Yonatan Margi at a zoom press conference on the occasion of the release of an international EP (mini album), February 2024/Walla system
Jonathan Margi this morning releases the ballad "Cry", the first single from a second EP (mini-album) in English, which will be called "Shadows of Blue".
The song will be released by Universal Music under Haim Saban's label, and will include five songs.
The new song incorporates a melody from the hit "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" by Elton John.
The song was written and composed by Margie in collaboration with Brandin Burnett and Dor Daniel, and the singer also signed it as a musical producer alongside Itay Harubi and Yonatan Linev.
It is accompanied by a music video directed by Damian Blue.
Just before the launch of the new international single, a Zoom press conference was held yesterday (Tuesday) with Margi while he was at Haim Saban's label studio in Los Angeles (watch a clip from the press conference - above, and listen to the new song - below).
"This year was like a tornado of experiences and emotions," Margi said at the beginning of the press conference.
"Everything happened. Of course, first of all, the situation of all of us as a nation. It took up a large part of this year because all of life changed 180 degrees. Also on a personal level, many things happened to me and changed - Neely, my little sister was born, a breakup, a new relationship, LA , Israel, longing for family and friends. Lots of creations and experiences also in music that I haven't had the chance to create until now."
That EP was supposed to come out in November and "Cry" wasn't supposed to be the first song to come off of it.
"Then October 7 came and all life changed," Margi explained.
"I will not forget the first weeks. There was a real shock in the full sense of the word. There was no desire to do anything and it was impossible to think of anything except to have one's hand on the pulse. There was uncertainty. We realized that things had to be different in music. I was lucky to have I have Haim Saban, who is connected to the situation in his veins. We contacted Universal Music and demanded that the release date be postponed."
About the song "Cry" he said: "I felt it was the right song for me to release now. Also because of the process that this song has taken me through in the last few months and a lot because of the subject it talks about and its meaning. This song was written about vulnerability, about the ability to be vulnerable with the people you love, And actually create the comfortable environment for them to be vulnerable with you. He talks about crying, and in general about living a life without limits and inhibitions and being able to share what you feel and being able to vent to people you are closest to. It's a song about my family and friends in the end."
Jonathan Margie/Dennis Leupold
Regarding the inclusion of the exciting piece of melody from Elton Joe's classic, Margie said: "We are working hand in hand on the project with Haim Saban. I remember one of the times when I came to his house for a meeting, we heard music and listened to the song 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' by Elton John. He had a beautiful and moving story about his history with this song and the record company in France and where he met this song. An idea came up to use this tune for my international song. I've never done anything like this before and it really turned me on. Music is like the smell of food that reminds Go your mother. Can you remember a very specific situation that happened to you when you heard the song for the first time. Millions of people in the world have the same thing with this song. The next day I had my first session with Dor Daniel, who lives here in LA, and I immediately came up with the idea this to the table, even before we knew if we could use the song. Later, I will not forget this day when I woke up to an email in which Elton John himself confirms, writes that he heard the song, and what a simple and beautiful song and what a charming singer. It was a huge joy and great excitement." .
In response to a question with the use of Elton's tune costing a lot of money, Margie said: "Elton gave his blessing. Usually not only do they ask for a lot of money but also a percentage within the song. Elton John took a very low percentage. He really believed in it. He just loved That, in a real way. That's another reason we were so excited. It's fucking Elton John."
This is a very challenging time for Israeli pop stars.
After the light and bouncy genre has been in a huge boom in recent years, since the outbreak of the Gaza war, happy pop songs are rarely played on the radio.
As we published in Vala!
Culture, in the first hundred days of the war and compared to the hundred days until the outbreak of the war, there was a dramatic drop in the number of pop stars.
For example, the playbacks of Anna Zak's songs crashed by 93%, and the playbacks of Margie's songs dropped by 75% on all radio stations.
Whereas on the global front, Margi faces the challenge of trying to break through abroad again, at a time when many in the world hate Israel.
Are you afraid to release songs in the world at this time in light of the attitude towards Israel?
"You touched on a point that my team and I think about a lot," says Margi in response to Voila! Culture. "If it was hard until now, then now it's even harder.
Look, in the end I will continue to do what I do best - tell my story and release the music.
I believe that I will be able to touch as many people as possible with my music, and I believe that the music will win in the end.
Even if people have opinions, I believe that in the end music also has the ability to connect.
If there are people who are extremists then I don't want them as my audience either.
You're right, it's really something I think about a lot and maybe brings a lot of concerns, but I try as much as possible to silence the concerns, to be proud of who I am and where I come from and run with all my might up, ALL MY WAY UP, so-called."
More in Walla!
Israeli Tali Golargant will represent Luxembourg at Eurovision: "Just today my brother left Gaza"
To the full article
Margie/Reuben Castro
In response to the question, voila!
