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Karma (JoJo Siwa song)

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"Karma"
A fuzzy, red-toned image is illuminated by a vertical column of light cast on JoJo Siwa's bejeweled left eye.
Single by JoJo Siwa
from the EP Guilty Pleasure
ReleasedApril 5, 2024 (2024-04-05)
Recorded2024
Genre
Length3:07
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
JoJo Siwa singles chronology
"Nonstop"
(2020) 		"Karma"
(2024) 		"Guilty Pleasure"
(2024)
Music video
"Karma" on YouTube

"Karma" is a song by American singer and media personality JoJo Siwa for her fourth extended play, Guilty Pleasure (2024). It was released through Columbia Records on April 5, 2024, as the lead single from the EP. Siwa teased the song and its music video on social media prior to its release, saying she wanted to rebrand herself after performing for eleven years with a child-friendly image.[1]

Background

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"Karma" is a cover version of "Karma's a Bitch", which was recorded by Brit Smith in 2012 but never released. Following the release of "Karma", Smith's song was released as a single after gaining traction online.

Musically, the song is an upbeat dance-pop[2] and EDM track.[3] The lyrics speak of a woman's regret of being caught being unfaithful to a romantic partner, seeing it as karma when they move on from her to someone new.[4][5]

Reception

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"Karma" was panned by music critics, criticizing the song and Siwa's reinvention of her brand and aesthetic.[3] Ivan Guzman, writing for Paper, called the song "raucous" and "early 2010s-esque", while drag queen Aquaria compared the song to "early-2010s Jeffree Star".[3] For Exclaim!, Sydney Brasil labelled the song as "poorly produced" with "no real hook" and wrote that Siwa did not seem fully committed to her "new ['bad girl'] persona".[6] Jason P. Frank of Vulture wrote that "Karma" had "a thumping, uninspired beat" and "faux-edgy lyrics [...] performed with all the conviction of the elementary-age students who used to be her fans".[5] Variety included "Karma" in their Worst Songs of 2024 list, with Steven J. Horowitz describing it as "tepid, 2011-sounding" and Siwa as "unconvincing in her good-girl-gone-bad overhaul, with a hook and aesthetic that evoke the lifeless thump of a Chuck E. Cheese jingle."[7]

Harsh social media criticism of the song "Karma" has been attributed to the online disinhibition effect by Katie Camero writing for USA Today.[8]

Plagiarism allegation

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Following the release of Siwa's song on April 5, the music video for Smith's "Karma's a Bitch", uploaded to Vimeo in 2013, went viral on social media. It gained enough media attention to prompt Smith to release the song as a single.[9] When asked about Brit Smith's version after receiving criticism online over "stealing" the song, Siwa stated that she "didn't steal anything" as "people write songs and [....] don't do anything with them", making sense for another artist "a few years later". She also said that she "[doesn't] know who Brit Smith is".[10][11] Smith expressed her amazement at her version going viral, stating she was shocked that her song has now "got a new life, which is amazing".[10] Smith later defended Siwa on her TikTok account, stating that Siwa "did not steal" the song, and "was totally in the right" in regards to recording her version, adding that Siwa had "done nothing wrong".[12]

Music video

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The music video for "Karma", filmed in March 2024, was directed by Siwa and Marc Klasfeld, with choreography by Richy Jackson.[13][14] Siwa pitched the concept and choreography for the music video a year before its release. It stars Alexis Warr, the winner of So You Think You Can Dance's 17th season, on which Siwa was a judge. The music video contains lesbian themes throughout,[15] and the video depicts a love triangle between Siwa and two other women (one portrayed by Warr). JoJo wore a two-part white outfit with boots during the yacht scenes, an unspecifed outfit while barefoot during the underwater scenes, and an outfit that has been compared to those of KISS during the deserted island scenes with Warr also in similar outfits. Upon returning to the yacht in reverse, JoJo sticks with a relationship with Warr's character.[4] Hannah Dailey of Billboard called the video "truly wild" and wrote that it "marks an extreme departure from [her] kid-friendly persona".[2]

As of May 30, 2024, the video has amassed over 40 million views on YouTube.[16] On July 18, Siwa uploaded a video about the most disliked music video as of 2024, with her music video ranking as first with 3.1 million dislikes. [17][18]

Charts

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Chart performance for "Karma"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[19] 100
Ireland (IRMA)[20] 93
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[21] 24
UK Singles (OCC)[22] 76
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)[23] 22
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[24] 5

References

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  1. ^ Delgado, Sara (March 12, 2024). "JoJo Siwa's First 'Not Made for Children' Single Is Called 'Karma'". Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Dailey, Hannah (April 5, 2024). "JoJo Siwa Unleashes 'Bad Girl' Rocker Persona in Wild Yacht Party 'Karma' Video: Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Guzman, Ivan (April 5, 2024). "JoJo Siwa Is Here To Make History". Paper. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Wratten, Marcus (April 5, 2024). "JoJo Siwa's raunchy lesbian 'Karma' music video sets internet alight". PinkNews. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Frank, Jason P.; Alter, Rebecca (April 5, 2024). "Is JoJo Siwa's 'Karma' a Flop or a Flop?". Vulture. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  6. ^ Brasil, Sydney (April 5, 2024). "Karma Is Not JoJo Siwa's Girlfriend". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  7. ^ Willman, Chris; Garcia, Thania; Horowitz, Steven J. (2024-12-23). "The Worst Songs of 2024". Variety. Retrieved 2024-12-24.
  8. ^ Camero, Katie. "The internet is attacking JoJo Siwa — again. Here's why we love to hate". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
  9. ^ "Brit Smith's Original Unreleased Version Of JoJo Siwa's "Karma" Climbs The Genius Charts". Genius. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  10. ^ a b "OMG! Brit Smith officially releases Karma's A B*tch on streaming after the JoJo Siwa drama". The Tab. 2024-04-15. Archived from the original on April 15, 2024. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  11. ^ Murray, Conor (April 15, 2024). "Artist Who Recorded JoJo Siwa's 'Karma' A Decade Ago Goes Viral—And Outcharts Siwa On iTunes". Forbes. Archived from the original on April 16, 2024.
  12. ^ "Brit Smith has finally posted a video fully addressing the JoJo Siwa song 'theft' situation". The Tab. 2024-04-22. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
  13. ^ Paul, Larisha (April 5, 2024). "JoJo Siwa Is All Grown Up on New Single 'Karma'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  14. ^ Fern, Matthew (April 4, 2024). "Richy Jackson Elevates JoJo Siwa's Artistic Vision in 'Karma' Music Video" (Press release). Los Angeles: WAVY-TV. EIN Presswire. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  15. ^ Kile, Meredith B. (April 4, 2024). "JoJo Siwa Talks Viral Single 'Karma' and Navigating Her New Era". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  16. ^ "JOJO SIWA". SoundExchange. May 30, 2024. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  17. ^ Siwa, Jojo (2024-07-18). WHAT A DAY TO CELEBRATE. KARMA BROKE A RECORD. 900% MORE THAN 2ND PLACE. A WIN IS A WIN🏆❤️‍🔥 (Video). [...] Karma by Jojo Siwa ... with ... a record breaking 3.1 million dislikes [...]
  18. ^ "JoJo Siwa tops list of most disliked female music video on YouTube". ECR. Archived from the original on 2024-07-23. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  19. ^ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100: Week of April 20, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  20. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  21. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 15, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  22. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  23. ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100: Week of April 20, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  24. ^ "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs: Week of April 20, 2024". Billboard. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
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