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Matt Wrack

Matthew D. Wrack (born 23 May 1962) is a British trade unionist and former firefighter. He was elected General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) in May 2005.

Politics
Wrack joined the Labour Party Young Socialists in Salford in 1978 and was a member of Farnworth Constituency Labour Party during the period in which the local MP John Roper left Labour to join the Social Democratic Party. Wrack subsequently moved to London, working for a time in the DHSS before joining the fire service.

Wrack was active in the Labour Party Young Socialists before going on to join the Socialist Party, which he had left by the time he was elected to lead the FBU in 2005. His union disaffiliated from the Labour Party in 2004 but reaffiliated in November 2015. In March 2016, he rejoined the Labour Party. In September 2017, he was listed at Number 87 in 'The 100 Most Influential People on the Left'.

Service in the London Fire Brigade
Wrack joined the London Fire Brigade in 1983. He was initially posted to Silvertown Fire Station in the east London borough of Newham, which was closed during a round of cuts in 2014. in 1988 he transferred to Kingsland Road fire station in Hackney where he spent most of his fire service career on the Green watch. Kingsland Fire Station was also closed during the cuts of 2014 and Wrack attended the protest at the closure. Wrack held various positions in the Fire Brigades Union at branch, area and regional level. He worked with Mick Shaw on the North East London Area Committee where both became at various stages secretary and chair. Shaw went on to become the FBU President.

Gillender Street Fire
In July 1991, whilst North East London Area Secretary of the FBU, Wrack attended the fatal fire at Gillender Street at which two firefighters, Terry Hunt and David Stokoe were killed. Wrack had previously worked with Hunt. Matt Wrack and the then FBU London Regional Secretary (later MP) Jim Fitzpatrick, investigated the incident and produced the FBU report. The London Fire Brigade was later served with two improvement notices by the Health and Safety Executive.

Organising in the FBU
Wrack was involved in various rank and file and left wing groupings within the FBU, including the Fire Brigades Broad Left (FBBL) which also involved the then union president, Ronnie Scott. The FBBL emerged with the background of the 1984/85 miners strike and during campaigns against the abolition of metropolitan county councils by the then Conservative government. The FBBL produced the bulletin Guideline between 1984 and 1989. Between 1991 and 1995, Wrack helped produce and edit Flame, a bulletin of Militant supporters within the fire service.

Homerton 11
In early 2000, Wrack was closely involved in the campaign around the FBU Homerton 11, eleven members who were suspended from work and disciplined by the London Fire Brigade management. The campaign by the FBU involved representation at the disciplinary cases and a workplace campaign to organise opposition and prepare for industrial action. Wrack and Andy Dark (current FBU Assistant General Secretary) acted as the principal disciplinary representatives whilst also working to build the wider campaign. Despite initial threats of dismissal, none of the eleven was dismissed and the campaign proved a turning point for the FBU in London in advance of the 2002/3 pay dispute.

2002/03 fire service pay dispute and election as general secretary
Wrack was the FBU London Regional Organiser during the 2002/3 industrial dispute over pay. He became a leading critic of the strategy followed by the FBU leadership at the time. After being elected London Regional Secretary in 2004, he was elected Assistant General Secretary in 2005. Wrack then defeated incumbent General Secretary Andy Gilchrist on 5 May 2005 after Gilchrist had served one five-year term. This followed widespread discontent over the settlement reached by Gilchrist with the government that ended the 2002-03 pay dispute. The election was marred by ill feeling arising from the recent strikes. Wrack won 63.9% (12,883 votes) of the vote.

Wrack stood for re-election in 2010 and was challenged by John McGhee, a longstanding ally of former general secretary Andy Gilchrist. Wrack was re-elected. He was elected to the General Council of the Trades Union Congress in 2006 and has been re-elected since. He was subsequently elected onto the TUC executive committee. He was returned unopposed for a third term as FBU general secretary in 2014.

Strikes over fire service 'modernisation'
In the years following Wrack's election the FBU saw an unprecedented number of local disputes as employers embarked on various 'modernisation' schemes which saw changes to shift systems and cuts to jobs number in local fire and rescue services. These included strikes in Suffolk, West Midlands, and Hertfordshire. The Hertfordshire dispute saw the decision of the Labour government to provide no military cover during industrial action, a decision which would have significant impact on future fire service industrial disputes. Strike action in Merseyside in 2006 led to an accusation from the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) that the union was pursuing a political agenda in an attempt to disrupt 'modernisation'.

