“Holiday” by Madonna
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“Holiday” was Madonna’s first hit song, and it came out in 1983. It went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart in the Hot Dance Club Play category and stayed there for 17 weeks. This had never been done before—and has been done since only by two other of Madonna’s hits “Like a Virgin” and “Music.”
Billboard is a weekly U.S. magazine about the music industry. Its Hot 100 Chart is a weekly list of the top 100 songs purchased and/or played on the radio in the U.S.
In 2005, Madonna said this was one of her favorite songs. Unfortunately, the music video she made for this song was too awful to release to the public. You can see it on You Tube if you click here. Therefore, I chose a different video to teach the lyrics. The one below is from her February 1983 performance in the U.K. at the Hacienda Club that was aired on the British T.V. show called “The Tube.” “Tube” is also a British term for “T.V.”
(Holiday! Celebrate!)
(Holiday! Celebrate!)
If we took a holiday,
Took some time to celebrate,
Just one day out of life,
It would be—it would be so nice!
Everybody spread the word.
We’re gonna have a celebration,
All across the world,
In every nation.
It’s time for the good times.
Forget about the bad times. Oh, yeah!
One day to come together
To release the pressure.
(We need a holiday!)
If we took a holiday,
(Uh, ooh, hoo, hoo!)
Took some time to celebrate,
(Come on, let’s celebrate!)
Just one day out of life,
(Holiday!)
It would be—it would be so nice!
You can turn this world around
And bring back all of those happy days.
Put your trouble down.
It’s time to celebrate.
Let love shine.
And, we will find
A way to come together
And make things better.
(We need a holiday!)
If we took a holiday,
(Holiday!)
Took some time to celebrate,
(Come on, let’s celebrate!)
Just one day out of life,
(Just one day out of life!)
It would be—it would be so nice!
Oh, yeah! Oh, yeah!
Come on, let’s celebrate.
We have got to get together—ther—ther …
(Holiday!)
Ooh yeah! Oooh yeah!
(Celebrate!)
Come on, let’s celebrate!
(Holiday!)
Juts one day out of life!
(Celebrate!)
It would be so nice.
(Holiday! Celebrate!)
EXPLANATION OF PHRASES
Most of the words to this song are straightforward, which makes it an excellent pick to learn correct English phrases. However, there are a few parts that could use a little explanation.
1. “One day to come together to release the pressure.”
“The pressure” refers to “the pressures of daily work and life.”
2. “You can turn this world around and bring back all of those happy days.”
“Turning this world around” is a metaphor for “changing the world for the better.” “All of those happy days” probably means “the days when you were younger and more carefree.”
3. “Put your trouble down.”
This is a metaphor for “stop thinking about your troubles for a while.”
4. “Let love shine. And, we will find a way to come together to make things better.”
Here, “love” is characterized as a light with the power to bring people together to solve their problems.
5. “Come on, let’s celebrate. Just one day out of life. It would be so nice.”
She encourages everyone to take a “holiday” not only from work but from troubles, or from the daily routine of your “life.” Even if no troubles are solved, her reason is simply because “it would so nice.” Isn’t that the best reason of all?
CONCLUSION
We began our lessons in Pop Music English words and usage by studying the lyrics of three popular songs from from the 1960s: “Yesterday” and “Hey Jude” by the Beatles and “Oh, Pretty Woman” by Roy Orbison. Then, from the the 1970s, we studied the following three pop hits: “Love Will Keep Us Together” by Captain and Tennille, “Dancing Queen” by Abba, and “Emotion” by Samantha Sang.
Next, we moved to the 1980s with “Flashdance, What a Feeling!” by Irene Cara, “True” by Spandau Ballet, and, now, “Holiday” by Madonna. Then, we will continue to the 1990s to 2000s with the following songs: “Vogue” by Madonna; “Get the Party Started” by Pink; and “Pump It” by Black Eyed Peas.
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