With Fantasy’s very early release of their theme 2013 “Savage” behind the scenes of what seems like a quiet post Carnival period it was as if a bomb dropped in a pile of glitter! The ricochet effect in the mas world was palpable, and the buzz was not over excitement of the theme.
Word is that allegedly another band planned on using the theme “Savage Beauty” for Carnival 2013 which prompted Fantasy to rush release of their theme to the public first. As rumour has it the name of Fantasy's theme was not Savage initially so it came as a surprise to some when the artwork was released yesterday. Coincidence that a designer presumably leaves and the name changed?
Savage Beauty logo from Moonstone Books
As I heard this other band had their theme since June 2011 and once Fantasy started aggressively pursuing their designers and committee to make a switch somehow the theme was leaked. Now who supposedly had the theme first is based on who you talk to, personally I know that Fantasy’s designers were talking that theme since October 2011 (I have the exact date to be precise) but I cannot say for sure that the theme did not exist since June with the other band.
The aftermath is now that one band released their theme and we now have to wait and see if the other band will change their theme or stick to their guns and release "Savage Beauty" anyway. I am feeling the former option will be the one chosen.
Barbarossa "Savage"
In all fairness this theme is not original, Barbarossa did “Savage” in 1988, and I doubt that masqueraders care who had the theme first. At the end of the day it is who released the theme first that will be important, not who had the idea first. It is kind of like having an idea for a headpiece design only to see the actual headpiece materialize at a section launch before your idea is brought to life, surely the irony is not lost on me. But what has the mas world riled up is that this type of “savage” behavior is being seen as another round of dirty play, in addition to head hunting and designer poaching!
Carnival 2013, I think you have officially begun complete with all the bacchanal.


















































