It is so weird to see the "loyalties" so early in the year. What is so very blatant is being able to read between the lines of those that have hidden agendas.
The Buffy Boy for example...one has to wonder why he has nothing better to do than follow show choirs around and spout off opinions. Then this Showquaw person definitely has a hidden agenda about the Center Grove Group that appears to go back to a "loyalty" for the old Director. So there again, nothing they say has much merit.
I have heard from many of my friends about the competetion and it has been unanimous that Findlay won, Center Grove was incredible vocally and that Piqua should have come in last as they had major intonation problems. I was not there but I have seen Findlay as well as Sound System in the last few years and both are great groups. Center Grove is so much better than they used to be in the past couple years, there is no comparison.
I can't wait to see everyone this year..And for you people that have the hidden agendas, (maybe old Sound System people?) move on and find something to channel your hostility as it really is quite ugly.
Let's not all get nasty with each other already! We're only two weeks into a long season, my friends.
Center Grove Debtones- I really think you ladies sing very well this year. The choreo was a little slow and boring, but adding a full band in the spring will make things more interesting.
Findlay- spectacular and amazing, as always. The opener was stellar. The ballad was much better than last year's. Findlay has tremendous natural poise onstage, and they are always very enjoyable to watch and listen to. They were the obvious Grand Champion.
Beavercreek- didn't look so hot. Honestly, I think this group would be so much better with a different choreographer. They sang fairly well as always, but the visual stuff was just lame. DIRECTORS, PLEASE STOP LETTING DAMON PICK OUT YOUR SHOWS! PLEASE, STOP THE MADNESS! PLEASE! They could have a really great year ahead of them, but they need some work before Southmont.
Center Grove Sound System- I really was not that impressed. I'm gonna have to agree with the BuffyMother person... loud sopranos using a lot of vibrato does not necessarily mean they are singing in tune. The ballad was, to me, completely unmusical. Its execution was stylistically inappropriate, and there was just not much sensitivity to it. The closer was fun, and the whole show was energetic. The cockiness of the performers onstage was a little too much for me... confidence is one thing, but looking snotty is quite another. I think that this choir is just loud for loud's sake almost to the point of constantly shouting, and that's not what I like to hear in a good choir. It's just my opinion, but I wonder what's happening to the choir program at Center Grove... they've always sung really really well, and they just don't anymore. I think after three years, you can start calling it a pattern.
Piqua- so much better than last year! You guys were really entertaining and fun. The set was a little overdone, and your diction and dynamics were overdone, and your costumes were a little overdone, but hey, it's still a really good show. I really thought you deserved second place, and I'm surprised you placed so low. The McDonalds thing was dumb though, that might be part of it. I didn't quite get it. Overall, I think you'll probably have a great year.
If I were king, I'd have said...
Grand Champion- Findlay (Best Vocals and Choreo)
1st runner up- Piqua
2nd runner up- CG Sound System
3rd runner up- CG Debtones
4th runner up- Beavercreek
Ok, first...im not a girl, i'm a guy. I'm not dumb and blind, and I know how to read...which I don't think you did when you responded. I didn't like ANY of the groups besides Findlay. And I never ever said that I liked the pleather/flowerpower outfits better than center grove...in fact, i said that I didn't like them. Franklin Central wasn't at the contest, but I was, I graduated 2 years ago and I go to ball state now. I'm allowed to have an opinion, and so are you. Just because you have a ballad of 6-8 parts doesn't mean that it can't be forced...theres more to music and sounding great than how many people are singing what. I've heard a lot better things come from center grove in the past...I just didn't like that ballad. The contest wasn't between anyone...findlay walked in with a win...they can sing without trying to OVERsing. There is no way that center grove would get best vocals over Findlay, and from the way you were so defensive of Center Grove, one might suspect you are from there. Sorry you didn't agree with what I said. If you can't handle constructive criticism, you are definately in the wrong place.
Was Franklin Central at West Clermont? There are two posts from them about the show that night? Did they not make the night show? I remember that BuffyMom from last year...Hmmm. I also remember not paying much attention to her opinions then either.
If you thought for one momment that Piqua was better than Center Grove you must be deaf dumb and blind. But judging by some of the things you said in your post, I would believe all three.
Center Grove didn't need a set, nor costume changes to easily take second. Thier costumes were classy... not trashy from what it sounds like you prefer in show choir. Did we sit and listen tothe same group? Thir vocals were incredible... their ballad in 6-8 parts and you say its forced? Well I disagree... it was clear the contest was between Center Grove and Findlay. Findlay was so clean that I think it separated them. However, I heard some of the Sound System and Debtones kids saying that this is just their fall shows and they perform a completely different show for spring.