In 2009 South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service threatened to dismiss and re-employ the workforce in order to impose non-agreed shift arrangements. This led to a further strike. The same threat of dismissal and re-employment to impose shift changes also led to strikes in London in 2010. The campaign included some large-scale protests and confrontations with strike-breakers, including incidents in which two FBU members were injured.

Pensions dispute with the coalition government
The general election of 2010 saw the creation of the coalition government. A central plank of its programme was the introduction of changes to public sector pensions. The FBU developed a campaign focused both on issues of fairness but also arguments around the needs of firefighting as an occupation and, in particular, the physical fitness standards which were required as a result. The FBU balloted members in 2013 and a 78% Yes vote was returned for strike action. The subsequent dispute was the longest in the history of the FBU. The campaign resulted in Parliamentary debate in December 2014, after the Labour front bench agreed to support a challenge to the new firefighter pension regulations.

Following the loss of the vote in Parliament, the FBU called a further strike in February 2015. This was accompanied by a mass rally which saw Parliament Square and Downing Street taken over by the protesters. The FBU held a recall Conference to debate options. No further strike action was called. After the election of the Conservative government in May 2015 the FBU launched a legal challenge over the changes, alleging age discrimination in the way 'transitional protection' arrangements were introduced.

Fire and rescue service campaigns and major incidents
In 2008, Wrack launched a new report for the FBU on firefighter deaths in the line of duty. This was accompanied by a lobby of Parliament. This was followed by a series of reports addressing challenges facing the fire and rescue service. These included reports into attacks on firefighters, floods (2007 and 2015),  and on the fire service role in relation to climate change. The FBU also challenged what it claimed to be a simplistic cost base approach of the Audit Commission to fire service matters.

The FBU also challenged the drift toward increasing emergency response times across UK fire and rescue services. Through these, Wrack and the FBU argued that the shift towards 'localism' and the ending of national standards and inspection were creating an increasingly fragmented fire and rescue service. This was an issue Wrack had addressed in a 2008 lecture to the Centre for Research in Employment Studies at the University of Hertfordshire. In December 2006 an explosion and fire took place at a fireworks storage facility at Marlie Farm in East Sussex. Two employees of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service were killed and a number injured. The FBU launched cases for compensation on behalf of the family of one of the deceased, Brian Wembridge, and on behalf of the injured firefighters. Despite losing the case in court, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service continued to refuse payment of compensation and appealed against the decision. Wrack condemned this move and the FBU launched a campaign for the appeal to be dropped and compensation paid in relation to those killed or injured at the incident.

Austerity, cuts and public ownership
Wrack has participated in the various campaigns against austerity since the election of the coalition government at the 2010 general election. While much of the left has focused on tax avoidance, Wrack has argued for an approach which also addresses issues of ownership of the economy. The FBU published pamphlets on public ownership of the banks and public ownership of the energy companies. Wrack successfully moved a motion at the TUC in 2012 calling for public ownership of the banks and financial services sector, the first time such a motion had been carried by the TUC in its history.

Climate change
Wrack spoke at the 2008 Campaign for Climate Change trade union conference and at the Time to Act demonstration on climate change in March 2015. Wrack led the FBUs response to the 2007 and 2013-14 floods, calling for a statutory duty on the FRS in England and Wales on flooding. Wrack commissioned two FBU reports on flooding in 2008 (for the Pitt Review) and in 2014 as well as the union's own climate change report in 2010.

Salary and Solidarity fund
Wrack pledged prior to election to take a salary "based on average earnings of FBU members". The salary of the FBU general secretary is set by the union's executive council and endorsed by the union's conference. It is based on a direct link to an Area Manager within the fire and rescue service, so that any pay rises reflect those agreed on behalf of FBU members. In order to meet his election pledge, Wrack has set aside a portion of his salary and placed it into a separate fund which is used to support trade union and labour movement campaigns, hardship funds, initiatives in the UK and around the world. Wrack was interviewed about his stance on his salary for a BBC Radio 4 documentary in 2015.

