Goodbye Shocker Sound?

[WstateU]

http://www.ncaa.com/video/basketball-men/2015-01-05/high-five-best-pep-bands-george-mason-green-machine

[ShockerSoundTrumpet]

Does modern music translate to brass that well?

Not really. Once upon a time we put Dynamite by Taio Cruz in the book because it was the hot song of the year. It translated so poorly that it very rarely made the list of songs played at a game.

[ShockerSoundTrumpet]

Safe to ditch the Janet Jackson. Keep Lucretia McEvil and Frankenstein. What is the legality of transcribing and arranging? You are music majors after all. Doesn't the University have blanket ASCAP, etc?

I don't believe we have Janet Jackson or Lucretia in the books anyway. I'm not with the school of music(neither is a majority of the pep band) so I can't tell you about the legality of the transcribing and arranging, but I know in years past we have had people arrange charts for us. Legality of playing them? You would have to ask someone higher up than me.

[Singeril]

Bring back Twisted Sister---"We're not gonna take it". It always fired up the crowd--big time.

[ShockerFever]

I have some good recent memories of the band as it pertains to Wichita State basketball in the NCAA's. Does anyone remember Marshall getting down and dirty to the "You don't wanna go to war with the Shockers" chant the band was playing after the Gonzaga win in 2013 that was played out on national tv?

Yah, ask Marshall what his opinion is on this issue.

[ShockerInKC]

As far as modern songs go, I've thought the Balck Keys' Gold On the Ceiling would work. But if trade it for Led Zeppelins Kashmir.

[ShockerSoundTrumpet]

I have some good recent memories of the band as it pertains to Wichita State basketball in the NCAA's. Does anyone remember Marshall getting down and dirty to the "You don't wanna go to war with the Shockers" chant the band was playing after the Gonzaga win in 2013 that was played out on national tv?

Yah, ask Marshall what his opinion is on this issue.

Was with the band during that time. Still one of my best memories. His family also showed us support this current tournament. After the Arizona win his wife chatted with us about how much she loves the band and the energy we bring to the fans. Surreal experience for sure.

[WuDrWu]

Maybe it's because in my life I'm barely skilled enough to play a radio. I love the band, and in particular, I love the WSU band.

I think they're great, and with very few exceptions, I love the selections.

I'm especially a fan of The Impressions that I Get...if I miss it 30 minutes before tipoff, the game is not complete for me.

It seems clear to me that this is an attempt at a power play by the SGA. Make someone else pay for it so our money can be spent on, well, us. They seem well on their way to being perfect government employees.

But if somehow they are successful, count on my support to fund the band's continuance.

[CBB_Fan]

For reference, the band added Brooklyn - Youngblood Brass Band (arranged by the lead trumpet I believe), Can You Dig It - Brian Taylor (arranged by the lead trombone I think), and Soul With a Capitol S - Tower of Power (bought) along with some shorts this year. So two songs that were instrumental arranged by members of the band that are new-ish and a 1993 song by a group known for their horn section. In the past few years they've added a new arrangement of the Star Spangled Banner, Neck (arranged by one of the director's), The Funk, and Runaway Baby, and In the Stone. So generally very little modern music and 1-2 pieces of new music each year.

A full list of the current book, songs in bold are the ones I think they play currently and songs in italics are the ones I'm not sure on.

WSU Fight Song
Hail Wichita
Star Spangled Banner
Alma Mater
Dudley Doo Right
Hey Song
War
Neck
25 or 6 to 4 (1970)
Ain't Nothing Wrong With That (2007)
Alive and Amplified (2004)
All American Nightmare (2010)
Beat it (1982)
Bend Me Shape Me (1968)
Birdland (1978)
Brooklyn (2003)
Chameleon (1973)
Children of Sanchez (1978)
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)
Everybody's Everything (1971)
Frankenstein (1973)
Get It On (1971)
Gimme Some Lovin' (1966)
The Hand That Feeds (2005)
Heartache Tonight (1979)
Hey! Baby! (1961)
Hey Pachuco! (1983)
Hold On I'm Coming (1966)
The Horse (1968)
I Can't Turn You Loose (1967)
The Impression That I Get (1997)
In A Young Man's Mind (2003)
In The Stone (1979)
Johnny B. Goode (1999)
Pretty Fly - For a White Guy (1998)
Land of 1000 Dances (1966)
Let's Groove (1981)
Louie, Louie (1963)
Pick Up the Pieces (1974)
Respect (1967)
Runaway Baby (2010)
School's Out (1997)
Shake (1979)
Smoke On the Water (1972)
Smooth (1999)
Soul With A Capital S (1993)
Talk To Me, Dance With Me (2002)
Tear the Roof Off the Sucker (1975)
Thank You (1970)
Them Changes (1969)
Think (1968)
Thriller (1982)
Train, Train (1979)
Vehicle (1970)
Uptown Funk (2014)
Venus (1986)
We're Not Gonna Take It (1984)
What I Like About You (1979)
+shorts

In case you wondering, most of these are likely from the same few sources which mostly write music for high school marching bands. The reason most modern pieces don't translate is because they are dumbed down too much so that high school bands can play them, and because they are written for a 100+ person marching band with a different set of instruments. If the band wants good pieces at their level, they usually have to write the arrangements themselves.

