Magnolia by Gang of Youths Song Info
"Magnolia" is a song by Australian alternative rock band Gang of Youths, released on 17 April 2015 as the third and final single from their debut studio album The Positions. The song recounts the experience of frontman David Le'aupepe on a "week-long bender that precluded sleep and eating" and his subsequent attempt to commit suicide on 3 June 2014. The date, referenced within the lyrics, has since become known by fans as "Magnolia Day". In 2018, the song achieved platinum status in Australia. In the Triple J Hottest 100 of the 2010s, the track polled at number six. It has been described as the band's "breakthrough hit", having over 39 million streams on Spotify as of 2022. On the song's release day, Le'aupepe wrote a lengthy Facebook post discussing the song's purpose. It begins: “June 3rd 2014, Mosely Street, Strathfield. In a state of puerile drunken delirium, reeling from having my heart fucked beyond all recognition and knowing my marriage was about to fall apart, I tried to kill myself.“ Before the frontman could act, his friends "called the police just in time to intercept" Le'aupepe. He went through rehabilitation and "began a process of healing and self-discovery that is still ongoing in my life today". In an interview with the Guardian, Le'aupepe revealed the song is named after the magnolia tree that the police sat him under after rushing to stop him on the night. A music video for the song was directed by Le'aupepe and Josh Harris, and was released on 28 January 2016.
