[NT Daily] Opinion: Some students find the Mean Green Brigade lacking

dmaxel · October 9, 2017

http://ntdaily.com/some-students-find-the-mean-green-brigade-lacking/

Ignore that they call it the Mean Green Brigade.

Aldo · October 9, 2017

Quote

“The evolution of the marching band into what it is today that explains a lot about why we do what we do and a lot of that is lost on audience members who take a cursory glance and a half-second listen before going back to their hotdogs and their phones.”

OH NO SHE DIDNT

Zeke · October 9, 2017

The bit they do where they only play a few notes then stopping.......then starting.............then stopping.

Then starting.

It makes me insane

UNTLifer · October 9, 2017

Just now, Zeke said:

The bit they do where they only play a few notes then stopping.......then starting.............then stopping.

Then starting.

It makes me insane

SSSSHHHH. It has historical significance unlike wearing uniforms.

DeepGreen · October 9, 2017

It's about time someone talks about the band. Our marching band could be so much better.

Take it away SilverEagle.

MeanGreenTexan · October 9, 2017

Quote

The marching band is to serve skillful entertainment for the crowds at home games.

That opinion is tail wagging the dog your highness.

greenminer · October 9, 2017

This could be a dialogue about prioritizing traditions versus current fads/trends.

Gotta say, the tradition dialogue is somewhat lost on me coming from a school that provides a different shade of green for each new generation, plus new football unis every season.

GrandGreen · October 9, 2017

Overall the band is one of the best in the country if based on the ability of the musicians.

However, they seem to go out of their way to be as bland as possible at games.

For one, if not the best music departments in the world, their creativity is usually lacking. The band just has not forced an identity and hasn't changed in decades other than getting larger. Hey Baby and Seven Nation Army are the most overplayed songs at college games. It doesn't matter how good you play it, if every college band in the nation also plays it.

The Green Brigade is a good college band, but they should be great. Everyone appreciates the work and time, the band members contributes.

Probably much of the music department view the marching band as totally unimportant. Neglecting to realize this is the most exposure that most get to a great Music School.

Invest a little money and time and expand the playlist. Find some traditions and add some pizazz to the routines. Frankly, if the current band director can't improve the game performances, find someone who can.

UNTFan23 · October 9, 2017

bbf64e08a7ddae95cc9da049bbbf45e6--fantas

meangreenlax · October 9, 2017

There are plenty of examples of more prominent schools doing way more creative stuff with their bands. The UNT band is probably one of the best just based on the talent of the musicians, but unfortunately, that doesn't matter to the majority of students. As a recent grad, I think its clear that tradition means very little to the average UNT student so it's probably best to ditch uniforms and go with some off the wall music choices

UNTexas · October 9, 2017

13 minutes ago, meangreenlax said:

There are plenty of examples of more prominent schools doing way more creative stuff with their bands. The UNT band is probably one of the best just based on the talent of the musicians, but unfortunately, that doesn't matter to the majority of students. As a recent grad, I think its clear that tradition means very little to the average UNT student so it's probably best to ditch uniforms and go with some off the wall music choices

Like completely ditching Fly Like An Eagle. Forever.

MeanGreenTexan · October 9, 2017

I think many of you are wanting a band like RICE's, which absolutely serves solely as entertainment.

Being in the Green Brigade is a chance for students (I know there are many majors, but mainly Music Ed) to LEARN nuances of writing/composing for/performing drill in a way that is widely practiced across Texas.

As for music played in the stands... I'm with you guys. It could be better/different. I love me some "Fly Like an Eagle", but not 10 times/gm.
However, if you have been paying any attention, you'd have heard them playing the tune from Imagine Dragons' "Believer" recently. Pretty new/relevant.

It's not like they're not playing new music... it's more likely that you're "...back to your hotdogs and your phones".

DeepGreen · October 9, 2017

Watching the Green Brigade perform at halftime is very similar to one of the cheers I hear from one of (how many do we have anyway?) our cheerleader groups.

"Hit 'em again, harder, harder". "Hit 'em again, harder, harder". Gosh, that cheer is breathtaking; puts fear in any opposing team we are playing. And so original.

Ryan Munthe · October 9, 2017

Their halftime shows are painfully short and lack any pageantry. The uniform thing is shitty as hell.

THOR · October 9, 2017

this will be there fourth performance of the year....maybe we finally get uniforms???

they marched in their uniforms at high school competitions recently, but can't for a home football game???

my time in the green brigade, we learned 3 SHOWS A SEASON!!! class was one hour a day except for mondays and then they were 3 hours and wore uniforms every stinking game! the head band director, nick williams, was my drum major...he knows how it was and how it should be...and he was a hell of a trumpet player

ChristopherRyanWilkes · October 9, 2017

12 minutes ago, Ryan Munthe said:

Their halftime shows are painfully short and lack any pageantry. The uniform thing is shitty as hell.

