Zewdy’s Video Goes Viral on YouTube

Above: A homemade video by Zewdy, a talented young artist
from New York City is garnering growing attention on YouTube.

Tadias Magazine
Arts & Entertainment News

Published: Friday, January 8, 2010

New York (Tadias) – We recently received several emails directing our attention to a music video by a multicultural artist named Zewdy, born in New York City and of Ethiopian and Eritrean heritage.

Partly owing to the young lady’s savvy use of social networking sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, the homemade clip is fast becoming an online sensation. In a sign consistent with viral videos on YouTube, Zewdi has already received over 15, 000 hits in a span of only six days.

“This is the great promise of YouTube: Your video can soar in popularity through sheer word-of mouth—or rather, click-of-mouth—until eventually people are making T-shirts about it,” writes Chris Wilson, who tracked the traffic trends of more than 10,000 YouTube videos for an investigative article published on Slate Magazine. “I crunched the numbers to find out what percentage of YouTube videos hit it big, cracking even 10,000 or 100,000 views. The results: You might have better odds playing the lottery than of becoming a viral video sensation.”

After one month of observation, only twenty five of Wilson’s ten thousand videos made the high mark: “A mere 25, 0.3 percent, had more than 10,000 views,” he observes. “Meanwhile, 65 percent of videos failed to break 50 views; 2.8 percent had zero views.” Slate Magazine’s advice: Don’t bet your career on launching your show biz on YouTube.

But the vibrant Zewdy is beating the odds. Here is the video in which she celebrates her multicultural background through music and dance.

Video: Zewdy – Into the Night

44 Responses to “Zewdy’s Video Goes Viral on YouTube”


  1. 1 Family friend from NYC Jan 8th, 2010 at 11:59 am

    Go Zewdy!!! You’ve got a great voice to go along with your energetic personality!! Keep it going girl!! And Hollywood will be calling soon! Love you!

  2. 2 Ravi Jan 8th, 2010 at 3:30 pm

    Zewdy, you make us proud! I have no doubt in my mind that you will make it big!

  3. 3 Jersey_Man Jan 8th, 2010 at 11:21 pm

    What up Jersey Girl! She born in New York City and raised in New Jersey just across the river!! keep representing Zewdy!

  4. 4 juju Jan 9th, 2010 at 12:38 am

    do you know what viral means.!

  5. 5 Febi Jan 9th, 2010 at 3:55 am

    Juju,

    In the context of this story, here is a short definition from wikipedia: “The buzzwords viral marketing and viral advertising refer to marketing techniques that use pre-existing social networks to produce increases in brand awareness or to achieve other marketing objectives..It can be word-of-mouth delivered or enhanced by the network effects of the Internet.[1] Viral promotions may take the form of video clips, interactive Flash games, advergames, ebooks, brandable software, images, or even text messages.”

  6. 6 Selam Jan 9th, 2010 at 8:38 pm

    Beautiful, yene konjo, you’re so so good and talented. What makes it interesting is that you still reflect your culture..with ‘iskista’ and cute accent..hope will make it..good job…God bless…

  7. 7 Senbete Jan 10th, 2010 at 12:30 am

    very nice!! I am 42 years old and I am shaking and dancing! Initially I thought another abesha trying to act ferenj. Then it hit me that this girl is actually ferenj in a sense that she is born outside the country, but she is reclaiming her identity and embracing her triple heritage American-Ethiopian-Eritrean. I am so proud! I was so wrong to prejudge. Again, Wow, what can I say the new generation esat yelasu nachew (they are on fire). They are in whole different planet, pure like crystal with no dirt or baggage. Bravo Zewdy and may all your dreams come true!

  8. 8 Bedilu Jan 10th, 2010 at 10:33 am

    Fabulous, betam qonjo! the hits have grown to nearly 21,000 since Tadias printed the story on Jan 8th. Gobez. Good Job Zewdy. you should also try acting also, you’re natural and organic.

  9. 9 AGERWEDAD Jan 10th, 2010 at 7:57 pm

    I can’t stop watching this clip…what a magnificent and culturally rich song!

  10. 10 endalc Jan 12th, 2010 at 12:02 pm

    congratulation for this. Looking forward to your new album artist zewdy.

  11. 11 Belai Jan 12th, 2010 at 12:11 pm

    simply the best, Keep it up Zewdy! I am proud of you.

