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Alpha (Jelena Karleuša album)

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Alpha
Studio album by
Jelena Karleuša
Released13 August 2023
Recorded2017–2023[1]
StudioAtelje Trag
Genre
Length27:14
LanguageSerbian, English
Label
ProducerAtelje Trag
Jelena Karleuša chronology
Music Week (Live)
(2022) 		Alpha
(2023) 		Omega
(2023)
Singles from Alpha
  1. "Mashallah"
    Released: 15 September 2023
  2. "KarlyB*tch"
    Released: 29 September 2023
  3. "Benga"
    Released: 26 August 2024

Alpha (also referred to as Alfa,[2] stylized in all caps) is the eleventh studio album by the Serbian singer Jelena Karleuša, released on August 13, 2023 by JK Entertainment and distributed by Virgin Music. This is Karleuša's first studio album after 11 years since the release of her previous album Diva in 2012.

Background

[edit]

Karleuša released her previous studio album Diva in 2012. The following year, she released the single "Ferrari" together with Teča and Nesh, and also held her second major solo concert Viva La Diva, which was met with a barrage of criticism.[3] Another song, allegedly titled "Welcome to Belgrade" and featuring Teča and Nesh, was supposed to be released before the concert. During a 2014 guest appearance on Prva TV show Exkluziv, a new single was announced and a short snippet was played. In 2015, Karleuša confirmed that she was working on a single featuring Serbian rapper Sajsi MC. The song was titled "Lokal Beogradizam" (Local Belgradism), but it was scrapped after Sajsi MC had collaborated with Croatian singer Severina. A demo version of the song was leaked onto Twitter and YouTube in 2017. In 2015, another single was planned, a collaboration with Greek duo Bang La Decks; it, however, never materialised.[4]

In 2015, the singer took the judging chair in the musical talent show Zvezde Granda (Grand Stars). In 2016, speculations of a collaboration among Karleuša and Bosnian rappers Buba Corelli and Jala Brat appeared in Serbian media. The song was allegedly called "Balkan Illuminati", but was never released. The demo of the song was leaked onto Twitter by Karleuša herself, after Corelli had insulted the singer on Instagram.[5] In 2017, Karleuša returned to the music scene with two successful singles: "O.S.T.A.V.LJ.A.M.T.E." (I.A.M.L.E.A.V.I.N.G.Y.O.U.), recorded with Bulgarian singer Azis, and "Bankina" (Curb), recorded with Serbian singer Aca Lukas.[6] In 2018, Karleuša was featured on Serbian band Miligram's single "Marihuana", and announced another track, titled "XY".[7] In 2019, Karleuša released the single "LaJK" (Like) featuring Serbian rapper Gazda Paja and shared a snippet of a collaboration with Lapsus Band via Instagram, titled "Pretvorilo se srce u kamen" (The Heart Turned Into Stone). In 2020, she released the live album Unplugged.

Recording

[edit]

In December 2020, Karleuša appeared on the program Šok-Tok (Shock-Flow), where she said that the new album would be released in the spring of 2021, and it would be called Alpha.[1] In the same interview, the singer shared that she had been recording the album for the last three years. She also revealed details about the song "La Bomba" (The Bomb), snippets of which she shared earlier—the song was recorded in Spanglish with Brazilian drag queen Pabllo Vittar.[8] In addition, Karleuša stated that the song was intended to represent Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020, but at the last moment the singer refused.[9][10] In January 2021, Bosnian singer Emir Aličković of Lapsus Band shared on his Instagram that he was working with Karleuša in the studio. In addition, it was actively discussed on the Internet that a collaboration with American rapper Cardi B could appear in the album; Karleuša herself did not refute this in any way, actively stating in an interview that she maintains friendly relations with her, Cardi B herself also showed activity on Instagram in relation to Karleuša.[11][12][13]

Due to Karleuša's employment in the Zvezde Granda project, the album release was postponed to the summer of 2021, when her contract with the show should end. At the end of June, the singer confirmed that the album will be released exactly in the summer, she also added that the new songs are "absolute hits".[14][15] Later, the album's release was postponed to autumn. The singer planned to premiere several new songs at the August Music Week festival in Ušće, but changed her mind, deciding to arrange a full-fledged advertising campaign for the album.[16] The singer also confirmed that in addition to Pabllo Vittar, two more "major" foreign stars would appear in the album.[17]

