Gimmie Dat Throwback - Madonna - Holiday

"Holiday" is a song by American recording artist, song-writer and composer Madonna from her self-titled debut album. Released on September 7, 1983 by Sire Records, it later appeared remixed on the 1987 remix compilation You Can Dance and the 1990 greatest hits compilation The Immaculate Collection, and in its original form on the 2009 greatest hits album Celebration. Written by Curtis Hudson and Lisa Stevens of 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 in her debut album. After accepting the song, she and Jellybean worked on it and altered its composition by the addition of a piano solo developed by their friend, Fred Zarr.


"Holiday" features instrumentation from guitars, electronic handclaps and synthesized string arrangement while talking about the universal sentiment of taking a holiday. Universally revered by critics, commercially, the song was Madonna's first hit single when it entered the top twenty of the Billboard Hot 100 while peaking its dance chart. The song was also a crossover success, entering the top ten and top forty of many European countries. A re-release of the song in 1985 saw it peaking at two in the United Kingdom.

Madonna has performed "Holiday" on most of her tours—most recently at the 2009 leg of the Sticky & Sweet Tour. The song is generally included as a part of the encore or as the closing song of the show. Different performances of the song are included in the recorded releases of her tours. Cover versions by a number of artists have been released, and it has also appeared in the soundtrack of sitcoms like Will & Grace.