Holiday (Madonna song)

Background

"Holiday" was written and composed by Curtis Hudson and Lisa Stevens-Crowder, former members of the group Pure Energy. Originally conceived as a ballad, the song was later reworked by Stevens-Crowder into a more upbeat composition. Hudson contributed the bassline and the hook "Holiday, celebrate," while Stevens-Crowder added the line "It would be so nice". They recorded a demo with Stevens-Crowder on vocals and presented it to their label, Prism Records, which declined to release it. The pair had previously worked with DJ and producer John "Jellybean" Benitez, who had remixed Pure Energy's tracks and later offered "Holiday" to several artists —including Mary Wilson from The Supremes, Phyllis Hyman, and disco group The Ritchie Family— all of whom passed on the song. At the time, Hudson and Stevens-Crowder still hoped to record the song themselves and were not involved in its initial pitching.

In 1983, Madonna was recording her debut album with Warner Bros. producer Reggie Lucas, following the success of her debut single "Everybody" (1982) in the club scene. However, there was a shortage of material to complete the album; aside from "Everybody", the only available tracks were "Burning Up", "Lucky Star", "Think of Me", "I Know It", and "Ain't No Big Deal" —the latter of which became unavailable after being sold to another act. Lucas contributed "Physical Attraction" and "Borderline", but one more song was needed. Benitez, working with Madonna at the time, suggested "Holiday" and approached Hudson and Stevens-Crowder. Though initially hesitant, the writers agreed to the idea after meeting Madonna in person.

Recording and composition

"Holiday" was recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in New York. After receiving the demo, Madonna quickly recorded her vocals, while producer Benitez assembled the musicians and encouraged a "soulful" vocal delivery. Hudson played guitar, his brother Raymond played bass, and Madonna contributed percussion by playing the cowbell heard at the beginning of the track. Background vocals were provided by Norma Jean Wright and Tina Baker. Before finalizing the recording, Benitez and Madonna brought the tape to their friend Fred Zarr, who added what the singer called "Zarrisms" —creative flourishes that included the piano solo featured at the end of the song.

According to songwriter Stevens-Crowder, Madonna and Benitez tried to stay faithful to the original demo, making only minor adjustments such as swapping Hudson's LinnDrum for Zarr's Oberheim DMX, and shifting the vocal style from gospel to a more pop-oriented tone. Stevens-Crowder praised Madonna for capturing the original emotion while adding her own character, stating, "She didn’t try to copy it. Madonna did Madonna". Although Hudson and Stevens-Crowder were not credited as producers, they accepted the decision, viewing the recording as an opportunity to gain recognition as songwriters. Musically, "Holiday" is a dance pop, post-disco track with no fixed structure. It is set in common time with a tempo of 116 beats per minute, composed in the key of B minor, and features a chord progression similar to Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" (1984). Its instrumentation includes Chic-style guitar riffs, electronic claps, synthesized strings, and a refrain delivered in a deliberately deadpan tone. The lyrics express a universal desire to escape everyday life through celebration and rest.

Release

A double-sided single featuring "Holiday" and "Lucky Star" was initially released in mid-August 1983. Although Sire Records originally intended to release "Lucky Star" as a standalone single, the label shifted focus after "Holiday" gained radio traction and topped Billboards Dance Club Songs chart. "Holiday" was officially issued as the third single from the Madonna album on September 7, 1983. Early pressings did not include the singer's image on the cover; according to author Rikki Rooksby, this was a deliberate marketing decision by the label to maintain ambiguity about Madonna's racial identity.

In the United Kingdom, "Holiday" was released in January 1984 and reissued in the summer of 1985 amidst the "height of Madonnamania". A third re-release followed in 1991 to promote The Immaculate Collection (1990), accompanied by a four-track EP titled The Holiday Collection, which featured the original full-length version of "Holiday" along with "True Blue" (1986), "Who's That Girl", and "Causing a Commotion" (1987). An edited version appeared on The Immaculate Collection, while a dub remix was included on You Can Dance (1987). In 2009, "Holiday" was added to Madonna's third compilation album, Celebration, and the 7-inch single version was later featured on Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones (2022).

