Worst half-time show ever?
I have already said that I think this was our best win in a long time. However, I am truly confused about the half time show. Everything about it just didn't seem right. The whole idea I thought was pretty bad, but I feel that the execution was just as bad (not the actual playing from the band members). The timing of the videos seemed haphazard and nothing really seemed to flow. I am curious as to what you all thought about the performance, because I know the people around me were thinking the same thing that I was.
November 20th, 2011 at 9:26 PM ^
I did not like the halftime show at all. I was so happy when it ended and I was embarrassed at the show the band decided to do for our B1G home game versus Nebraska. My favorite shoe of all time is the Monty Python and the holy grail halftime show from a couple years ago.
November 20th, 2011 at 9:27 PM ^
I was excited to see a great half time show for military appreciation day and couldn't believe what I saw and heard.
One of the greatest college bands in the country had a major FAIL! I was embarassed for them and also found myself apologizing to the Wisconsin fans around me that were at the Big House for the first time.
I kept waiting for the show to make sense and it never did. It would have been much better if the the scoredboards weren't working and they just played the National Anthem a few times...
Dave Brandon can't be happy about what happened and will probably now review every show before it is presented since this hurts the Michigan "brand". He will probably review the contingency plans for electrical fail as well.
Looking forward to a great halftime show next week on what will be an epic day.
Go Blue!!
November 20th, 2011 at 11:55 PM ^
I wouldn't have apologized to any Wisconsin fans around me for nothing. those idiots were at the wrong game, lol.
November 21st, 2011 at 1:34 AM ^
Agreed though, next week will be an EPIC day! Those Hoosier fans are in for a treat!
November 20th, 2011 at 9:30 PM ^
Honestly, I don't generally care for the halftime MMB performances. This is one of the few areas of life where I'd consider myself traditional.
For all the talent and discipline the band clearly has, it's often (IMO) squandered in dorky shows.
Have you ever seen a Caucasian person deploy slang (especially of the inner-city variety) awkwardly? That's what came to mind as I was watching Saturday's halftime show.
November 20th, 2011 at 9:34 PM ^
medley of patriotic songs, I'm sure the band that has to have people call them the best in the land will oblige Saturday. MMB rocks and at least tries some creative things.
November 20th, 2011 at 9:37 PM ^
That's a college band pro move when you've got an away trip scheduled. They can't boo America, right?
November 20th, 2011 at 9:37 PM ^
The student section thought it was awesome. Speaking as a former member, over half of our shows cater exclusively to the bluehairs who donate lots of money. It's rather nice that one or two a year can actually be for the students.
November 20th, 2011 at 9:40 PM ^
I was in the student section and I can say that I did not see anyone who thought it was awesome. I did love the Wizard of Oz and Monty Python shows though.
November 21st, 2011 at 12:30 AM ^
I was in row and we loved it. it was a generational thing. Not surprised the old farts hated it.
November 21st, 2011 at 12:31 AM ^
In row a
November 20th, 2011 at 9:38 PM ^
This was just another attempt at a different form of a 'skit' show and utilizing technology more. The previous skit shows (Monty Python and Wizard of Oz) went over very well as did the Guitar Hero show which used a lot of the video board. Can't blame them for trying something a little different.
Hear/Say:
I heard that they didnt know until a minute before they were going out that the video boards were going to work for it. Also, if the boards were out of commission the half time show was possibly going to be the normal Post Game Show.
November 20th, 2011 at 9:47 PM ^
Personally, I don't understand how this idea got any further than...
"Let's try doing viral videos as a theme!"
"Cool! What songs are the band going to play?"
*awkward silence*
November 20th, 2011 at 9:47 PM ^
The MMB does a good job of appealign to different generations on a week by week basis. This week, they appealed to a younger generation. They have done the same in the past, see: Ferris Bueller's Day Off Halftime Show
November 20th, 2011 at 9:56 PM ^
Most of the people in the stands are probably too old to know what "viral video" even means, hence the lack of success.
I do concede that the strucutre was ... disorganized, to say the least. Felt very haphazzard but it was an interesting concept at worst.
November 20th, 2011 at 9:56 PM ^
Shows matter. \S
November 20th, 2011 at 10:04 PM ^
You were paying attention to the band at halftime?
November 20th, 2011 at 10:13 PM ^
My sentiments exactly. In fact, I was perplexed by the people in section 13 rows 15 and higher were actually standing during the ENTIRE band performance. Yet when the game started and my buddy and I wanted to stand, everyone around us was sitting, which forced us to sit.
November 20th, 2011 at 10:12 PM ^
It was hilarious. Everyone around me in the student section was digging it. I mean, sexy sax man? Are you kidding me?! I LOVE sexy sax man!
November 20th, 2011 at 10:25 PM ^
Carl Grapentine's announcing. I can't believe he had any idea what he was talking about, but he really got into the double rainbow.
