Macy's Parade is very Gen X

[citruscurtis]

I agree about the marching bands, tho the band members have a lot of fun. Northern Arizona University participated this year and the local news claimed the band "stole the show," ahem. It was the first time a band represented Arizona, because the two larger university bands are traditionally involved at their in-state rivalry footbrawl game that weekend.

I was shocked at the number of marching members

 

[citruscurtis]

I agree about the marching bands, tho the band members have a lot of fun. Northern Arizona University participated this year and the local news claimed the band "stole the show," ahem. It was the first time a band represented Arizona, because the two larger university bands are traditionally involved at their in-state rivalry footbrawl game that weekend.

I was shocked at the number of marching members

 

[citruscurtis]

I love the music and the Broadway shows they showcase. It's the only way I, and others according to social media, will get to see a number or two from big name shows/acts. I find balloons and marching bands kind of boring.

Balloons have no tradition with folks outside of region... probably like most folks don't watch rose parades

 

[Moose15]

I feel seen ! Shaggy, Busta Rhymes, Jewel, Debbie Gibson, Foreigner...it's been a blast!

Im millennial but thought the music was the best this year!

 

[AustinTink]

I’m Gen X but none of those were my bands.

 

[easyas123]

Until Darlene Love showed up....84 years old

I keep the parade on as a matter of tradition, but don't pay a lot of attention. This year my 9 year old niece was over cooking with me when I happened to notice Darlene Love was on so I was able to say to my niece "That's a real good singer" while she kept trying to get me to watch for those demon hunter gals.

 

[DodgerGirl]

I agree with everyone here and what I think Macy's is trying to do with their Thanksgiving Day Parade is appeal to a more wider audience and get giant ratings but in my eyes the parade started going downhill ever since the 2020 virtual parade that aired during the pandemic and ever since then the parade went downhill since. But what really has caused the parade to go downhill is putting it at 8AM and seriously when do families with kids get up at 8AM to watch a parade? When it was originally at 9AM families watched it and it got good ratings. I also noticed that a lot of rap artists get on Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and this one had rap artists like Lil' Jon and when does rap music and families go together? And what I think is that they want to attract the rap music audience. And when the Broadway acts perform they have Broadway acts from shows like Buena Vista Social Club and Death Becomes Her and Hamilton and they should have Broadway acts from shows like Annie Cats Dreamgirls and The Wiz and that would be family friendly. Why they have singers and groups like Foreigner Chicago Kool And The Gang and Darlene Love in the parade is to bring the music lovers back to their teen years and that was the case with Jewel because she is a 90's singer and was very popular with teens but they should have Christian artists too. Why I think Darlene Love appeared there was because I think she is promoting a new album and a farewell tour. But I actually prefer the 90's and the 2000's and the 2010's parades to these parades. But Macy's should come up with more interesting stuff for their specials and their parades and bring the family oriented image back

 

[Nayan]

I agree with everyone here and what I think Macy's is trying to do with their Thanksgiving Day Parade is appeal to a more wider audience and get giant ratings but in my eyes the parade started going downhill ever since the 2020 virtual parade that aired during the pandemic and ever since then the parade went downhill since.

That is your opinion. People I've talked with think it's gotten much better.

But what really has caused the parade to go downhill is putting it at 8AM and seriously when do families with kids get up at 8AM to watch a parade? When it was originally at 9AM families watched it and it got good ratings.

It started at 8:30. This year it set a new ratings record with 34.3 million people watching, so I guess that answers you're 'who's watching that early' question.

I also noticed that a lot of rap artists get on Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and this one had rap artists like Lil' Jon and when does rap music and families go together?

More than you think.

And when the Broadway acts perform they have Broadway acts from shows like Buena Vista Social Club and Death Becomes Her and Hamilton and they should have Broadway acts from shows like Annie Cats Dreamgirls and The Wiz and that would be family friendly.

Explain to me which part of the parade was not family friendly. I'll wait.

Why they have singers and groups like Foreigner Chicago Kool And The Gang and Darlene Love in the parade is to bring the music lovers back to their teen years and that was the case with Jewel because she is a 90's singer and was very popular with teens but they should have Christian artists too.

Why do they need Christian artists? I couldn't name one but I knew everyone who did perform.

Why I think Darlene Love appeared there was because I think she is promoting a new album and a farewell tour. But I actually prefer the 90's and the 2000's and the 2010's parades to these parades. But Macy's should come up with more interesting stuff for their specials and their parades and bring the family oriented image back

Again, explain how it wasn't family friendly. It was great to see so much diversity and I'm sorry it didn't appeal to you. You always have the choice to not watch it in the future.

 

[Marrila]

I love the music and the Broadway shows they showcase. It's the only way I, and others according to social media, will get to see a number or two from big name shows/acts. I find balloons and marching bands kind of boring.

It's nice that there is pretty much something entertaining for most.

 

[fla4fun]

I don’t listen to much current music, so many of the singers were unknown to me. But that has always been the case since I was a kid. I don’t mind the marching bands. The parade is the only time I hear marching bands, so I sort of associate them with the holiday. I love the balloons (my favorite this year was the dachshund balloon, but also liked Minnie and the Minion) and the floats. I don’t watch New Year parades, so other than catching one at Disney, the Macy’s parade is it for me.

Some years I skip the beginning where they have the entertainment before the parade actually reaches the Macy’s store. I happened to watch it this year, but I don’t always. We are always up early on Thanksgiving morning getting the turkey and other foods started as our main dinner is timed for right after the parade finishes. Our NBC affiliate ran an encore performance of the parade in the afternoon, which would be ideal for people who would rather sleep in on the holiday.

It does seem to me like they cut some of the parade coverage to add more commercials. That can be tough when it’s a live performance. I would rather they would stack commercials at the beginning and end and let the parade flow without interruptions than to cut away from the parade just as something is happening that I really want to see.

 

[MIGrandma]

Each year Macy's seems less like a parade and more like a stage show of various musical acts/dancers. Typical parades we like to watch march down a street with floats/balloons/marching bands. Macy's seems to show less and less of that and look more like a production number in front of the cameras.

This is exactly why we don’t bother watching most parades anymore. They have changed too much over the years, and not for the better. Loved them when they were full of floats, high school and college bands. We still enjoy the Rose parade though, hope they never change it.

 

[Dug720]

And when the Broadway acts perform they have Broadway acts from shows like Buena Vista Social Club and Death Becomes Her and Hamilton and they should have Broadway acts from shows like Annie Cats Dreamgirls and The Wiz and that would be family friendly.

The shows that performed were Buena Vista Social Club, Just in Time, and Ragtime - all shows which are currently on Broadway. And most Broadway shows are NOT intended for small kids - Lion King and Aladdin being exceptions. That said, there's nothing un-friendly about Ragtime - it's historical. If you dojn't want your kids knowing history, that's on you. I haven't seen the others to comment on. But most non-Disney shows are no one under 5 admitted. Not everything is for everyone, and families come in all shapes and sizes, not just with kids - and nothing they did in their performances was unfriendly.

Cats, Annie, Dreamgirls, and The Wiz are not on Broadway so there is a) no cast to perform and b) no need to have them perform as there are no tickets to sell.