Identitet
{{Short description|2013 song by Adrian Lulgjuraj and Bledar Sejko}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Identitet
| cover = Adrian Lulgjuraj and Bledar Sejko - Identitet.jpeg
| alt = The cover features Lulgjuraj and Sejko and four other persons within a black-coloured picture
| type = single
| artist = Adrian Lulgjuraj and Bledar Sejko
| language = Albanian
| released = {{start date|df=yes|2013|3|12}}
| studio = Kingside, Gnesta, Sweden
| genre = Heavy rock
| length = 3:01
| label = Universal
| lyricist = Eda Sejko
| composer = Bledar Sejko
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|_Pf-ZCI-UuA|"Identitet"}}
}}
{{Infobox song contest entry
| embed = yes
| song = {{flagicon|Albania}} "Identitet"
| year = 2013
| country = Albania
| artist = Adrian Lulgjuraj and Bledar Sejko
| language = Albanian
| composer = Bledar Sejko
| lyricist = Eda Sejko
| place =
| points =
| place_semi = 15th
| points_semi = 31
| prev = Suus
| prev_year = 2012
| prev_link = Suus
| next = One Night's Anger
| next_year = 2014
| next_link = One Night's Anger
}}
}}
"Identitet" ({{IPA|sq|idɛntitɛt}}; {{Translation|Identity}}) is a song by Albanian singers Adrian Lulgjuraj and Bledar Sejko. It was first released on 12 March 2013 as a music video release which was uploaded on the official YouTube channel of the Eurovision Song Contest, then it was released as a single as part of a CD compilation on 29 April 2013 by Universal Music. The Albanian-language folk-inspired heavy rock song was composed by Bledar Sejko and the lyrics were written by Eda Sejko.
The song represented Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden, after winning the country's pre-selection competition Festivali i Këngës. But, it failed to qualify for the grand final, as it was ranked in fifteenth place, thus marking the country's fourth non-qualification in the contest. During their rock and roll-themed show, the duo was accompanied by four instrumentalists and a variety of flashing red and orange colours displayed on the LED screens in the background.
Background and composition
In 2012, Adrian Lulgjuraj and Bledar Sejko were among the contestants selected to compete in the 51st edition of Festivali i Këngës, a competition to determine Albania's participant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2013. As part of the competition's rules, the lyrics of the participating entries had to be in the Albanian language. They took part in the contest with the song "Identitet" written by Eda Sejko and composed by Bledar Sejko himself.{{Cite web |title=Malmö 2013 Participants Adrian Lulgjuraj and Bledar Sejko |url=https://eurovision.tv/participant/adrian-lulgjuraj-bledar-sejko |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428223426/https://eurovision.tv/participant/adrian-lulgjuraj-bledar-sejko |archive-date=28 April 2020 |access-date=28 April 2020 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}} For the purpose of their Eurovision Song Contest participation, the song was remastered and shortened at the Kingside Studios in Gnesta, Sweden.{{Cite web |last=Sahiti |first=Gafurr |date=12 March 2013 |title=Albania: Listen to the final version of Identitet (video) |url=http://esctoday.com/48191/albania-listen-to-the-new-version-identitet-video/ |access-date=29 April 2020 |publisher=ESCToday}}
Musically, "Identitet" is an Albanian-language folk-inspired heavy rock song, which lyrically discusses about the concepts of freedom, cohesion, brotherhood and identity.{{Cite web |date=11 May 2013 |title=Heavy ethno-rock sounds from Albania |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/heavy-ethno-rock-sounds-from-albania |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429124649/https://eurovision.tv/story/heavy-ethno-rock-sounds-from-albania |archive-date=29 April 2020 |access-date=29 April 2020 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}} In an interview, Sejko stated that the song is inspired by Albanian folk music from the cultural regions of Tropojë and Çamëria.{{Cite web |date=24 December 2012 |title=Sejko: Serbët vodhën melodinë shqiptare |url=https://telegrafi.com/sejko-serbet-vodhen-melodine-shqiptare/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429122825/https://telegrafi.com/sejko-serbet-vodhen-melodine-shqiptare/ |archive-date=29 April 2020 |access-date=29 April 2020 |publisher=Telegrafi |language=sq}} The rhythm of the tupan is borrowed from that of southern Albania, whereas the guitar work is borrowed from the sounds of northern Albania's çifteli. Meanwhile, the traditional southern Albanian iso-polyphony is remembered through the use of violins, whereas the northern Albanian call "hey" is also present in the chorus.
