Earlier this week she won Albania’s Festivali i Këngës. And shortly after stepping off the outdoor stage in Tirana’s Italia Square, Anxhela Peristeri headed to the FiK59 after-party where, away from the spotlight, she could let her hair down and celebrate with some sweet champagne.
Our Kosovar blogger Erdi was on hand and asked Anxhela about her next steps — and whether she’d made a decision to keep the “Karma” lyrics in Albanian or translate them to English for Eurovision 2021. She confirmed her decision to keep the text in her native language. She said:
“After meeting with my composer and lyrics writer, I decided to keep the song in Albanian, since from the beginning of making of the song, the idea was to keep it in Albanian.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwJwe6Ac4YE
Anxhela, it seems, wants to keep the feeling and emotion of the song as authentic as possible as she prepares to #OpenUp in Rotterdam. She’s received good counsel. Her well-known songwriting team — composer Kledi Bahiti and lyricist Olti Curri — are well-known and well-respected in Albania, and their opinions carry great weight.
Anxhela Peristeri: What do the “Karma” lyrics mean?
Whether you speak Albanian or not, it’s pretty clear that “Karma” captures a woman in crisis. The dramatic ballad sees Anxhela portray someone who blames herself for her world — romantic and otherwise — falling apart.
The opening verse sees her describing herself as selfish and somewhat spoiled: “Life, as if a fairy tale, had spoiled me, High in the sky like a star I lived, Laughing like crazy when you groaned, Heartless, I only loved myself.”
By the time the chorus hits, she’s the star of her own tragedy and she’s left with nothing but dirty tears, apparently the colour of rust. “God does not forgive me, the world fell on me, I fled you, my friends fled, I have no light…tears collect in my hand, they are rusty…”
“Karma” lyrics — Anxhela Peristeri (Albania ESC 2021)
Albanian TextZoti nuk ma fal Jeta si në përrallë më kish llastuar Zoti nuk ma fal Se të kërkoja nëpër zemra bosh Zoti nuk ma fal Oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh (Zoti nuk ma fal) |
English translationGod does not forgive me Life, as in a fairy tale, had spoiled me God does not forgive me That I looked through empty hearts God does not forgive me Oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh… (God does not forgive me) |
Are you excited to hear that Anxhela will keep her song in Albanian? What type of staging do you hope to see in Rotterdam? Let us know in the comments box down below!
The problem is that when Albania’s songs are translated, they’re made worse. That’s been the rule since at least 2011. Even in 2020, when “Shaj” was originally written in English, the “translation” also removed most of what made the song impactful and interesting. This goes deeper than merely translating.
Also, Russia, Azerbaijan and Sweden make some of the blandest, most soulless music at Eurovision and Bulgaria’s best 2 songs came from before 2013. It was great when Norway sent a song with joiking and when Denmark and Iceland sent songs (partly) in their native language.
“Love is Forever” had its final pre-chorus in Danish, that’s why I said Denmark and Iceland “partly” send songs in their native language. What I said about the revamps might be my opinion, but the majority of Eurofans feel that way too. I certainly remember people saying the translations of Albania 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2020 were worse than the original. But, in fairness, much of the love toward the Albanian originals might be because of the orchestra.
What a polarising topic. Every artist should get the freedom to decide the language on her*his own and I am against any language rule in National Finals, Eurovision or Junior Eurovision. So I completely respect Anxhela’s decision. It’s her song ^^
When will people realize that the FIK is not a “national final”, it’s an albanian festival song contest almost as old as Eurovision. Introducig english songs on it would be a total nonsense. When will this english dictatorship will stop ? 95% of the people living on earth speaks another primary language than english !
It´s a very unpopular opinion but I partially support you.