Personal life
Wrack was born in Manchester but has lived in east London since 1981. He lives in Leytonstone, East London. He has four grown up children.

title: Matt Wrack


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Holiday (Madonna song)

"Holiday" is a song by American singer Madonna from her self-titled debut album (1983). It was written by Curtis Hudson and Lisa Stevens-Crowder for their own musical act Pure Energy, and produced by John "Jellybean" Benitez. Hudson came up with the lyrics of the song while watching negative news on television, and together with Stevens-Crowder worked on the music. They recorded a demo, which was turned down by their label Prism Records. Afterwards, Benitez pitched the track and offered it to several artists, including former The Supremes singer Mary Wilson, but it was rejected. Around the same time, Benitez was working with Madonna on her album; after realizing they needed a song for the project, Benitez thought of "Holiday" and approached Hudson and Stevens-Crowder.

Recording for the song took place at New York City's Sigma Sound Studios; although Madonna and Benitez did not want the final version to differ too much from the demo, minor alterations were made in the composition, including the addition of a piano solo, which was done by their friend Fred Zarr. Described as a dance-pop, post-disco song, the lyrics talk about the "universal feeling" of needing and wanting to take a holiday. It features instrumentation from guitars, electronic clapping, a cowbell, and synthesized strings. Initially released as a double-sided single with "Lucky Star" in August, "Holiday" was published by Sire Records as the official third single from the album on September 7, 1983.

Critics reacted positively towards the track, deeming it infectious and a highlight from the album; in retrospective reviews, it is now considered to be among Madonna's best singles. "Holiday" performed well commercially: in the United States, it was considered Madonna's breakthrough, peaking at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, and reaching number one on the Dance Club Songs chart. It found success outside North America as well, reaching the top-ten in Australia, Belgium, Germany and Ireland, among others. In the United Kingdom it was released three times: first in 1984, then one year later, and finally in 1991; the last two times, it reached the chart's top five.

No official music video was shot for "Holiday"; to promote it, Madonna appeared on several nightclubs and television programs in the United States and the United Kingdom. She has also included the track in nearly all of her concert tours, the most recent being 2023―2024's the Celebration Tour. "Holiday" has been covered and sampled by several artists, and featured in television programs and movies.

Background
"Holiday" was written and composed by ex-spouses Curtis Hudson and Lisa Stevens-Crowder for their own group, Pure Energy. Stevens-Crowder created the initial chord progression on the keyboard as a ballad and, after a couple of days had passed, she decided to speed it up. Hudson came up with the Bassline and the hook Holiday, celebrate, while Stevens-Crowder added the line It would be so nice. They then recorded a demo, sung by Stevens-Crowder, which was presented to their label Prism Records, who decided not to record it. Hudson and Stevens-Crowder knew John "Jellybean" Benitez from Fun House nightclub, where he was the resident DJ, and had presented him songs before; Benitez had remixed some of the songs they had released as Pure Energy, and offered "Holiday" to Mary Wilson from The Supremes, Phyllis Hyman, and disco group The Ritchie Family, but they all turned it down. Hudson revealed that he and Stevens-Crowder were not involved with pitching the song, as they still had hope they could record it themselves.

In 1983, Madonna was recording her first studio album with Warner Music producer Reggie Lucas; the album was green-lit by Sire Records after the singer's debut single "Everybody" (1982) found success in the dance club scene. However, she soon realized that there was not enough material for a full length album ― the only songs available were "Everybody", "Burning Up", "Lucky Star", "Think of Me", "I Know It", and one called "Ain't No Big Deal". Lucas then brought two new songs to the project: "Physical Attraction" and "Borderline". Another issue arose when the singer learned Bray had sold "Ain't No Big Deal" to disco act Barracuda, thus rendering it unavailable for her album. Benitez thought of "Holiday" and approached Hudson and Stevens-Crowder. The couple was reluctant to the idea of Madonna recording the song, but changed their minds after meeting her.

Recording and composition
"Holiday" was recorded at the Sigma Sound Studios in New York. After she was given the demo, Madonna quickly recorded the vocals. Benitez assembled the musicians, hummed the music to them, and asked the singer to sing in a "very soulful approach". Hudson played guitar, and his brother Raymond the bass; Madonna herself played the cowbell that can be heard towards the beginning, while background vocals were provided by Norma Jean Wright and Tina Baker. Just before it was completed, Benitez and Madonna took the tape to their friend Fred Zarr, so he could add what the singer referred to as "Zarrisms": "creative flourishes" that would provide the "finishing touches", which ended up being a piano solo towards the end. In a 2012 interview with Blogcritics, Stevens-Crowder recalled that Madonna and Benitez tried to do everything the same way as the demo, as they felt it had a "certain magic" to it; minor changes included substituting Hudson's LinnDrum with Zarr's Oberheim DMX, and Madonna's vocals ― while Stevens-Crowder's were more gospel oriented, Madonna's were more pop; "she captured the soul I put into it, but she added her own flavor. She didn’t try to copy it. Madonna did Madonna", recalled Stevens-Crowder. The writers were not given production credits, since it was Benitez who presented the track to Sire Records and Madonna; although they pressed for one, they ultimately let it go since they felt that the song would be their chance to get recognized as efficient songwriters.

