Albania’s Anxhela Peristeri has taken to the Rotterdam Ahoy stage for her first rehearsal of “Karma” at Eurovision 2021. Was she able to capture the drama of “Karma”? Let’s see…
Albania’s Anxhela Peristeri “Karma” — Eurovision 2021 first rehearsal
Robyn: Anxhela is looking glamorous in a leotard dripping with crystals. She’s alone on stage — no dancers or backing singers. When she’s singing, this is fine as she’s an expressive singer and is able to convey the drama of the song. However, during the numerous instrumental breaks in the song, the staging starts to feel a bit empty. Anxhela doesn’t dance and there are only so many times a performer can dramatically swish about her hand before it starts to feel repetitive. It really would have been enhanced even if she’d been joined by just one dancer to go wild during the breaks. The stage lighting is dramatic and the LEDs show bursts of coloured smoke. It feels like deliberately pared-back pandemic-era staging — so it’s totally understandable. Yeah, it could be better, but for what it is, Anxhela works it.
Padraig: We’ve had a lot of “Fuego” sound-alikes since 2018. This, however, is a “Fuego” look-alike — although, to be fair, both stage shows were designed by the same team. The opening scene is very similar to that of Eleni Foureira’s iconic performance. It starts with Anxhela’s silhouette against a red smokey backdrop. Later we see her replicate a couple of poses, most notably when she puts her hand on her hip and turns her top half to face the audience. However, Anxhela does put her own stamp on things. For one, she’s not singing a banger and the stage show reflects that. She’s on her own and remains in the same spot for most of it. Although she manages to do a lot while standing still — there is arm and hair-ography a plenty. The vocal itself was flawless and Anxhela delivers both takes as if it was actually the semi-final performance.
Reaction to Albania’s first rehearsal at Eurovision 2021
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What do you think? Did Anxhela Peristeri live up to your expectations? Sound off in the comments section below.
She’s gorgeous! The dress is really on point. However, I hoped for a more memorable staging. She plays really well with the lighting, but it feels underwhelming at moments..
Albania is in it again! This simple staging is exactly what this needed to look fresh.
Was there a silver dresses’ sale or what? She’s dressed like it’s a dance number, while it’s a ballad about God not forgiving her.
So Like A Prayer # 2? But sung in tune by someone who is actually talented.
I LOVED this! For some reason I’m expecting Anxhela to have a dress change in the middle of the bridge instrumental? At any rate it’s pretty epic in my opinion
Anxhela looks and sounds amazing. The staging seems very tasteful too. I share Robyn’s concerns though, the song has a lot of instrumental breaks, they’ll need some “Lovewave” camera cuts to keep it interesting. I’m personally confident about Albania’s qualification chances.
I think a longer dress would be the right choice for this song. Sacha J Baptiste really can’t make a good decision….
I like the colors in the background. But it would be better if she had a long dress (this would be different from Cyprus and Moldova)
She looks amazing but I’m struggling to make the connection between the song and a dress that screams banger, pyro and lots of choreography…
Perhaps they could get Tiesto in to do a last minute remix – just to make sure the dress fits in with the concept?
Noooo they ruined it!
WE WANT PROPS, PLEASE SWITZERLAND GIVE US PROPS
Oh well, they didn’t give us props but they gave us THE WINNING SONG
I am sorry but this feels a little bit empty….this also gives me Gianna Terzi vibes (greece 2018).
That’s what I was thinking too, and It might share the same fate next Thursday
The stage looks good there is pyro and Anxhela is an amazing performer 100% gonna qualify
I really like the song and especially the chorus. But I don’t know of this staging improves her chances of qualifying.
Is this the year of the silver mini blingy clingies. 3 performers now ladies. Hope you’re not all going to clash. 2008 all over again then Sweden and Ukraine
Ah, Albania serving us drama and dramatic entries since 2005!
Flawless vocals, and I love the song since watching her performing it at Festival i Kenges in December. All the best from Switzerland!
This is lightyears away better from those performance
Albanian eagle fly into the final !
a lady (born in the sign of Aries just like me) with a fiery perfomance and in the national language. It look really promising !
It lookS of course….
You can edit your post within the first fifteen minutes. Any grammatical errors can be fixed if noticed in time. 🙂
Anxhela is certainly a diva, and her stage presence is incredible. I wouldn’t call it a lock yet, but I am leaning towards her making it through.
This HAS to qualify. It’s so good. She is amazing on stage
Qualifying without a doubt
Have you guys noticed that so many of the women have some variation of the same outfit. The body suit with the dangly diamonds.
Not criticising Anxhela for it I just noticed it now
And shoulder pads (for example now Albania as well as Croatia, Azerbaijan, Australia, San Marino, Belgium, Ukraine..) But yeah diamonds seem to be the current trend right now for some odd reason
must be current fashion trends
she’s a stunning beauty AND an excellent singer, paired with an outstanding song. we need her in the final !!
The only good think about this performance i think is Anxhela. Strong vocals, powerful expressions and nice outfit. The staging though looks average and empty but i think she’ll qualify (she will recieve points from Greece, Bulgaria, Switzerland and even Serbia) and she deserves it.
Yup , the Fik staging was better
We need less Sascha stagings
Although Anxhela looks gorgeous on stage, I still don’t think Albania will qualify to the grand final this year. I personally think countries like Latvia, Moldova and Czechia will have more attention.
So far we haven´t seen Latvia on stage. Moldova is absolutely crap.
this the definition of a dark horse. Stunning visuals, Anxhela looks amazing and finally an albanian entrance without awful clothing and non existent staging. She has my vote
But this kinda feels like non existent staging tho?
She’s just standing there and it feels a bit empty.
she IS the staging
finally we agree on something. She is amazing
10 euros pre-tax even !
yeah i had no idea sacha was beind their staging, it’s completely unnecessary lol. she nailed it a couple of times and suddenly she’s in demand left and right
My number one is Finland, but Albania is so close behind.
i guess they focus on camera work. Thats a first for Albania who had a singer and 3 backing vocalists on stage for 3 years in a row
But feels like everybody is a dark horse this year 🙂
Sasha Jean Baptiste starter-pack….
Darkness, Smoke and a singer alone in the scene moving her hands around showing her passion or something….
Sorry but it is a Pass….
Absolutely STUNNING performance!!
So let’s hope this is start of a new era, where Albania pays attention to the staging!
Although her voice is on point as always and herself is a sweetheart.. I don’t think that this “kenga magjike” style ballad is enough to send her to the final.
I disagree with you. I love the song. And she is in the finals. She is amazing.
She already is in the final ? 7 singers got disqualified ?