Fight song epiphany

[SaxyIrishTenor]

Scamper along, my bright-eyed friend, because I don't want to separate you and McMetz too.

You don't want to - or you don't want to HAVE to... Thats two different things to me.

[Metz]

Scamper along, my bright-eyed friend, because I don't want to separate you and McMetz too.

You don't want to - or you don't want to HAVE to... Thats two different things to me.

Wouldn't have to be much separation. I think he could take me and run.

[golfertk14]

:coo-coo: Are you smoking drugs I along with everyone have no clue what the eye rolling means.

Sorry haven't seen this post since yesterday....anyways it was meant as "gosh you didn't KNOW that the song sped up?..rookie.. "

That was joke-sarcasm mike.

[It's the Journey...]

First, when is the boy supposed to arrive on campus? I need to know when to be out of here.

Second, the move from what we called "high step" (which was bringing the foot up to the knee) to what we called "chair step" (where the leg was raised in front at a 90 degree angle happened during the 1995 marching season. It was my first year here at BG and in the FMB. We made the change for homecomming that year because Dr. Rohr brought Mr. Kelly in to fine tune the show. He did it all from music to marching and it was amazing to see him work. I had only heard of it from my h.s. band director who graduated from here in the late 1970's. We played Emperata Overature in the north endzone and went into Leaving on a Jet Plane and made the jet. That part sucked a little because we used fire extinguishers for the form and the low brass got to inhale all that crap. We did Get it On and then went right into Lady and dedicated that to Mrs. Kelly. It was lots of fun. Anyway, back on topic. As it was taught to us by Mr. Kelly, the faster the tempo the lower the leg comes up. It may only come up to 45 degrees, but if EVERYONE does it it looks great. For slower tempos there was no excuse for not hitting 90 degrees. I like the fight song faster, as long as it is clean. There were a few years where it sounded like a funeral durge and that was no way to get a crowd going.

[Rightupinthere]

That was joke-sarcasm mike.

Sarcasm is an art. Learned over years and years of experience. It's usually reserved for only the elder statesmen of society (me, Flip, Tech, Schad, et al).
There's a difference between saying "darling, when I look at you, time stands still" and saying, "darling, you have a face that will stop a clock."
It's all in the timing, wit, verbage, and the 'smirk'.

View how the elders enable their sarcasm. Keep practicing in the mirror, my little brother.

Anyway, did you compare the fight songs from the mid 80's, Mike? I'm thinking Bonnie would have a copy.

[transfer2BGSU]

There's a difference between saying "darling, when I look at you, time stands still" and saying, "darling, you have a face that will stop a clock."

Anyway, did you compare the fight songs from the mid 80's, Mike?

I have a copy of the fight song from 1984 but it's on vinyl. I might have a copy of it from 1985 on cassette.

[Metz]

First, when is the boy supposed to arrive on campus? I need to know when to be out of here.

Go easy on the lad, he's learning with time.

As it was taught to us by Mr. Kelly, the faster the tempo the lower the leg comes up. It may only come up to 45 degrees, but if EVERYONE does it it looks great. For slower tempos there was no excuse for not hitting 90 degrees. I like the fight song faster, as long as it is clean. There were a few years where it sounded like a funeral durge and that was no way to get a crowd going.

First let me say I haven't heard it from the 1980's but I will see if I can get a copy. I am going to assume it is faster paced then or you wouldn' have said anything about that RightUpInThere.

Now Matt, have you ever really been down by the field and listened to the fight song? It ALWAYS sounds like poop yet for some reason by the time it hits the stands it's fine. My freshmen year I pondered this game after game. I stood there as an alternate for pregame (except for that ONE game!!) and heard ugly sounds passing by my face. Notes were being splattered out with every step. Then Monday, we watched the tape from the game and I was usually like WTF, that's not the same pregame I heard. When you explain to me how to "clean" that, I'll be all ears.

I've stated in other threads I think chair-stepping does need to be worked on more and I still think that. I just started this thread to point out another possible option since time isn't spent on pregame much anymore. Technically I hate chair-stepping and think it ruins the crotches of the uniforms and since we have new ones, it should be done away with. But that's just me.

