Musical Monday: Madonna

Posted on 26/10/2021 by Sheree

Musical Monday was bumped to Tuesday for sporting reasons.

I’m back to rifling through my archives for a track to set me up for the week. I want something laid back to get me in the holiday mood as we’re driving to Alassio tomorrow for a few days of farniente (and Aperol Spritzs). My beloved is rather fond of Italian singers Gianni Nannini and Eros Ramazzoti but I’m not………then I thought, why not Holiday by Madonna.

The song was recorded by the American singer for her eponymous debut album Madonna (1983) and was album’s third single released in September 1983. Written by Curtis Hudson and Lisa Stevens of the band Pure Energy, the track was offered to Madonna by her producer John “Jellybean” Benitez when she was looking for a potential hit track to include on her debut album. After accepting the song, she and Benitez worked on it and altered its composition, adding a piano solo performed by their friend, Fred Zarr. Holiday features instrumentation from guitars, electronic handclaps, a cowbell, and a synthesised string arrangement, while its lyrics speak about the universal sentiment of taking a holiday. I think we can all identify with that one.

Receiving highly positive reviews the single was Madonna’s first hit single in the United States, peaking at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Dance Club Songs chart. It also became her first top-ten single in several countries, including Australia, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and tUK.

Madonna has performed Holiday on most of her tours, generally as a part of the encore. Different performances of the song are included in the recorded releases of her tours. the track has been covered by several artists and appeared in multiple television shows. In 2003, Q Magazine ranked Holiday at number 88 in their list of the “1001 Best Songs Ever”.