Everything said above and this. The khaki shorts uniforms they wear during hotter games are horrible.

You can hear the musical talent when they play, but I agree the lack of creativity and excitement with their performances has always bothered me.

keith · October 9, 2017

I've always thought that the band should do more to pay homage to some of our own. Instead of Hey Baby, how about playing Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman" (something people know and can sing along to even if it's only the chorus) at the start of the 4th quarter? Or if it's near the end of the game and we are obviously going to win, whip up the chorus of his "It's Over" and let everyone sing along. Seems like we have a legitimate claim to uniquely call this as our own tradition. I'm sure there may be other options out there. These two just seem obvious to me.

Edit...or if we're losing, play "Crying" or 'Only the Lonely" ... hahahaha.

Edited October 9, 2017 by keith

GrandGreen · October 9, 2017

45 minutes ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

I think many of you are wanting a band like RICE's, which absolutely serves solely as entertainment.

Being in the Green Brigade is a chance for students (I know there are many majors, but mainly Music Ed) to LEARN nuances of writing/composing for/performing drill in a way that is widely practiced across Texas.

As for music played in the stands... I'm with you guys. It could be better/different. I love me some "Fly Like an Eagle", but not 10 times/gm.
However, if you have been paying any attention, you'd have heard them playing the tune from Imagine Dragons' "Believer" recently. Pretty new/relevant.

It's not like they're not playing new music... it's more likely that you're "...back to your hotdogs and your phones".

Few if any want a Rice like assemblage, not really a band. Rice does this not because they are super creative but because they can't field a traditional college band. Neither do I think NT has a future of having a Grambling like band. NT's band should forge their own identity based on the incredible musical talent available.

However, is not entertainment the primary reason for a college band? I don't think being entertaining is going to hinder the future high school band directors of Texas.

Christopher Walker · October 9, 2017

19 minutes ago, keith said:

I've always thought that the band should do more to pay homage to some of our own. Instead of Hey Baby, how about playing Roy Orbison's "Oh, Pretty Woman" (something people know and can sing along to even if it's only the chorus) at the start of the 4th quarter? Or if it's near the end of the game and we are obviously going to win, whip up the chorus of his "It's Over" and let everyone sing along. Seems like we have a legitimate claim to uniquely call this as our own tradition. I'm sure there may be other options out there. These two just seem obvious to me.

Edit...or if we're losing, play "Crying" or 'Only the Lonely" ... hahahaha.

I really, really like this.

Ryan Munthe · October 9, 2017

However let me say I absolutely love their stop/start fight song trolling.

Ryan Munthe · October 9, 2017

Looks like it got taken down.

UNT 90 Grad · October 9, 2017

4 hours ago, Zeke said:

The bit they do where they only play a few notes then stopping.......then starting.............then stopping.

Then starting.

It makes me insane

^This times a million billion.

dmaxel · October 9, 2017

1 hour ago, Ryan Munthe said:

However let me say I absolutely love their stop/start fight song trolling.

4 minutes ago, UNT 90 Grad said:

^This times a million billion.

I think sometimes the band forgets that they're not at the game and in the stadium for their own entertainment. I usually sit just to the left of them (when facing the field from our side of the stands) and while it's annoying for everyone else (myself included), they're having a hoot catching players who don't stop on the correct note, since each iteration adds one additional note.

Edited October 9, 2017 by dmaxel

UNT 90 Grad · October 9, 2017

2 minutes ago, dmaxel said:

I think sometimes the band forgets that they're not at the game and in the stadium for their own entertainment. I usually just to the left of them (when facing the field from our side of the stands) and while it's annoying for everyone else (myself included), they're having a hoot catching players who don't stop on the correct note, since each iteration adds one additional note.

Yep. You can see them calling each other out from the alumni side. It’s very apparent that they aren’t paying attention to the game and are entertaining themselves. It’s just as frustrating when the team is behind and you see players goofing off and playing grab ass on the sidelines.

SAGreenFan · October 10, 2017

I've always rolled my eyes at the negative Green Brigade posts until last year when their show was a straight up copy of their 2012 show. Plus the fact that you can't find any official content online. A former coworker of mine who was on the drumline told me that Nick Williams will report any content on YouTube because they're all his arrangements. There needs to be a change, the GB is straight up boring these days.

Edited October 10, 2017 by SAGreenFan