Karma (Anxhela Peristeri song)
| "Karma" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Anxhela Peristeri | ||||
| Released | 1 March 2021 | |||
| Composer(s) | Kledi Bahiti | |||
| Lyricist(s) | Olti Curri | |||
| Anxhela Peristeri singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Eurovision Song Contest 2021 entry | ||||
| Country | ||||
| Artist(s) | ||||
| Composer(s) | Kledi Bahiti | |||
| Lyricist(s) | Olti Curri | |||
| Entry chronology | ||||
| ◄ "Fall from the Sky" (2020) | ||||
"Karma" is a song by Albanian singer Anxhela Peristeri. It was written by Olti Curri and composed by Kledi Bahiti. The song is scheduled to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, after winning the pre-selection competition Festivali i Këngës.
Background and composition
On 23 December 2020, Anxhela Peristeri was announced by the national broadcaster, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), as the Albanian representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, after winning the 59th edition of Festivali i Këngës.[1] Peristeri participated with the song "Karma" written by Albanian songwriter Olti Curri and composed by singer and songwriter Kledi Bahiti.[2] For the purpose of her Eurovision Song Contest participation, "Karma" was revamped and its lyrics remained in the Albanian language.[3]
Reception
Upon its victory at Festivali i Këngës, "Karma" was met with universal acclaim from music critics. An editor of SoundsEuropean! concluded that the song was an "exciting mix of folkloric sounds" with "hints to pop and rock".[4] Also noting the potential, the latter reviewer praised Peristeri's "impressive" vocal delivery.[4] In another review, an Aussievision-writer described the song a "timeless-sounding ballad" and stated that it is filled with "power vocals, drama and eclectic instruments" along with "traditional orchestration".[5] The latter concluded his review by writing that it could work "incredibly" great on the Eurovision Song Contest stage.[5]
Release and promotion
Peristeri teased the accompanying music video for "Karma" with a preview posted to her social media on 27 February 2021.[6] The visual ultimately premiered on the official YouTube channel of the Eurovision Song Contest on 1 March 2021 at 20:00 (CET).[7][8] From January to February 2021, Peristeri appeared to promote the song on the Albanian television show Telebingo Shqiptare and the Kosovan television broadcast NIN.[9][10] For further promotion, in late February, the singer released a set of photographs on her Instagram where she is seen wearing traditional Albanian clothing from different Albanian-speaking territories.[11][12]
At Eurovision
Festivali i Këngës
RTSH organised the 59th edition of Festivali i Këngës in order to select Albania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.[13] The competition traditionally consisted of two semi-finals and the final held on December 2020.[14] During the first semi-final, "Karma" was performed in its studio version while on the second semi-final, in an acoustic version.[15] After the grand final, Anxhela Peristeri emerged as the winner with "Karma" and was simultaneously announced as Albania's representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.[1][16]
Rotterdam
The 65th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and will consist of two semi-finals on 18 May and 20 May 2021, and the grand final on 22 May 2021.[17] According to the Eurovision rules, all participating countries, except the host nation and the "Big Five", consisting of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, are required to qualify from one of two semi-finals to compete for the final, although the top 10 countries from the respective semi-final progress to the grand final.[18][19] On 17 November 2020, it was announced that Albania would be performing in the second half of the second semi-final of the contest.[20]
References
- ^ a b "Anxhela Peristeri to represent Albania at Eurovision 2021!". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 23 December 2020. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
- ^ Adams, William Lee (23 December 2020). "Festivali i Këngës 59 winner: Anxhela Peristeri will sing "Karma" for Albania at Eurovision 2021". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
- ^ Adams, William Lee (26 December 2020). "Anxhela Peristeri: I'll keep the "Karma" lyrics in Albanian for Eurovision 2021". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Anxhela Peristeri – 'Karma'". SoundsEuropean!. 9 January 2021. Archived from the original on 6 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Aussievision's Festivali i Këngës 59 rankings". Aussievision. 22 November 2020. Archived from the original on 23 November 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ Adams, Oliver (27 February 2021). "Albania: Anxhela Peristeri teases 'Karma' revamp, says new version is coming soon". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "Anxhela Peristeri - Karma - Albania 🇦🇱 - Official Music Video - Eurovision 2021". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 1 March 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ^ "Latest news: Albania's Anxhela releases 'Karma' video 🇦🇱". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 1 March 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ^ Luukela, Sami (7 January 2021). "🇦🇱 WATCH: Anxhela Peristeri performs 'Karma' on national TV". ESCXtra. Archived from the original on 6 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "E tha shifrën! Kaq është paguar më së shumti Anxhela Peristeri" (in Albanian). Privé. 8 February 2021. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ "Me veshje të ndryshme popullore/ Prezantimi i veçantë i Anxhela Peristerit për 'Eurosong 2021'" (in Albanian). Top Channel. 26 February 2021. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ "Faqja zyrtare e Eurovisionit publikon fotografitë e Anxhela Peristerit me veshje kombëtare: Shikoni dedikimin e saj për shqiptarët". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 25 February 2021. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ Jiandani, Sanjay (Sergio) (17 September 2020). "Albania: RTSH confirms participation in Eurovision 2021". ESCToday. Archived from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
- ^ Muldoon, Padraig (21 December 2020). "Festivali i Këngës 59: How to watch Albania's Eurovision 2021 selection online". Wiwibloggs. Archived from the original on 21 December 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ Santos, Pedro (23 December 2020). "Anxhela Peristeri will represent Albania in Eurovision 2021". Eurovisionworld. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ "Anxhela Peristeri fiton çmimin e parë në festivalin e 59-të të këngës" (in Albanian). Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH). 24 December 2020. Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
- ^ "Rotterdam 2021–Eurovision Song Contest". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 24 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
- ^ "Rules–Eurovision Song Contest". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ Eurovision Song Contest 2021. Rotterdam, Netherlands: European Broadcasting Union (EBU). 18–22 May 2021.
{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: date format (link) - ^ Groot, Evert (17 November 2020). "2020 Semi-Final line-up to stay for 2021". European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Archived from the original on 18 November 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2020.