He always did all this without the help of a record company, but in early 2010 he signed a contract with EMI Group. This contract resulted in the recording of his debut album Dream Parade in Los Angeles. The first single from this album is the song This Town. With this, 3FM immediately chose him as 3FM Serious Talent. Giel Beelen called him the greatest talent of 2011 on March 10, 2011 during the broadcast of De Wereld Draait Door. His first single This Town was named 3FM Megahit on March 27 and Dotan was a guest at Giel Beelen and De Wereld Draait Door.
His debut album Dream Parade was released on May 20 and was immediately named by CD of the week on 3FM and 3voor12. Dotan received positive reactions for his album in magazines such as OOR, Elsevier, Metro and de Volkskrant. His second single Where we belong was linked to Amnesty International's international campaign, which is why he flew to Nigeria to perform for the slums of Port Harcourt. The accompanying clip grew into a YouTube hit with more than 200,000 views.
In the summer of 2011, Dotan appeared at various festivals and was a guest on the larger radio and television programs. Then Dotan started his "Dream Parade Tour" through the big clubs of the Netherlands. Dotan's debut album will also be released in several other countries, of which Israel is the first.
Dotan's unique voice is often compared to Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody.
Dotan reached a milestone by being the first artist in history to remain on the number 1 spot in the Serious Talent charts for more than 5 months. With this he leaves artists such as Caro Emerald, Go Back To The Zoo and Krystl behind. This chart is based on the popularity on the social media of the artists. A nomination for the Serious Talent Award 2011 followed, but during the presentation at Paaspop 2012 it was announced that he did not win this prize.
Dotan went on tour with Gavin Degraw in February, with whom he played in sold-out venues such as the Melkweg and Oosterpoort. Two months later on April 17, 2012, he provided the opening act for Sinéad O'Connor in the main hall of the Paradiso.
In April 2018, after several months of research, Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant revealed that Dotan had enlisted the aid of at least 140 troll accounts to boost his online reputation and following. These accounts disparaged other musicians and made up feel-good stories about chance encounters with fans. de Volkskrant also revealed that Dotan's management had repeatedly tried to alter Dotan's Dutch Wikipedia page. The singer later confirmed the existence of these accounts, apologised, and terminated all his social media activities.
Illusion
Dotan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm floating high above
I lost the sense of time
Trying to follow the line
Put your arms around me
We can fly through the night
There's more to life
Can I touch what's in front of me
Show me the place to find the truth
We're in a place
That no one knows
Is this a dream or reality
In the shadow of illusion
Running in circles waiting
Tuning out my mind
I'm caught up in a sound
Trying to get off the ground
Hold on tight follow the light
'Cause we are going down
There's more to life
There's more to see
Can I touch what's in front of me
Show me the place
To find the truth
We're in a place that no one knows
Is this a dream or reality
In the shadow of illusion
Holding on
Almost gone
Running around
Running running running around
Don't wake me up
There's more to life
There's more to see
Can I touch what's in front of me
Show me the place
To find the truth
We're in a place
That no one knows
Is this a dream or reality
In the shadow of illusion
In the first verse of "Illusion," Dotan describes a sense of being detached from reality as his "soul has left his body" and he "floats high above." He has lost the sense of time and struggles to "follow the line" or understand what is real versus what is not. He longs for someone to hold onto and journey with him through the uncertainty, to "fly through the night."
The chorus reinforces this sense of searching for meaning and truth, with a feeling that there is "more" to life and "more to see." Dotan questions whether he can "touch what's in front of" him, whether the reality he is experiencing is truly real. He pleads with someone to "show me the place to find the truth," as if he is lost in a great unknown. The bridge echoes the confusion and searching of the earlier stanzas, as Dotan describes running in circles while trying to "tune out" his racing mind. The sound of the music swirls around him, making it difficult to "get off the ground." The final lines of the song leave listeners with a sense of vulnerability and fear, unsure whether Dotan is pleading with himself or with someone else not to "wake me up" or reveal the truths he is seeking.
Line by Line Meaning
My soul has left my body
I feel disconnected from myself and my surroundings.
I'm floating high above
I feel weightless and detached from reality.
I lost the sense of time
I'm not sure how long I've been here or what time it is.
Trying to follow the line
I'm trying to understand where I'm going, what my purpose is.
Put your arms around me
Please provide me with comfort and security.
We can fly through the night
Together, we can transcend our current reality and escape into the unknown.
There's more to life
Life has greater meaning and purpose than what I'm currently experiencing.
There's more to see
There are things in the world that I have not yet witnessed.
Can I touch what's in front of me
I want to experience and connect with the world around me.
Show me the place to find the truth
I am searching for a deeper understanding of reality and purpose.
We're in a place that no one knows
We're in uncharted territory, exploring the unknown.
Is this a dream or reality
I am questioning whether this experience is imaginary or real.
In the shadow of illusion
I am surrounded by false concepts and beliefs that cloud my perception of reality.
Running in circles waiting
I am expending energy without making any real progress towards my goal.
Tuning out my mind
I am attempting to silence my thoughts and block out distractions.
I'm caught up in a sound
I am becoming engrossed in a particular sound or noise.
Trying to get off the ground
I am struggling to start or make progress on something.
Hold on tight follow the light
Stay focused and positive, and things will eventually become clear.
'Cause we are going down
We are descending towards something, possibly a realization or revelation.
Holding on
I am trying to maintain my grip on the situation.
Almost gone
My strength or resolve is nearly depleted.
Running around
I am busy or active, but not making any progress.
Running running running around
I am stuck in a cycle of nonproductive activity.
Don't wake me up
I am immersed in this experience and do not want it to end.
Writer(s): Dotan Harpenau Copyright: E.A.T.D. Publishing
Contributed by Scarlett H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.