Cadets 2000 - "We Are The Future"

Uploaded from the VHS "The Cadets - The Championship Years". This is my favorite show they've ever done.
Edited to add: I grew up in Bergen County. I was born and raised there til I left for college in 2004. ALL the kids in my band program wanted to march with the Cadets growing up. The summer between my junior and senior year I had a really tough decision to make - march with the Raiders Jr. Corps, or tour Europe with American Music Abroad. I ended up going with touring Europe, and while I don't regret that one bit, I do regret never getting to march drum corps as the opportunity never was provided to me again. I did march 2 years with the Incomparable Golden Rams marching band at West Chester University in West Chester, PA (2004, 2005). But I honestly cannot watch this video posted before you without choking up as it brings up so many amazing memories of my childhood. So I hope you all enjoy.
I do not own the rights or any aspect of this video

[@based_seattle]

DCI is basically unrecognizable today. They really need to get back to basics. This show being a perfect example of what DCI should be.

[@toddchavez8274]

My New Year’s Eve tradition. Happy 2023 people!

[@chrishouston968]

Happy New Year!

[@Major_Tom98]

Notice the lack of props, voice overs, auxiliary music, etc. This show proves you don’t need all the bells and whistles to be this great.

[@scottbryant99]

And wearing UNIFORMS not these weird things they wear now.

[@ctopanga14]

When 9/11 happened, I was a sophomore. All after-school activities were cancelled, including for me, marching band practice. That day in band class, instead of playing music, we watched amazing DCI shows - like this one that had just won the Championships a year before. I'll never forget that day, and this program is inextricably linked to my memory because of it.

[@chrishouston968]

Oh wow so guess we're the same age, I was also a sophomore on 9/11. I grew up in North Jersey in the same county the Cadets were based out of at the time (Bergen) and all my classmates and I wanted to march with them when we got older because of this show! We were so close to Manhattan we could see the smoke from the collapsed towers from my high school. That sounds like a really powerful memory, thanks for sharing.

[@rayselhansen7417]

21 years later and it still gives me goosebumps! I had the privilege to experience this live as a teenager. 2000 was my first year competing in DCI. I fell in love with the activity.

[@viawilderness]

...2000 was basically the gold standard of drum corps for me in high school. Reading the comments I'm seeing I'm not the only one! I'm very fond of those top 5 shows and still listen to them today. Boston did very well that year too! Such a great year

[@TheRailwayDrone]

I marched 2nd trumpet in this show.

[@isaiahyoung3834]

Thanks for putting on such an inspiring show!!!!!

[@TheRailwayDrone]

Thank YOU for the response you all had given us.

[@nudist0885]

@ 1:17 "GGGOOO IIIAAANNNNNNNN".........

[@KiranSundarkdog97]

Wow, that’s awesome! You’re one of the lucky ones 😁

[@CVSoprano]

Soprano... SOPRANO!

[@jackrogers3657]

God that EUREKA into that hit at 2:18 will ALWAYS and forever be in my heart. This show is MAGICAL.

[@dannyolson2318]

Feeling nostalgic. My favorite DCI show ever.

[@spasbyjesse]

Still come back from time to time to listen and look. Loved this show!

[@nixhydra]

This show and the Cavies' Niagara Falls were so damn good that year. I miss this DCI...

[@brandoncaridi5229]

Imagine how many kids did marching band, or just got into music, purely off this show! Every time I see it, I’m amazed at the drill, the runs they have to hit, the pit absolutely crushing it, and the overall difficulty that had to have been achieved.

[@chrishouston968]

I had already marched one year in high school when I first saw this performance, but it solidified my love for marching band and I continued to march through college. I march with a parade band in the summers now but sure do miss doing drill!

[@drumcorps0junkie]

I hope and pray that the future corps director watches and gets inspired by the level of brilliant ideas that was put into this show.