Critical reception

"Holiday" has received consistent acclaim since its release. Writers for Gay Times considered it her first single to achieve critical acclaim, following the underperformances of "Everybody" and "Burning Up". Rikki Rooksby said it was "as infectious as the plague", while author J. Randy Taraborrelli called it a "festive, infectious anthem" that quickly became a staple in dance clubs across the United States. Critics have often highlighted its uplifting tone and enduring appeal; in Encyclopedia Madonnica, Matthew Rettenmund noted that it had aged "remarkably well", and Mary Cross described it as a simple, optimistic track with broad appeal. Lucy O'Brien emphasized its production, citing Fred Zarr's closing piano riff and "bubbling Latin undertow" as key to cementing Madonna's early sound. Adam Sexton praised the track's "ineffable charm", referring to it as a "loping disco ditty".

Numerous music publications echoed these sentiments in retrospective reviews. Billboard called it a "standard dance tune" elevated by Madonna's vocal charisma, while Rolling Stones Don Shewey found it simple but clever. AllMusic highlighted its "effervescent" quality and electronic groove, with Pitchfork crediting it for helping reposition electronic dance-pop at the top of the pop charts. Other descriptors include "sparkly" (Portland Mercury), "airy" (Slant Magazine), and "feel-good" (Pitchfork). In a 2012 readers' poll, Rolling Stone ranked it among Madonna's ten best songs, later placing it at number 22 in a separate editorial list. Keith Caulfield of Billboard referred to it as the singer’s commercial breakthrough, and both HuffPost and Gay Star News ranked it among her top ten tracks.

Later assessments have underscored its legacy. Critics at Variety, PinkNews, and PopMatters praised its longevity, party appeal, and influence on Madonna's later work. The Guardians Jude Rogers ranked it eighth among her singles, citing its "freshness and warmth". Entertainment Weekly and PinkNews ranked it as high as second and third in her discography, while Slant Magazine commended its "immaculate" arrangement and Madonna's vocal delivery. The National Student called it underrated compared to "Like a Virgin" (1984). One retrospective review summed it up as: "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".

Chart performance

Upon its release, "Holiday" achieved significant chart success in the United States. Paired with "Lucky Star", it debuted at number 31 Billboards Dance Club Songs chart on August 27, 1983, and reached the top spot four weeks later, remaining there for five consecutive weeks; it marked Madonna's first number-one on any Billboard chart. It ended 1983 as the third highest-ranking song on the Dance Club Songs chart. As a stand-alone single, "Holiday" entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 88 on October 29, 1983, peaking at number 16 in January 1984 and staying on the chart for 21 weeks. Despite not entering the Hot 100's top ten, Madonna later referred to "Holiday" as one of her favorite hits, only to be reminded during a 2005 interview that it had peaked at number 16. In Canada, it peaked at number 32 on RPMs Top Singles chart.

Internationally, "Holiday" became Madonna’s first major hit in several markets. In the United Kingdom, it initially peaked at number six in early 1984, then reached number two during its 1985 re-release —just behind her own "Into the Groove"— and climbed to number five during its third release in 1991. In Australia, the track peaked at number four and spent 16 weeks on the Kent Music Report chart, while in New Zealand, it reached number seven. By September 1985, "Holiday" had sold an estimated 1.5 million copies in Europe. In a 2012 interview, Pure Energy, the song’s writers, revealed that its commercial success allowed them to leave a boarding house and improve their financial situation.

Live performances

Madonna first performed "Holiday" live at New York's Studio 54 on June 4, 1983. The song was included in early promotional appearances, including Camden Palace in London, Manchester's The Haçienda, and television programs such as Top of the Pops, American Bandstand, Solid Gold, Discoring, and The Tube. A televised performance from Solid Gold was even used as music video in some countries to promote the single.

