Karma is a song by Marina Diamandis, released under her current stage name 'MARINA'. Appearing on her fourth studio album, LOVE + FEAR, it is the 12th track on the album and was released as a promotional single on Spotify. An acoustic version was released on LOVE + FEAR (Acoustic).
The song was written by Marina, Jack Patterson, all three members of Captain Cuts, and produced by Patterson and Mark Ralph.
Karma is a 'FEAR' track.
Background[]
In early 2017, Karma and You's original versions were written and recorded in L.A, before she decided to take a break from music.
The metadata of the original "90s demo" version reveals the song was exported on December 5, 2017.[1]
The Captain Cuts version was exported July 24, 2018.[2]
Meaning[]
The song is about the systematic misogyny and sexual abuse employed by powerful figures in the media,[3] Marina said about the song:[4]
❝ We had written this on the back of a discussion we were having about music industry individuals that were falling from grace. Since that point, there’s really been an explosion of cases and experiences that followed the Harvey Weinstein situation. I didn’t really think about that in relation to the song for a while, but then when we were reproducing it, it felt so strange. It was interesting going back to the songs, actually. The original production on 'Karma' sounded like *NSYNC. It was actually really sick. But, alas, it didn’t suit the record! ❞
Project Karma[]
On June 9, 2019, a fanmade campaign called #ProjectKarma, created by Marina Philippines and supported by 20 other accounts was launched:[5]
❝ This project is mainly inspired by #ProjectNoControl, conducted by the fans of One Direction, which aimed to turn the band's song "No Control" into a single and promote it on social media as if it were an official single. This is important because a single gets most of the exposure especially in radio stations. Because of the unified participation of their fanbase, this was a successful project.
#ProjectKarma has the same objectives: to promote and turn "Karma" into a single and to have it played by radio stations all over the world by mass-requesting "Karma" as a fandom. With all the streaming, promoting, and requesting, this would all then translate to a form of demand, which could attract music promoters to invite MARINA to perform to countries she hasn't toured in, like Australia and other European countries, as explained by Jess Keeley, MARINA’s manager. If this event is a success, then the outcome would be: MORE tour dates, INCREASED awareness of Marina and her new album, and INCREASED radio play of MARINA worldwide. When these happen, it could have a domino-effect and could improve her charts performance.
With all the toxicity surrounding this new era especially on stan Twitter that led to MARINA handing her Twitter account over to her team, making this project a success could also be our way of apologizing to MARINA. Project No Control was only successful because of the unity and dedication of 1D fans worldwide, so the participation of ALL diamonds is what we need to make this a success. ❞
The project took place from the 20th to the 29th, and included calling radio stations,[6] creating fan art,[7] and buying and streaming the songs on multiple platforms.[8][9]
On August 29, Marina released the song as a promotional single on Spotify.
On September 3, she performed the song live on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. On the 13th, an acoustic version was released on LOVE + FEAR's acoustic EP, with a music video premiering on the 25th.
Trivia[]
- Camila Cabello's song Liar has been noted to share similarities with Karma,[10] however Liar samples (and credits) Ace of Base' song "All That She Wants", [11] whilst Karma does not.
Videos[]
| Video | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Title | Karma (Acoustic) | |
| Premiere | 25 Sept 2019 | |
| Length | 3:50 | |
| Director | Nikko La Mere | |
| Production company | AJR FILMS | |
| Executive producer | Derec Dunn | |
| Editor | Katia Spivakova | |
_BTS_001.jpg "Karma (Acoustic) BTS 001.jpg (41 KB)")
_BTS_002.png "Karma (Acoustic) BTS 002.png (385 KB)")
_BTS_003.png "Karma (Acoustic) BTS 003.png (363 KB)")
_BTS_004.jpg "Karma (Acoustic) BTS 004.jpg (49 KB)")
_BTS_005.gif "Karma (Acoustic) BTS 005.gif (4.76 MB)")
_BTS_006.gif "Karma (Acoustic) BTS 006.gif (702 KB)")
| Video | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Title | Karma on Jimmy Kimmel Live | |
| Premiere | 04 Sept 2019 | |
| Length | 3:44 | |
| Location | El Capitan Entertainment Center, Los Angeles | |
| Filmed | 04 Sept 2019 | |
| Production company | ABC Studios | |
Behind the Scenes
_BTS_001.jpg "Karma (Jimmy Kimmel) BTS 001.jpg (175 KB)")
_BTS_002.jpg "Karma (Jimmy Kimmel) BTS 002.jpg (191 KB)")
Official Versions[]
| Version | Released on | Date | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▶ | Album/Single [Stems] [Inst.]
|
LOVE + FEAR | Single: 29 Aug 2019 | 3:24 |
| Acoustic/Live | ||||
| Acoustic | LOVE + FEAR (Acoustic) | 13 Sept 2019 | 3:48 | |
| Demos | ||||
| [12] | 2017 ("90s/NYSYNC", prod. Captain Cuts) | N/A - Demo | Leaked: 18 Oct 2019 | 2:59 |
| [13] | Piano Rework 1 (Home Demo) | N/A - Demo | Leaked: 11 Jul 2020 | 1:54 |
| [14] | Piano Rework 2 (Prod. Tim Anderson) | N/A - Demo | Leaked: 16 Mar 2021 | 2:43 |
| [15] | 2018 [Stems] (Prod. Captain Cuts)
|
N/A - Demo | Leaked: 14 Mar 2021 | 3:28 |
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1]
Heartbreaker, real faker
Getting off on bad behaviour
I know you inside and out, out, out
You're losing your temper
Do you think they won't remember?