Tarbut about an exciting moment that happened to him during the war, he said: "Here in Los Angeles there are constantly pro-Israeli events with people from the American industry that we tell them about the situation. At one of these events, I met the lovely girl Ella Shani, whose father was murdered on the 7 in October and her cousin, Amit Shani, was kidnapped and thank God he returned. My connection with her that day was one of the most moving moments for me. She speaks for half an hour with all the Americans in English. She speaks without any inhibitions. And that's not what she said nor the horrible stories she told - but the way she told. She magnetized everyone, and was simply an indescribable star. I think no one can imagine the things she experienced. There was a very moving moment after that, we had such a lasting hug. She fell apart on me like that. It was We have a very close connection and have stayed in touch ever since."
Earlier this month, Margie walked the red carpet at a Spotify event ahead of Grammy week in Los Angeles.
In the photos distributed on social networks, surfers noticed the absence of the yellow kidnapper's pin - and this caused an uproar.
"I understood the storm. Personally, I deeply regretted it. I was at many events this week, in all of them of course I wore the pin. Beyond the pin, the situation in general and talking to people is part of our everyday life here. The feeling is that if you don't talk to people and make them understand where You're standing there and what's going on, you can't really connect with anyone. You have to let them understand the situation and know that they're with you. Today we're in a world of algorithms. A lot of the people I talk to here, I suddenly realize that their Instagram doesn't even reveal to them the situation or the things that happened on October 7. Talks about the situation are ongoing."
More in Walla!
100 days to the war: a sharp decrease in the amount of playbacks of Noa Kirel and Anna Zak, an increase for all Israeli music
To the full article
Margie and Anna Zak/Photo Processing, Instagram |
Screenshot
Uri Lazerovich and Liat Har Lev imitate Yonatan Margi and Anna Zak in "Amazing Land", December 2023/from "Amazing Land", courtesy of Keshet
In the new song, in the section of the melody from Elton John's song, Margie combined recordings of the accompanying voices of his family members - his mother the singer Mittal Trevalsi, his father, his brother, his little sister and also some of his friends.
In the meantime, I asked Margie what the chances are of his duet with his mother and/or his cover of the hit "Ho Rav Hovel".
"My mother is the most amazing singer I know. Never Say Never," he said.
You are distributing your new songs on Universal Music, and you will have to deal with the fact that the company is currently not uploading content to Tiktok.
It will be an unfamiliar experience for you, as one of the most successful Israeli stars on TikTok.
"Listen, everything I do here has a bit of a strange feeling because I end up coming from Israel with my career in Israel, and here it's like going from a hundred to zero, because here I'm a beginner singer gathering his audience. Yes, I'm already experiencing the thing with Universal and Tiktok. I'm finally part of a list of other big artists. Being on the same list with Taylor Swift and Drake is no shame. Finally I find that there is some creativity in social because my sound is not available on TikTok but I can still be there as a performer and upload other things. I will continue to spread my music As much as I can. It's really challenging but I won't let it stop me. It'll be fine," he said in response to a question from Walla!
culture.
Of course, his new relationship with Anna Zeke came up during the press conference.
We reminded him that last December "Wonderful Land" imitated him and Anna Zeke and laughed about the fact that their relationship is apparently for PR needs, including the joke "We are the best in public relations"
. What will be done to you in "a wonderful country".
"You don't have to exaggerate.
I was not offended.
I really wasn't offended.
I think 'Wonderland' are great.
I watch them a lot.
They are just geniuses.
As for my imitation, those who know me and Anna know that the narrative they chose was purely due to lack of familiarity with us.
Anyone who knows me and her knows that the last thing we deal with is PR. We don't deal with it. It's not part of our lives. We really choose the people around us based on who is the best person and who gives us the most good energy. I understand that it's all in humor , I don't take it to heart at all."
Margie was also asked at the press conference how he and Anna Zeke manage their relationship when he is in LA and she is in Israel.
"The distance is really hard. There's nothing to do. That's the truth. It's not easy at all," replied Margi.
"In the end, no matter how feisty it is, you want to feel and be physical, and sit next to the person you love in many situations. So it's very difficult, but I must say it was more difficult with the wrong person, and I'm lucky to have her and we have The relationship we have, because we really talk about things. We don't let it fall through the cracks. We talk about it openly. If we miss, we say we miss, and if we want to plan the times that we will somehow meet in the middle, we plan it And thinking about it. In the meantime, our perspective on the distance is very positive. We see many advantages in it. Along with the disadvantages of course. It's difficult - but it will be fine. I trust us."
More on the same topic:
Jonathan Margie
Anna Zak
Noa Kirel
Gaza war
War of Iron Swords
tiktok
Wonderful Country