  12. 12 Sami Jan 12th, 2010 at 2:35 pm

    Zewdi u are so beautiful and talented. You are already a star with all u got. This song is the best of your work so far. I love ur Amharic accent so much it is so sweet. In my opinion it adds flavor to the song. Keep it up!

  13. 13 Aida (VA) Jan 14th, 2010 at 12:51 pm

    Good job Zewdy!

    Speaking of the New generation being on fire, here is another video by Yonie, the male version of Zewdy, who is also on his way to stardom!

    “SUNSET BLVD” tv series trailer from http://sunsetblvd.tv on Vimeo.

  14. 14 solomon Jan 14th, 2010 at 5:52 pm

    You have the look, hair and wonderful voice. Looking forward to your new album.

  15. 15 ephrata Jan 17th, 2010 at 3:23 pm

    Well done Zewdy,

    You have a bright future ahead of you. Am sure you will mature into a great artist.

    God bless
    Music is life, can’t do without it.

  16. 16 endalc Jan 18th, 2010 at 9:54 am

    betam kongo nesh. tamrialesh. really you are talented and smart singer!

  17. 17 Natnael Jan 21st, 2010 at 2:26 am

    Oh…what an adorable music really I like it!

  18. 18 Sharinga Jan 22nd, 2010 at 12:36 am

    I wouldn’t exactly call about 40,000 viewers in 20 days VIRAL; however, I think the song is exciting and very true… very true to her background. It’s a beautiful mix of Ethiopian beat and western; it reflects her American and Ethiopian background. Having said this, I hope FULL Ethiopians (those who were born and reside in Ethiopia) won’t copy her style, but rather stay true to their own culture. Someone must preserve Ethiopian culture I believe

    Again, she are very unique and interesting. I believe she should be supported. keep up the good work.

  19. 19 Elleni Ferreira Jan 22nd, 2010 at 8:44 am

    You are Adorable Zewdy! Lots of best wishes to you and your family!
    We love you!

  20. 20 germa Jan 22nd, 2010 at 7:42 pm

    Afe kuurte yebelelch, such original pure music is flowing out of your mouth like honey and milk.

  21. 21 DJ Addis in U.S. (Zewdy's Fan) Jan 23rd, 2010 at 2:15 am

    Sharinga,

    Are you kidding? If you ask me and if you consider the average , 40,000 viewers in 20 days is an extraordinary number for a homemade YouTube video!!! Viral is not limited to Tiger Woods and other celebrity videos that receive 200,000 hits in 24 hours. That’s not exactly what VIRAL video is. Viral YouTube video is when ordinary ppl like Zedwdy promote their own material with the grace and blessing of YouTube. I wish my video that I posted 3 years ago would get a quarter of Zewdy’s 40,000 viewers in 20 days. I would be stoked. Consider this scenario from the VIRAL video guru from Slate: “”Charlie Bit Me,” (the fourth most-viewed YouTube clip of all time) is a viral video in the truest sense of the word. In May 2007, the father of two British tykes uploaded a home video he wanted to share with the kids’ godfather in Colorado and a few American colleagues. After three months, only a few dozen people had seen the video, and he considered taking it off the site. Then, something strange happened: On Aug. 24, 2007, the video was viewed 25 times in California. Three days later, that number was up to 79, with a dozen more coming in from Washington, Texas, and Wisconsin. The number of daily views doubled roughly every week as “Charlie Bit Me” spread around the country and through Europe. On Nov. 5, a couple of guys in Canada filmed a frame-by-frame remake. Two weeks later, CollegeHumor.com linked to the video, and by January it was on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. A year and a half later, it’s been watched 104 million times.”

    Come back and talk to me a year and a half from now if Zedwdy’s video is Viral or not. She is most definitely on her way of achieving her goal of making this video Number #1. Tadias Magazine has already covered her, resulting in an internet radio interview and live show scheduled in Virginia this weekend. So it is flying beyond anyone’s expectation. “Charlie Bit Me,” the fourth most-viewed YouTube clip of all time had only 12 hits in three month. Compare that with Zewdy’s 40,000 viewers in 20 days (to be exact 37,768 hits in 20 days). You do the math.

    Zewdy you’re doing a great job yene konjo!!!

  22. 22 Dereje Jan 23rd, 2010 at 11:46 pm

    I have only a big smile for your song…keep doing what your mind tells you wisely and you will become a great artist in short period of time. Great Job!!!

  23. 23 A . Tesfaye Jan 26th, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    This is good and I like it. Miss Zewdy you have the potential to be a bright star. (You have a good voice) so, keep it up and sing on sister.