In November, Karleuša shared on social networks that she was preparing a surprise on 31 December, many assumed that this was the release date of the new album.[18] In the same month, the singer posted a story on Instagram with a tracklist of thirteen songs, substituting letters of the song titles with full stops. Titles revealed were "Ja" (I) and "Abu Dhabi", with already hinted "La Bomba" and "Karly Bitch".[citation needed] It was also announced that Sajsi MC and Serbian lyricist Milan Radulović, son of Karleuša's late longtime collaborator Marina Tucaković, were working on the album.[19] In December 2021, the singer said that the release of the album was postponed to 2022.[20]

In November 2022, Radulović announced that he forbade Karleuša to perform his songs, Karleuša replied to him that his "two and a half songs" would not be included in the final tracklist of the album anyway.[21] He also leaked the lyrics of the song "Runde" (Rounds) without Karleuša's permission. In December, the singer again confirmed that the album would be released in 2023, and that she expected to enter the international market with it.[22] On 14 February 2023, the track "Koka roka" (The Chick Rocks), written by Radulović for Karleuša's album, was released by Serbian singer Dara Bubamara; Karleuša claimed she had gifted the song away "out of pity" and "because the lyrics weren't good enough to match other songs on the album".[23] In August 2024, "Runde" was released by the girl group Hurricane, shortly after Karleuša's demo leaked online.[24]

Release and promotion

[edit]

In June 2023, Karleuša finally announced that the album would be released on 13 August.[25] On 9 August, banners announcing Karleuša's new album were posted all over Belgrade, Novi Sad and Niš.[26]

Karleuša revealed the cover art for Alpha, made by Foxxatron, on her Instagram account on 11 August.[27] She revealed the tracklist the next day, blurring out the artist featured on the only collaborative track "Mashallah".[28] On the release day, Karleuša premiered the music video for the opening track "KarlyB*tch", featuring cameo appearances from Pavlović and Devito,[29] and revealed that the rest of the album would be released at 20:00 CEST.[30] Pavlović would later turn out to be the artist featured on "Mashallah".[31]

On 17 August, Karleuša's 45th birthday, she made a surprise announcement that her twelfth studio album Omega, that she had worked on concurrently with Alpha, would be released on 20 August. She simultaneously shared its cover art.[32] The album was released at 12:00 CEST,[33] and featured guest appearances from Devito and DJ Hamida on the only collaborative track "Nepogrešivo" (Unmistakably).[34] The album also featured the long anticipated track "La Bomba"; however, the final version was a solo track and not a collaboration with Vittar as expected.[35] The duet version leaked in full on 22 August. According to Telegraf.rs, the track wasn't officially released due to Universal failing to make a deal with Vittar's Brazilian label.[36] The same night, the Belgrade Tower was lit up with Karleuša's initials in neon green colour,[37] and an official promotional event was held at the rooftop of the Galerija Belgrade shopping mall. Karleuša's outfits for the event were compared by Showbuzz.hr to those of Madonna and Lady Gaga.[38]

On 3 September, Karleuša announced a free entry special concert at the Belgrade Waterfront.[39] On 15 September, she announced that the guests at the concert would be Pavlović, Devito and Alpha's songwriters Mimi Mercedez, Sajsi MC and Nemanja Antonić.[40]

Controversies

[edit]

In the beginning of August, Karleuša's YouTube channel was shut down. Nova S reported that the reason for the shutdown was a lawsuit from Serbian composer Aleksandar "Futa" Radulović, the husband of Marina Tucaković and the father of Milan Radulović, both of whom had worked on Alpha and Omega and both of whom had died within two years before their release. Futa claimed that his legal team had shut down the channel due to the copyright abuse, and that Karleuša wouldn't be Tucaković's only collaborator whose channel would be shut down.[41] Karleuša stated for Telegraf.rs that her legal team was dealing with the issue and that she wouldn't speak out about it anymore, expressing disappointment with Futa, as she was Tucaković's close personal friend.[42] Karleuša's manager Zoran Birtašević revealed on Twitter that the track "Runde" was scrapped from Alpha due to Futa.[43]