I think that their decision was the right one. I was one of the first that had said that Shaj should’ve been switched to English, but I was against Karma switching to English (same with Ktheju Tokes). I think it really depends on the song. Some songs work better in English, some other work better in their national language. For example, I think that Euphoria or Heroes wouldn’t have won if they were sung in Swedish. But I don’t think that Water (Bulgaria 2007) would’ve been that succesful had it been sung in English. I have to add though that… Read more »
I cannot find the word “Karma” in any of the lyrics. Interesting how you can give a song more attraction and depth by adding a meaningful title like in Suus or 1944.
Why the title is meaningless, if it isn’t a part of lyrics? It adds extra information about the song. Jamala’s 1944 is a date of historical event which she sung about. “Karma” is called that way, because it’s a song ’bout boomerang effect in life. Anyway, in less mainstream genres titles like these are normalised. The Cure has a song called 39 , Joy Division has 24, Marilyn Manson has “Untitled”. It doesn’t mean that lyrics are bad.
I haven’t even heard the song but – thank you
Nearly everyone I have seen on this website, including myself, has expressed the desire for these countries to send songs in their native language/s more often.
I’m not going to hate a song because it isn’t in a national language. Would I prefer it to be? Yes. But would I hate it just because it’s in English? Absolutely not. I really don’t understand your argument here. Are you against more linguistic diversity?
“I cannot see how it’s fair to tell some countries they shouldn’t send songs in English.”
I think this question should also be directed towards FiK, Sanremo and Beovizija organizers.
* I’m not saying that festivals as old and as prestigious as Sanremo and FiK should have to change rules entirely, but maybe having a small quota of 3-5 songs in English could be a nice experiment for a year or two.
As you know, I’d also encourage selections like MGP and UMK to add more songs in national languages.
Linguistic diversity is the macro-problem when you look at the map of ESC altogether. Translation itself (from whichever language to whichever) often can be a botched job on an individual level. For a translation to work properly, the new lyrics not only have to follow the same topic, but also to do it as effectively as the original ones. An issue is also singer’s ability to sing in another language. A little accent can be quite charming, but when a singer struggles throughout the song, it’s distracting and to me, often creates a feeling of them not being well connected… Read more »
If the songs in English doesn’t sound like it was written by a fluent English speaker, or if the performer cannot enunciate to sound like they’ve been performing in the language for some time, I think it makes for a strong argument to have songwriters and artists send in songs in the idioms they are most comfortable with rather than trying to force themselves to produce a track for the sake of connecting an audience who are at most, second and third language speakers of English.
The main issue for me is that, because of FiK rules, Albanian songs had to be in Albanian to begin with. If FiK ever abolished the native language rule like FdC did and a song which was originally written in English wins, I don’t think I’d had problem with it. Translations more often than not water-down the meaning of the song and it’s especially poor when it’s evident that the performer struggles with enunciation. In most cases, the language in which the song has been originally written in is the one most suited to deliver it’s message. With Albania, Shaj… Read more »
Knowing that “Fall From the Sky” was written in English, I was pretty okay with the decision of translating it back. However, I don’t think that’s what actually happened. As rumor goes, the original version has lyrics like “broken with love”, so the end product is yet another set of lyrics. I still liked the song, if you remember. If anything, the darker sounding instrumentation of Shaj was the only thing missing for me. Also, when a song is supposedly originally written in English (ergo, it already exists), waiting for 3 months to get that version requires a leap of… Read more »
At least we know “Bote” started as an English first, or rather, Lindita already had English lyrics for “Bote” in mind, so the revamp was more a language switch than a complete head-to-toe change that could make an Albanian entry more or less not recognizable as much before the revamping.
We agree here! 🙂 Bad lyrics are bad lyrics, regardless of the language. I always like reading them and I usually don’t do my ratings before doing so. The problem is when some countries don’t provide translations.
Right decision.. Not obliged to send an English song in the contest.. Portugal 2017 won with a song entirely not in English
For me personally the greatest moment at ESC. It´not calling English Song Contest.