If anyone has ever seen Michigan's marching band, they bust into a slow chair-step in their pregame. EVERYONE on the field is doing it perfect. Tall-short, fat-skinny, it doesn't matter. This goes to show it can be done, but like anything, it takes practice. I was just saying though, if you don't practice it, you have to do other things to help it out, and slowing down the tempo would be my best idea. I'll leave that to the people who get paid for it though...

[It's the Journey...]

Since Mike is gonna bust my balls here I guess I have to respont, lol If you are on the field you are hearing each line as they pass. If you are in the stands, lets say half way up, you are hearing all the lines mixed and blended together. As far as the marching is concerned, practice is the answer. We did pre-game every day at least once. If it was good we moved on, if not we worked it hard. We also did at least 30 minutes of fundamentals each day. If thats not being done now then maybe priorities need to be re-examined.

[SaxyIrishTenor]

Since Mike is gonna bust my balls here I guess I have to respont, lol If you are on the field you are hearing each line as they pass. If you are in the stands, lets say half way up, you are hearing all the lines mixed and blended together. As far as the marching is concerned, practice is the answer. We did pre-game every day at least once. If it was good we moved on, if not we worked it hard. We also did at least 30 minutes of fundamentals each day. If thats not being done now then maybe priorities need to be re-examined.

I've been saying just that for three years now.

[goofyeuph]

I agree with all points made. If FFF was maybe a smige slower it would be easier to march. If we spent more time working on Pre-game though out the season it would look and sound better on Saturday afternoon. For some reason Doc H doesn't rehearse Pregame unless she has to. For the life of my I can't figure it out. This band takes a great deal of pride in it's Pregame show and I think we should spend more time on that. While I might not have particularly liked Hu To as a marching band director, he did understand the physical aspect of marching and did a decent job of making sure the band stayed "in shape". Personally, I like chairstepping, IF it is performed well. Now in 4 years I think I may have seen chairstepping that I like from the entire band...once. Maybe twice (and that includes Fundies week and rehearsals, not just performances). If the band isn't willing to chairstep, I think a high step is MUCH more appropreate, and visually more appealing.

I've been saying just that for three years now.

Saxy, I've been saying it for 4 years, and even more so over the last 2.

[SaxyIrishTenor]

I agree with all points made. If FFF was maybe a smige slower it would be easier to march. If we spent more time working on Pre-game though out the season it would look and sound better on Saturday afternoon. For some reason Doc H doesn't rehearse Pregame unless she has to. For the life of my I can't figure it out. This band takes a great deal of pride in it's Pregame show and I think we should spend more time on that. While I might not have particularly liked Hu To as a marching band director, he did understand the physical aspect of marching and did a decent job of making sure the band stayed "in shape". Personally, I like chairstepping, IF it is performed well. Now in 4 years I think I may have seen chairstepping that I like from the entire band...once. Maybe twice (and that includes Fundies week and rehearsals, not just performances). If the band isn't willing to chairstep, I think a high step is MUCH more appropreate, and visually more appealing.

I've been saying just that for three years now.

Saxy, I've been saying it for 4 years, and even more so over the last 2.

That's only because you've been here a year longer.

[Falcon30]

A few points - as long as you slow down the screamer, I am happy. Fite song 160 = good

now correct me if i am wrong - but we did NOT chair step in the early 90s - we high stepped. I did chair in HS (GO NORTH OLMSTED!).

BTW - Saxy I am glad I made it in to your sig. I am putting that on my resume now under "honors and awards."

[SaxyIrishTenor]

A few points - as long as you slow down the screamer, I am happy. Fite song 160 = good

now correct me if i am wrong - but we did NOT chair step in the early 90s - we high stepped. I did chair in HS (GO NORTH OLMSTED!).

BTW - Saxy I am glad I made it in to your sig. I am putting that on my resume now under "honors and awards."

Oh - you should! I am QUITE selective...

[MaggotMan09]

A few points - as long as you slow down the screamer, I am happy...

If you can get the trumpets to slow down, then you have powers beyond that of any mortal man.

[Rightupinthere]

A few points - as long as you slow down the screamer, I am happy...

If you can get the trumpets to slow down, then you have powers beyond that of any mortal man.

It's easy to do. Just tell them that it's not a song for the trumpets and the piccs and clarinets (who share their melody line) can still play it faster.