Ex (Elvana Gjata, DJ Gimi-O and Bardhi song)
{{Short description|2022 single by Elvana Gjata, DJ Gimi-O and Bardhi}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Ex
| cover = Elvana Gjata, DJ Gimi-O & Bardhi - Ex (Actual).jpeg
| caption =
| border = yes
| type = single
| artist = Elvana Gjata, DJ Gimi-O and Bardhi
| album =
| released = {{start date|df=yes|2022|2|25}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = Pop
| language = Albanian
| length = 3:21
| label =
- East Music Matters
- Loudcom Media
| writer =
- Bardhi
- Çelik Lipa
- DJ Gimi-O
- Elvana Gjata
| producer =
- Çelik Lipa
- DJ Gimi-O
| chronology = Elvana Gjata
| prev_title = Pow
| prev_year = 2022
| next_title = Gajde
| next_year = 2022
| misc =
{{Extra chronology
| artist = DJ Gimi-O
| type = singles
| prev_title = Ti mor djal
| prev_year = 2021
| title = Ex
| year = 2022
| next_title = O Rakia
| next_year = 2022
}}
{{Extra chronology
| artist = Bardhi
| type = singles
| prev_title = Engjulli im
| prev_year = 2022
| title = Ex
| year = 2022
| next_title = Hayat
| next_year = 2022
}}
{{Extra album cover
| header = Alternative cover
| type = single
| cover = Elvana Gjata, DJ Gimi-O & Bardhi - Ex.webp
| caption = First edition cover artwork
}}
{{External music video|{{YouTube|xTGs5n3VtYc|"Ex"}}}}
}}
"Ex" (stylised in all caps) is a song by Albanian singer and songwriter Elvana Gjata, German-Albanian disc jockey DJ Gimi-O and Macedonian-Albanian rapper Bardhi. The song was written by Gjata, Bardhi, DJ Gimi-O and Çelik Lipa, with production from the latter two. Loudcom Media under exclusive license from East Music Matters distributed it as a single for digital download and streaming on 24 February 2022. An uptempo Balkan and Mediterranean-influenced Albanian pop love song, its Albanian-language lyrics reflect the difficulties and hardships faced in getting over a failed relationship.
Upon release, several music critics applauded the composition and production of "Ex" as well as its music video. Commercially, the song reached number 19 in Switzerland and number 20 on the Billboard Switzerland Songs chart. Featuring a message of embracing the beginning of summer, an accompanying colorful music video was filmed in Tirana, Albania, and premiered on Gjata's YouTube channel on 16 March 2022.
Background and composition
{{listen
| filename = Ex - Elvana Gjata.mp3
| pos = left
| title = "Ex"
| description = A 23-second sample of "Ex", an uptempo pop love song, featuring vocals from Gjata and Bardhi. Its lyrics reflect the difficulties and hardships of a failed relationship.}}
Preceded by a preview two days prior on 22 February, Elvana Gjata announced her first collaboration with Bardhi and DJ Gimi-O on her Instagram account, revealing the cover art and the single's availability on digital download and streaming formats on 24 February 2022 at 23:59 (CET).{{cite web |website=Gazeta Blic |title=Hiti tjetër më shpejt se ç'mendoni! Elvana Gjata dhe Bardhi publikojnë bashkëpunimin në këtë datë |url=https://gazetablic.com/hiti-tjeter-me-shpejt-se-cmendoni-elvana-gjata-dhe-bardhi-publikojne-bashkepunimin-ne-kete-date/ |access-date=26 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226145304/https://gazetablic.com/hiti-tjeter-me-shpejt-se-cmendoni-elvana-gjata-dhe-bardhi-publikojne-bashkepunimin-ne-kete-date/ |archive-date=26 February 2022 |language=sq |date=22 February 2022 |url-status=live}} The single's initial cover art depicted the muppet character Kermit the Frog holding a wine bottle while lying on ground.{{cite web |website=Illyrian Pirates |title=Elvana Gjata, Bardhi and Dj Gimi-O team up for 'Ex' |url=https://illyrianpirates.com/2022/03/16/elvana-gjata-bardhi-and-dj-gimi-o-teams-up-for-ex/ |access-date=17 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317215006/https://illyrianpirates.com/2022/03/16/elvana-gjata-bardhi-and-dj-gimi-o-teams-up-for-ex/ |archive-date=17 March 2022 |date=16 March 2022 |url-status=live}} Lasting three minutes and 21 seconds, "Ex" was distributed as a single by Loudcom Media under exclusive license from East Music Matters in various countries on 25 February 2022.