How many countries outside of Albania can understand Albanian? Oh yeah that’s right, 0.
Ok so you’re going to ignore the sizable Albanian pockets in Italy (the Arbereshe), North Macedonia, Greece, and especially Kosovo, as well as the fact that there are people all around the world who can speak and understand Albanian? And if that’s not enough for you, how about you scroll up a little and read the translation, then boom you understand what the song means. Or instead of doing that, appreciate the fact that you are being exposed to linguistic diversity and just enjoy the damn songs.
The UK has a sizeable ethnic Albanian community.
Don´t forget Switzerland !
and how many have lazy people who can’t even search for the song’s translation on Google? I mean, you’d spend like 5 secs searching it.
It´s not necessary to understand everything. I´m totally sick about so much bad and lousy English in a few of entries.
Why do wiwi fans get some odd enjoyment over someone singing in a language no one outside her home country can understand.
You can downvote me all you want facts are songs do better in English because they have a more universal appeal. Yes a few foreign songs can qualify and a foreign song can even win. We’ve had 2 in fact, in the last 22 years
Albania qualified with an English song in 2010 and 2015 and they qualified with an Albanian song in 2012, 2018 and 2019, and 2015 was a completely different song than the one that one the national final, so they’ve been more successful in Albanian as of late.
Also, there’s the infamous reputation that English revamps of Albanian songs have, even when the original wasn’t all that great to begin with.
So, in the end, it’s probably for the best that Karma is going to stay in Albanian.
In the last 7 years, Albania qualified with an Albanian song 2 out of 3 times, whereas all songs they sent in English failed to do so (I’m Alive is discounted just because it was not the song from FiK).
Because more languages sung in Eurovision, the better.
Good choice, seeing as in recent years Albania has done better with songs in their language.
If only other countries would do the same more often.
It’s a struggle either way. The song is too mediocre. Keeping it in Albanian gives her a bigger chance for the final. My advice to her…. CHANGE THE SONG COMPLETELY. You have at least 5 months to get something better on stage for the Eurovision audiences.
I am happy its in albanian and i think it can qualify. Its a song with great potential. Yes i wanted Inis to win but this have grown on me also.
This is really great news !! I’m happy with this decision because I think it would’ve lost its charm in English. And Albanian is a very beautiful language !!
I’m glad with this decision and that we already know that.
The song is nice in Albanian, it would’ve lost its charm in English. Tho not my favorite in FiK, I think it can get a spot in the final with EPIC staging and get around 15 (or 17 lol) place
As long as it doesn’t drop below 17th, then its all cool XD
Are you allowed to use religious names in lyrics? Genuinely asking, there’s so many rules. Especially after what happened with Tulia
the word “god” can be interpreted in many ways
Azerbaijan winning with a song that used that word in the context it did has proven it has long been accepted in ESC.
You can still qualify singing in a foreign language. But it makes it a lot less likely.
sorry, that´s rubbish…
Of course it was a huge advantage to sing in the “right” language back then, when ESC juries were notoriously snobbish (not to say xenophobic) in that department. While there is still that effect nowadays it’s much less pronounced with the juries and even less with televoters.
Doesnt matter the language, it will struggle to get ground
I felt the same about Eugent in 2018 until I saw his live performance. I hope I am wrong again! At least this is a dignified and elegant entry not bought off the shelf nonsense.
I thought the opposite about Eugent! I knew he would qulaify becasue it was something new, fresh air from Albania. But now they are back in the same track with the same song they always send..
Ethnic ballads aren’t something Albania have ever always send by default.
He was beside Italy my favourite in 2018.
Glad we will hear beautiful Albanian language again on the Eurovision stage
My heart can’t handle the same fear every year xD
I’m glad they’re keeping it in Albanian! I love this song 🙂
Really great news. Let the Eurovision journey begin ?
Considering that Albania is a master of ruining their songs by translating them to English, a wise choice.
As she should.