[@abshalommil-alsberg1997]

Amen. I'm a designer. Sylvester has the big-picture gifts! I have a modern profound Appalachian Spring and Fanfare for the Common Man concepts. Maybe the Director will because Sylvester would resurrect -- if director would can the mediocre design staff for a proven legend. Only Sylvester knows of 1 concept. Yet Fanfare is literally out of this world --- most defined :) App Spring reveals a newer box 5-6 design element...guaranteed to be copied on many platforms.

[@chrisl83]

@@abshalommil-alsberg1997 Nobody needs to have Appalachian Spring in anymore shows ever. A once nice to hear piece of music has induced eye rolls for how many times it's been played in the marching arts.

[@abshalommil-alsberg1997]

@@chrisl83 we all have opinions. My modern concept reveals elements never used in box 6-like effects. Regardless, incredible music never goes out of style. Take care.

[@keyowilson5695]

I am confident the 2020 design staff is at work with putting together a masterpiece that defines who The Cadets truly are. We won't be disappointed.

[@reeceupdike1677]

I am not at liberty to discuss any details right now but I assure you that the show we are preparing for 2020 will not be easily forgettable

[@stevenaleman7454]

having marched in Garfield so many moons ago ('79-'84), I had never attended DCI Finals as a fan/spectator, until 2000. I'm soooo glad I got to see The Cadets at Finals that year....it was truly a championship performance! - FHNSAB :)

[@KiranSundarkdog97]

Fitting - got two titles under your belt, and witnessed history when you went!

[@JamieSmith-fz2mz]

You marched in the ‘83 show which had the best ballad ever. Saw you at Whitewater. Still have vivid recollection of that show and the quietness of that piece.

[@jacobsoliz4869]

I watched this show my Sophomore year in High school. I get choked up watching it now being 39 yrs old. Such an awesome show and a wonderful time back then to be excited and motivated to be a better musician. I absolutely loved this performance. This was also the year I attended my first DCI show.

[@michellelindsay5727]

What a moving performance. I cried, laughed, cheered, felt overwhelmed, but best of all knew this was truly an amazing experience for everyone involved and here I am blessed to see it again in 2021. Thank you.

[@highstimulation2497]

me too. me too.

[@Corpus3414]

As far as I know, every Cadet remembers the moment they decided to be a Cadet. It was seeing this in Dallas, TX backfield while in BK. There is no way to describe that sound that were posting AWAY from the crowd. That was the moment.

[@EvanYoungMusic]

When I was teaching Cadets2 and also when I had a student named Ian March at Cadets in 2015 and 2016, I would yell out, “GO IAN!!” in a soft passage.

[@highstimulation2497]

omg that's amazing! I seem to recall, SOMEONE was yelling "go ian" multiple times at finals that year... (so much so that one of my fellow instructors jokingly said it at a quiet moment at some point during some show on one of the nights, can't remember which.) #GoIan

[@leaguemaskthaamumugod7552]

Thank you so much for this. This is really one of the rare Cadets performances that is 100% for love and you can tell the entire time. Like no matter what happened that night, it was gonna be a great night, and they knew it. Also, I don’t know how many thousands of kids grew to love DCI specifically because of this performance

[@chrishouston968]

I'm the guy who uploaded the video. My freshman year of high school was the fall after this show won (2000). My friends and I would go to the band room during lunch and my band director had it on vhs and we'd watch over and over again. Many of us moved onto do college and DCI. I marched at West Chester University of PA.

[@neal0071234able]

I was roadie with spirit in 03.. This show got me into drum corps.. The finale company front is legendary !

[@mrvincentjackson]

I marched Raiders (D3; remember that?!) that year, my rookie year. Went to finals that night, a friend of mine from high school marching band marched bass 1 (nailed his audition) that night for Cadets, damn near lost my voice and cried. Saw the "first draft" of their show in Clifton in early July but knew it was going to be good. I fell in love with corps the year before but didn't feel ready; he encouraged me to go out for this D3 corps and give it a shot. They are my forever friends because of him.

