Wanna throw out another really big Congratulations to Mitchell... I didn't think that ballad could possibly get any better from Hastings... but you kids and Miller never cease to amaze me. (You too Stephen!) and when I heard the sforzando at the end of the ballad I thought I was going to die... that was PERFECT! Great addition. Proud to say I'm an Alumnus... good luck at Lewis Central on Saturday, and in Orlando after that. See you there!
Okay LeMars. I'm gonna talk as if I was a neutral observer, which I wasn't gonna do considering you're my old group. In the opener, I know you guys are going for serious so the faces are serious... except for like 3 people who are beaming with smiles. Get them to not smile or make everyone smile.
Eth, may I ask who was smiling? Because he has tried to drill the serious emotion. And it makes me mad that people don't know how to listen.
I have to respectfully disagree, both in day and night Westwood vocals were just overall better and as for diction I could understand Westwood just as well as LeMars. And in my opinion Westwood's show is more entertaining but that is nothing the kids can help, as far as song selection. I missed the LeMars vocals from last year. But I did really enjoy the Reach song, I think it would've been a better opener.
I also will have to respectfully disagree with you.
Though LeMars's vocals are not as strong as last years, Westwood's vocals were not better than LeMars's, especially in finals. I felt Westwood's vocals floundered in finals quite a bit, allowing Lewis Central to overtake them. A lot of people had Westwood below LeMars. Actually, I think 2RU-4RU were completely mixed in many people's opinions. I'm not saying LeMars was above Westwood by far, I'm just saying if anything, it was close. I just cant wait till Hinton to see a LeMars/Westwood rematch.
Okay LeMars. I'm gonna talk as if I was a neutral observer, which I wasn't gonna do considering you're my old group. In the opener, I know you guys are going for serious so the faces are serious... except for like 3 people who are beaming with smiles. Get them to not smile or make everyone smile. You can't have both. In the second song there is a part where you go soft and build soundwise. I'm pretty sure you talked about this in critique because you were a LOT better in finals with it, but I still want more. I lovelove the interaction between the guys and girls in Mercy. (Though it's kinda wierd to see some of you youngin's acting seductive ) I want more dynamic contrast in the ballad. I want the climax of the song to be louder and more powerful. I was on the verge of tears with the ballad, but it left me wanting more. The blonde dance solo in the ballad (i love you sarah), it was fantastic.. except when you walk on and off it's a little awkward when you walk up the riser and back down. I think it would be cool if, when you're about to walk off stage, you look back at the audience and walk off .. It would just be a cool effect. The dancebreak with like 8 people.. clean. You need to clean it more. You're leaving a very small portion of the group out on stage to be vulnerable. The judges are gonna pick hardcore. You need to be cleaner. (But i LOVE that part.. facials are amazing). Reach was fantastic. I LOOOOVE the costume change. The beginning of the closer is weak vocally. I wish you would start off just standing still with a very loud ANYWAY YOU WANT IT then a very soft 'thats the way you need it' and then blow up with another loud 'ANYWAY YOU WANT IT'... THEN move. Also if it was a capella.. i'd probably cry from it being so amazing. I really love the show you guys have this year and I think that you have so much potential to grab the first GC for LeMars since '03.
These are just the few notes that I saw that I think could be worked on to create the best Crimson and Black show ever. You guys are just so talented and amazing already. I love the show more than I can even say. (:
3) I couldn't understand Westwood.
4) I think LeMars should have beat Westwood. (And thats not biased. hahaha)
I have to respectfully disagree, both in day and night Westwood vocals were just overall better and as for diction I could understand Westwood just as well as LeMars. And in my opinion Westwood's show is more entertaining but that is nothing the kids can help, as far as song selection. I missed the LeMars vocals from last year. But I did really enjoy the Reach song, I think it would've been a better opener.
Kenzie's thoughts on last night (don't insult me for my opinion. *cough*ethan*cough* ):
1) I honestly couldn't decide if I liked Mitchell or Ankeny better. I absolutely loved both shows!
