything like this. Not marching band, not parade corps, nothing. He loved what he saw, but one of his first questions to me (especially after seeing Surf) was "why don't more corps do popular music?" By popular music he clarified that he didn't necessarily mean what was on the radio today, but just songs that everybody, specifically people who maybe aren't musically inclined, would recognize. I didn't have a particularly eloquent answer, other than to mumble something about purists, source material translation and potential competitive issues. Anyway, I will eventually contribute more to this thread, but I wanted to point out a couple of things prior to going to bed. -Jersey Surf performed Fall Out Boy's "Thks fr th Mmrs" when they were in open class. I don't feel it translated too well, but not sure if it had more to do with the arrangement. -I much prefer the original "Lost in the Woods" by Bon Iver than "Lost in the World" by Kanye West. -Part of the reason why I love WGI so much is that many groups are willing to perform popular music. I know a lot of groups that have done Sigur Ros and Muse and many others. I'd be happy to recommend shows to anybody that's curious to watch and see how popular music translates to the indoor world. -I will eventually add a few more songs when I have time to think about it, but I came across a few songs today by Alex Clare that I think have the potential to work well on the field. One of them is below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkAUixIqmlA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoValves Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Where did I ever make an argument anything like that? I simply asked for an example of where it worked in the past? I get it ... you don't like that I disagreed with you original post. Sorry. How about this one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitedawn Posted August 3, 2012 Author Share Posted August 3, 2012 -I will eventually add a few more songs when I have time to think about it, but I came across a few songs today by Alex Clare that I think have the potential to work well on the field. One of them is below:(video snip) Man, that's pretty cool. I like listening to music and wondering whether a corps could handle it/what it would sound and look like. While we're at it, let's go WAY out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Ream Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 I'm with you and I agree, but...having at least some familiarity with the music or musical style can give the judge additional insight, and may lead to giving additional credit (if it's designed and performed well), or additional criticism (if it isn't). My band is playing Rush, and we're throwing down some YYZ. You're on the panel (thank the band gods). You're going to know when the time signatures, chord progressions, and grooves are right. Some other judge who hates Rush, or doesn't know them won't. So it can matter. Not always, but... if you do YYZ well, you want me. if not, well, ask a group 2 years ago but no, you shouldn't need to know it. if it's designed well, not knowing it means nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Ream Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 How can they reward something that sounds like crap though? I am a big fan of most of the music cited in this thread, but it would sound horrible played by a drum corps. Judges are not going to reward stupid show designs ... sorry. That isn't to say that it can't work with the right song and the right arrangement, just that most of the time it doesn't. you missed key words in my post...if done well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Ream Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 Because I fear that drum corps might actually listen to it and start designing shows that feature a bunch of crappy pop music. I agree that there is a lot of great pop music out there. I think there is even more great alternative and rock music out there. But that music was not designed to be played by a drum corps. I don't know that I have ever heard a corps play pop music without it sounding at least a little cheesy. Cheese is the worst part of drum corps. If that ever became a trend among top corps, I don't know that I could stay a fan. Let Radiohead be Radiohead. Let drum corps be drum corps. you're right! Let's keep trotting out crappy wind ensemble music. genre alone does not make music great 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasgre2000 Posted August 3, 2012 Share Posted August 3, 2012 How about this one? Yep. Doesn't do anything for me ... sorry. I realize this is all a matter of taste, but if every corps was doing stuff like that, I would probably stop paying attention to DCI. Not that that should change anyone's mind about what they like. It just isn't for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.