Tag Archives: Holiday

Today in Madonna History: February 12, 1984

February 12, 2026 By in 1984, February Tags: , , , , 1 Comment

the-dance-show-madonna-5 the-dance-show-madonna-3 the-dance-show-madonna-4 the-dance-show-madonna-1 the-dance-show-madonna-christopher-2

On February 12 1984, Madonna was featured on The Dance Show, a syndicated American television variety show.

She appeared in a segment from New York performing Holiday and Borderline, followed by a brief interview in which she introduced her brother and backup dancer, Christopher. Borderline was also included in a second episode that aired a few months later on April 25th, as the single was climbing the charts.

Despite an extensive list of promotional appearances for her first album, this was Madonna’s only known television studio performance of Borderline until she revisited the song during a 2016 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

Today in Madonna History: January 28, 1984

January 29, 2026 By in 1984, January Tags: , , , , , , , 1 Comment

holiday-16-peak-billboard-solid-gold-1 holiday-16-peak-billboard-solid-gold-2 holiday-16-peak-billboard-solid-gold-3 holiday-16-peak-billboard-solid-gold-4 holiday-16-peak-billboard-solid-gold-5 holiday-16-peak-billboard-solid-gold-6

On January 28 1984, Madonna’s single, Holiday hit #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA.

Holiday was released on September 7, 1983, and became Madonna’s first hit single and remained on the charts from Thanksgiving to Christmas in 1983. It was Madonna’s first song to enter the Billboard Hot 100, at 88 on the issue dated October 29, 1983 and reached a peak of 16 on January 28, 1984 and was on the chart for 21-weeks. The song debuted at eight on the Hot Dance Club Play chart on the issue dated November 2, 1983 and was Madonna’s first number one single on the Hot Dance Club Play chart remaining at the top for five weeks.

In the United Kingdom, Holiday has been released three times as a single; in January 1984, reaching number six, and in August 1985 reaching number 2 (only being kept from number one by her own Into the Groove single). Its third release in 1991 included new artwork to promote The Immaculate Collection with a limited edition EP titled The Holiday Collection, which contained tracks omitted from the compilation; this version peaked at number five.

The photos for this post are from Madonna’s Solid Gold performance of Holiday.

Today in Madonna History: October 29, 1983

October 30, 2025 By in 1983, October Tags: , , , , 1 Comment

madonna_holiday_oct_29-83-a madonna_holiday_oct_29-83-b madonna_holiday_oct_29-83-c

On October 29 1983, Madonna’s Holiday entered the Billboard Hot 100 US singles chart at #88.

Holiday was released on September 7, 1983, and became Madonna’s first hit single, reaching a peak of #16 on January 18, 1984.

Since arriving on the Hot 100 with Holiday, Madonna has earned a total of 56 chart hits (so far), including a record 38 top 10 singles. Madonna has more top 10 hits than any other artist in the 55-year history of the chart. The Beatles are in second place, with 34 top 10 hits.

Lyrics:

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
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

If we took a holiday
(Oo yeah, oo yeah)
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

You can turn this world around
And bring back all of those happy days
Put your troubles down
It’s time to celebrate

Let love shine
And we will find
A way to come together
Can 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

Oo yeah, oo yeah
Come on, lets celebrate
We have got to get together

Holiday
Celebrate
Holiday
Celebrate

If we took a holiday
(Oh yeah, oh yeah)
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

Holiday
(Oo yeah, oo yeah)
Celebrate
(Come on, let’s celebrate)
Holiday
(Just one day out of life)
Celebrate
(It would be so nice)

Holiday
(Holiday, celebration)
Celebrate
(Come together in every nation)
Celebrate
(Holiday, celebration)
Holiday
(Come together in every nation)

Holiday
Celebrate
Holiday
Celebrate

Holiday
(We got to get together)
Celebrate
(Take some time to celebrate)
Holiday
(Just one day out of life)
Celebrate
(It would be so nice)
Holiday
(Holiday, celebration)
Celebrate
(Come together in every nation)
Holiday
(Holiday, celebration)

Today in Madonna History: October 13, 1983

October 13, 2025 By in 1983, October Tags: , , , 1 Comment

camden-palace-2 camden-palace-4

On October 13 1983, Madonna performed Burning Up, Everybody and Holiday at Camden Palace’s Thursday Party Night in London, England.

The following article about Madonna’s performance was originally published on October 15 1983 by The Guardian:

This could be the way pop promotion is going – new artists launched not with a full concert, but with the live equivalent of a video clip.

The scene at the Camden Palace in the early hours was like something from a British version of Flashdance. The place was packed with the usual exotically dressed clientele – there to see and be seen rather than just listen to the music – when the dancing was interrupted by what’s known on the American disco scene as a “track date.”

Pioneered by the likes of Grace Jones, this is a cut-price promotion device in which a disco artist suddenly appears for half an hour, singing live to backing tapes.

This demonstration was by a white girl in her early twenties, known simply as Madonna, a dancer who moved to New York from the Mid-West as an ambitious teenager and is currently the most important new figure in the American dance scene.

She succeeded partly because she makes great records and partly because she has turned the boring idea of a track date into an exotic event.

Dressed in holocaust chic – black top, black skirt and leggings, lots of bare midriff, and hair in ringlets – she sang well, with a husky, black-sounding voice, and danced even better. She hurtled around the stage, mostly swivelling her hips like a belly-dancer while performing her songs like Lucky Star and the stirring Holiday.

Given a full set and a live band behind her, Madonna would seem to have the makings of a major star, so it’s no wonder she is now being managed by the man who guided Michael Jackson’s recent career.

camden-palace-5

Today in Madonna History: September 24, 1983

September 24, 2025 By in 1983, September Tags: , , 1 Comment

holiday-madonna-train-0 holiday-madonna-train-2 holiday-madonna-train-3 holiday-madonna-train-4

On September 24 1983, Madonna’s Holiday hit #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in the USA. Holiday was Madonna’s first #1 single on the dance charts.

Today in Madonna History: August 3, 1985

August 3, 2025 By in 1985, August Tags: , , 1 Comment

into_the_groove_holiday

On August 3 1985, Madonna’s Into The Groove hit #1 in the UK and Holiday hit #2 in the UK – Madonna was the only female artist ever to occupy the top 2 positions simultaneously on the UK charts.

Today in Madonna History: July 13, 1985

July 13, 2025 By in 1985, July Tags: , , , , , , , 1 Comment

ER1027_MADONNA

On July 13 1985, Bette Midler introduced Madonna at Live Aid’s charity concert in Philadelphia:

“I want you to know I have no idea why I was asked to introduce this next act — because you all know, I am the soul of good taste and decorum.  However we are thrilled to be able to introduce to you today a woman whose name has been on everyone’s lips for the last six months. A woman who pulled herself up by her bra straps and has been known to let them down occasionally.”

Madonna was happy to tell the global audience of 1.9 billion viewers: “I ain’t taking off shit today.”