Musically, "Holiday" has been described as a dance-pop, post-disco song devoid of any particular structure. According to the sheet music published by Alfred Publishing Inc., it is set in the time signature of common time with a medium tempo of 116 beats per minute. It is composed in the key of B minor, with Madonna's vocal range spanning from B3 to C♯5. The song follows the chord progression of G–A–Bm in the first line, when Madonna sings Holiday!, and changes to G–A–F♯m–G in the second line, when she sings Celebrate!. The chord sequence has been compared to that of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" (1984). The refrain is sung by the singer in a "completely deadpan" way, while for the verses, she uses her lower register to give the lyrics a "more positive spin". Lyrically, it talks about the "universal sentiment" that everybody needs a holiday from their daily lives. Present throughout the song are "Chic-styled" guitar flickers, electronic clapping, and synthesized strings.

Release
A double-sided single of "Holiday" and "Lucky Star" was first made available on mid August 1983. According to Rikki Rooksby, author of The Complete Guide to the Music of Madonna, the label wanted to release "Lucky Star" as a stand-alone single, but changed their mind after "Holiday" began receiving heavy radio play and reached the first spot of Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart. "Holiday" was officially released as the third stand-alone single from the Madonna album on September 7, 1983. Initial pressings didn't feature an image of the singer on the cover; Rooksby wrote that this was an intentional move from the record company, as they wanted to play with that idea and didn't want the public to find out Madonna wasn't black.

In the United Kingdom, "Holiday" was first released in January 1984. A second release was then done in the summer of 1985, during the "height of Madonnamania"; finally, in 1991 it was re-issued for a third time to promote The Immaculate Collection (1990), Madonna's first greatest hits compilation. This third release came accompanied by The Holiday Collection, a four track EP that included the full-length original version of "Holiday", and three songs not featured in The Immaculate Collection: "True Blue" (1986), "Who's That Girl", and "Causing a Commotion" (1987). "Holiday" was added to Madonna's third greatest-hits album, Celebration (2009), while an edited version had been previously featured on The Immaculate Collection. A dub version of "Holiday" can be found in You Can Dance (1987), Madonna's first remix compilation. Three decades later, the 7" version of the single was included on Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones (2022), the singer's third remix compilation.

Critical reception
"Holiday" has received positive reviews since its release. Rooksby deemed it, "as infectious as the plague. One listen and you could not get the damn hook out of your mind". On a similar note, it was described as a "festive, infectious anthem [that] caught fire almost immediately [...] in dance clubs all across the country" by J. Randy Taraborrelli, author of Madonna: An Intimate Biography. Writing on Encyclopedia Madonnica, Matthew Rettenmund referred to "Holiday" as a "prime example of Madonna's reliance on infectious optimism", that has "aged remarkably well". It was considered a "simple song with a fresh appeal and a good mood" by author Mary Cross. For Lucy O'Brien, it is the song that "cemented [Madonna's] style. With its bubbling Latin undertow, crunchy bassand strings, and Fred Zarr's elegant closing piano riff, it's one of her most persuasive numbers". Adam Sexton, author of Desperately Seeking Madonna: In Search of the Meaning of the World's Most Famous Woman (1992), named it a "loping disco ditty" with an "ineffable charm".

To the staff of Billboard, "Holiday" is a "pretty standard dance tune, but [Madonna] has the pipes and presence to make [it] special". On the same vein, Don Shewey from Rolling Stone named it simple but clever. AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine singled out "Holiday" as "effervescent", and as one of the "great songs" on his review of the Madonna album; from the same portal, Stewart Mason highlighted its "undeniable electronic groove". According to Entertainment Weekly's Jim Farber, "['Holiday'] satisfied both worlds". While Slant Magazines Sal Cinquemani deemed it airy, it was referred to as "sparkly" by the Portland Mercurys Mark Lore. From Pitchfork, Jill Mapes applauded the song's "feel-good wiggle", and opined it "helped resituate electronic dance-pop at Top 40’s apex".