You're only sorry when you're coming down, down, down
[Pre-Chorus]
Real hearts don't lie
Take it from me (I know)
You'll see in time
Take it from me
[Chorus]
It's funny how it all goes down
Don't be sorry when it comes around
I'm like, "Oh my God, I think it's karma"
Ain't it funny how it all adds up?
When you're always trying to push your luck
I'm like, "Oh my God, I think it's karma"
Oh my God, I
Oh my God, I think it's karma
[Verse 2]
It starts with one snowball
Then you watch the dominos fall
You carried on and on without a doubt, doubt, doubt
So vicious, this cycle
When you live in sweet denial
But you'll be sorry when you're coming down, down, down
[Pre-Chorus]
Real hearts don't lie
Take it from me (I know)
You'll see in time
Take it from me
[Chorus]
It's funny how it all goes down
Don't be sorry when it comes around
I'm like, "Oh my God, I think it's karma"
Ain't it funny how it all adds up?
When you're always trying to push your luck
I'm like, "Oh my God, I think it's karma"
[Post-Chorus]
Oh my God, I think it's karma
Oh my God, I think it's karma
[Bridge]
And when your world comes crashing down
(It won't save you)
All of the money in this town
(It won't save you)
Won't save your reputation now
It won't save you
[Pre-Chorus]
Real hearts don't lie
Take it from me (I know)
You'll see in time
Take it from me
[Chorus]
It's funny how it all goes down
Don't be sorry when it comes around
I'm like, "Oh my God, I think it's karma"
Ain't it funny how it all adds up?
When you're always trying to push your luck
I'm like, "Oh my God, I think it's karma"
[Outro]
Oh my God, I think it's karma
Oh my God, I think it's karma
Oh my God, I think it's karma
Credits[]
Personnel[]
- Vocals - Marina Diamandis
- Ukelele, mandolin, guitar - Mark Ralph
Technical[]
- Writers - Marina Diamandis, Jack Patterson, Captain Cuts
- Producers, mixing engineers - Jack Patterson, Mark Ralph
- Mixing engineer assistants - Tom AD Fuller, Ross Fortune
- Mastering engineer - Dave Kutch
References[]
- ↑ Run this file through https://exif.tools/
- ↑ Run this file through https://exif.tools/
- ↑ http://press.atlanticrecords.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Marina-Love-Fear-Bio-2019.docx
- ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/love-fear/1451645560
- ↑ https://twitter.com/matd_ph/status/1137752481973252096
- ↑ https://twitter.com/matd_ph/status/1141039656642813952
- ↑ https://www.tumblr.com/projeckarma/185630357955/lets-show-off-our-creativity-ladies-and-gays?source=share
- ↑ https://www.tumblr.com/projeckarma/185653373165/spotify-put-karma-on-repeat-leave-it-connected?source=share
- ↑ https://www.tumblr.com/projeckarma/185899870125/projectkarma-streaming-party?source=share
- ↑ https://www.popbuzz.com/music/artists/camila-cabello/news/marina-karma-liar-cry-for-me-romance-snl/
- ↑ https://www.whosampled.com/sample/674728/Camila-Cabello-Liar-Ace-of-Base-All-That-She-Wants/
- ↑ https://dbree.org/v/e6b322
- ↑ https://dbree.org/v/15f090
- ↑ https://dbree.org/v/502871
- ↑ https://dbree.org/v/fcc377
 | |
|---|---|
| Tour ♢ Merch ♢ Photography ♢ Collaborators | |
| Discography | |
| Releases | LOVE + FEAR ♢ LOVE + FEAR (Acoustic) |
| Tracklist | Handmade Heaven ♢ Superstar ♢ Orange Trees ♢ Baby ♢ Enjoy Your Life ♢ True ♢ To Be Human ♢ End of the Earth ♢ Believe in Love ♢ Life Is Strange ♢ You ♢ Karma ♢ Emotional Machine ♢ Too Afraid ♢ No More Suckers ♢ Soft to Be Strong |
| Non-Album | |
| Pre-Break | Holiday ♢ Absent Love ♢ Cause I'm A Woman ♢ Cruel ♢ Doubt Your Love ♢ Worth It ♢ The Art of Letting Go ♢ There's Nothing Wrong With You |
| Post-Break | If It's Worth It ♢ Demons and Angels ♢ Please Don't Call Me ♢ Water Under the Bridge ♢ What I Wanna Do |
| Unleaked | Beautiful World ♢ Unknown Song ♢ Unknown Song (w/ Lizzo and James Flannigan) |
| Misc | If I Left The World ♢ About Love ♢ Etsi Einai I Zoi ♢ Only Want You ♢ With a Little Help from My Friends |
| Other Eras | |
| Mermaid vs. Sailor • The Family Jewels • Electra Heart • FROOT • LOVE + FEAR • Ancient Dreams • Sixth Studio Album (Upcoming) | |