Another controversial aspect of the release was the fact that the albums were sponsored by Telekom Srbija. According to the National Assembly member Đorđe Stanković, Karleuša received €1.5 million from Telekom in exchange for loyalty to the regime of President Aleksandar Vučić. Birtašević denied Stanković's claims, while Telekom and Karleuša herself remained silent.[44] Karleuša was vocal about her opposition to Vučić, his Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and the regime media, before shockingly endorsing him ahead of the 2022 Serbian general election. She faced harsh criticism after she had appeared on RTV Pink's show Hit Tvit and dismissed the 2023 Serbian protests against the Government, which had been triggered by the Belgrade school shooting.[45] On 18 August, Danas published a political cartoon of Karleuša breastfeeding Vučić, made by Predrag "Corax" Koraksić. The cartoon was criticized by Miloš Vučević, the Minister of Defence and the president of the SNS, who dubbed it "promotion of hatred" and "an insult to mothers and women".[46][47] On 20 August, Karleuša wrote on Twitter that she filed lawsuits against journalists of N1, Nova S and Danas.[48] Furthermore, Nova S reporters were banned from entering the event at Galerija Belgrade.[49] Karleuša denied Stanković's claims on 11 September by mocking them on Twitter.[50]

Track listings

[edit]
No.TitleLyricsMusicProducer(s)Length
1."KarlyB*tch"Milena Janković
Atelje Trag2:17
2."Benga"Pavle Bošković
  • Karleuša
  • Peruničić
  • Arežina
Atelje Trag2:58
3."Block!"Ivana Rašić
  • Karleuša
  • Peruničić
  • Arežina
Atelje Trag2:35
4."Mashallah" (featuring Milica Pavlović)
  • Karleuša
  • Peruničić
  • Rašić
  • Karleuša
  • Peruničić
  • Arežina
  • Nemanja Antonić
Atelje Trag2:28
5."Alien"
  • Bojan Vasić
  • Karleuša
  • Peruničić
  • Arežina
Atelje Trag2:51
6."Karma"
  • Janković
  • Branko Kljaić
  • Karleuša
  • Peruničić
  • Arežina
Atelje Trag2:29
7."Takita"
  • Rašić
  • Karleuša
  • Peruničić
  • Karleuša
  • Peruničić
  • Arežina
Atelje Trag2:56
8."Rehabilitacija"Ivan VukajlovićAntonićAtelje Trag3:38
9."Lucifer"Bošković
  • Karleuša
  • Peruničić
  • Arežina
  • Antonić
Atelje Trag2:25
10."KarlyB*tch 2"
  • Janković
  • Peruničić
  • Karleuša
  • Peruničić
  • Arežina
Atelje Trag2:37
Total length:27:14
Notes
  • "KarlyB*tch" and "KarlyB*tch 2" are stylized in all caps.

Personnel

[edit]
  • Music, lyrics, lead vocal and styling – Jelena Karleuša
  • Executive producer, project direction, music distribution, production designer, creative direction, cover/overall design – Zoran Birtašević
  • All music, lyrics, all arrangements, mix, recording – Nebojša Arežina and Marko Peruničić (Atelje Trag)
  • Lyrics – Ljiljana Jorgovanović, Sajsi MC, Mimi Mercedez, Fox, Gazda Paja, Ivan Vukajlović
  • Lead vocalist – Milica Pavlović
  • Backing vocals – Jelena Đurić, Suzana Branković, Miloš Radovanović
  • Mastering – Lazar Milić Laki
  • Visuals – NN Media Team
  • Photography, cover – Foxxarton, Miloš Miletić
  • Visuals, photo DOP – Dasha Grafova, Leanda Jade Heler
  • Visuals, SFX, Special Event producer – Saška Karać, De-Yan
  • Make up – Dragan Vurdelja
  • Hair – Dimitrije Vokić, Matija Radulović
  • Costume – Žaklina Marjanović, Marija Marković
  • Legal, advisor, administration, campaign – Zlatan Kitanović
  • Legal, organization, administration – Jovana Dakić
  • Ad campaign – Aleksa Čokić

Credits are adapted from the album's digital booklet.[51]

Release history

[edit]
List of regions, release dates, showing formats and label
Country Date Format Label
Various August 13, 2023
Serbia April 24, 2024