While reviewing The Immaculate Collection on its 25th anniversary, the Daily Review's James Rose referred to "Holiday" as a "fairly sappy, empty [...] conventional '80s dance number", with vocals that are "ordinary, even chirpy", and "gidgetish" lyrics. On his review of the 2001 re-release of Madonna, Michael Paoletta from Billboard pointed out that, "such tracks as 'Holiday' [...] remain irresistible". The same opinion was shared by The Quietus' Matthew Lindsay, who also added that it "bubble[s] with joie de vie", and compared it favorably to Kool & the Gang's "Celebration" (1980). A 2012 poll conducted of Rolling Stone readers found the song to be Madonna's tenth best, as well as one of her "most enduring". In another occasion, the magazine named it the singer's 22nd best song. In 2013, while reviewing the Madonna album on its 30th anniversary, Billboard's Keith Caulfield referred to "Holiday" as the singer's breakthrough. It was named Madonna's ninth and eight best song by Gay Star News' Joe Morgan and Matthew Jacobs from HuffPost, respectively; the latter wrote that, although it didn't reach the Hot 100's top ten, "it's certainly her most infectious song". For The Arizona Republic's Ed Masley, "the production hasn’t aged as well as, say, 'Into the Groove', but the melody? That’s timeless"; he deemed it Madonna's 20th best.

"Holiday" is considered a "serotonin-raising pop classic that will be filling dance floors at gay bars and family gatherings from now unto eternity" by Variety's Mike Was, and the "ultimate feel-good party anthem" by author Marc Andrews. Jude Rogers, from The Guardian, described it as a "blissfully simple" song that has "never lost its freshness or warmth"; she placed it at number 8 of her ranking of Madonna singles. "Holiday" is Madonna's third and second best song according to Entertainment Weeklys Chuck Arnold and PinkNews Nayer Missim, respectively: the former wrote that, "it's the prototype for everything from 'Into the Groove' to 'Living for Love'", while the latter referred to it as a "jagged slice of irresistible disco funk" that foreshadowed Madonna's work with Nile Rodgers. Also from PinkNews, Marcus Wratten deemed "Holiday" the second best song on Madonna, adding: "Most of the songs [on the album] stand the test of time, but none do it with such ease as 'Holiday' [...] far and away one of her most catchy songs [...] [it] remains one of Madonna's brightest, breeziest hits". For Enio Chola from PopMatters, it is "too infectious to not dance and sing along to, and too iconic to ignore", as well as the singer's 11th best. In Slant Magazine's ranking of Madonna's 82 singles, where "Holiday" came in at 19, Paul Schrodt singled out its "immaculate" arrangement, further adding: "Madonna’s soulful vocal take [...] as if she were taking on the world’s problems as her own, is what’s made this hit outlive its seemingly superficial charms". For the staff of Billboard it's Madonna's seventh best song, as well as one of her "most carefree". Finally, The National Student's Emily D'Souza named it one of Madonna's most underrated songs, as it gets "overshadowed by its arguably overrated counterpart 'Like a Virgin'", and "should exceed the pop-prestige it has received".

Chart performance
On August 27, 1983, the "Holiday" / "Lucky Star" release debuted on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart at number 31. Almost one month later, it reached the chart's top spot ―where it spent five weeks― becoming Madonna's very first number one on any Billboard chart. By the end of 1983, "Holiday" / "Lucky Star" was ranked third on the Dance Club Songs chart. On the week of October 29, "Holiday", as a stand-alone single, entered the Hot 100 at number 88, ultimately peaking at number 16 on the week of January 28, 1984, and remaining on the chart for twenty one weeks in total. On the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, "Holiday" peaked at number 25 and was on the chart for 18 weeks. It then came in at number 79 on the Hot 100's year-end chart for 1984. During a 2005 interview with CBS host Harry Smith, Madonna listed "Holiday" among her favorite top-ten hits, but was corrected and told that it had actually peaked at number 16. In Canada, the single debuted in the 48th position of RPM's Top Singles chart on the week of January 21, 1984; almost three months later, it peaked at number 32.

