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Jerusalema

2019 single by Master KG featuring Nomcebo Zikode

Summary

2019 single by Master KG featuring Nomcebo Zikode

FieldValue
nameJerusalema
typesingle
artistMaster KG featuring Nomcebo
albumJerusalema
coverMaster KG Jerusalema.png
languageZulu
* {{start date20191129dfyes}}
* {{start date20200710dfyes}} (radio edit)
recorded2019
producerMaster KG
chronologyMaster KG
prev_titleRemember
prev_year2019
next_titleMy Love
next_year2020
artistNomcebo
typesingle
prev_titleImizamo Yami
prev_year2019
titleJerusalema
year2019
next_titleKobanini
next_year2020
artistBurna Boy
typesingle
prev_titleOwn It (Remix)
prev_year2020
titleJerusalema (Remix)
year2020
next_titleWonderful
next_year2020
headerRemix cover
typesingle
coverMaster KG Jerusalema Remix.png
borderyes
headerMusic videos}}
headerno}}
  • (radio edit)
  • Gospel-house
  • Afro house
  • disco
  • dance
  • 5:42 (album version)
  • 3:08 (radio edit)
  • Elektra France
  • Warner France
  • Open Mic
  • Nomcebo
  • Kgaogelo Moagi

"Jerusalema" is a song by South African DJ and record producer Master KG, featuring South African vocalist Nomcebo; its lyrics are in Zulu, one of the official languages of South Africa. The upbeat gospel-influenced house song was initially released on 29 November 2019 after it garnered positive response online, with a music video following on 21 December. The music video of the song has generated half a billion views on YouTube. It was later included on Master KG's second album of the same title, released in January 2020. A single edit was released on streaming services on 10 July 2020, after it went viral during mid-2020, garnering international reaction due to the #JerusalemaDanceChallenge. A remix featuring Nigerian singer Burna Boy was released on 19 June 2020. It reached number one in Belgium, Netherlands, Romania and Switzerland, while peaking in the top ten of multiple other European countries. A second remix featuring Venezuelan singer Micro TDH and Colombian singer Greeicy was released on 17 September 2020.

At the third ceremony of the African Entertainment Awards USA "Jerusalema" won the Song of the Year award.

Background

The song was recorded on 11 August 2019, and after being posted on social media, it received positive responses from fans. Master KG said he called "his sister Nomcebo to come so we can finish the song". The finished version was then uploaded to YouTube in October and officially released on 29 November. It surpassed one million views in its first week. The official music video was released on 21 December 2019. After it went viral, the song was released to streaming services on 10 July by Elektra France and Warner France. Upon its release, some deemed it a "tavern" song. Master KG stated: "Some call it tavern music, and I said, 'It's okay, wait and let me show what tavern music can do to the world". During late 2019, it had become a favourite in South African clubs. Prior to the COVID-19 lockdown, Master KG had travelled to Portugal to promote his album, and said he put more emphasis on the song's dance during his shows.

Composition

Although it has "religious-leaning" lyrics, "Jerusalema" is an upbeat disco-house track containing "deep", "spiritual", gospel lyrics. Lyrically, as noted by OkayAfrica's Rufaro Samanga, "it speaks about Jerusalem being the home of many religious believers". The remix sees Burna Boy incorporating his signature Afrobeats style, singing part of his verse in Zulu and part in Yoruba while emphasizing the unity of African artists.

Critical reception

The song received largely positive reviews from music critics. Zkhiphanis Mandisa Ntsindee opined that the song "has reached heights no other South African song has ever in the past", calling Nomcebo a "powerhouse vocalist" and said "the South African music scene has been preparing for this exact kind of exposure with a song that is fiercely ours". Music in Africa named it "without [a] doubt" one of the biggest South African house songs of 2020, with the magazine's Ano Shumba stating "Nomcebo has cemented her presence on the local house music scene". Rufaro Samanga of OkayAfrica called the remix "a straight banger".

Royalty dispute

In July 2021 Nomcebo Zikode claimed that she had not received any payment from her record label, Open Mic Production. The label responded that this was the result of an unresolved dispute over the percentage split between Nomcebo and Master KG.

Impact

Master KG's Spotify followers increased to over 1.2 million following the rising popularity of the song. Various covers performed around the world with different instruments and sung in a variety of languages have also been uploaded on YouTube, attracting their own popularity. The song was also picked up by radio stations around the world. Between 26 August 2020 and 23 September 2020, the top three countries with the highest number of radio plays were Italy (with 16586 radio plays), France (with 15440 radio plays), and Germany (with 2411 radio plays). However, it has also had an impact in countries such as Curaçao (235 radio plays), Israel (50 radio plays), and Thailand (47 radio plays).