November 20th, 2011 at 10:39 PM ^
This wasn't my favorite half time show ever either, but that doesn't mean I felt a need to come on MGoBlog and start up this hornets nest again. Every time the band tries something new or makes an obvious appeal to the student section everyone here gets up in arms about it, and every time we do boring traditional shows for a few games in a row everyone finds some other excuse to hate on the band.
You can enjoy marching band or not, but if all you do is slander it on the Internet you basically rubber stamp an approval on switching out the band for a piped in version of "The Victors." Hey, maybe we can get a t-shirt gun at half time instead, wielded by our new furry mascot? The band has been doing its thing for a lot longer than you've been alive, much less had an ill-informed opinion on what a halftime show should be like.
A lot of the students around me liked it. It was a tough show to put together I'm sure. All of you profess a profound disinterest in the band anyway when you aren't busy writing about how they're all pointless dorks, so why do you even care? It's not like we spend time out of our day talking about how you guys are all no-life middle-aged men with nothing better to do but obsess over stalking the Facebook posts of high school football players.
Look, the MMB isn't "for" the MGoBlog, football obsessed crowd. But for older people, young kids, and (for a few shows per year) the students, the MMB really generate a lot of stadium atmosphere and excitement. If you have some suggestions or concerns over the way the band works, send an email to Dr. Boerma or Dr. Haithcock, don't try and start some Internet circlejerk about how "these kids don't do things how I want!"
All I'm saying is, it's fine to have your opinion. But you don't have to make 300 people feel like shit because you want to be an asshole about it.
November 20th, 2011 at 10:45 PM ^
This members of the MMB did great. With that said, there is no reason the members should get offended by fans saying they didn't like 1 show. Do you realize how often people criticize the coaches of the football team and the football players on their performance? Do you see them "feeling like shit" because of what the spectators said? No.
November 20th, 2011 at 11:16 PM ^
Please. This is far from an isolated incident and the boards dislike for the band is well documented. These threads show up at least once per season. Just take a look at OMG Shirtless' comment below. Everyone needs to come on here and be an expert on the stadium reaction to a show because the two people they were with didn't like it either.
As a former band member, it's at best annoying and at worst demoralizing to see something you put a huge amount of work into derided because it's not to the particular tastes of this board, which like it or not, is one of the most visible faces of Michigan football fandom on the Internet. Especially on a board which is so heavily regulated when it comes to shitting on student athletes.
I'm not saying you can't have a negative opinion about the band. But it seems unnecessary that the board has to have their regularly scheduled "Gosh the band sure is annoying and terrible huh?!" thread. Why is it that deriding student athletes at Michigan or other schools is so verboten here, but calling a bunch of 18-21 year old kids who have no real choice in what they're doing an embarrassment to the University is acceptable?
The cheerleaders, dance team and band all do this because they're Michigan traditions and they want to provide entertainment for the stadium. They don't get scholarships, (in fact, at least for the band, they pay for the privilege of being there in addition to paying the cost of the credits of the class. If you wanted to take a full 18 credits in addition to marching band, it would cost an in-state student around $1,000,) and they sacrifice a lot of time, and they work hard to provide part of Michigan Stadium atmosphere. If they do one show a year that doesn't tickle your fancy, maybe they've earned the right to a free pass now and then.
November 20th, 2011 at 11:28 PM ^
"Deriding student athletes at Michigan or other schools is so verboten here" is wrong. People criticize football players all the time. If they aren't playing to their potential i'm sure you will see it here. For example a few weeks back Denard had an off game and people were not afraid to talk about it. Did you see Denard get all sad because people were saying he played poorly? No.
That isn't the point though. No one here is criticizing the band members. They just did what they were told to do. People are criticizing the people who put the show together. This is much like criticizing the OC because of the play calls or something else related to coaching, which happens a lot. (just look at GERG for a easy example)
November 21st, 2011 at 1:27 PM ^
Where questioning players and coaches is not allowed around here? Even after a big win, there's a half dozen threads complaining about something. Denard vs. Devin. J.T. Floyd, who had one bad PLAY getting heat. These guys are students, and take far more heat than the band does for their one bad performance per year. Imagine people saying "wow, that was a great show by the band...but you know, the tuba section kinda sucked today." They work far harder than the band, and take endless crap on what they do. The band made some mistakes...even if you liked the content, the performance was obviously disjointed. If you don't want any crticism over it, then don't perform in front of other people.
November 20th, 2011 at 10:41 PM ^
its so crazy that michigan sports in general are so anti-michigan artists.
give me the white stripes...eminem...kid rock...bob seger...motown artists...so many great choices for half time shows of big games and we always screw it up.
November 20th, 2011 at 10:55 PM ^
You do know that the band played Eminem & Aretha Franklin during commercial breaks right? Add that to the mandatory 5+ times Seven Nation Army must be played over the loudspeakers every game and there are plenty of Michigan artists being represented.