[ShockerLager]

So each year part of our budget is for new music, but it is a very limited in part due to the nature of the budget. The music added is usually at the discretion of the directors in charge(aka Grad students). We've tried multiple times to add new songs in, but we can usually only afford a couple of songs a year. When you add songs, you must also then remove songs, which many are beloved by some of the alumni. We've removed songs before and gotten complaints so we try to keeps SOME of the same old songs. In addition, the songs that we've tried to add usually don't fly either with the crowd or with the band itself. There's a style and precedent to everything and we are walking a fine line trying to maintain that while also being "up to date".

I understand. It is hard to please 10,000 people at once. It is also important to please the 1% who have all the dough, and they are generally old. I am not in that 1 percent. I also do not know the cost of adding new songs. It is just the opinion of the 10-15 shocker fans that we hang with. The old songs are usually met with eye rolls and mocking.

On a side note, the band does play a upbeat song and then they sing/chant some words in the middle of it. Does anyone know what those words are? I try, but I can never pick up on what they are saying.

[RoyalShock]

I understand. It is hard to please 10,000 people at once. It is also important to please the 1% who have all the dough, and they are generally old. I am not in that 1 percent. I also do not know the cost of adding new songs. It is just the opinion of the 10-15 shocker fans that we hang with. The old songs are usually met with eye rolls and mocking.

On a side note, the band does play a upbeat song and then they sing/chant some words in the middle of it. Does anyone know what those words are? I try, but I can never pick up on what they are saying.

Is it "Hey Pachuco"? Or the one where they say, "Shockers gonna shock you again"?

[Aargh]

Does modern music translate to brass that well?

That is an issue. A lot of modern music has no relation at all to a brass band.

Here's the original of one of my pre-game favorites. This is from the '70's.

[Kung Wu]

I don't care how old you are ... you've seen Rocky I, II, III, IV, and V. My SEVEN year old identifies with Rocky.

We need that blaring when Marshall comes out of tunnel.

[RoyalShock]

That is an issue. A lot of modern music has no relation at all to a brass band.

Here's the original of one of my pre-game favorites. This is from the '70's.

That's a classic! Played it in high school and at HCC. Our director at HCC brought a mic and amp so some of us saxophones could take solo sections and actually be heard in the arena. Fun times!

[Ricardo del Rio]

For reference, the band added Brooklyn - Youngblood Brass Band (arranged by the lead trumpet I believe), Can You Dig It - Brian Taylor (arranged by the lead trombone I think), and Soul With a Capitol S - Tower of Power (bought) along with some shorts this year. So two songs that were instrumental arranged by members of the band that are new-ish and a 1993 song by a group known for their horn section. In the past few years they've added a new arrangement of the Star Spangled Banner, Neck (arranged by one of the director's), The Funk, and Runaway Baby, and In the Stone. So generally very little modern music and 1-2 pieces of new music each year.

A full list of the current book, songs in bold are the ones I think they play currently and songs in italics are the ones I'm not sure on.

WSU Fight Song
Hail Wichita
Star Spangled Banner
Alma Mater
Dudley Doo Right
Hey Song
War
Neck
25 or 6 to 4 (1970)
Ain't Nothing Wrong With That (2007)
Alive and Amplified (2004)
All American Nightmare (2010)
Beat it (1982)
Bend Me Shape Me (1968)
Birdland (1978)
Brooklyn (2003)
Chameleon (1973)
Children of Sanchez (1978)
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976)
Everybody's Everything (1971)
Frankenstein (1973)
Get It On (1971)
Gimme Some Lovin' (1966)
The Hand That Feeds (2005)
Heartache Tonight (1979)
Hey! Baby! (1961)
Hey Pachuco! (1983)
Hold On I'm Coming (1966)
The Horse (1968)
I Can't Turn You Loose (1967)
The Impression That I Get (1997)
In A Young Man's Mind (2003)
In The Stone (1979)
Johnny B. Goode (1999)
Pretty Fly - For a White Guy (1998)
Land of 1000 Dances (1966)
Let's Groove (1981)
Louie, Louie (1963)
Pick Up the Pieces (1974)
Respect (1967)
Runaway Baby (2010)
School's Out (1997)
Shake (1979)
Smoke On the Water (1972)
Smooth (1999)
Soul With A Capital S (1993)
Talk To Me, Dance With Me (2002)
Tear the Roof Off the Sucker (1975)
Thank You (1970)
Them Changes (1969)
Think (1968)
Thriller (1982)
Train, Train (1979)
Vehicle (1970)
Uptown Funk (2014)
Venus (1986)
We're Not Gonna Take It (1984)
What I Like About You (1979)
+shorts

In case you wondering, most of these are likely from the same few sources which mostly write music for high school marching bands. The reason most modern pieces don't translate is because they are dumbed down too much so that high school bands can play them, and because they are written for a 100+ person marching band with a different set of instruments. If the band wants good pieces at their level, they usually have to write the arrangements themselves.

My Girl https://youtu.be/bZh7nRw6gl8

This song used to a staple, but I am not sure I have heard it lately.