Dance challenge

An accompanying dance challenge, attributed to a group of Angolan friends performing the choreography in a candid video, helped the song go viral online. The #JerusalemaChallenge, which has been compared to the Macarena, spawned dance videos from across many countries, including the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Italy, Romania, Spain, France, Jamaica, Canada, the United States, Sri Lanka and Israel, in particular in Jerusalem itself. In Germany, workers paid tribute to Berlin’s Tegel Airport by dancing to Jerusalema on the tarmac and in the now-shuttered terminal. The Swiss Federal Office of Police challenged the Irish Garda Síochána to the Jerusalema dance challenge, which they accepted. The video was well received in the two countries with the Swiss police flying the Irish flag at their headquarters for the day.

The challenge faced a major drawback when Warner Music Group began to ask for copyright compensation for using the song.

Music video

The song's official music video was released onto YouTube on 21 December 2019. By 27 August the video had passed 100 million views, half a year later it passed already 300 million views, a rare feat for South African artists.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2020–2021)Peak
positionCanadian Digital Songs (Billboard)Euro Digital Songs (Billboard)Nicaragua (Monitor Latino)Panama (Monitor Latino)Romania (Airplay 100)San Marino (SMRRTV Top 50)South Africa (SAARF)Spain (PROMUSICAE)Suriname (Nationale Top 40)Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)US World Digital Song Sales (Billboard)
9
1
10
17
1
37
1
10
1
3
1

Year-end charts

Chart (2020)PositionAustria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)France (SNEP)Germany (Official German Charts)Hungary (Single Top 40)Italy (FIMI)Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)Netherlands (Single Top 100)Romania (Airplay 100)Spain (PROMUSICAE)Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)
46
11
5
16
49
8
11
12
28
45
74
7
35
Chart (2021)PositionAustria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)France (SNEP)Germany (Official German Charts)Global 200 (Billboard)Hungary (Dance Top 40)Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)Hungary (Single Top 40)Netherlands (Airplay Top 50)Portugal (AFP)Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)
32
55
37
34
184
25
12
3
43
97
17
2
91
Chart (2022)PositionHungary (Dance Top 40)
56