I personally thought the show was pretty terrible, even though I like the Gregory Brothers and knew several of the clips that were used. The biggest problem IMO was that everything was a giant inside joke that 85%-90% of the stadium was not in on. And even being in on the joke I couldn't tell what the hell they were actually playing outside of the George Michael song. Not a very good recepie for success.
That being said, complaining that the band doesn't play enough Michigan artists is a pretty silly criticism IMO.
November 20th, 2011 at 10:54 PM ^
What else is new?
November 20th, 2011 at 11:04 PM ^
The Michigan Marching Band has to do 9 halftime shows this year (8 home games and a trip to East Lansing). If they want to do a silly show, more power to them.
I wasn't there, unfortunately. But I kind of like the idea. Only problem for me is, I only got a couple of those viral videos. The rest, I was completely lost. I had to google Nyan Cat to find out what that was all about.
I love the band. It's part of the game day experience. To all MMB members, you guys rock. Show up OSU's band (the so called best in the land) this Saturday.
If I'm not mistaken, that's a nickname they gave themselves. Lame.
November 20th, 2011 at 11:20 PM ^
Reading this threads greatly confuses me. I am a student and up until I read these posts, I thought everybody absolutely loved the show. Every student I spoke to said how amazing and hilarious the show was and it was awesome to just see something different. Something the marching band ENJOYED doing. However, I absolutely believe it is a generational thing, and most of the show was based on internet jokes so I can see how many people thought it was outrageous.
I am all for the band and tradition, but it was great to see the student section so aroused by a show. The halftime shows have been generally solid this year, but bringing some of that youthful flare and creativity made it thoroughly enjoyable.
Furthermore, there were definitely some issues with the scoreboards/audio. Many times the PA announcer spoke and half the sentence was cut off, which makes me think that some of the video audio was also a little troubled.
November 21st, 2011 at 8:21 AM ^
>> I thought everybody absolutely loved the show
Nope.
>>I absolutely believe it is a generational thing
I understood the theme, but hadn't seen 3/4 of those videos. When the nyan cat came on, I was just like WTF.
Damn kids and their yahootubes and electronic mail, and google this and that all the time...
November 20th, 2011 at 11:22 PM ^
The sexy sax guy video is funny as hell. I wasn't at the game, but it didn't look that bad. You definitely can't hear the band though in that video.
November 20th, 2011 at 11:37 PM ^
Well seeing as I don't really give a fuck! I'd say it was okay!
<br>P.s. I was there and it wasn't that bad
November 20th, 2011 at 11:44 PM ^
Our group spent the entire halftime show trying to describe to the Nebraska fans what we normally do for halftime. I know that scoreboard issues hurt the performance but it was a overall poor attempt.
November 21st, 2011 at 12:09 AM ^
Not surprising that some people aren't happy unless they are complaining about something. I imagine the thought line is something like this: "Well, we shitcanned Nebraska by 28; I'd better post about how much I disliked the marching band's halftime performance because I'm a humorless douchebag."
November 21st, 2011 at 12:24 AM ^
I loved it. Whatever haters gonna hate.
November 21st, 2011 at 12:26 AM ^
I think everyone of those videos has made it onto the MGOBLOG many times. I loved every second of it!
November 21st, 2011 at 1:02 AM ^
I watch the game while listening to Branstetter and Beckman.
I was dismayed to be distracted by the background rawk from the stadium loudspeakers which I could hear over the radio.
Yuck!
November 21st, 2011 at 1:16 AM ^
November 21st, 2011 at 2:31 AM ^
"I literally just sat down as the ball was getting kicked to start the second half. The amount of just zero movement was ridiculous."
Not the kind of details we need about your foray to the bathroom...
November 21st, 2011 at 7:55 AM ^
Generally, our band does a great job, but that show was an embarassment. I actually apologized to the Nebraska fans who we were tailgating with us, saying usually we do a much better show. Oh well, hopefully they'll get up, dust themselves off, and do a great show for the game on Saturday.
November 21st, 2011 at 1:33 PM ^
For some team that's come and seen Michigan 50 times, but for Nebraska's first appearance as a member,it wasn't a good choice. Only works if it's more "funny", and less "weird". Ferris Bueller was funny. This was just kinda "oh, I know that".
November 21st, 2011 at 2:02 PM ^
when you get a 100 posts after the game only complaining about the band's performance.
November 21st, 2011 at 1:33 PM ^
Opera was worse.
November 21st, 2011 at 3:00 PM ^
Maybe the MMB director needs to get himself an armadillo and bring it to the next practice. There's some mighty thin-skinned MMB members around these parts . . . .
November 21st, 2011 at 7:54 PM ^
I'm ancient, but we played WAY too many versions of El Cid and St. Louis Blues in my day. The current Band leadership should be applauded for trying to be creative and thinking outside the box. MMB is a very hardworking group of men and women who represent the University well.