Take a vacation back to 1980 with Nazareth's surprisingly catchy and pop-friendly rock anthem.
The Song
"Holiday" is a track by the Scottish hard rock band Nazareth, released in 1980. It served as a single from their eleventh studio album, Malice in Wonderland, which was also released in February 1980. The song represented a slight departure from the band's heavier sound, opting for a more radio-friendly, AOR (Album-Oriented Rock) approach.
Unusually for a rock track, "Holiday" was co-written by all five members of Nazareth at the time: Dan McCafferty (lead vocals), Manny Charlton (guitar), Zal Cleminson (guitar), Pete Agnew (bass), and Darrell Sweet (drums). The song's lyrics offer a witty send-up of the excesses of wealthy rock and roll stars and the associated social scene, touching on themes like luxury cars, questionable cosmetic surgery, and the pressures of their lifestyle. The production of the song was handled by Jeff "Skunk" Baxter.
The Artist
Nazareth is a long-standing Scottish hard rock band that formed in 1968. Originally known as The Shadettes, they changed their name to Nazareth, inspired by a line from The Band's song "The Weight": "I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead..." This "Nazareth" referred to Nazareth, Pennsylvania, home of Martin Guitars.
The band achieved its greatest worldwide success with their 1975 album Hair of the Dog, which featured the hit single "Love Hurts". By 1980, with the release of Malice in Wonderland, the band had added a second guitarist, Zal Cleminson, formerly of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. This period saw Nazareth attempting a more commercial sound, which contributed to "Holiday" becoming a minor hit.
Chart Performance
"Holiday" found moderate success on the charts upon its release in 1980. The single peaked at No. 87 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.
In Canada, the song performed even better, reaching No. 21 on the RPM Top Singles chart. It also achieved notable regional success, peaking at #6 on Vancouver's CFUN chart, #4 in Lancaster (PA), and #5 in Toronto.
Cultural Impact
While not one of Nazareth's most iconic global hits like "Love Hurts," "Holiday" gained significant exposure through the burgeoning medium of music television. MTV notably played the video in heavy rotation for a period after its release. This helped cement the song's place as a recognizable, albeit sometimes "forgotten," track from the early 1980s.
The song's lyrical themes, playfully mocking the rock star lifestyle and the excesses of the wealthy, resonated with audiences and offered a slightly different perspective from the band's earlier, harder-edged material. Its inclusion on compilation albums like Nazology: Best of Nazareth in 2002 further attests to its enduring appeal within the band's catalog.
Fun Facts
- The music video for "Holiday" features a young man playing the arcade game Super Road Champions, a game made by Model Racing in 1978. This makes it one of the early music videos to capture the emerging video game craze.
- The chorus of "Holiday" includes the memorable line, "Mama, mama, please, no more..." which became a recognizable hook for many listeners.
- Zal Cleminson, who co-wrote "Holiday" and played guitar on the Malice in Wonderland album, was known for his distinctive white makeup and flamboyant stage outfits during his time with The Sensational Alex Harvey Band before joining Nazareth.
- After the release of "Holiday," Zal Cleminson left Nazareth and subsequently toured with artists such as Midge Ure and Bonnie Tyler.
- Lead singer Dan McCafferty, known for his powerful and recognizable voice, retired from touring with Nazareth in 2013 due to health issues.