In the United Kingdom, "Holiday" debuted at the 53rd position of the UK Singles Chart on January 14, 1984, eventually peaking at number six on the week of February 18. Following the second release in 1985, the single peaked at number two, just behind Madonna's own "Into the Groove", and was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). In 1991, "Holiday" peaked at number five. With over 700,000 copies sold, "Holiday" is Madonna's fourth most successful single in the United Kingdom, according to the Official Charts Company. In Australia, "Holiday" entered the Kent Music Report's top 50 in April 1984, eventually peaking at number 4 and spending a total of 16 weeks on the chart. The song debuted on the 37th position of New Zealand's chart on February 12, 1984, and peaked at number 7 almost two months later.

During its initial release, "Holiday" reached the top 3 in Finland, Italy and Ireland; in other countries such as Belgium and the Netherlands, it reached the charts' top-ten. By the end of September 1985, the single had sold, according to Music & Media magazine, around 1.5 million copies in Europe. The 1991 release saw less success in Belgium and France, barely reaching the charts' top 40. In 2012, Pure Energy revealed that the success of "Holiday" had helped them financially, having used the money from royalties to move out of the boarding house they were living in at the time.

Live performances
On June 4, 1983, Madonna performed "Holiday" at New York's Studio 54. On October 13, she sang the single at the Camden Palace in London. The following year, she performed "Holiday" on British television program Top of the Pops, where she was joined by her brother Christopher Ciccone. She also sang it on Discoring, The Tube, Manchester's The Haçienda, and on American television series American Bandstand and Solid Gold; in some countries, the performance from the latter show was published as music video to promote the single release.

With the exception of 2019–2020's Madame X Tour, "Holiday" has been included in nearly all of Madonna's concert tours. On the Virgin Tour (1985), it was the second number: Madonna wore lace leggings and bra, a colorful jacket, crucifixes on her neck and ears, and was joined by two male dancers. From the Observer–Reporter, Terry Hazlett pointed out that the crowd reacted to the number as if it "were a World Series catch". The performance of the song at Detroit's Cobo Arena was included on the Madonna Live: The Virgin Tour video release. On July 13, 1985, Madonna sang "Holiday" at the Philadelphia Live Aid benefit concert; her outfit consisted of flowery trousers, a cutoff shirt, and long white jacket. Halfway through the performance, the singer joked that she would not take her jacket off because, "[the media] might hold it against me ten years from now". Two years later, it was the final number of the Who's That Girl World Tour; decked out in a red flamenco dress, Madonna would stop the performance halfway through and ask the crowd to throw combs onto the stage, so she could fix her sweaty hair and finish the song. Robert Hilburn, for the Los Angeles Times, said the performance emphasized the concert's "celebrative theme". Two different performances can be found on the videos Who's That Girl: Live in Japan and Ciao Italia: Live from Italy, filmed in Tokyo on June and in Turin on September, respectively.

Madonna wore a Jean Paul Gaultier-designed Polka dot ensemble during the song's performance on 1990's Blond Ambition World Tour, which also sampled the Fatback Band's "(Are You Ready) Do the Bus Stop" (1975). Jon Pareles from The New York Times criticized Madonna's vocals during the number, saying she sounded like a "bad Barbra Streisand imitation". Three different performances can be found in Blond Ambition Japan Tour 90, taped in Yokohama, Blond Ambition World Tour Live, taped in Nice, and in the documentary Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991); the latter performance was released as music video to promote the documentary and received four nominations at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards. On the Girlie Show (1993), "Holiday" was performed as a military cadence. The singer and dancers wore long blue trenchcoats and, halfway through, did a foot drill while an American flag was hung in the background. Pareles compared the song's rearrangement to the work of John Philip Sousa. The performance recorded on November 19, 1993, at the Sydney Cricket Ground, was included on The Girlie Show: Live Down Under home video release (1994).

"Holiday" was sung on the second promotional concert for Music (2000), which took place on December at London's Brixton Academy; Madonna wore a top imprinted with the names of son Rocco and daughter Lourdes for the performance. On 2001's Drowned World Tour, it was mashed up with Stardust's "Music Sounds Better with You" (1998). The singer wore a white fur coat, a rhinestone T-shirt with the words "Mother" in the front and "F*cker" in the back, and a burgundy velvet fedora. Reviewing the New York concert, Sal Cinquemani referred to the number as one of the "biggest crowd-pleasers of the evening". The performance on August 26, at Detroit's Palace of Auburn Hills, was recorded and released on the live video album Drowned World Tour 2001. For the Re-Invention World Tour three years later, it was reworked as a "tribal drum dance"; the number saw the singer and dancers decked out in kilts, and walk on an elevated V-shaped ramp over the audience. A video of multiple flags, that eventually morph into a single one, played on the backdrop screens as confetti fell from the roof. The number was described as the night's "most genuinely thrilling moment" by the Manchester Evening News' Paul Taylor. A performance of "Holiday" from this tour can be found on the I'm Going to Tell You a Secret live album and documentary (2006).

