Ritmu

{{Infobox song

| name = Ritmu

| cover = Ritmu cover.jpeg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Aidan

| album = This Is Aidan

| language = Maltese

| released = 2 March 2022

| genre = Pop

| length = 2:57

| label =

| writer =

Aidan Cassar
Boban Apostolov

| producer = Boban Apostolov

| chronology = Aidan

| prev_title = 24/7

| prev_year = 2021

| title = Ritmu

| year = 2022

| next_title = Madam

| next_year = 2022

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|bhoXl6y2kgM|"Ritmu"}}}}

}}

"Ritmu"{{efn|Stylised in all uppercase.}} ({{IPA|mt|rɪtmuː}}; {{translation|"Rhythm"}}) is a song by Maltese singer Aidan released on 2 March 2022. The song placed second in the national competition to represent Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 and reached number one on Malta's singles charts.

Background and release

Aidan unsuccessfully competed to represent Malta in the 2018 contest in which his song "Dai Laga" was updated as it was reportedly not entirely original and could have potentially violated Eurovision rules.{{Cite web|url=https://wiwibloggs.com/2018/01/19/aidan-publishes-dai-laga-revamp-following-rule-breach-controversy-in-malta/210448/|title=Aidan publishes "Dai Laga" revamp following rule breach controversy in Malta|first=William Lee|last=Adams|date=19 January 2018|website=wiwibloggs|access-date=16 January 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240116222355/https://wiwibloggs.com/2018/01/19/aidan-publishes-dai-laga-revamp-following-rule-breach-controversy-in-malta/210448/|archive-date=16 January 2024|url-status=live}} Following the positive response to "Naħseb Fik", he announced he would be competing to represent Malta in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 with an "upbeat pop song with a very European sound" written in Maltese.{{Cite web|url=https://lovinmalta.com/lifestyle/eurovision/exclusive-aidan-submits-upbeat-song-entirely-in-maltese-for-eurovision/|title=EXCLUSIVE: Aidan Submits Upbeat Song Entirely In Maltese For Eurovision|first=Tim|last=Diacono|date=15 December 2021|website=Lovin Malta|access-date=16 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240116214938/https://lovinmalta.com/lifestyle/eurovision/exclusive-aidan-submits-upbeat-song-entirely-in-maltese-for-eurovision/|archive-date=16 January 2024|url-status=live}} The song was later revealed to be "Ritmu" and he placed second in the national competition behind Emma Muscat.{{Cite web|url=https://tvmnews.mt/news/imhabbra-t-22-semifinalista-tal-malta-eurovision-song-contest-2022/|title=Imħabbra t-22 semifinalista tal-Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2022|date=29 December 2021|website=TVM News|access-date=17 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117065719/https://tvmnews.mt/news/imhabbra-t-22-semifinalista-tal-malta-eurovision-song-contest-2022/|archive-date=17 January 2024|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://tvmnews.mt/en/news/nofs-miljun-raw-it-tliet-serati-tal-eurovision-song-contest/|title=Record TV audience – over half a million viewers watch Eurovision Song Contest|date=20 February 2022|website=TVM News|access-date=17 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117065705/https://tvmnews.mt/en/news/nofs-miljun-raw-it-tliet-serati-tal-eurovision-song-contest/|archive-date=17 January 2024|url-status=live}} Aidan performed the song at a Eurovision pre-party in London.{{Cite web|url=https://maltadaily.mt/aidan-invited-to-perform-fan-favourite-ritmu-in-london/|title=Aidan invited to perform fan-favourite 'Ritmu' in London|date=6 April 2022|website=Malta Daily|access-date=15 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915194300/https://maltadaily.mt/aidan-invited-to-perform-fan-favourite-ritmu-in-london/|archive-date=15 September 2024|url-status=live}} He was also chosen as Malta's spokesperson in the Eurovision final in which he read out the votes of the Maltese jury.{{Cite web|url=https://maltadaily.mt/aidan-chosen-to-read-maltas-jury-votes-at-eurovision-grand-final/|title=Aidan chosen to read Malta's jury votes at Eurovision Grand Final|date=14 May 2022|website=Malta Daily|access-date=15 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915195608/https://maltadaily.mt/aidan-chosen-to-read-maltas-jury-votes-at-eurovision-grand-final/|archive-date=15 September 2024|url-status=live}}

"Ritmu" was featured in his debut album This Is Aidan released in March 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://eurovoxx.tv/malta-aidan-releases-debut-album-this-is-aidan/|title=Malta: Aidan releases debut album "This Is Aidan"|first=Jessica|last=Cole|date=31 March 2023|website=Eurovoxx|access-date=17 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240117183403/https://eurovoxx.tv/malta-aidan-releases-debut-album-this-is-aidan/|archive-date=17 January 2024|url-status=live}}

Critical reception

The song was number one in Malta's singles charts for three consecutive weeks. The song was reviewed by four correspondents at ESC United who gave it an average score of 7.125.{{Cite web|url=https://www.escunited.com/what-a-feeling-did-malta-leave-esc-united-believing-or-reeling-mesc-review-part-one/|title=What a Feeling! Did Malta leave ESC United Believing or Reeling? MESC Review Part One!|first=James|last=Maude|date=17 February 2022|website=ESC United|access-date=15 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915204440/https://www.escunited.com/what-a-feeling-did-malta-leave-esc-united-believing-or-reeling-mesc-review-part-one/|archive-date=15 September 2024|url-status=live}} The correspondents pointed out that the beat of the song felt "generic" but that it being in Maltese made it stand out from other songs in the national competition.

The song won an award for Best Song of the Year.{{Cite web|url=https://ohmymalta.com.mt/2023/01/04/watch-ira-losco-and-aidan-team-up-on-brand-new-track/|title=Watch: Ira Losco and Aidan Team up on Brand New Track|first=Philippa|last=Zammit|date=4 January 2023|website=Oh My Malta|access-date=16 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916182329/https://ohmymalta.com.mt/2023/01/04/watch-ira-losco-and-aidan-team-up-on-brand-new-track/|archive-date=16 September 2024|url-status=live}}

Music video

The music video released on 8 March 2022 features Aidan dressed as a cowboy and riding a horse.{{Cite web|url=https://maltadaily.mt/watch-aidan-releases-music-video-for-ritmu/|title=Watch: Aidan releases music video for 'Ritmu'|date=8 March 2022|website=Malta Daily|access-date=15 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915202147/https://maltadaily.mt/watch-aidan-releases-music-video-for-ritmu/|archive-date=15 September 2024|url-status=live}} The video was produced by Joseph Cauchi, directed by Gary Bugeja and shot by Victor Abela. Additionally, the choreography was done by Cheryl Lofreda and the styling by Malcolm Gauci.

Charts

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Chart performance for "Ritmu" ! scope="col"\| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
scope="row" \|Malta Domestic Airplay (BMAT PRS){{Cite web\|date=2022-03-06\|title=PRS Malta on Facebook: The PRS for music Malta BMAT Airplay Chart\|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=4218850201550999&set=a.219387561497303\|accessdate=15 September 2024\|website=Facebook}} \| 1

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ Chart performance for "Ritmu"

! scope="col"| Chart (2022)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row" |Malta Domestic Airplay (BMAT PRS){{Cite web|date=2022-03-06|title=PRS Malta on Facebook: The PRS for music Malta BMAT Airplay Chart|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=4218850201550999&set=a.219387561497303|accessdate=15 September 2024|website=Facebook}}

| 1