[@thomaslehmanbaritone]

Count me in! My high school, Pocono Mountain, had Jeff as our drill designer and we made that very clear in 2001.

[@alexanderedwards4617]

I ended up not being able to commit to the tour but I auditioned for Blue Stars in 2009 and marched seven years between high school and college. This show sparked my intrigue for marching.

[@paulblichmann2791]

So corny it does a 180 and it's good. My guilty pleasure show.

[@paulmclemore8158]

Followed this show 9 different times that year to watch the changes and show develope. It was amazing to watch and this from a Phantom fan! lol

[@chrishouston968]

I am SO jealous that you got to see this live! I grew up in Bergen County (where the Cadets were located at the time) but I never got to see this show live, it was the summer before I entered high school I would have loved to see it.

[@gunner-qf9eh]

@@chrishouston968 Didn't go thru all the comments to see if someone corrected you, but this show scored 97.65 on finals night tied with Cavaliers for first. If Blue Devils didn't have that nightmare finals fiasco with their percussion, who knows it could have been three way tie.

[@Jondrinkswoodford]

While I loved both shows (cadets and cavaliers). I can’t believe they didn’t win it out right that year. ‘Twas a Show for the ages

[@zxmoore1]

I was a junior in high school and played tenors. The snare drum player brought this for us to watch. We got the tape, brought in the vcr and pressed play. The entire band sat down, together, and watched this amazing performance. Stunning

[@chrishouston968]

Similar to you I was a freshman in high school, it was the fall of 2000 and my high school band director put the tape on for us. I grew up right outside Bergenfield where the Cadets were located at the time and all of us wanted to march with them!

[@JonathanHwang-me3hk]

Our drill writer was so inspired by this that he added parts of it to our show

[@bruincs1]

Funny, it wasn't until I was visiting Epcot in '02 or '03 during Orlando DCI that I heard the "We are the future" music while walking around the park during the fireworks show (I was not watching btw) Needless to say I was astounded by the composition, only to find out later The Cadets had already done this show, lol. I'm SCV all day every day from birth, but this really was a great, feel-good masterpiece, music, drill and performance. Props!!!

[@chrishouston968]

Same!! I have the soundtrack from Epcot, gives me chills!

[@bruincs1]

@@chrishouston968 agreed^! The last track with vocals is a little week, but the rest, just wow, lol

[@benjaminledford3325]

They had excellent use of IllimiNations: Reflections of Earth.

[@chrishouston968]

I had the pleasure of seeing Reflections of Earth at Disney World twice and fell in love with it. The first time I saw it my friend and I who were obsessed with the Cadets performance were like WAIT A MINUTE hahaha and I bought the CD and listen to it all the time still! Such an incredible show.

[@benjaminledford3325]

@@chrishouston968 I saw IllumiNations back in 2008 during the Christmas season. It was a good show.

[@cbmeandher7084]

Drum line I feel is one of the top of all times! On point and clean!

[@DrumCorpsClips]

dci hits different when its VHS recordings

[@DevinEsleck]

What a dope show

[@raymondfallon7429]

It's a tiny bit interesting that a child born the year of "We Are the Future" would be aging out this year. And of course that age outs from 2000 (my son aged out of BD that year) are now 42... not exactly "We Are the Past" but I'm guessing it's starting to feel that way. Time moves along, whether we wish it to, or not.

[@nickcarita]

Definitely in our top 3 all-time favorite Cadet shows! SO great!

[@fedarion]

The majority of this show is arranged from illuminations: Reflections of Earth by Gavin Greenaway for the Millenium Celebration at Disney's EPCOT. (The first part is from Tapestry of Nations, also by Greenaway for EPCOT.) If anyone wants to hear the original, this video has the original score with the album performance: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGLGma2Yr6unh5I

[@LJ-wo1wf]

My wife and I went to EPCOT on our honeymoon in 2011 and during the entire light show, I kept thinking of Cadets 2000. "Here's the opening hit, here's the part where they turned backfield, here's the unwinding block, here's the MOST EPIC TENOR FEATURE OF ALL TIME..."

