Verde împărat
The song was met with positive reviews from music critics, who thought that it expanded her artistry and praised her vocal performance. An accompanying music video for the track was shot by Alex Ceauşu in early October 2017, and uploaded onto Cat Music's official YouTube channel simultaneously with the single's release. The clip received similar acclaim for its showcase of nature and wilderness. It portrays the singer in a forest, wearing multiple nature-inspired outfits. For further promotion, Delia performed "Verde împărat" for Romanian radio station Radio ZU and during her 2017 concert tour Psihedelia at Sala Palatului.
Background and composition
The song was penned by Delia, while production was handled by her along with Alex Cotoi. In an interview, she stated that a number of her material was written as therapy, including "Verde împărat" and her 2016 single "Cine m-a făcut om mare" ("Who Made Me Big"). It was premiered by Delia in March 2017 during a stripped-down performance for Romanian radio station Radio ZU, where she played the flute and piano. She also sang "Verde împărat" during her three–day concert tour Psihedelia at Sala Palatului in Bucharest, Romania, on a piano covered with moss followed by its digital release on 23 October 2017 by Cat Music.
"Verde împărat" is a Romanian language liquid dubstep and chillout song, acting as a departure from the singer's past pop and dance material. Its "smooth and slow" instrumentation consists of "endearing" flute accords, bass, "discreet" percussion and "archaic" sounds. Lyrically, "Verde împărat" deals with Delia's relationship with her love interest, which she compares to a "green emperor", along with various nature references.
Critical reception
"Verde împărat" received universal acclaim from music critics. Alex Stănescu from InfoMusic called the song unique and praised Delia's vocal performance, while Alexandra Cheroiu, writing for Adevărul, positively saw it as different from her past work. In a review of Delia's live performance on Radio ZU, Raluca Chirilă of InfoMusic thought that the track "gives fans the opportunity to see [the singer] in a new hypostasis, musician, and not just pop singer."
Music video
An accompanying music video for "Verde împărat" was shot by Alex Ceauşu in early October 2017 — with whom Delia had collaborated in the past for her visuals for the 2016 and 2017 singles "1234 (Unde dragoste nu e)" ("1234 (Where There Is No Love)") and "Rămâi cu bine" ("Fare You Well") — while post-production was handled by Cristi Smarandoiu and Cristian Bălan. It was uploaded onto Cat Music's official YouTube channel on 23 October 2017. The clip references Romanian fairy tales and features various shots of Delia wearing nature-inspired outfits, a multicolored wig and dressed like the Snow Queen in a "charmed" forest. Make-up, hair and styling were done by Diana Ionescu, Livia Berceanu and Hilke Muslim, respectively.
Critics gave positive reviews of the music video. InfoMusic's Stănescu wrote: "Delia takes us into wild and cruel, pure and green nature in the heart of a magnificent universe [...]." He also called the clip "psychedelic", while associating its approach with Delia's concert tour Psihedelia. Cheroiu, writing for Adevărul, similarly praised the music video: "An atmosphere of fairy tales, a Chameleon Delia, fascinating costumes and makeup [....]," while Bianca Dragomir thought that Delia "has overcome new barriers". An editor of Pro FM associated the singer's appearance with a pink and rainbow hair trend.
Track listing
- Digital download
- "Verde împărat" – 3:35
Release history
Territory | Date | Format(s) | Label |
---|---|---|---|
Worldwide | 23 October 2017 | Digital download | Cat Music |
External links
References
- ^ Stănescu, Alex (24 October 2017). "Videoclip: Delia – Verde împărat" (in Romanian). Info Music. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ Cheroiu, Alexandra (24 October 2017). "Delia a lansat videoclipul piesei "Verde împărat": costume, peisaje şi o atmosferă desprinse din basmele româneşti" [Delia has released the music video for her single "Verde împărat": costumes, landscapes and an atmosphere of Romanian fairy tales]. Adevărul (in Romanian). Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ Mițu, Rodica (12 October 2017). "Delia, mărturisiri: Au ieșit la iveală multe lucruri" [Delia, confessions: Many things came out] (in Romanian). DC News. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ "Delia – Verde împărat (Live la Radio ZU)". YouTube. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ Chirilă, Raluca (3 March 2017). "Delia a interpretat în premieră un fragment din piesa "Verde împărat"" [Delia exclusively sang a portion of her song "Verde împărat"] (in Romanian). InfoMusic. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ Staff (8 March 2017). "Psihedelia – 3 zile de culoare, dans și magie" [Psihedelia – 3 days of color, dancing and magic] (in Romanian). InfoMusic. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
- ^ "Verde împărat – Single by Delia on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ "Delia – Verde împărat (Official Video)". YouTube. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017. Note: Open description for credits.
- ^ "Fanii artistei sunt în extaz: E cea mai tare piesă de până acum? Delia a filmat videoclipul pentru "Verde împărat"" [The singer's fans are in extasy: Is it her best single so far? Delia has filmed the music video for "Verde împărat"] (in Romanian). Antena 1. 9 October 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ Dragomir, Bianca (25 October 2017). "Delia a depăşit noi bariere în ultimul ei videoclip" [Delia has overcome new barriers in her latest music video]. Cosmopolitan Romania (in Romanian). Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ "Cel mai nou trend in materie de culoare a parului! Majoritatea vedetelor l-au adoptat" [The newest hair coloring trend! The majority of the celebrities tried it] (in Romanian). Pro FM. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ Citations regarding the worldwide release of "Verde împărat":
- "Verde împărat – Single by Delia on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- "Verde împărat – Single von Delia auf Apple Music". iTunes Store. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- "Verde împărat – Single de Delia en Apple Music". iTunes Store. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- "Verde împărat – Single by Delia on Apple Music". iTunes Store. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.