Spartan "Legion"
takes the rose bowl
Spartan News
going crazy, and I think they were laughing at me but I was excited... It was super exciting to get that phone call. I will never forget it.” Beathea continued.
With this announcement the band began the preparation for the ‘Road to Pasadena”, but the journey was not easy.
'We had to make sure that the kids were able to march six miles. Six miles is about maybe two hours. If you march around the track at the stadium, you gotta march around 24 times,
24 times around the track is six
miles,”Sanders said.
Sanders also talked about
the constant practice to get
the band physically conditioned so
their bodies could be prepared to
break," Beathea
“We’re out here marching five miles every other day to get prepared for this, we released them on the 17th and they had to be right back here on the 27th...We pretty much sacrificed our Christmas and that was the toughest part,” Beathea continued.
With the physical conditioning there still had to be musical preparation and not only did the Spartan Legion play while marching but received an offer to have a six-minute segment to stop near the judge's stand to perform.
September ( Earth Wind & Fire) Before I Let Go by Frankie Beverly, . Rock with You by Michael Jackson are the tunes that were arranged for the band.
The committee strategically put the band in front of the artists who had to stop in this performance-worthy area called the "TV Corner".
Beathea also described his strategy when picking the music for their performance on the TV Corner.
“We needed something with high energy. We needed something people are going to recognize to open it up. So that's where we thought of Black Eyed Peas, Let's Get It Started In Here," Beathea said.
"Then we went into our normal spirits at Pancake House. Then we ended with California Love with Tupac. Those are very familiar songs for Californians,” Beathea continued.
In reflection, on that special moment, Sanders added that, “The most memorable thing for me was us turning the corner! Then we were able to stop for a little six-minute presentation for the crowd And they went crazy," Sanders said.
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