  24. 24 Kaleb Jan 28th, 2010 at 12:47 am

    Ohhh zewdy is the best. she is a true talented young ethio original r&b sensation…and I m glad she is trying to reflect her origin in her musical style and her videos. She is an outstanding growing diva.

    JAHBLESS!
    King Kaleb Fasil Dawit

  25. 25 sador Feb 3rd, 2010 at 3:03 am

    I am proud that you R my flesh and blood

  26. 26 Wondey Feb 5th, 2010 at 4:08 pm

    Wow, Zewdy It is a great job! Great effort on modernizing our music. Cool!

  27. 27 Daniel Feb 17th, 2010 at 10:02 pm

    Bless you…Zewdy..Great Job

  28. 28 Eshet Feb 23rd, 2010 at 12:30 pm

    I liked into the night..good luck

  29. 29 Tarekegne Feb 24th, 2010 at 10:18 pm

    Wow, this is great. I liked the song and try American Idols. I am confident you will be the winner

  30. 30 justin Feb 27th, 2010 at 6:50 pm

    You’ve got the voice, the soul, the whole enchilada – go for it!

  31. 31 Solomon from Boston Mar 1st, 2010 at 7:04 pm

    This is what I call TALENT: original and very fusion creative. If this is any indication of her future career I am sure she will find herself among the few who transformed Ethiopian Music and made it more popular beyond the Ethiopian Audience (Aster Awake, Mahmud from the old generation and Zeritu, Tedros, Eyob from the current). Hopefully you will be coming up with a video production (beyond your home video of course) matching the splendid sound track/song you just released. Way to go girl.

  32. 32 dallasman Mar 9th, 2010 at 11:07 pm

    sweet n nappy gal,a star is born.g luck z!

  33. 33 ethiopeace Mar 17th, 2010 at 12:44 am

    Hey yene konjo, this is the way to go and you will definitely go far if you keep it on.

    love

  34. 34 cee Mar 17th, 2010 at 3:30 am

    Hi Zewdy, you’re great. Keep on moving on.

  35. 35 zewdu Mar 20th, 2010 at 7:25 pm

    About two year ago I was looking for Ethiopian music video on YouTube, and I saw zewdy’s video. She was very young and lovely kid talking about her dad been a musician and so on singing her head off and acting out buoyancy. She has come this far and she is deserving of anything. I think she will make it big. She is very persistent and talented. Best luck to you Zewdy. We will see you on MTV! Keep it up. Forget Viral, we are going make this epidemic Proportion. One love !!!

  36. 36 geta Mar 27th, 2010 at 2:50 pm

    This girl is doing great. This could be the first time when I give a comment on someone’s performance. What has made me so surprised is far from her talent, rather it is her conviction to her heritages. Great Job!

  37. 37 Toht Mar 29th, 2010 at 7:25 am

    U R more than Excellent, No words to say!!!!!!!!!!!!

  38. 38 Sami Mar 29th, 2010 at 9:47 am

    Zewdy

    Go girl you are so sweet and intelligent ,if you keep up your strong work it wont be long to see you in cbs and cnn or somewhere in hollywood

  39. 39 yeabsira Apr 19th, 2010 at 9:07 am

    u r great keep it up.

  40. 40 BINYAM MEHARI Sep 12th, 2010 at 5:28 am

    KEEP IT UP ZEWDY YOU DA BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  41. 41 Dilalew Jan 1st, 2011 at 3:32 pm

    Wow,

    I’m impressed with your performance, Zewdy. I heard the song like a year ago or something and liked it, but I didn’t bother to run a background check on it at the time. I came across it on facebook today and saw you there. And I loved everything about you. You have the voice, you have the looks, and the charm. Keep pushing girl. I’m sure you will make it in no time.

  42. 42 antex Apr 24th, 2011 at 5:55 am

    Go Zewdy!! I can’t wait to see you become a superstar!!!
    You got it all!
    Do not listen to some of the sick peoples’ comments, some of them need to go to Amanuel!! Like Sheringa! They will try to pull you back. It is in their nature to be intimidated when they witness such a unique talent…

    Love you girl, You are an Icon!!
    May the lord protect you, please watch out. It is dangerous out there for an innocent girl like you. Find someone trustworthy to watch your back and promote your interest.

    We Ethiopians will pray for you!
    We love you Zewdy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  43. 43 Aster Jul 3rd, 2011 at 12:29 pm

    Way to go! You’re on track for big time success. Keep it up.

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