[@TheRailwayDrone]

@@LJ-wo1wf Believe it or not, many of us in the corps that year thought it was cheesy when we first heard it. But it wasn't until the show in Bloomington, Indiana that I realized how much the crowd would love this show.

[@LJ-wo1wf]

@@TheRailwayDrone I can believe it. I marched a DCA corps where we had been beating ourselves up over a particularly challenging section of the show in preseason. First time in front of a crowd, we had a standing ovation when it hit. "Holy shit, we've got a show!"

[@danielroden8830]

Still the best cadets show ever !!!

[@scottbryant99]

I was here! (as a spectator)

[@johnpendell9042]

they really made that man wear a best buy employee uniform

[@hobbes8608]

Man I forgot how much I love this show. The musicality is just beyond. Thanks for uploading!

[@jameslantz8041]

Marched 2000 Bluecoats and remember hearing this a lot from the stadium right before retreats. Haven’t watch it in forever but enjoyed it so much just now! The show has so much energy and you guys are really moving and playing! Yowza. Congrats!

[@miketharp6297]

2000 Southwind and yeah, same here. We almost took your spot at finals. It was a great summer.

[@TheRailwayDrone]

I always wondered what it was like from the perspective of those in other corps to hear us on the field and hear the crowd going crazy. I really couldn't hear the crowd as much as I was focused on not dying in the drill lol...

[@jamescampisano1027]

2:44... such a bad ass...

[@hardcorpsvlogging]

I miss Illuminations so much.

[@mihinimcjohnson]

This is Drum Corps! Someone please tell me why we need props and constant hornline choreography in 2023? All the shows nowadays just look like they're trying to win BOA.

[@steveanderson7861]

"This is Drum Corps!" My exact thought right before I saw your comment. I miss this show design.

[@davewroberts]

10:01 how can you not love that tenor feature!!! ❤

[@nickdavidson3685]

😳😳That crescendo roll ob bass 2 at 4:56 should be illegal

[@decisivedecision]

May this level of excellence and class return to 🥁&🎺 corps FOREVER.

[@aerator]

This is probably the best marching show I have ever seen and the entire show was full of energy and magic. I wish Drum Corps was more like this now but I guess things have to change. I am always so proud of all of the kids who work this hard and have so much pride in their performance. I never got to march in a DCI major competition and I envy all of these great kids and hope it was the highlight of their lives. I love Drum Corps and I will always be a fan.

[@jeffjohnson3260]

Yes!

[@wesleydecasere9832]

Perc writing is absolutely monstrous 3:35-3:57

[@chrishouston968]

I'm a low brass player but also "dabble" in percussion (lol) and I have to say this show just blows me away like I can get by on most percussion music but the stuff written in this show? Wayyyyy beyond my skill level!! Blows me away!

[@benjaminkenobi21]

My God Pearl tenors sound so much better than other brands

[@daigokodera1426]

Yeeeeees

[@juliovides3410]

Cadets and Pearl are just classic together.

[@GeekyGarden]

I was there Gandalf. I was there 3000 years ago.

[@cobramcjingleballs959]

I was always such a huge fan of the Cavaliers' 2000 Niagara Falls that I thought it was travesty they didn't win outright given how grounbreaking and well-executed that show was. Of course, I hadn't seen "We Are the Future." Having seen it, the judges were totally right. This is on the same rarified level.

[@neal0071234able]

Cadets had the closer of the decade.. I think that was the edge.. I thought cavaliers looked a tick cleaner in visual and overall brass.. I also thought 03 spin cycle shouldve won over bd as well.. Thats another underrated show

[@whatthehellisthis0505]

12 years before their 🎄 show.

