‘Magic’ is a 1974 song by Scottish pop rock band Pilot, and was the first hit single for the group. It was written by band members David Paton and Billy Lyall for their debut album, From the Album of the Same Name. The single charted most successfully in Canada, where it topped the RPM national singles chart on 19 July 1975, and received a gold certification. It climbed as far as number 11 on the UK Singles Chart and reached number five during the summer of 1975 in the US on the Billboard Hot 100.
This ode to reverie is powered by an irresistible chorus where lead singer David Paton stretches out some "o"s to show some serious vocal range, starting the stanza with "Oh, oh, oh" and ending each line with something that rhymes with it. This chorus shows up four times in the song, including at the beginning. There are only two verses, and remarkably, they don't mention a girl; they're about waking up on a sunny day. According to Paton, the song is inspired by the sunrise on Blackford Hill in Edinburgh. In a 2012 interview with Hotdisc Television, Paton also stated that at the time, his wife said she had "never seen a daybreak," which also inspired the song.
This was the first single for the Scottish pop band Pilot, which reached #1 in the UK with ‘January’ from their next album. ‘Magic’ was written by the band's keyboardist, Billy Lyall along with frontman David Paton. Produced by Alan Parsons, it was their only Top 40 hit in the US.
This was the first of three ‘Magic’-al hits over a 10-year span. Olivia Newton-John cast a spell with her ‘Magic’ in 1980, going to #1. The Cars released their ‘Magic’ in 1984, taking it to #12. This song was used in the movies Herbie Fully Loaded (2005), Doogal (2006) and Magicians (2007). It is also heard in the 2005 independent film Eve and the Fire Horse, which takes place in the 1970s.
Label – EMI
Songwriters – David Paton, Billy Lyall
Producer – Alan Parsons
SONG LYRICS
[Chorus]Oh, ho, ho, it's magic, you know
Never believe it's not so
It's magic, you know
Never believe it's not so
[Verse 1]
Never been awake
Never seen a day break
Leaning on my pillow in the morning
Lazy day in bed
Music in my head
Crazy music playing in the morning light
[Chorus]
Oh, ho, ho, it's magic, you know
Never believe it's not so
It's magic, you know
Never believe it's not so
[Verse 2]
I love a sunny day
Dream of far away
Dreaming on my pillow in the morning
Never been awake
Never seen a day break
Leaning on my pillow in the morning light
[Chorus]
Oh, ho, ho, it's magic, you know
Never believe it's not so
It's magic, you know
Never believe it's not so
[Chorus]
Oh, ho, ho, it's magic, you know
Never believe it's not so
It's magic, you know
Never believe it's not so