Reception and plagiarism accusation
After winning Festivali i Këngës, the song received mixed reviews from music critics. In a Wiwibloggs review containing several reviews from individual critics, it was given a score of 2.86 out of 10 points.{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=William Lee |date=20 April 2013 |title=Wiwi Jury: Albania's Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko with "Identitet" |url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2013/04/20/albania-identitet-review-rating-esc/23857/ |access-date=5 May 2020 |publisher=Wiwibloggs}} The reviewers negatively noted that the song was "old-fashioned" and anticipated that it could not qualify for the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest. Although, various reviewers expressed praise towards the song's instrumental and folklore-inspired sound. "Identitet" was accused of plagiarising the Bajaga's "Plavi safir" from 1988 by different medias and websites throughout the Balkans,{{Cite web |date=24 December 2012 |title=Albanci za Evrosong pokrali Bajagu |url=https://www.kurir.rs/stars/575193/albanci-za-evrosong-pokrali-bajagu |access-date=3 May 2020 |publisher=Kurir |language=sr}}{{Cite web |date=24 January 2013 |title="Plavi safir" iz Albanije na Eurosongu u Švedskoj!? |url=http://www.haber.ba/showbiz/muzika/29884-plavi-safir-iz-albanije-na-eurosongu-u-svedskoj-video.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127022806/http://www.haber.ba/showbiz/muzika/29884-plavi-safir-iz-albanije-na-eurosongu-u-svedskoj-video.html |archive-date=27 January 2013 |access-date=3 May 2020 |publisher=Haber |language=bs}} although music experts have reported that both "Identitet" and "Plavi Safir" are influenced by Balkan folk music, which is similar in many countries in the region.{{Cite web |date=10 May 2013 |title="Identitet", prova e parë në skenën e Eurosongut |work=Gazeta Panorama ONLINE |url=http://www.panorama.com.al/2013/05/10/identitet-prova-e-pare-ne-skenen-e-eurosongut/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228001125/http://www.panorama.com.al/2013/05/10/identitet-prova-e-pare-ne-skenen-e-eurosongut/ |archive-date=28 February 2014 |access-date=3 May 2020 |publisher=Panorama |language=sq}} According to Bledar Sejko, the starting notes of "Plavi safir" were plagiarised from the lyrics of "Kur bie fyelli e çiftelia" by Albanian singer and songwriter Vaçe Zela from the middle of the 20th century.
Promotion and release
For promotional purposes, the singers made various appearances to perform the song on different occasions, including in Amsterdam's Eurovision in Concert.{{Cite web |date=8 March 2013 |title=17 acts confirmed so far for Eurovision In Concert |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/17-acts-confirmed-so-far-for-eurovision-in-concert |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429221554/https://eurovision.tv/story/17-acts-confirmed-so-far-for-eurovision-in-concert |archive-date=29 April 2020 |access-date=29 April 2020 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}} The song was first released on 12 March 2013, when it premiered as a music video release on the official YouTube channel of the Eurovision Song Contest.{{Cite web |date=12 March 2013 |title=Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko - Identitet (Albania) 2013 Eurovision Song Contest |url=https://eurovision.tv/video/adrian-lulgjuraj-bledar-sejko-identitet-albania-2013-eurovision-song-contest |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429124207/https://eurovision.tv/video/adrian-lulgjuraj-bledar-sejko-identitet-albania-2013-eurovision-song-contest |archive-date=29 April 2020 |access-date=29 April 2020 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}{{Cite web |date=12 March 2013 |title=Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko - Identitet (Albania) 2013 Eurovision Song Contest {{!}} Official Music Video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pf-ZCI-UuA |access-date=19 April 2020 |publisher=YouTube}} The song was then issued as a single on 29 April 2013 as part of the Eurovision Song Contest: Malmö 2013 compilation album on CD through CMC Records and Universal Music. On 14 February 2018, it was released as a standalone download through Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH).
At Eurovision
= Festivali i Këngës =
{{Main|Festivali i Këngës 51}}
The national broadcaster of Albania, Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH), organised the 51st edition of Festivali i Këngës to determine the country's participants for the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden.{{Cite web |date=22 December 2012 |title=Tonight: Festivali i Këngës Final in Albania |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/tonight-festivali-i-kenges-final-in-albania |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428180336/https://eurovision.tv/story/tonight-festivali-i-kenges-final-in-albania |archive-date=28 April 2020 |access-date=28 April 2020 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}} It opened a submission period for artists and composers to submit their entries between 8 and 9 October 2012 to the competition.{{Cite web |last=Sahiti |first=Gafurr |date=21 July 2012 |title=RTSH call for songs, deadline 9th of October |url=http://esctoday.com/?p=37096 |access-date=28 April 2020 |publisher=ESCToday}} Following the grand final, Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko were chosen to represent the country in the contest after the votes of an expert jury were combined, resulting in 74 total points.{{Cite web |date=23 December 2012 |title=Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko win Festivali i Këngës! |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/adrian-lulgjuraj-bledar-sejko-win-festivali-i-kenges |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428211319/https://eurovision.tv/story/adrian-lulgjuraj-bledar-sejko-win-festivali-i-kenges |archive-date=28 April 2020 |access-date=28 April 2020 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}
= Malmö =
{{Main|Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013}}
File:ESC2013_-_Albania_13.jpg and Bledar Sejko performing during a rehearsal before the second semi-final.]]