"Ex" was written by Gjata and Bardhi along with DJ Gimi-O and Çelik Lipa, who also produced the song.{{cite web |publisher=Spotify |title=Ex{{spaced ndash}}Single by Elvana Gjata, Bardhi and DJ Gimi-O |url=https://open.spotify.com/album/3lq5o7BNf5Cx1uNU1YC3Zx |access-date=26 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226141651/https://open.spotify.com/album/3lq5o7BNf5Cx1uNU1YC3Zx |archive-date=26 February 2022 |date=25 February 2022 |url-status=live}} Musically, "Ex" is an upbeat tempo Balkan and Mediterranean-infused Albanian pop love song. The song's production was noted as "modern" and "pleasant", while incorporating oriental drums and a Middle Eastern-styled beat. The Albanian-language lyrics focus on the feelings of heartbreak, loss, misery, pain and rejection, making references to the difficulties and hardships faced in getting over a failed relationship.
Reception
Upon release, "Ex" was met with generally positive reviews from selected music critics. An author from Illyrian Pirates attended to designate "Ex" as a "great" composition, with the lyrics displaying the "harsh realities and unpleasantness" of a separation process. Labeling the song as an "anomaly of music", the author continued writing that "[it's] friendly to both a Balkan and Western audience". An editor from Dosja further presumed the lyrics to be a dedication to Gjata's former partner.{{cite web |work=Dosja |title='A po të dhemb zemra?'/ Si e harron ish-in Elvana Gjata, pi me 'eks' shotsat |url=https://dosja.al/a-po-te-dhemb-zemra-si-e-harron-ishin-elvana-gjata-pi-me-eks-shotsat/ |access-date=17 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317220702/https://dosja.al/a-po-te-dhemb-zemra-si-e-harron-ishin-elvana-gjata-pi-me-eks-shotsat/ |archive-date=17 March 2022 |language=sq |date=16 March 2022 |url-status=live}}
Commercially, "Ex" reached number 19 on the Swiss Singles Chart for the issue date of 6 March 2022. In February 2022, American magazine Billboard launched Switzerland Songs, a digital download and streaming-based chart for Switzerland, on which "Ex" reached number 20 for the week ending 2 April 2022. From February to March 2022, the song also trended on the Swiss Streaming, iTunes and Spotify charts.{{cite web |publisher=Swiss Hitparade |title=Streaming Charts Top 100{{spaced ndash}}6. März 2022 |url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/streaming/06-03-2022 |access-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413165842/https://hitparade.ch/charts/streaming/06-03-2022 |archive-date=13 April 2022 |language=de |date=6 March 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |publisher=Swiss Hitparade |title=Schweizer iTunes Charts{{spaced ndash}}26. Februar 2022 |url=http://www.swisscharts.com/charts/itunes/26-02-2022 |access-date=11 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311191340/http://www.swisscharts.com/charts/itunes/26-02-2022 |archive-date=11 March 2022 |language=de |date=26 February 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |publisher=Swiss Hitparade |title=Schweizer Spotify Charts{{spaced ndash}}25. Februar 2022 |url=http://www.swisscharts.com/charts/spotify/25-02-2022 |access-date=11 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311191635/http://www.swisscharts.com/charts/spotify/25-02-2022 |archive-date=11 March 2022 |language=de |date=25 February 2022 |url-status=live}}
Music video
To promote "Ex", a music video was uploaded to Gjata's official YouTube channel on 16 March 2022 at 16:03 (CET).{{cite AV media |publisher=Elvana Gjata |via=YouTube |title=Elvana Gjata, DJ Gimi-O & Bardhi{{spaced ndash}}Ex {{!}} Official Music Video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTGs5n3VtYc |access-date=16 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316162648/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTGs5n3VtYc |archive-date=16 March 2022 |date=16 March 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |publisher=Klan Kosova |title=Elvana Gjata zbulon datën e publikimit të bashkëpunimit me Bardhin |url=https://klankosova.tv/elvana-gjata-zbulon-daten-e-publikimit-te-bashkepunimit-me-bardhin-video/ |access-date=16 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316134902/https://klankosova.tv/elvana-gjata-zbulon-daten-e-publikimit-te-bashkepunimit-me-bardhin-video/ |archive-date=16 March 2022 |language=sq |date=15 March 2022 |url-status=live}} The three-minute long video was filmed in a traditional-described mansion in Tirana, Albania. It was produced by Adea Kelmendi and directed by Besian Durmishi of Supercut Studio, who had also directed the videos for Gjata's previous singles, "Mike" (2018) and "Tavolina e mërzisë" (2019).{{cite web |publisher=Supercut Studio |title=Mike{{spaced ndash}}Elvana Gjata & Ledri Vula featuring John Shahu |url=https://www.supercut.studio/mike-elvanagjata |access-date=16 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316193537/https://www.supercut.studio/mike-elvanagjata |archive-date=16 March 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |publisher=Supercut Studio |title=Tavolina e mërzisë{{spaced ndash}}Elvana Gjata |url=https://www.supercut.studio/tavolinaemerzise |access-date=16 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316193918/https://www.supercut.studio/tavolinaemerzise |archive-date=16 March 2022 |url-status=live}} Arianit Gjonbalaj was further hired as the director of photography, while the hair and make-up were done by Kaci and Sellma, respectively, and the outfits selected by Andi Lekaj and Valdrin Sahiti.
