Okay, so it's clearly a matter of taste. For myself, I find the Stanford Band tends a bit toward the self-indulgently iconoclastic (sort of like the House GOP), but I can appreciate what they're striving toward vs. being Just One More Close Order Drill Unit.
On the other hand, I admire good music and close order drill. Nevertheless, I try not to ascribe moral judgment to aesthetic differences of opinion. Some folks, not so much.
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Stanford band ruins 2013 Rose Bowl (for boring people)
People are awful, have Twitter accounts, and use them to express opinions about harmless, fun things. Like say, the Stanford band!
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They did a good job and even were allowed to do the Anthem before the game. Though it was amusing that they were completely ignored during halftime in favor of Wisconsin.
I enjoy things that appear strange and out of the box, especially with music. This comes from someone that spent four long years playing boring marching music.
I agree with your points though.
Decades ago in college, I met a member of the Stanford Band at some church youth group thing (yes, I know, it’s bizarre). We kept in touch for a few years afterwards and met up when Stanford came up to Eugene for a football game. All I remember is that the entire band was even goofier and into practical jokes than my friend, who was legendary at the national group meeting I met him at. And I do remember laughing at their antics and enjoying what they played after that, even when we were losing to their sports teams at football (or less often, basketball).
Our own bands were pretty awesome, but didn’t go in for the pranksterism of the Stanford bands; to me it seemed like one jokey band per game was more than enough, and I forgave them much for making me laugh.
I appreciate skilled marching and martial music of the kind traditionally associated with marching bands. I also appreciate creativity and originality like that displayed by the Stanford Band. Enjoying one does not preclude enjoying the other. But, as they say, “de gustibus non est disputandum.” I can understand why some people would dislike either one, but it seems to me that comments that suggest the commenter’s opinions on matters of taste are or should be universal are a symptom of the same sort of mentality that leads to soccer hooliganism and vandalism of public artworks.
@DaveN – Agreed. People do get worked up over such things, it seems.
As a UW-Madison Grad, I’ve seen the UW band in action a LOT. They have a lot of the same spirit as the Stanford Band, but wait to display the silly side until the 5th Quarter. (Yes, we stay after the games for the band)
That was a sad, sad game (neither side should be terribly proud of their performance on the pitch), but both bands were a lot of fun. I know they have to do a hell of a lot of work to get ready for these performances . . . it was a running joke in Madison for many years that the band was in better shape than the football team! (Then Barry showed up and whipped the team into shape . .. .)
I skipped the game, @Arty — but my in-laws (who watch TV once a year — the Rose Parade) actually watched it, and seemed to enjoy it.
Looking at the record, Stanford is now 6-6-1 in its Rose Bowl record (and has been there the 5th most of any team). Wisconsin is 3-6 (and is the 7th or 8th most frequent attendee).