2) I didn't see Lewis Central's show live. I saw part of it on tv in the cafeteria.. they were the group with t-shirts and scarves at the end right? I wasn't a big fan of the scarves. And their choreo reminded me of westwood's. But from what I saw, it was good. Plus, you have a pretty awesome director.
3) I couldn't understand Westwood.
4) I think LeMars should have beat Westwood. (And thats not biased. hahaha)
5) I thought LeMars's show was absolutey spectacular...especially that one girl named Mackenzie.... (insert laughter here because I'm an idiot.)
6)Seeing Ethan front row was kind of strange. Good strange, of course.
7)I'm sad I didn't get to see Hinton's show last night. Next week, hopefully. I want to cheer on all my pals! And a few people I hate... hahaha.
8) It was a long day for me. But it's okay
Mods - Bellevue West did not attend this competition.
Alright here I go.
Mitchell - Wow. What else can I say? Your first number is alright but after that your show is absolutely fantastic and quite possibly one of the best I have ever seen. Your ballad had my friends and I almost in tears, holding hands in finals. Your closing costumes are risky, but i absolutely love them. To the guys on the Unicycles.. amazing. I loved the umbrellas, too. Boyce and Brianna.. you two are absolutely fantastic performers. I loved the stage set up and the extra stuff for visuals. Your show was clean and i just flat out LOVED it. You definitely deserved the GC.
Ankeny - I don't really know what to say about your show. You were clean, great choreography, and amazing vocals. (I actually thought you guys would grab vocals from Mitchell). But there's nothing special about your show to give it that GC. It's a great show. You just didnt have the edge of past Ankeny choirs.
Lewis Central - Thank you. A completely different choir than what i saw at Omaha. I absolutely love your show. And I gotta say that that Andrew Gulden kid.. one of the kings of show choir for sure. He sure knows how to perform. And that Blake kid too! Just a great show and you definitely stepped it up in finals. I was so happy you guys overtook Westwood because you definitely deserved it.
Ohhh. And the first ballad soloist. She was my candidate for best female solo. She reminded me A LOT of bethany fagen of Petal with her voice. I just loved it a lot.
Westwood - You guys had so many troubles during daytime. Two girls falling, the guy soloist completely forgetting his words, the front guy punching the standing microphone with choreography (which he also did during finals.. love the consistency ) I felt like your finals show just didn't match your daytime show, however. I actually had LeMars above you finishing. But I love what you guys have done this year and, as always, Gerking produces a top notch show choir.
LeMars - :D . Sitting in the front row as an alumni is a crazy feeling. I was more nervous than I had been the past four years. I love you guys so much. You guys went through so much drama at the beginning with the choreographer problems, and though you guys didn't even learn your stuff until January, you came out today and showed your Crimson and Black hearts and gave an amazing performance. (Two, actually). I love everything about your show except for the fact that I'm not up there with you guys. Nathan's solo is amazing and he definitely deserved Best Male Soloist. You guys just make me so happy. I love you all and you WILL be seeing me again in the front row, losing my voice screaming for you guys.
Hinton - Not exactly the Hinton of the past few years. A nice show, but it wasn't really what I expected from you guys. The spelling bee song just falls apart vocally. I actually had Spirit Lake making finals above you guys. Never the less, you can tell you guys have fun up there and that is all that matters.
Spirit Lake - I am about as anti-spirit lake as anyone can get. Because of the sports rivalry and the show choir drama a few years back, I have never been a fan. But I actually thought you guys should have been in finals over Hinton. The opening costumes are ridiculous and you need to choose better. Overalls and plaid? You look like huge hicks and it has nothing to do with the song choice. The rest of your show is pretty good. Not a GC group but a 4/5RU group at some competitions for sure.
Denison - It was great so see you guys competing up this way again. It was crazy to hear that your students choreographed all your show. I had you guys as a darkhorse making finals for sure. Vocals were sketchy but it was a great, entertaining show.
South Sioux - I loved the hankerchiefs. They provided great visuals throughout.
Ankeny Prep - MADDY! It was great seeing you again! :D. To be honest I expected more, but you guys were a great prep group. Good choreo with decent vocals. It was great to finally see the Ankeny's! (Though I must say that I would expect Visual Adrenaline to cheer for Perpetual Motion, but PM's crowd was quiet a majority of the time. This disappointed me a lot.)