With the exception of 2019―2020's Madame X Tour, "Holiday" has been included in nearly all of Madonna's concert tours. On the Virgin Tour (1985), it served as the second number, with Madonna dressed in lace leggings, layered accessories, and joined by two male dancers. The Observer–Reporters Terry Hazlett described the crowd’s reaction as comparable to a "World Series catch". A recording of the performance at Detroit's Cobo Hall was included in the Madonna Live: The Virgin Tour video release. On July 13, 1985, she performed the song at the Philadelphia Live Aid benefit concert, joking that she wouldn't remove her jacket because, "[the media] might hold it against me ten years from now".

On the Who's That Girl World Tour of 1987, "Holiday" closed the show, with Madonna in a red flamenco dress playfully engaging the crowd. Footage of the song was featured on both Who's That Girl: Live in Japan and Ciao Italia: Live from Italy. The Blond Ambition World Tour's (1990) performance of "Holiday" saw Madonna in a polka-dot Jean Paul Gaultier ensemble, sampling Fatback Band's "(Are You Ready) Do the Bus Stop" (1975). The New York Times Jon Pareles criticized the vocals but acknowledged the energetic staging. The performance was included in multiple video releases and used as a promotional clip for the Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991) documentary, earning four MTV Video Music Award nominations in 1992. In the Girlie Show (1993), the song was reimagined as a military cadence, complete with trenchcoats, American flag imagery, and a choreographed foot drill. Pareles compared the reworked arrangement to the work of John Philip Sousa. The performance recorded on November 19, 1993, at the Sydney Cricket Ground, was included on The Girlie Show: Live Down Under release (1994).

The song continued to evolve in the 2000s. At a 2000 promotional concert for Music at London's Brixton Academy, Madonna sang donning a top referencing her children. On the Drowned World Tour (2001), "Holiday" was mashed up with Stardust's "Music Sounds Better with You" (1998). Slant Magazines Sal Cinquemani called it one of the concert's highlights. The performance recorded at Detroit's Palace of Auburn Hills was included on the Drowned World Tour 2001 home release. For 2004's Re-Invention World Tour, it was performed as a tribal-themed number with the singer and dancers in kilts, visual flag imagery, and confetti raining upon the audience. The Manchester Evening News Paul Taylor referred to it as the "most genuinely thrilling moment" of the evening. A performance of "Holiday" from this tour can be found on the I'm Going to Tell You a Secret live album and documentary (2006). On the Confessions Tour (2006), "Holiday" was sampled in a video montage. At the Toronto concert of 2008's Sticky & Sweet Tour, Madonna sang "Holiday" a capella per fan requests. In the 2009 extension, it was performed in full, featuring a tribute to Michael Jackson; dancer Kento Mori, dressed as Jackson, reenacted iconic choreography to a medley of "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Something" (1983).

On the MDNA Tour (2012), the song appeared in interlude visuals and was sung live at select shows. During the final show in Córdoba, Argentina Madonna performed it with a megaphone after a generator disrupted the set. Madonna appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on April 9, 2015, and sang "Holiday" using classroom instruments, alongside American band The Roots and host Jimmy Fallon. "Holiday" closed the Rebel Heart Tour (2015–2016), with Madonna dressed in Americana-themed attire and lifted offstage by a harness during the finale. The Arizona Republics Ed Masley called the performance a "triumphant" encore while the Washington Blades Joey DiGuglielmo found it anti-climactic. The Sydney rendition was included on the 2017 Rebel Heart Tour live album. A ukulele version was performed at her cabaret-style Madonna: Tears of a Clown shows (2016), with the singer donning clown attire. Most recently, "Holiday" was featured in the Celebration Tour (2023–2024) in a disco-tinged performance interpolating Chic's "I Want Your Love" (1978). Staged beneath a giant disco ball on a club-inspired circular stage, the number featured Bob the Drag Queen as a bouncer.