Certifications

References

References

  1. "Jerusalema by Master KG on Apple Music".
  2. "Jerusalema (feat. Nomcebo Zikode) [Edit] - Single by Master KG on Apple Music".
  3. Idowu, Dare Leke. (2021-07-04). "Music and dance diplomacy in the COVID-19 era: Jerusalema and the promotion of South Africa’s soft power". The Round Table.
  4. "Jerusalema (feat. Micro TDH & Greeicy & Nomcebo Zikode) [Remix] - Single de Master KG".
  5. Ilado, Lucy. (22 December 2020). "Africa Entertainment Awards USA 2020: All the winners". Music In Africa.
  6. Legodi, Tlou. (20 July 2020). "Master KG's song Jerusalema is taking the world by storm". [[Radio 702.
  7. Baxter, Jenni. (25 July 2020). "The South African Gospel Song That's Become A Global Hit: Jerusalema by Master KG Jenni BaxterJul 25, 2020". SA People.
  8. Kekana, Chrizelda. (20 July 2020). "Master KG's track continues to make waves globally". [[Times Live]].
  9. Ngcobo, Nokuthula. (18 July 2020). "WATCH: Master KG's Jerusalema is a hit in France and Romania". [[East Coast Radio (South Africa).
  10. Mavuso, Karabo. (29 June 2020). "Master KG's Jerusalem gets 30 million views on YouTube!". [[News24 (website).
  11. (2020-06-19). "Burna Boy Adds Sauce To Master KG And Nomcebo's "Jerusalema" Remix".
  12. Ntsinde, Mandisa. (July 2020). "WATCH: Master KG's Viral Single, "Jerusalema" & Its Spectacular Global Rise". Zkhiphani.
  13. Shumba, Ano. (9 July 2020). "Top SA house songs of 2020". Music in Africa.
  14. Samanga, Rufaro. (19 June 2020). "Listen to Master KG and Nomcebo's 'Jerusalema' Remix Featuring Burna Boy". [[OkayAfrica]].
  15. (11 July 2021). "Nomcebo Zikode: "I have not been paid a cent by the label for Jerusalema"". News24.
  16. Mphande, Joy. (7 October 2021). "'Jerusalema' singer Nomcebo has no 'beef' with Master KG — she just wants her money". TimesLive.
  17. Ngcobo, Nokuthula. (26 July 2020). "WATCH: Nuns and priests dance to 'Jerusalema' by Master KG". [[East Coast Radio (South Africa).
  18. (24 September 2020). "'Jerusalema' the South African gospel song which has the world dancing".
  19. (20 July 2020). "It reminds me of the 'Macarena' - Master KG on 'Jerusalema' going global". [[Times Live]].
  20. (21 July 2020). "SA artist's 'Jerusalema' song takes world by storm". CapeTownEtc.
  21. Jolly, Tamlyn. (25 July 2020). "WATCH: Empangeni takes on Jerusalema dance challenge". Zululand Observer.
  22. (13 August 2020). "#JerusalemaDanceChallenge performed in Jerusalem!".
  23. "Flughafen Berlin TXL Jerusalem Abschied - YouTube".
  24. (29 October 2020). "Verabschieden Vom Flughafen TegelTXL Berlin ab 30/10/2020 - Meine Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen - YouTube".
  25. "'We're all Irish in Switzerland today' - dancing Gardaí win praise for Jerusalema Challenge".
  26. (2021-02-15). "»Jerusalema Challenge« kostet Organisationen nachträglich Geld". Spiegel.
  27. (27 August 2020). "Viral track Jerusalema hits 100 million views on YouTube". News24.
  28. (26 July 2020). "Master KG's 'Jerusalema' reaches over 50m views on YouTube". [[IOL (South Africa).
  29. "Burna Boy Chart History - Canadian Digital Songs".
  30. "Burna Boy Chart History - Euro Digital Songs".
  31. "Top 20 Nicaragua – Del 2 al 8 de Noviembre, 2020". [[Monitor Latino]].
  32. "Top 20 Panamá – Del 5 al 11 de Octubre, 2020". [[Monitor Latino]].
  33. Arvunescu, Victor. (September 28, 2020). "Top Airplay 100 - La vremuri noi, lideri noi, chiar şi în muzică!". Un site de muzică.
  34. (August 15, 2020). "Top 50 – Radio San Marino RTV – 15/08/2020". [[San Marino RTV]].
  35. "South Africa - Radio airplay chart". Radiomonitor.
  36. "Top 100 Canciones: Semana 40". Productores de Música de España.
  37. (17 September 2020). "Nationale Top 40 Suriname: Top 5 – 24 September 2020". [[Nationale Top 40 Suriname]].
  38. (2021). "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 8". [[Sverigetopplistan]].
  39. "Burna Boy Chart History - World Digital Songs Sales".
  40. (8 November 2019). "Ö3 Austria Top40 Jahrescharts 2020". Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  41. "Jaaroverzichten 2020". Ultratop.
  42. "Rapports Annuels 2020". Ultratop.
  43. "Top de l'année Top Singles 2020". SNEP.
  44. "Top 100 Jahrescharts 2020". mtv.de.
  45. "Single Top 100 - eladási darabszám alapján - 2020". [[Mahasz]].
  46. (7 January 2021). "Top Of The Music 2020: 'Persona' Di Marracash È L'album Piú Venduto". Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana.
  47. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2020". [[Dutch Top 40]].
  48. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2020". MegaCharts.
  49. "Airplay 100 Topul Anului 2020". [[Kiss FM (Romania).
  50. "Top 100 Songs Annual 2020". [[Productores de Música de España]].
  51. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2020".
  52. "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2020".
  53. (8 November 2019). "Ö3-Austria Top40 Single-Jahrescharts 2021". Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  54. "Jaaroverzichten 2021". Ultratop.
  55. "Top de l'année Top Singles 2021". SNEP.
  56. "Jahrescharts 2021". [[GfK Entertainment charts]].
  57. "Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2021".
  58. "Dance Top 100 - 2021". [[Mahasz]].
  59. "Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2021". [[Mahasz]].
  60. "Single Top 100 – eladási darabszám alapján – 2021". Mahasz.
  61. "JAAROVERZICHTEN - Airplay 2021".
  62. "Top 1000 Singles + EPs Digitais: Semanas 01 a 52 de 2021". [[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa]].
  63. "Årslista Singlar, 2021". [[Sverigetopplistan]].
  64. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2021".
  65. "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2021".
  66. "Dance Top 100 - a hazai DJ-k játszásai alapján - 2022". Association of Hungarian Record Companies (MAHASZ).
Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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