The 58th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest took place in Malmö, Sweden, and consisted of two semi-finals held on 14 and 16 May, and the grand final on 18 May 2013.{{Cite web |title=Eurovision Song Contest–Malmö 2013 |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/malmo-2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428174528/https://eurovision.tv/event/malmo-2013 |archive-date=28 April 2020 |access-date=28 April 2020 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}} According to the Eurovision rules, each participating country (except the host country and the "Big Five", consisting of {{Esccnty|France}}, {{Esccnty|Germany}}, {{Esccnty|Italy}}, {{Esccnty|Spain}} and the {{Esccnty|United Kingdom}}) were required to qualify from one of the two semi-finals to compete for the grand final, although the top ten countries from the respective semi-finals progress to the grand final.{{Cite web |date=12 January 2017 |title=Eurovision Song Contest–Rules |url=https://eurovision.tv/about/rules/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200408073043/https://eurovision.tv/about/rules/ |archive-date=8 April 2020 |access-date=28 April 2020 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}} On 17 January 2013, it was announced that "Identitet" would be performed in the second half of the second semi-final of the contest.{{Cite web |date=17 January 2013 |title=Draw results: Who's in which Semi-Final? |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/draw-results-who-s-in-which-semi-final |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428174935/https://eurovision.tv/story/draw-results-who-s-in-which-semi-final |archive-date=28 April 2020 |access-date=28 April 2020 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}} During the live show, Albania performed fourteenth, following {{Esccnty|Norway|y=2013}} and was preceding {{Esccnty|Georgia|y=2013}}, and failed to qualify for the grand final in fifteenth place with 31 points, ranking twelfth by the jury's 11.78 points and fifteenth by the televote of 9.10 points.{{Cite web |date=28 March 2013 |title=Eurovision 2013: Semi-Final running order revealed |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2013-semi-final-running-order-revealed |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428214224/https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-2013-semi-final-running-order-revealed |archive-date=28 April 2020 |access-date=28 April 2020 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}{{Cite web |date=16 May 2013 |title=Malmö 2013: Second Semi-Final Scoreboard |url=https://eurovision.tv/event/malmo-2013/second-semi-final/results/albania/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428214508/https://eurovision.tv/event/malmo-2013/second-semi-final/results/albania/ |archive-date=28 April 2020 |access-date=28 April 2020 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}
Adrian Lulgjuraj and Bledar Sejko were accompanied by a drummer, bass guitarist, percussionist and keyboard player during their rock and roll-themed performance. Behind the singers, the LED screen displays flashing red, orange and white lights, while pyrotechnics and fog were also used throughout the performance.{{Cite web |date=16 May 2013 |title=Adrian Lulgjuraj & Bledar Sejko - Identitet (Albania) - LIVE - 2013 Semi-Final (2) |url=https://eurovision.tv/video/adrian-lulgjuraj-bledar-sejko-identitet-albania-live-2013-semi-final-2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428220706/https://eurovision.tv/video/adrian-lulgjuraj-bledar-sejko-identitet-albania-live-2013-semi-final-2 |archive-date=28 April 2020 |access-date=28 April 2020 |publisher=European Broadcasting Union}}
Track listing
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col" | Region
! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Format ! scope="col" | Label ! scope="col" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| scope="row" rowspan="2" | {{center|Various}}
| 29 April 2013 | CD | {{hlist|CMC|Universal}} | {{Cite AV media notes |publisher=CMC and Universal |others=European Broadcasting Union |title=Eurovision Song Contest - Malmö 2013 |year=2013 |type=Compilation CD |location=Europe. (Barcode: 0602537357529)}} |
| 14 February 2018
| Digital download | {{hlist|Broken AL|RTSH}}
|
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest|state=collapsed}}
{{Eurovision Song Contest 2013|state=collapsed}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Eurovision songs of Albania
Category:Eurovision songs of 2013