Magnolia (Gang of Youths song)

"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.^[1]

In 2018, the song was certified platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) for selling over 70,000 equivalent units.^[2] "Magnolia" polled at number six in the Triple J Hottest 100 of the Decade.^[3] It has been described as the band's breakthrough hit, having over 39 million streams on Spotify as of 2022.^[4]

On 3 June 2014, Gang of Youths frontman David Le'aupepe, at the end of a week-long bender consisting of "plenty of drinking, smoking and vomiting up blood", was walking drunk with a bottle of Southern Comfort in his band through Strathfield, New South Wales.^[5] He later admitted he tried to commit suicide that night, but his friends called the police who intercepted him. They sat him by the magnolia tree outside his father's house, of which the song is named after.^[6]

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.^[7]

— David Le'aupepe

Afterwards, Le'aupepe was entered into rehabilitation and "began a process of healing and self-discovery".^[7] In 2018, on the fourth anniversary of the incident, he shared a lengthy post on social media thanking his friends for saving his life and further opening up about his mental health struggles.^[1]

On 17 April 2015, "Magnolia" was released as the third and final single to the band's debut studio album, The Positions. A music video for the song was directed by Le'aupepe and Josh Harris, and was released on 28 January 2016.^[8] The frontman said he wanted to convey a "deep freeness, a sense of loss, a sadness" in the video.^[7]

Jessica Dale for The Music wrote "Magnolia" is "anthemic, catchy and brings hordes of people together in unified song; a stark contrast to the song's birth following Le'aupepe's attempted suicide". She further writes the track "launched Gang of Youths into the Australian psyche in a big, big way".^[9] Writing for The AU Review, Genevieve Morris called the track a "timeless classic", writing "the passion and liveliness behind the song is addictive and unforgettable".^[10]

In 2015, "Magnolia" polled at number 21 on the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2015.^[11] In the 2020 countdown of the Hottest 100 of the Decade, the track polled at number six.

Credits adapted from The Positions liner notes.

• David Le'aupepe – writing, lead vocals, string arrangement, guitars, piano, keyboards, engineering
• Jung Kim – keyboards, engineering
• Joji Malani – guitars, keyboards, string arrangement, engineering
• Max Dunn – bass guitar
• Joel van Gastel – drums
• Nora Wever – engineering
• Peter Holz – additional engineering
• Karl Cashwell – mixing, additional engineering
• Gang of Youths – producer