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{{Short description|2016 single by Poli Genova}}

factoids

• BNT
• Universal

{edih}| writer = Composers: Borislav Milanov, Sebastian Arman, Joacim Persson, Johnny K. Palmer Lyricists: Borislav Milanov, Sebastian Arman, Joacim Persson, Poli Genova| producer =| prev_title = Щом си с мен| prev_year = 2014| next_title = Sluhove| next_year = 2016| misc =

factoids
embed	yes| year = 2016| country = Bulgaria| artist = Poli Genova| language =

• Borislav Milanov
• Sebastian Arman
• Joachim Persson
• Johnny K. Palmer

}}

• Borislav Milanov
• Sebastian Arman
• Joachim Persson
• Poli Genova

{edih}| conductor =| place = 4th| points = 307| place_semi = 5th| points_semi = 220| prev = Samo shampioni| prev_year = 2013| prev_link = Samo shampioni| next = Beautiful Mess| next_year = 2017| next_link = Beautiful Mess (Kristian song)}}}}"If Love Was a Crime" is a song recorded by Bulgarian recording artist Poli Genova. Written by Borislav Milanov, Sebastian Arman, Joacim Bo Persson, Johnny K. Palmer and Genova, the track represented Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. As a result, it came in fourth place in the final, with it becoming the highest placing in the contest for Bulgaria. An accompanying music video for "If Love Was a Crime" was released on 21 March 2016, followed by the launching of the single on 30 March 2016 through the Bulgarian National Television (BNT) and Universal. Upon its appearance in the contest, the recording charted at number 200 on the UK Singles Chart and peaked within the top eighty in Austria, Belgium, Scotland and Sweden.Despite its success, the song was removed from digital music platforms after its initial distribution deal with Universal expired.TWEET, Pop_Activism, Pop Activism, 983685509540204544, 10 April 2018, Sadly Poli Genova's #Eurovision hit If Love Was A Crime is no longer on Spotify etc as the year long deal to distribute it through Universal expired and was not extended by the rights holder @BNT_1 We'd love @bg_eurovision and @JoanaLevievaSaw to get it back online. Please! >>>, A campaign by the Pop Activism website saw a new deal struck between the rights holders BNT and distributor Universal in April 2018TWEET, Pop_Activism, Pop Activism, 989398564509048842, 25 April 2018, POP ACTIVISM ALERT!!We’ve managed to get Poli Genova’s 2016 #Eurovision hit If Love Was A Crime back on Spotify etc after some kind words with rightsholders @BNT_1 Spread the word!, with the song returning to digital music platforms.

Eurovision Song Contest

On 19 February 2016, BNT announced that the broadcaster's managing board had internally selected Poli Genova to represent Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2016.WEB, Brey, Marco, Bulgaria: Poli Genova returns to Eurovision,weblink eurovision.tv, European Broadcasting Union, 19 February 2016, 19 February 2016, The song "If Love Was a Crime" was also internally selected for Genova and was presented to the public on 21 March 2016 through the release of the official music video via the official Eurovision Song Contest website eurovision.tv.WEB, Вътрешна селекция 2016,weblink bnt.bg, Bulgarian National Television, BNT, 19 February 2016, bg, 18 February 2016, dead,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160225114051weblink">weblink 25 February 2016, WEB, Brey, Marco, Bulgaria: Premiere of "If Love Was A Crime",weblink eurovision.tv, European Broadcasting Union, 21 March 2016, 21 March 2016, Genova performed the song during Eurovision Song Contest 2016 second semi-final on 12 May 2016, held at the Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, and qualified for the final as one of the ten countries which received the highest number of points.WEB, Jordan, Paul, Allocation Draw: The results!,weblink eurovision.tv, European Broadcasting Union, 25 January 2016, 25 January 2016, WEB, 10 more finalists through to the Grand Final,weblink European Broadcasting Union, 8 March 2022, 12 May 2016, In the final, on 14 May 2016, after the results came through, "If Love Was a Crime" finished the contest in 4th place with 307 points.WEB, Grand Final of Stockholm 2016,weblink European Broadcasting Union, 8 March 2022,weblink 8 May 2021, live, It was then Bulgaria's highest scoring entry at Eurovision; it was also the first participation for Bulgaria on the final since 2007.WEB, Countries - Bulgaria,weblink European Broadcasting Union, 8 March 2022,

Track listing

{{Track listingWORK=ITUNESACCESS-DATE=30 MARCH 2016, | title1 = If Love Was a Crime| length1 = 2:59}}

Release history{|classwikitable

! Region! Date! Format! Label| Europe| 30 March 2016Music download>Digital downloadBulgarian National Television>BNT, Universal Music

Chart performance

The track has been streamed over four million times through Spotify.WEB,weblink Eurovision Tracker, Esctracker.com, 3 April 2022, WEB,weblink Eurovision 2016 stars dominate iTunes charts, Eurovision 2016 Predictions, Polls, Odds, Rankings - wiwibloggs, 16 May 2016, Since its release, the official video has been watched almost 15 million times.AV MEDIA,weblink Poli Genova - If Love Was A Crime (Bulgaria) 2016 Eurovision Song Contest, 21 March 2016, YouTube, {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"! scope="col"| Chart (2016)! scope="col"| Peak position{{singlechart|Austria|72|artist=Poli Genova|song=If Love Was a Crime|rowheader=true|access-date=25 May 2016}}{{singlechart|Flanders Tip|32|artist=Poli Genova|song=If Love Was a Crime|rowheader=true|access-date=4 June 2016}}{{singlechart|France|129|artist=Poli Genova|song=If Love Was a Crime|rowheader=true|access-date=21 May 2016}}{{singlechart|Scotland|73|date=2016-05-20|rowheader=true|access-date=20 May 2016}}{{singlechart|Sweden|47|artist=Poli Genova|song=If Love Was a Crime|rowheader=true|access-date=20 May 2016}}{{singlechart|UKdownload|74|artist=Poli Genova|date=2016-05-20|rowheader=true}}! scope="row"| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)WEB,weblink TXT, UK Log UK, Zobbel.de, 3 April 2022, | 200

Other versions

"If Love Was a Crime" has also been performed by Greek singer Demy in Greek under the title "Isovia Mazi" (Ισόβια Μαζί", meaning "Life Ιmprisonment Together").

References

{{Reflist}}{{Bulgaria in the Eurovision Song Contest}}{{Eurovision Song Contest 2016}}{{authority control}}