On 2006's Confessions Tour, "Holiday" was sampled on an introduction video that led to "Music", along with "Borderline" (1984), "Dress You Up" (1985), and "Erotica" (1992). During the Toronto concert of 2008's Sticky & Sweet Tour, Madonna did an a capella rendition of "Holiday" per the crowd's request. It was then added to the tour's 2009 extension, where it was performed on a conveyor belt, and sampled the then-upcoming "Celebration", as well as "Everybody". The number also included a tribute to Michael Jackson, who had passed shortly before the tour began; a medley of "Billie Jean" and "Wanna Be Startin' Something" (1983) played as dancer Kento Mori, dressed in Jackson's trademark black and white outfit, with a wide-brimmed hat and white gloves, began performing his most famous moves, including moonwalking across the stage. On the MDNA Tour (2012), "Holiday" was featured on a video that led to "Turn Up the Radio"; it was also sung on the New York, Vancouver, and Pittsburgh concerts. During the final show in Córdoba, Argentina, Madonna did an impromptu rendition of "Holiday" with a megaphone after a broken generator caused a 40-minute power outage.

Madonna appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on April 9, 2015, and sang "Holiday" using classroom instruments, alongside American band The Roots and host Jimmy Fallon. That same year, it was performed as the final song of the Rebel Heart Tour. The singer wore a red, white and blue Americana-themed costume, and draped herself in an American Flag. She strutted across the catwalk while the dancers, who were dressed "Gatsby-style", danced and paraded with "jubilant relief". The number ended with Madonna being strapped onto a harness and "flown offstage like Peter Pan". The performance was deemed a "triumphant" encore by Ed Maseley. By contrast, Joey DiGuglielmo from the Washington Blade deemed it anti-climactic. The performance at the March 19–20, 2016 shows in Sydney's Allphones Arena was recorded and released in Madonna's fifth live album, Rebel Heart Tour (2017). An acoustic "Holiday" was the final song of the 2016 Madonna: Tears of a Clown show: The singer wore a clown's costume and played ukelele. In Miami, a fan got the chance to hold the microphone while she sang.

On the Celebration Tour of 2023―2024, "Holiday" was interpolated with Chic's "I Want Your Love" (1978). The performance sees Madonna and her troupe dancing underneath a big disco ball, on top of a circular stage set up to resemble New York's Danceteria and Paradise Garage. Guest star Bob the Drag Queen plays a bouncer that won't let Madonna enter the club. The ending showcases "how AIDS permeated joyous queer spaces around the globe in the '80s and '90s", as noted by PinkNews: The dancers slowly drop to the floor, Madonna disappears behind the disco ball as the song's "dying strings echo away like a flashback in a movie", giving way to "Live to Tell" (1986).

Cover versions and usage
In 1986, MC Miker G & DJ Sven released "Holiday Rap", a rap take on Madonna's original; this single achieved commercial success, peaking within the top ten in several European countries like France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, and Sweden. The 1999 tribute album Virgin Voices Vol. 1: A Tribute To Madonna includes a cover by British synthpop band Heaven 17. In 2002, French–Dutch group Mad'House did an Eurodance version of "Holiday" that was included on their album Absolutely Mad. Five years later, "Holiday" was recorded by Girl Authority for their album Road Trip. Kelis performed a mashup of "Holiday" and her own single "Milkshake (2003) during a 2010 concert in London.

"Holiday" was sung by Adam Sandler's character in The Wedding Singer (1998). Two years later, the single's bassline was sampled by The Avalanches in their album Since I Left You. In 2003, "Holiday" was featured in Rugrats Go Wild. Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation named a 2003 two-part episode after "Holiday". The next year, samples of the track were incorporated in the song "He's Hot!", recorded by the cast of Will & Grace. Jessica Simpson's 2006 single "A Public Affair" was criticized for its strong similarities to "Holiday", and labeled a "rip-off";  regarding the criticism, Simpson told MTV: "I think people are ready to hear something that [Madonna] used to do [...] [it] wasn't a sample or something I meant to do, but she did influence me and still does today". Finally, in October 2020, actress Cassandra Peterson released a music video for her song "Don't Cancel Halloween"; set to the tune of "Holiday", Peterson ―as her character Elvira― bemoans that the COVID-19 pandemic has ruined Halloween, her favorite time of the year.