[@yesorlando05]

Sorry if this offends some of you, but shows today are not anywhere near this entertaining and crowd-pleasing. This show and the Cavaliers were just spectacular in 2000's. With the overabundance of props littering the fields today, a masterpiece drill such as this isn't possible. Electronics and voicings runin and distract from the great music and overall show of today's corps. This? Just incredible.

[@miketharp6297]

It’s different today, but just think back to 2000 and what drum corps videos of 1979 felt like. The activity is always progressing. It can’t stop changing and experimenting.

[@FudgyTheWhale_]

That’s just simply not true. Entertainment is subjective. Just because you have a boomer mentality about drum corps doesn’t make it any less entertaining for the new generation of drum corps fans.

[@jonb7700]

@@FudgyTheWhale_ lol, low-attention-span zoomers can't be entertained unless there's a bunch of trash props and "epic" sound effects. You know, in 20 years the next generation is going to come around and ruin everything you like.... and us boomers will still be around to watch and laugh at you getting a taste of your own medicine.

[@Major_Tom98]

I agree 100%.

[@jagoep]

Absolutely correct.

[@PriesthoodNation2]

Jesus that ending is insane!!! Smh

[@bfg9000d1]

I really feel like this was a close out performance of how DCI was before things started to change. It's incredibly sad really. Even when I watch this performance in 2000 I felt like there was something very marking about the show. In the end it just seems like all hell broke loose after the year 2000, this show just caps everything perfectly of how nice it was.

[@scottbattaglia8595]

I really enjoyed the cavaliers show this year so much more, it's almost like they purposely needed a corps using those Bb's to tie......imo of course......😁

[@ThaSound]

And on the 6th day; God made Garfield’s Unies! Michael an the rest of the Angels was like: “But…what about the rest o d’ DrumCorps?”. God was like: “DO YOU SEE WHAT I JUST MADE! Man, c’mere……SsssMACK!” Now go to your cloud. Ahm Chillin’ t’mara.

[@christenharden]

Good God Almighty.

[@packatac10]

And they tied.

[@markedwards6931]

Score was actually 97.65.

[@tommcconville4270]

Still one of the highest all time scores in DCI that the Cadets achieved. And a title winning score I think as well.

[@thomaslehmanbaritone]

This isn't finals and is a typo from Semis at 97.40. Tie was not warranted.

[@patrickcloaninger9707]

The one dislike is a Cavaliers fan

[@Mike.kronos]

Not true. A huge Cavie fan here and I loved this show so much.

[@shariqarain]

@@Mike.kronos same here. Cavies 2000 is my all time favorite show, but Cadets 2000 is my favorite Cadets show.

[@Mike.kronos]

@@shariqarain same here

[@drumcorps0junkie]

@@shariqarain I agree

[@GenXAdventures]

High camera version here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoPanYGJobdja5Y

[@arQerlovesgigibear]

i wish there was a non tinnitus version on youtube. ouch.

[@KiranSundarkdog97]

Hm, didn’t they get a 97.65 this year? Regardless, one of my favorites!

[@neal0071234able]

97.65 tie for gold with cavaliers.. I'm pretty sure.. Top 3 all time cadets show in my opinion..

[@aidenschwartz8371]

11:27

[@chrishouston968]

Always gives me chills!!!!

[@neilpalmer5577]

How far backwards have they gone since this show.

[@masonkirby9044]

7:05

[@decoymiata]

So 2000s I use to dress like that for special occasion 😂

[@aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa16534]

The thing that I will always remember about this year, unfortunately is how awful the staff was to the kids. I attended a rehearsal in Tulsa that year and I was shocked at how horribly the staff treated the kids. It legit made me angry and I felt like it made the corps look really bad. I lost all respect for the staff after this year. Little did we know of the true problems at the top of the staff of Cadets...