1983 single by Madonna
"Holiday" is a song by American singer Madonna from her self-titled debut album (1983). It was written by Curtis Hudson and Lisa Stevens-Crowder for their own musical act Pure Energy, and produced by John "Jellybean" Benitez. Hudson came up with the lyrics of the song while watching negative news on television, and together with Stevens-Crowder worked on the music. They recorded a demo, which was turned down by their label Prism Records. Afterwards, Benitez pitched the track and offered it to several artists, including former the Supremes singer Mary Wilson, but it was rejected. Around the same time, Benitez was working with Madonna on her album; after realizing they needed a song for the project, Benitez thought of "Holiday" and approached Hudson and Stevens-Crowder.
Recording for the song took place at New York City's Sigma Sound Studios; although Madonna and Benitez did not want the final version to differ too much from the demo, minor alterations were made in the composition, including the addition of a piano solo, which was done by their friend Fred Zarr. Described as a dance-pop, post-disco song, the lyrics talk about the "universal feeling" of needing and wanting to take a holiday. It features instrumentation from guitars, electronic clapping, a cowbell, and synthesized strings. Initially released as a double-sided single with "Lucky Star" in August, "Holiday" was published by Sire Records as the official third single from the album on September 7, 1983.
Critics reacted positively towards the track, deeming it infectious and a highlight from the album; in retrospective reviews, it is now considered to be among Madonna's best singles. "Holiday" performed well commercially: in the United States, it was considered Madonna's breakthrough, peaking at number 16 on the "Billboard" Hot 100, and reaching number one on the Dance Club Songs chart. It found success outside North America as well, reaching the top-ten in Australia, Belgium, Germany and Ireland, among others. In the United Kingdom it was released three times: first in 1984, then one year later, and finally in 1991; the last two times, it reached the chart's top five.
There hasn't been an official music video that was shot for "Holiday"; to promote it, Madonna appeared on several nightclubs and television programs in the United States and the United Kingdom. She has also included the track in almost all of her concert tours, the most recent being 2023―2024 the Celebration Tour. "Holiday" has been covered and sampled by several artists, and featured in television programs and movies.
Background.
"Holiday" was written and composed by ex-spouses Curtis Hudson and Lisa Stevens-Crowder for their own group, Pure Energy. Stevens-Crowder created the initial chord progression on the keyboard as a ballad and, after a couple of days had passed, she decided to speed it up. Hudson came up with the Bassline and the hook "Holiday, celebrate", while Stevens-Crowder added the line "It would be so nice". They then recorded a demo, sung by Stevens-Crowder, which was presented to their label Prism Records, who decided not to record it. Hudson and Stevens-Crowder knew John "Jellybean" Benitez from Fun House nightclub, where he was the resident DJ, and had presented him songs before; Benitez had remixed some of the songs they had released as Pure Energy, and offered "Holiday" to Mary Wilson from The Supremes, Phyllis Hyman, and disco group The Ritchie Family, but they all turned it down. Hudson revealed that he and Stevens-Crowder were not involved with pitching the song, as they still had hope they could record it themselves.
In 1983, Madonna was recording her first studio album with Warner Music producer Reggie Lucas; the album was green-lit by Sire Records after the singer's debut single "Everybody" (1982) found success in the dance club scene. However, she soon realized that there was not enough material for a full length album ― the only songs available were "Everybody", "Burning Up", "Lucky Star", "Think of Me", "I Know It", and one called "Ain't No Big Deal". Lucas then brought two new songs to the project: "Physical Attraction" and "Borderline". Another issue arose when the singer learned Bray had sold "Ain't No Big Deal" to disco act Barracuda, thus rendering it unavailable for her album. Benitez thought of "Holiday" and approached Hudson and Stevens-Crowder. The couple was reluctant to the idea of Madonna recording the song, but changed their minds after meeting her.
Recording and composition.
"Holiday" was recorded at the Sigma Sound Studios in New York. After she was given the demo, Madonna quickly recorded the vocals. Benitez assembled the musicians, hummed the music to them, and asked the singer to sing in a "very soulful approach". Hudson played guitar, and his brother Raymond the bass; Madonna herself played the cowbell that can be heard towards the beginning, while background vocals were provided by Norma Jean Wright and Tina Baker. Just before it was completed, Benitez and Madonna took the tape to their friend Fred Zarr, so he could add what the singer referred to as "Zarrisms": "creative flourishes" that would provide the "finishing touches", which ended up being a piano solo towards the end.
In a 2012 interview with Blogcritics, Stevens-Crowder recalled that Madonna and Benitez tried to do everything the same way as the demo, as they felt it had a "certain magic" to it; minor changes included substituting Hudson's LinnDrum with Zarr's Oberheim DMX, and Madonna's vocals ― while Stevens-Crowder's were more gospel oriented, Madonna's were more pop; "she captured the soul I put into it, but she added her own flavor. She didn’t try to copy it. Madonna did Madonna", recalled Stevens-Crowder. The writers were not given production credits, since it was Benitez who presented the track to Sire Records and Madonna; although they pressed for one, they ultimately let it go since they felt that the song would be their chance to get recognized as efficient songwriters.
Musically, "Holiday" has been described as a dance-pop, post-disco song devoid of any particular structure. According to the sheet music published by Alfred Publishing Inc., it is set in the time signature of common time with a medium tempo of 116 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of B minor, with Madonna's vocal range spanning from B3 to C♯5. The song follows the chord progression of G–A–Bm in the first line, when Madonna sings "Holiday!", and changes to G–A–F♯m–G in the second line, when she sings "Celebrate!". The chord sequence has been compared to that of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" (1984). The refrain is sung by the singer in a "completely deadpan" way, while for the verses, she uses her lower register to give the lyrics a "more positive spin". Lyrically, it talks about the "universal sentiment" that everybody needs a holiday from their daily lives. Present throughout the song are "Chic-styled" guitar flickers, electronic clapping, and synthesized strings.
