JEWELS de CARNAVAL Cirque du Soleil

Arawaks presentation of Viva Las Vegas was on the 10^th of may 2008, how ever on the 5^th of June Jewels de Carnaval launch their section “Cirque du Soleil” yes its held on a Thursday, but the standard, I have been told will mark a new upgrade in mas presentations and customer care .

see the blog.

BACHANAL MAS 2008 PARADISE new band...but is the mas?

n Saturday 19^th I went to the Bacchanal (spelt bachanal) Mas band launch, of their 2008 presentation of ‘Paradise’. If its one thing about the designer, is that his workmanship is exceptional. For mas made in the U.K the standard of professionalism, in the work is indeed, high dare I say ‘new’ when it comes to London made formula fun mas.

I did not reach the launch in time for the presentation so I could not tell you if the theme has a storyline or a background to the concept, however the display showed four sections fools paradise, temptation, heaven scent, and bird of paradise, like the designer himself said “Paradise a bead, feather, sequin, bikini, thong and fantasy theme” i.e. probably another no-brainer.

The costumes are fun band standard, simple, effective, and pretty, they are by no means innovative, but there does seem to be some extra effort put into the design of headpieces but this gives the costumes a top heavy look. At a glance ‘Paradise’ seems impressive, at first, but at a second glance and closer inspection, any mas aficionado can see the influences of Trinidad Carnival’s big fun bands on the designer which is unfortunate because a NEW BAND should have some kind of NEW, FRESH and UNIQUE look about it. In this department ‘Paradise’ has failed, even with four sections the designer and his team did not push the creative envelope to truly achieve that new industry standard that they claim.

Instead ‘Paradise’ is another careful amalgamation of the best of the designers past works and those of top fun bands in Trinidad; however it is without a doubt his best technical work to date.

I don’t know what size category the band is going to be in, against large bands like Mahogany and South Connections I cant see Bachanal mas challenging their superiority, however as a small, or medium band, BM might be able to come out tops.

INFLUENCE IS A HELL OF A THING!

WATCH YUH BACK ...or you might get conquered.

He came, he saw, he conquered, or venni vetti vicci or "Veni, cidi, vici." This line was made famous by the roman Emperor Julius Ceaser on 47bc after his victory in battle over Pharnaces, these days however we use it when some guy comes in the game small learns the ropes, kept his eyes on the prize and one day became king of that hill.

He came, he saw he conquered, that’s his story and he’s sticking to it.

Then there is that other story, he learned, he imitated, he destroyed. That’s the other side of the story, you might not hear that one every day but it happens, in the wonderful world of carnival’s history more than you Carnivalist out there care to know.

But it happens.

An Anonymous poster left this message on the blog the other day.

“The former designer of Masquerade 2000 (aforementioned) is NO longer apart of M2K.The designer has now created a new band: 'BACHANAL MAS'. Masquerade 2000 is still up and running and has the theme: OLE. (Spanish theme)”

Now I never thought that the designer formally known as M2K could ever stop the Mas band Masquerade 2000 from running. Because every band over here has a core of loyal followers who once you bringing a band they jumping with you, but every now and then, you get an upstart with big dreams of fame and power who in sheep’s clothing is going to join your outfit learn what he can, rise up in the ranks, and when thinks he is big and strong enough leave, but not before dropping a monkey wrench in your works or destroying what he can.

That’s how it goes sometimes. That kind of bacchanal is part of Carnival.

So I was talking to some other Carnival heads over here who told me some gossip, they say the kid shut down the Bands MYspace and website cause he owned the domain, now, is not me who say so, I heard it on the grape vine,… but what a way to say thanks for giving him an avenue for developing his skills, introducing him to people, and accepting him in yuh thing eh?

So when you see what is yours as a joke,and yuh want to pass it on helter skelter to every Tom Dick and Harry who show a lil interest in the game make shore you have your back covered, because a stab I the back eh nice at all. Talk about Bacchanal.