From Illyrian Pirates, the writer had an overall positive perception towards the music video, labelling it as a "colorful 90's-inspired" video as well as an "enchanting private celebration with the artists embracing the beginning of summer". They further confessed that "[it] might be simulating what you would feel like if you drank too much and in the end realizes that it does not get better". On similar note, an editor of Gazeta Metro highlighted the video as "fantastic", while writing for Lajmi, the author noted "colorful" visuals, creating a "summer" atmosphere.{{cite web |work=Gazeta Metro |title=Publikohet videoklipi i këngës së Elvanës, Bardhit dhe Gimi-O |url=https://www.gazetametro.net/publikohet-videoklipi-i-kenges-se-elvanes-bardhit-dhe-gimi-o/ |access-date=17 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317002102/https://www.gazetametro.net/publikohet-videoklipi-i-kenges-se-elvanes-bardhit-dhe-gimi-o/ |archive-date=17 March 2022 |language=sq |date=16 March 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |work=Lajmi |title=Atmosferë vere, publikohet klipi i këngës 'Ex' nga Elvana, Bardhi & Gimi-O |url=https://lajmi.net/atmosfere-vere-publikohet-klipi-i-kenges-ex-nga-elvana-bardhi-gimi-o/ |access-date=17 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317002341/https://lajmi.net/atmosfere-vere-publikohet-klipi-i-kenges-ex-nga-elvana-bardhi-gimi-o/ |archive-date=17 March 2022 |language=sq |date=16 March 2022 |url-status=live}} The music video appeared on the global YouTube Top 100 chart and garnered 10 million views in two weeks on the platform.{{cite AV media |via=YouTube |title=Top 100 Music Videos Global |url=https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4fGSI1pDJn5kI81J1fYWK5eZRl1zJ5kM |access-date=29 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329172100/https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4fGSI1pDJn5kI81J1fYWK5eZRl1zJ5kM |archive-date=29 March 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |website=Ballkani |title='EX' merr 10 milionë shikime, ky është reagimi i Bardhit |url=https://ballkani.info/ex-merr-10-milione-shikime-ky-eshte-reagimi-i-bardhit/ |access-date=28 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428135653/https://ballkani.info/ex-merr-10-milione-shikime-ky-eshte-reagimi-i-bardhit/ |archive-date=28 April 2022 |language=sq |date=30 March 2022 |url-status=live}}
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from Spotify and YouTube.
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
Vocal credits
- Elvana Gjata{{spaced ndash}}lead vocals
- Bardhi{{spaced ndash}}lead vocals
Technical credits
- Elvana Gjata{{spaced ndash}}songwriting
- DJ Gimi-O{{spaced ndash}}producing, songwriting
- Bardhi{{spaced ndash}}songwriting
- Çelik Lipa{{spaced ndash}}producing, songwriting
{{col-2}}
Visual credits
- Adea Kelmendi{{spaced ndash}}producing
- Agnesa Kelmendi{{spaced ndash}}producing
- Andi Lekaj{{spaced ndash}}styling
- Arenc Kasharaj{{spaced ndash}}camera assisting
- Arianit Gjonbalaj{{spaced ndash}}photo directing
- Besian Durmishi{{spaced ndash}}video directing
- Elvin Minaj{{spaced ndash}}scenography
- Kaci{{spaced ndash}}hair styling
- Sellma{{spaced ndash}}make-up
- Valdrin Sahiti{{spaced ndash}}styling
{{col-end}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Chart performance for "Ex" ! scope="col" | Chart (2022) ! scope="col" | Peak |
| {{single chart |Switzerland |19 |song=Ex |artist=Elvana Gjata x DJ Gimi-O x Bardhi |access-date=6 March 2022 |refname=Switzerland |rowheader=true}} |
| scope="row" | Switzerland Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine |magazine=Billboard |title=Switzerland Songs: Week of April 2, 2022 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/switzerland-songs-hotw/2022-04-02/ |access-date=29 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329133231/https://www.billboard.com/charts/switzerland-songs-hotw/2022-04-02/ |archive-date=29 March 2022 |date=27 March 2022 |url-status=live}}
| 20 |
|---|
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ Release dates and formats for "Ex" ! scope="col" | Region ! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Format(s) ! scope="col" | Label(s) ! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Ref.|References}} |
| scope="row" | Various
| 25 February 2022 | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | {{hlist|EMM|Loudcom Media}}
|
|---|
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Elvana Gjata|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Music videos directed by Besian Durmishi
Category:Songs about heartache