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Jelena Karleuša najavila album "Alfa"". Tračara (in Serbian). 30 December 2020. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Jelena Karleuša najavila album "Alfa"". Tračara (in Serbian). 30 December 2020. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Jelena Karleuša se zahvalila fanovima pa pretila novinarima". Večernje novosti (in Serbian). 16 June 2013. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  4. ^ "EKSKLUZIVNO - NOVA KARLEUŠA: Pevačica snima sa čuvenim Grcima! (VIDEO)". Srbija Danas (in Serbian). 31 May 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Jelena Karleuša brutalno odgovorila Buba Corelliu na prozivke". Radio Sarajevo (in Bosnian). 5 November 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  6. ^ Civocić, Ivana (31 December 2020). ""Plašim se da ću tek kad mi ćerke odrastu saznati šta ih je bolelo": Velika ispovest Jelene Karleuše". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 11 January 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  7. ^ Aleksovski (9 May 2018). "Nova muzika je blizu: Jelena Karleuša otkrila naziv nove pesme". Tračara (in Serbian). Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  8. ^ "JK snima duet sa transvestitom iz Južne Amerike! Zove se Pablo i kažu da ima bolju guzu od 90% žena". Telegraf (in Serbian). 20 January 2020. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Jelena Karleuša je trebala da predstavlja Sloveniju na Evroviziji 2020?". YouTube (in Serbian). Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  10. ^ Santos, Magno (5 February 2021). "Cantora sérvia Jelena Karleuša anuncia parceria com Pabllo Vittar". Tribuna Online (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Cardi B na Instagramu delila posnetek Jelene Karleuša". 24.com (in Serbian). 2 October 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Nakon Kim i Cardi B, Karleušine fotke objavila američka rap zvijezda: 'Imamo toliko toga zajedničkog'". RTL (in Croatian). 26 January 2021. Archived from the original on 7 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Pozabavili smo se kraljicom fotošopa Karleušom: Pogledajte koliko se razlikuje na Instagramu i uživo". RTL (in Croatian). 14 February 2021. Archived from the original on 16 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  14. ^ "Jelena Karleuša progovorila o novom albumu i iskritikovala mlađe kolege". Vesti Online (in Serbian). 25 June 2021. Archived from the original on 26 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  15. ^ "KARLEUŠA SE MALO UTRIPOVALA! Otkrila kad izlazi novi album, pa oplela po kolegama: Bolje je od ove muzike što vredi TRI DINARA!". Republika. 25 June 2021. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Jelena Karleuša: Muškarci me vole s oblinama, ali garderoba mi bolje stoji kad sam mršava". Vesti Online (in Serbian). 28 August 2021. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Jelena Karleuša: "Ja sam karmički predodređena za životne drame"". Express (in Serbian). 24 August 2021. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  18. ^ "Fanovi misle da Jelena Karleuša objavljuje novi album 31. decembra". Tračara (in Serbian). 4 November 2021. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Milan laća nastavio dalje! Sin pokojne Marine Tucaković okrenuo je Ceci LEĐA, a evo šta radi za Karleušu". Srbija Danas (in Serbian). 29 November 2021. Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  20. ^ "Projekat "Alfa" odložen za sledeću godinu: Jelena Karleuša otkrila tačan datum izlaska albuma!". Srbija Danas (in Serbian). 8 December 2021. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  21. ^ "Jelena Karleuša i Laća zaratili objavio tekstove pesama". Mondo (in Serbian). 13 November 2022. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  22. ^ Milošević, Đorđe (2 January 2023). "Karleuša objasnila zašto se nije razvela i kako živi s Tošićem: "Žene u Srbiji su tužne, loši su nam muškarci"". Telegraf (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 6 January 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  23. ^ Lisinac, Nemanja (10 February 2023). "Dara najavila pesmu "Koka roka", a Karleuša reaguje: Taj tekst sam kupila iz sažaljenja od Laće, poklanjam ga". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  24. ^ I. S. (12 August 2024). "Hurricane na udaru kritika zbog singla koji je prvo snimila Karleuša: "U najmanju ruku katastrofa"". Klix.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  25. ^ Mirković, Stefan (5 July 2023). "Karleuša potvrdila datum izlaska novog albuma: Evo kad stiže 'Alpha'". Una (in Serbian). Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  26. ^ "Ceo Beograd je od jutros pokriven plakatima i bilbordima sa ovom slikom: Otkrivamo o čemu se radi". Telegraf (in Serbian). 9 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  27. ^ "Kakav "zemljotres" na Instagramu Jelene Karleuše! Fanovi u potpunom transu nakon što se konačno oglasila". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). 11 August 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  28. ^ "JELENA KARLEUŠA BROJI SITNO, A FOTKE RASPAMETILE SVE! Jednu stvar oko novog albuma drži u STROGOJ tajnosti". Mondo Srbija (in Serbian). 12 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  29. ^ ""POKRILA GLAVU, A DOLE NA IZVOL'TE!" Karleuša gola u novom spotu, uletela HOLIVUDSKA FACA - gore mreže zbog ovih scena!". Mondo Srbija (in Serbian). 13 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  30. ^ Karleuša, Jelena [@karlinbich] (13 August 2023). "ALBUM ALPHA TONIGHT 20H" (Tweet). Retrieved 13 August 2023 – via Twitter.
