Mall (song)

"Mall"
Single by Eugent Bushpepa
Released 16 March 2018
Format
Genre
Length
  • 4:34 (master recording)
  • 3:00 (Eurovision version)
Label Universal Music
Songwriter(s) Eugent Bushpepa
Producer(s)
  • Jim Lowe
  • Eugent Bushpepa
Eugent Bushpepa singles chronology
"Pranë Finishit"
(2015)		 "Mall"
(2018)

"Pranë Finishit"
(2015)		 "Mall"
(2018)
Music video
Mall on YouTube
Albania "Mall"
Eurovision Song Contest 2018 entry
Country
Artist(s)
Language
Composer(s)
Eugent Bushpepa
Lyricist(s)
Eugent Bushpepa
Finals performance
Semi-final result
8th
Semi-final points
162
Final result
11th
Final points
184
Appearance chronology
◄ "World" (2017)   

"Mall" (English: "Yearning") is a song written and performed by Albanian singer-songwriter Eugent Bushpepa. The song won the 56th edition of the Festivali i Këngës, which is the longest-running annual televised music competition in Albania (since 1962) and the third-oldest in Europe after Sanremo Music Festival and the Eurovision Song Contest. Following its victory, the song was chosen to represent Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018,[1] thus becoming the fifteenth Albanian entry since the country's debut in 2004.[2]

Bushpepa is the sole author of "Mall", which was reworked for Eurovision by Jim Lowe, a British record producer and audio engineer, and released worldwide by Universal Music Group on 6 April 2018.

Background and composition

Background

Written, composed, orchestrated and arranged by Bushpepa himself, "Mall" was originally intended for his studio album but it has been taken to participate at the Festivali i Këngës 56 and won the competition. Bushpepa wrote the lyrics and penned the song based on his own saudade perspective while on tour. Reportedly, his better half was the central narrative.

Composition

"Mall" is a classical rock song merged with folk rock arrangements composed in 7
4 time and performed in the key of B major with a tempo of 126 beats per minute. The master recording is longer and contains dynamic/elongated vocals that were modalized and shortened in the Eurovision version due to the contest's performative requirements. The final version was reworked in Brussels by Bushpepa and Jim Lowe, a Grammy Award-winning producer and audio engineer who worked with Led Zeppelin, Iggy Pop, Nick Cave, Paul Weller, and Foo Fighters among others,[3] but certain dynamic variations such as demanding tessitura over the particular melodic contour, were highlighted during the live performance. The composition is sung in Albanian language.

Release

The first version of "Mall" was performed live on 21 December 2017, in the first-semi final of the Festivali i Këngës.[4] Following its victory on 24 December 2017, the original recording was premiered via EBU in Australia and Europe. The reworked Eurovision version accompanied by a promo video featuring the performance footage of Eugent and his band at the music rehearsal space, was pre-released on 16 March 2018,[5] whereas the conceptualized music video was released on 26 March 2018.[6] However, BBC One and SBS Australia, featured only the advance version in their Eurovision-related shows.[7][8]

Single release

The single version was released digitally worldwide on 6 April 2018, through Universal Music and was made available for download and streaming on iTunes, Apple Store, Google Play, Spotify, Tidal and Deezer.[9][10] The physical edition was released on April 17, 2018, as a promo-only CD and DVD within the European Broadcasting Area.[11]

Track listing and formats

Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."Mall" (Eurovision version)3:00
2."Mall" (karaoke version)3:00
EU promo CD
No.TitleLength
1."Mall" (Live at "Festivali i Këngës 56")4:34
2."Mall" (Eurovision version)3:00
3."Mall" (karaoke version)3:00
4."Mall" (instrumental version)3:00
EU promo DVD
No.TitleLength
1."Mall" (official music video)3:00
2."Mall" (Live at "Festivali i Këngës 56")4:34
3."DVD extras" 

Music video

The music video for "Mall" was directed by Ajola Xoxa while the production was handled by Anima Pictures. The video was shot in black and white (monochrome) and the script incorporates elements of love at first sight with dual interpretation of the song's lyrical content aiming at a couple longing to pursuit their amorous fusion whilst being hindered by distance and other factors. Eugent's brief cameo is intercut ten times, and as the video progresses, it features Albanian folk elements showcasing ballet dancers wearing xhubleta and traditional Albanian fustanella (that were also worn by the Albanian Royal Guard) while performing frantic choreography over a bentonite (clay dust) covered floor. Towards the video ending, the embracing couple drifts aloft on the air, the crowd stands in awe, and the singer concludes by clapping his hands in glee.

Eurovision Song Contest

"Mall" was performed by Bushpepa as Albania's representation in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. The song was first drawn to compete at the first semi-final of the contest, in which it was performed third in a field of nineteen songs, and achieved eighth place. It qualified for the final, being among the top ten most-voted songs[12] based on a combination of eleventh placing from televoting and third from jury. In the final the song was performed twelfth in a field of 26 and achieved eleventh place based on eighteenth placing from televoting and seventh from jury. "Mall" has been called a fan favourite.[13][14][15][16]

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Various[17] 6 April 2018 Digital download Universal Music

References

  1. ↑ Jordan, Paul (23 December 2017). "Eugent Bushpepa to represent Albania at Eurovision 2018!". eurovision.tv.
  2. ↑ "Meet the acts competing in the Eurovision Song Contest 2018". RadioTimes.
  3. ↑ "About Jim Lowe – The Grammy-Award winning engineer, mixer and producer".
  4. ↑ "Eugent Bushpepa to Perform "Mall"". The Irish Sun. 2 February 2018.
  5. ↑ "Eugent Bushpepa – Mall – Albania – Official Music Video – Eurovision 2018". 16 March 2018.
  6. ↑ "Eugent Bushpepa – Mall – Albania – Official Music Video – Eurovision 2018". 26 March 2018.
  7. ↑ "SBS Australia: Eugent Bushpepa to Perform "Mall"". SBS.com.au. 2 April 2018.
  8. ↑ "BBC One: Eugent Bushpepa to Perform "Mall"". BBC.co.uk. 4 April 2018.
  9. ↑ ""Mall"Available for Download and Streaming". 6 April 2018.
  10. ↑ ""Mall" on iTunes and Apple Music". iTunes.apple.com. 6 April 2018.
  11. ↑ "Eugent Bushpepa – Mall – EU CD/DVD Promo Single". 17 April 2018.
  12. ↑ "First Semi-Final: 10 Acts Qualify For Eurovision 2018 Grand Final". The Official Website of the Eurovision Song Contest – Eurovision.tv. May 8, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Poll results: Albania's Eugent Bushpepa is your favourite Eurovision 2018 act so far".
  14. ↑ "Poll results: Albania's Eugent Bushpepa is Your Favourite Rock Act of 2018".
  15. ↑ "Poll results: Eugent Bushpepa is your Favourite Male Solo Artist of 2018".
  16. ↑ "Poll results: Equinox, Eugent Bushpepa and Amaia y Alfred are your favourite acts from the Eurovision 2018 pre-party season".
  17. ↑ ""Mall" Digital Release on iTunes and Apple Music". iTunes.apple.com. 6 April 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.