Jerusalema

"Jerusalema" is a song by South African DJ and record producer Master KG featuring South African vocalist Nomcebo. The upbeat gospel-influenced gqom song was initially released on 29 November 2019 after it garnered positive response online, with a music video following on 21 December. It was later included on Master KG's second album of the same title, released in January 2020.[1] A single edit was released on streaming services on 10 July 2020,[2] after it went viral during mid-2020, garnering international reaction due to the #JerusalemaChallenge. A remix featuring Nigerian singer Burna Boy was released on 19 June 2020, propelling the song onto the US Billboard charts. It has since 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.[3]

This article is about the song by Master KG. For the 2008 South African film, see Gangster's Paradise: Jerusalema.

"Jerusalema"
Single by Master KG featuring Nomcebo
from the album Jerusalema
LanguageZulu
Released29 November 2019 (2019-11-29)
Recorded2019
Genre
Length
  • 5:42 (album version)
  • 3:08 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Kgaogelo Moagi
  • Nomcebo Zikode
Producer(s)Master KG
Master KG singles chronology
"Remember"
(2019)		 "Jerusalema"
(2019)		 "My Love"
(2020)
Nomcebo singles chronology
"Imizamo Yami"
(2019)		 "Jerusalema"
(2020)		 "Kobanini"
(2020)
Burna Boy singles chronology
"Own It (Remix)"
(2020)		 "Jerusalema (Remix)"
(2020)		 "Wonderful"
(2020)
Remix cover
Music video
"Jerusalema" on YouTube

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.[4][5] It surpassed one million views in its first week.[4] The official music video was released on 21 December 2019.[6] After it went viral, the song was released to streaming services on 10 July by Elektra France and Warner France.[2] 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'".[7] During late 2019, it had become a favourite in South African clubs.[8] 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.[9]

Composition

Although it has "religious-leaning" lyrics, "Jerusalema" is an upbeat[8] disco-house track[4][10][11] containing "deep", "spiritual",[12] gospel lyrics.[13][14] 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,[8] singing part of his verse in isiZulu, while emphasizing the unity of African artists.[14]

Critical reception

Zkhiphani's 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".[12] 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".[11] Rufaro Samanga of OkayAfrica called the remix "a straight banger".[8]

Impact

Master KG's Spotify followers increased to over 1.2 million following the rising popularity of the song.[6] Various covers performed around the world with different instruments and sung in a variety languages have also been uploaded on YouTube, attracting their own popularity.[13][9]

Dance challenge

An accompanying dance challenge, attributed to a group of Angolan friends performing the choreography in a candid video,[9] helped the song go viral online.[15] The #JerusalemaChallenge, which has been compared to the Macarena,[16] spawned dance videos from many countries, including Israel, the Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, Romania, Spain, France, Jamaica, Canada and the United States.[17][6][13] In Germany, workers paid tribute to Berlin’s Tegel Airport by dancing to Jerusalema on the tarmac and in the now-shuttered terminal.[18][19]

Music video

The song's official music video was released onto YouTube on 21 December 2019.[6] By 27 August the video had passed 100 million views,[20] half a year later it passed already 300 million views, a rare feat for South African artists.[6]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Belgium (BEA)[57] Platinum 40,000
France (SNEP)[58] Platinum 200,000
Italy (FIMI)[59] 2× Platinum 140,000

sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

See also

References
  1. "Jerusalema by Master KG on Apple Music". Retrieved 26 July 2020 – via Apple Music.
  2. "Jerusalema (feat. Nomcebo Zikode) [Edit] - Single by Master KG on Apple Music". Retrieved 26 July 2020 – via Apple Music.
  3. "Jerusalema (feat. Micro TDH & Greeicy & Nomcebo Zikode) [Remix] - Single de Master KG". Retrieved 23 September 2020 – via Apple Music.
  4. 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. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  5. Legodi, Tlou (20 July 2020). "Master KG's song Jerusalema is taking the world by storm". 702. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  6. "Master KG's 'Jerusalema' reaches over 50m views on YouTube". IOL. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  7. Kekana, Chrizelda (20 July 2020). "Master KG's track continues to make waves globally". Times Live. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  8. Samanga, Rufaro (19 June 2020). "Listen to Master KG and Nomcebo's 'Jerusalema' Remix Featuring Burna Boy". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  9. "It reminds me of the 'Macarena' - Master KG on 'Jerusalema' going global". Times Live. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  10. Ngcobo, Nokuthula (18 July 2020). "WATCH: Master KG's Jerusalema is a hit in France and Romania". ECR. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  11. Shumba, Ano (9 July 2020). "Top SA house songs of 2020". Music in Africa. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  12. Ntsinde, Mandisa (July 2020). "WATCH: Master KG's Viral Single, "Jerusalema" & Its Spectacular Global Rise". Zkhiphani. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  13. Ngcobo, Nokuthula (26 July 2020). "WATCH: Nuns and priests dance to 'Jerusalema' by Master KG". ECR. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  14. Mavuso, Karabo (29 June 2020). "Master KG's Jerusalem gets 30 million views on YouTube!". News24. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
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  16. Jolly, Tamlyn (25 July 2020). "WATCH: Empangeni takes on Jerusalema dance challenge". Zululand Observer. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  17. "Jerusalema Challenge in Jerusalem!". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  18. "Flughafen Berlin TXL Jerusalem Abschied - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  19. "Verabschieden Vom Flughafen TegelTXL Berlin ab 30/10/2020 - Meine Liebe Kolleginnen und Kollegen - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
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  36. Arvunescu, Victor (28 September 2020). "Top Airplay 100 - La vremuri noi, lideri noi, chiar şi în muzică!" [Top Airplay 100 – New times, new leaders, even in music!] (in Romanian). Un site de muzică. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
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