  31. ^ grlica | Катя [@sutnemteucelo] (13 August 2023). "t.co/HztM0Jz4gO" (Tweet). Retrieved 13 August 2023 – via Twitter.
  32. ^ "DAJ BRE ŽENO, DA LI SI REALNA? JELENA KARLEUŠA PONOVO ŠOKIRALA SRBE: Kad pre?". Espreso (in Serbian). 17 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  33. ^ Bunić, Nevena (20 August 2023). ""UGROŽENA JE BEZBJEDNOST MOJE PORODICE" Jelena Karleuša podnijela krivične prijave". Večernje novosti (in Bosnian). Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  34. ^ "Karleuša je zvanično i alfa i omega, tvrdi da je postigla najveći uspjeh u karijeri: Tek smo počeli". Express (in Bosnian). 21 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  35. ^ Lisinac, Nemanja (20 August 2023). ""Omega" je tu: Karleuša objavila novi album samo nedelju dana nakon "Alphe", stigla je i pesma "La Bomba"". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  36. ^ "Kakva bomba na mrežama! Procurio duet Jelene Karleuše i Pabla Vitara - jedne od najvećih brazilskih zvezda". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). 22 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  37. ^ ""KULA BEOGRAD" U ZNAKU JELENE KARLEUŠE! Kada je videla ODUŠEVILA SE, ovo su njene prve REAKCIJE". Kurir (in Serbian). 22 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  38. ^ M. S. (23 August 2023). "Jelena Karleuša napravila pomutnju u outfitu kakav se na ovim prostorima ne viđa, a ovakve fotografije sigurno neće objaviti Instagramu!". Showbuzz.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  39. ^ "KARLEUŠA PONOVO POVUKLA NEOČEKIVANI POTEZ, OVOME SE RETKO KO NADAO: Imala je da PORUČI samo jedno". Espreso (in Serbian). 3 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  40. ^ Gajić, Jelena (15 September 2023). "Otkriveno ko su gosti na specijalnom koncertu Jelene Karleuše u Beogradu: Čak pet velikih zvezda". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  41. ^ Jovović, Pero (4 August 2023). "Futa ugasio Jelenu Karleušu: Suprug Marine Tucaković tužio pevačicu zbog zloupotrebe autorskih prava, blokirali joj Jutjub kanal". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  42. ^ "Futa ugasio Karleuši Jutjub kanal, ona se brutalnom porukom oglasila za Telegraf: "Taj čovek me ucenjuje"". Telegraf.rs (in Serbian). 4 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  43. ^ "ISPLIVALI NOVI DETALJI SUKOBA JELENE KARLEUŠE I FUTE: Birtašević sve JAVNO PODELIO, svi se pitaju samo JEDNO (FOTO)". Espreso (in Serbian). 12 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  44. ^ Nikoletić, Ivana (17 August 2023). "Plaćaju estradne zvezde za lojalnost režimu: Telekom Srbija sponzorisao novi album Jelene Karleuše, navodno se radi o sumi od milion i po evra". Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  45. ^ "Kako su povezani Trumpov novinar, Karleuša i umjetna inteligencija? Odgovor je jednostavan, odmah iza ugla..." RTL Televizija (in Croatian). 21 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  46. ^ Pilić, Damir (22 August 2023). "Kako je ova karikatura digla Srbiju na noge: politički preobražaj Jelene Karleuše, žene koja se prodala i 'doji Vučića'". Slobodna Dalmacija (in Croatian). Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  47. ^ Nikoletić, Ivana (19 August 2023). "Predrag Koraksić Koraks povodom karikature na naslovnici Danasa: Proste sadržaje oni plaćaju našim novcem". Danas (in Serbian). Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  48. ^ "Jelena Karleuša: Podnela sam krivične prijave protiv novinara i urednika Danasa, Nove S i N1". Danas (in Serbian). 20 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  49. ^ Jovović, Pero (22 August 2023). "Nova.rs zabranjena na konferenciji za medije Jelene Karleuše – događaj privatan, samo za prijateljske medije". Nova.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  50. ^ Karleuša, Jelena [@karlinbich] (11 September 2023). "Svaki put kada pročitam idiotluk da sam dobila 1.5 M od države! 🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑🤑 t.co/553mLNa4M5" (Tweet) (in Serbian). Retrieved 15 September 2023 – via Twitter.
  51. ^ "New Album Alpha – Digital Booklet". karleusa.com (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
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