The Debtones are good, but I thought Anderson should have placed in there before the girls. Just my opinion, although The Debtones sang very well too, much better than Anderson and Piqua! Piqua shouted through most their show and it was really annoying after awhile. There is no need to go on about the leather-looking outfits or flower power pleather.
My thoughts of how it should have gone:
1st: FIndlay w/ Best Choreo
2nd Center Grove w/Best Vocal
3rd: Beavercreek
4th: Center Grove Girls
5th: Piqua
Findlay: For some reason, I can never get into your shows. The songs are extremely boring. It goes without saying that your vocals definitly saved you guys.
Beavercreek: I forget most of the show. I do remember everyone was very energetic and the choreography was very sharp. The guys costumes at the end were horrendous.
Center Grove Debtones (Single-Gender): I have a newfound respect for Debtones. The show was great, vocally and choreographically. The ballad was AWESOME.
Center Grove Sound System (Mixed): I had to watch you guys on a tiny TV outside of the auditorium, because I was eating a doughnut. From what I could tell there's already much improvement over last year.
Piqua: Wow. Your set is really out there. It's unfortunate it took 20 minutes just to assemble, I thought I was going to lose my mind. The McDonalds thing was just tacky. What made it worse is you didn't even try to make it fun, you just performed it like any other song. The ballad wasn't too bad.
The contest in general wasn't bad. The admission price ($7) was outrageous, especially since there were only 5 choirs and no soloist finals or anything. I think it's awesome that you decided to have a finals show this year, but having it in that small auditorium wasn't a good idea. You've definitly outgrown it, it'd be better to have finals in the gym.
Hey I know we were just performing for exhibition, but can you guys tell me how you thought West Clermont Counterpoint did? Oh and what did you think of the competition as a whole? Compared to last year, this was huuuge for us!
Findlay: Amazing vocals as usual. Great opener and the second song was really fun. Ballad needs a little something, I think I liked last years ballad better. The soloist was amazing. Closer was fun, although I think it will probably be different in the spring (?) but it worked for this competition. The female soloist was REALLY good. Great win!
Debtones: Good vocals. Last's years show was a lot more interesting to me, especially choreography-wise. I thought you should have placed higher than you did.
Center Grove mixed: This show really didn't do a lot for me. The sopranos were really sharp on the opener, I liked last year's outfits more. I was surprised that there was no set...at least compared to last year's huge construction job. The ballad seemed really forced, and the last part was ruined by the shouting of the notes. The closer was fun, but I don't really thing that "Down by the lazy river" is really a closer song. I would give the show a 6.5 out of 10, but there is room for lots of improvement.
Beaver Creek: I like your energy, you really got into the show. With that said, I think the closer outfits were really just not good at all. I don't like that many colors on stage at anytime, and I think there was just about every color of the rainbow up there. I couldn't even find a pattern - half the girls had different pants on, and with all the different colors on the shirts....aaaa...it just really distracted from the songs. Also, I've seen that closer medley before, some group at Milton's invitational (also a damon group) did it a few years ago. I actually thought you all sang better than the group that did it before, but I just never really got into the songs. You all have good potential but I think with a better show you could really shine, or with some changes make this show better.
Piqua: I didn't like that it took 20 minutes to assemble your set. Costumes - Girls dresses, not a good color, didn't match the backdrop at all, and the guys suits...it all just sort of clashed. The guys suits reminded me of the prom suit from "american pie" actually. And the dark blue color of the backdrop patters didn't work well with your colors. Your vocals were good in a lot of places, and in a lot of other places forced. I never really heard you hit quiet notes or have a lot of dynamics. I REALLY didn't like the McDonald's song....i was confused about what the point of it was, I couldn't understand the words, and it just didn't sit well. I almost thought that the ballad was a continuation of the song (they kept saying "something about value" and it just fit in with the mcdonalds song...lol)...the closer was fun, but I didn't understand a word you said. Again, theres lots of room for improvement...you don't need to have a gigantic set if you have the vocals and show to show off instead. I would say a 7 out of 10.
Overall, I probably would have placed it like:
GC: Findlay
1st: Piqua
2nd: Center Grove Debtones
3rd: Center Grove Mixed
4th: Beaver Creek
Overall it was a fun competition, although the auditorium was extremely too small to hold the amount of people attending...some people weren't even allowed in the auditorium unless they had a seat, and there was no way there were enough seats. Good job to everyone and I can't wait until southmont next weekend...
Grand Champion: Findlay First Edition
1st runner up: Center Grove
2nd runner up: Beavercreek Friends
3rd Runner up: Piqua Company
4th runner up: Center Grove Debtones
Glen Este Showboat Showcase 2003