Release.
A double-sided single of "Holiday" and "Lucky Star" was first made available on mid August 1983. According to Rikki Rooksby, author of "The Complete Guide to the Music of Madonna", the label wanted to release "Lucky Star" as a stand-alone single, but changed their mind after "Holiday" began receiving heavy radio play and reached the first spot of "Billboard"'s Dance Club Songs chart. "Holiday" was officially released as the third stand-alone single from the "Madonna" album on September 7, 1983. Initial pressings didn't feature an image of the singer on the cover; Rooksby wrote that this was an intentional move from the record company, as they wanted to play with that idea and didn't want the public to find out Madonna wasn't black.
In the United Kingdom, "Holiday" was first released in January 1984. A second release was then done in the summer of 1985, during the "height of Madonnamania"; finally, in 1991 it was re-issued for a third time to promote "The Immaculate Collection" (1990), Madonna's first greatest hits compilation. This third release came accompanied by "The Holiday Collection", a four track EP that included the full-length original version of "Holiday", and three songs not featured in "The Immaculate Collection": "True Blue" (1986), "Who's That Girl", and "Causing a Commotion" (1987). "Holiday" was added to Madonna's third greatest-hits album, "Celebration" (2009), while an edited version had been previously featured on "The Immaculate Collection". A dub version of "Holiday" can be found in "You Can Dance" (1987), Madonna's first remix compilation. Three decades later, the 7" version of the single was included on "" (2022), the singer's third remix compilation.
Critical reception.
"Holiday" has received positive reviews since its release. Rooksby deemed it, "as infectious as the plague. One listen and you could not get the damn hook out of your mind". On a similar note, it was described as a "festive, infectious anthem [that] caught fire almost immediately [...] in dance clubs all across the country" by J. Randy Taraborrelli, author of "". Writing on "Encyclopedia Madonnica", Matthew Rettenmund referred to "Holiday" as a "prime example of Madonna's reliance on infectious optimism", that has "aged remarkably well". It was considered a "simple song with a fresh appeal and a good mood" by author Mary Cross. For Lucy O'Brien, it is the song that "cemented [Madonna's] style. With its bubbling Latin undertow, crunchy bassand strings, and Fred Zarr's elegant closing piano riff, it's one of her most persuasive numbers". Adam Sexton, author of "Desperately Seeking Madonna: In Search of the Meaning of the World's Most Famous Woman" (1992), named it a "loping disco ditty" with an "ineffable charm".
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"A song as utterly '80s as Rick Astley or the Pet Shop Boys, 'Holiday' is also surely the most evocative theme tune ever created when it comes to packing a suitcase and jetting off for beach cocktails [...] A feel-good pop giant with an infectious chorus - and the closest thing we have to bottled sunshine".
—The staff of Digital Spy reviewing "Holiday" on the website's ranking of Madonna's biggest hits.
To the staff of "Billboard", "Holiday" is a "pretty standard dance tune, but [Madonna] has the pipes and presence to make [it] special". On the same vein, Don Shewey from "Rolling Stone" named it simple but clever. AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine singled out "Holiday" as "effervescent", and as one of the "great songs" on his review of the "Madonna" album; from the same portal, Stewart Mason highlighted its "undeniable electronic groove". According to "Entertainment Weekly"'s Jim Farber, "['Holiday'] satisfied both worlds". While "Slant Magazine"'s Sal Cinquemani deemed it airy, it was referred to as "sparkly" by the "Portland Mercury"'s Mark Lore. From "Pitchfork", Jill Mapes applauded the song's "feel-good wiggle", and opined it "helped resituate electronic dance-pop at Top 40’s apex".
While reviewing "The Immaculate Collection" on its 25th anniversary, the Daily Review's James Rose referred to "Holiday" as a "fairly sappy, empty [...] conventional '80s dance number", with vocals that are "ordinary, even chirpy", and "gidgetish" lyrics. On his review of the 2001 re-release of "Madonna", Michael Paoletta from "Billboard" pointed out that, "such tracks as 'Holiday' [...] remain irresistible". The same opinion was shared by "The Quietus"' Matthew Lindsay, who also added that it "bubble[s] with "joie de vie"", and compared it favorably to Kool &amp; the Gang's "Celebration" (1980). A 2012 poll conducted of "Rolling Stone" readers found the song to be Madonna's tenth best, as well as one of her "most enduring". In another occasion, the magazine named it the singer's 22nd best song. In 2013, while reviewing the "Madonna" album on its 30th anniversary, "Billboard"'s Keith Caulfield referred to "Holiday" as the singer's breakthrough. It was named Madonna's ninth and eight best song by "Gay Star News"' Joe Morgan and Matthew Jacobs from "HuffPost", respectively; the latter wrote that, although it didn't reach the Hot 100's top ten, "it's certainly her most infectious song". For "The Arizona Republic"'s Ed Masley, "the production hasn’t aged as well as, say, 'Into the Groove', but the melody? That’s timeless"; he deemed it Madonna's 20th best.
"Holiday" is considered a "serotonin-raising pop classic that will be filling dance floors at gay bars and family gatherings from now unto eternity" by "Variety"'s Mike Was, and the "ultimate feel-good party anthem" by author Marc Andrews. Jude Rogers, from "The Guardian", described it as a "blissfully simple" song that has "never lost its freshness or warmth"; she placed it at number 8 of her ranking of Madonna singles. "Holiday" is Madonna's third and second