Cover versions and usage

"Holiday" has been covered and referenced by various artists and in popular media over the decades. In 1986, MC Miker G & DJ Sven released "Holiday Rap", a reinterpretation that became a top-ten hit in several European countries, including France, the Netherlands, and Sweden. The song was later covered by Heaven 17 for the 1999 tribute album Virgin Voices Vol. 1: A Tribute To Madonna, and adapted into a Eurodance version by French–Dutch group Mad'House for their 2002 album Absolutely Mad. Other notable renditions include Girl Authority's 2007 version on their album Road Trip, and Kelis' 2010 London mashup with her single "Milkshake (2003).

The song has also been featured across film, television, and pop culture. Adam Sandler's character performs it in The Wedding Singer (1998), and it was sampled by The Avalanches in their 2000 album Since I Left You. "Holiday" appears in the animated film Rugrats Go Wild (2003), and inspired a two-part episode title in Degrassi: The Next Generation. Samples of the track were used in the 2004 Will & Grace musical number "He's Hot!" Jessica Simpson's 2006 single "A Public Affair" was criticized for its similarities to "Holiday", which she acknowledged was influenced by Madonna. In 2020, Cassandra Peterson (as Elvira) released "Don't Cancel Halloween", a parody set to the tune of "Holiday", lamenting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on her favorite festivity.

Formats and track listings

• Australian, Benelux, Canadian, European, French, Italian, Japanese, New Zealand, Scandinavian and US 7-inch vinyl

1. "Holiday" (Edit) – 4:07
2. "I Know It" – 3:44

• Spanish 7-inch vinyl

1. "Holiday" (Alternate Edit) – 4:07
2. "I Know It" – 3:44

• European, French, Netherlands and Spanish 12-inch vinyl

1. "Holiday" – 6:07
2. "Lucky Star" – 5:34

• Irish and UK 7-inch vinyl

1. "Holiday" (Edit) – 4:07
2. "Think of Me" – 4:52

• Australian, Irish and UK 12-inch vinyl; UK 12-inch picture disc

1. "Holiday" – 6:07
2. "Think of Me" – 4:52

• Holiday / Everybody Italian 7-inch vinyl

1. "Holiday" (Edit) – 4:07
2. "Everybody (Edit)" – 5:57

• Holiday / Everybody 1989 Australasia and European 3-inch/2-track CD single

1. "Holiday" – 6:07
2. "Everybody" – 5:57

• 1991 European, French and UK 7-inch vinyl; UK 12-inch picture disc; French, Netherlands and UK cassette single

1. "Holiday" (Edit) – 4:07
2. "True Blue" – 4:16

• 1991 European and UK 12-inch vinyl

1. "Holiday" – 6:07
2. "Where's the Party" – 4:13
3. "Everybody" – 4:34

• The Holiday Collection 1991 European and UK extended play CD; UK cassette

1. "Holiday" – 6:09
2. "True Blue" – 4:17
3. "Who's That Girl" – 3:58
4. "Causing a Commotion" (Silver Screen Single Mix) – 4:06

• 1995 European and Japanese 2-track CD single

1. "Holiday" – 6:07
2. "Lucky Star" – 5:34

• 2022 Remastered digital single

1. "Holiday" (7" Version - 2022 Remaster) – 4:18

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.

• Madonna – vocals, cowbell
• Curtis Hudson – songwriter, guitar
• Lisa Stevens-Crowder – songwriter
• John "Jellybean" Benitez – producer
• Fred Zarr – drum programming, Moog bass, all synthesizers & keyboards, acoustic piano solo
• Raymond Hudson – bass
• Bashiri Johnson – percussion
• Tina Baker – background vocals
• Norma Jean Wright – background vocals

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications and sales

Notes

References

Bibliography

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• {{Cite book |author-link=Lucy O'Brien |title-link=Madonna: Like an Icon
• {{Cite book |author-link=Matthew Rettenmund
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• {{Cite book |author-link=J. Randy Taraborrelli

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