Papillion Prep - Your show was very entertaining. You could easily tell it was a prep group, but i had fun watching your show. Good job.
This is a text I sent to Lindsey (Brush) last night right around the time the last finals group was performing.
"... (westwood may jump one or two spots from where i have them.. but im keeping them down in my predictions. but if they jump.. i called it)
then i went on to list my predictions on best soloists and performers, which i went 1/4 on lol.
but besides best vocals, i called everything it makes me feel like i'm not a complete show choir failure .
The judges really liked Westwood. The crowd really liked Ankeny. Mitchell got the most 'ooohs'. It was just all around a very fun day and I'm glad I was there to witness everything.
Another great year of Heelan show choir competition. Except for the fact it ended up being almost a whole hour behind schedule. But oh well. That just means more time for show choir! This competition was always one of my favorites to attend and it always will be. Great job by everyone there and congrats to Mitchell and everyone else on a great day.
Grand Champion: Mitchell 'Friend de Coup'
First Runner Up: Ankeny 'Visual Adrenaline'
Second Runner Up: Lewis Central 'Lewis Corporation'
Third Runner Up: Westwood 'Rebelaires'
Fourth Runner Up: LeMars 'Crimson and Black'
Fifth Runner Up: Hinton 'Soundwaves'
Best Vocals: Mitchell 'Friend de Coup'
Best Choreography: Mitchell 'Friend de Coup'
Best Band: Mitchell 'Friend de Coup'
Best Crew: Mitchell 'Friend de Coup'
Best Male Soloist: Nathan Hettinger - LeMars
Best Female Soloist: Ankeny
Best Male Performer: Blake - Lewis Central
Best Female Performer: Alicia - Hinton
Prelim order:
1. Mitchell
2. Ankeny
3. Westwood
4. Lewis Central
5. LeMars
6. Hinton
4A
1. Mitchell
2. Ankeny
3. Lewis Central
3A
1. LeMars
2. Spirit Lake
3. Denison
4. South Sioux
2A
1. Westwood
2. Hinton
Prep
1. Ankeny
2. Papillion
Will post my thoughts on everyone's shows later. I'm tired. (:
Huge congrats to Boyce, Brianna, and everyone else with the Mitchell crew.
Also thank you to the amazing Andrew Gulden and company for proving to everyone how amazing Lewis Central can be. They were a completely different choir tonight than they were at Omaha.
I think the top two could go either way. Even though Ankeny had a 4th place finish at UNL while Mitchell got GC, both groups have a fair chance at this. Both have unique, well-executed shows. It all depends on who gives the better show tomorrow and who the judges are. I see it going this way:
GC: Mitchell/Ankeny
1st RU: Ankeny/Mitchell
2nd RU: Lewis Central
3rd RU: Westwood
4th RU: LeMars/Hinton
5th RU: Hinton/LeMars
Bishop Heelan Quad-State Showcase 2010
See you there!
But I did really enjoy the Reach song, I think it would've been a better opener.
) I want more dynamic contrast in the ballad. I want the climax of the song to be louder and more powerful. I was on the verge of tears with the ballad, but it left me wanting more. The blonde dance solo in the ballad (i love you sarah), it was fantastic.. except when you walk on and off it's a little awkward when you walk up the riser and back down. I think it would be cool if, when you're about to walk off stage, you look back at the audience and walk off .. It would just be a cool effect. The dancebreak with like 8 people.. clean. You need to clean it more. You're leaving a very small portion of the group out on stage to be vulnerable. The judges are gonna pick hardcore. You need to be cleaner. (But i LOVE that part.. facials are amazing). Reach was fantastic. I LOOOOVE the costume change. The beginning of the closer is weak vocally. I wish you would start off just standing still with a very loud ANYWAY YOU WANT IT then a very soft 'thats the way you need it' and then blow up with another loud 'ANYWAY YOU WANT IT'... THEN move. Also if it was a capella.. i'd probably cry from it being so amazing. I really love the show you guys have this year and I think that you have so much potential to grab the first GC for LeMars since '03.