Track listing and formats

 * US 12" single – Promo Only
 * 1) A. "Lucky Star" - 5:30
 * 2) B. "Holiday" - 6:08

 * US 7" single
 * 1) "Holiday" (7-inch edit) – 4:10
 * 2) "I Know It" (LP version) – 3:45

 * European 12" single
 * 1) "Holiday" (LP version) – 6:07
 * 2) "I Know It" (LP version) – 3:45

 * UK 7" single
 * 1) "Holiday" (7-inch edit) – 4:10
 * 2) "Think of Me" (LP version) – 4:55

 * UK 12" single
 * 1) "Holiday" (LP version) – 6:07
 * 2) "Think of Me" (LP version) – 4:53

 * UK 7", 12" picture disc, and cassette single (1991)
 * 1) "Holiday" (7-inch edit) – 4:10
 * 2) "True Blue" (LP version) – 4:17
 * UK 12" single (1991)

 * 1) "Holiday" (LP version) – 6:09
 * 2) "Where's the Party" (You Can Dance remix edit) – 4:22
 * 3) "Everybody" (You Can Dance remix edit) – 4:57

 * UK cassette and The Holiday Collection (1991)
 * 1) "Holiday" (LP version) – 6:09
 * 2) "True Blue" (LP version) – 4:17
 * 3) "Who's That Girl" (LP version) – 3:58
 * 4) "Causing a Commotion" (Silver Screen single mix) – 4:06

 * Germany 12" and CD single; UK CD single (1995)
 * 1) "Holiday" (LP version) – 6:07
 * 2) "Lucky Star" (LP version) – 5:37

Credits and personnel
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.

 * Madonna – vocals, cowbell
 * Curtis Hudson – songwriter, guitar
 * Lisa Stevens-Crowder – songwriter
 * John "Jellybean" Benitez – producer
 * Fred Zarr – drum programming, Moog bass, synthesizer, acoustic piano
 * Raymond Hudson – bass
 * Bashiri Johnson – percussion
 * Tina Baker – background vocals
 * Norma Jean Wright – background vocals

title: Holiday (Madonna song)


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User talk:Nshiell

In The Beginning  Nicholi Shiell, otherwise known as Nshiell, currently resides in Canada. He works in a tech support call center, but wishes he didn't. In August 2005 Nicholi's dream came true, after his employment was terminated due to downsizing.

title: User talk:Nshiell


text:
Xesibeland

Xesibeland was a region in South Africa lying between Griqualand East and Pondoland the area around Mount Ayliff. Xesibeland was the traditional region of the Xesibe people (AmaXesibe), closely related to the Mpondo people and the Mpondomise.

History
Xesibeland had been formerly part of Mpondoland. On 20 October 1886 armed Mpondo people invaded Xesibeland, burning kraals and causing much disorder. They resented the loss of Xesibeland, an area that was not so crowded as other parts of Mpondoland and thus could have supported a greater population. About 10,000 more Mpondos concentrated on the border after the invasion, but after occasional battles and retreats by the Mpondo, order was eventually restored in December that same year. At that time the leader of the Mpondos was Umquieka. Xesibeland was annexed by the British to Cape Colony in 1886.

title: Xesibeland


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Talk:Commando (video game)

Untitled
The screenshot is not from the C64 version, and I don't recognize the version. It could possibly be the arcade version. Mikkel 18:34, 22 July 2005 (UTC)
 * Nevermind, I looked at the wrong picture. :P Mikkel 18:35, 22 July 2005 (UTC)
 * If I remember well, part of he success of hte game is that (on the Amstrad versions at least) the gates were almost impossible to pass from the 5th or so. One of the hardest games I ever played.--SidiLemine 12:00, 2 September 2006 (UTC)

Revamped c64 version
http://csdb.dk/release/?id=130973

I'm not a wiki-person, so hopefully someone can take a squiz at this and update accordingly.

116.212.219.50 (talk) 04:05, 28 May 2014 (UTC)

Super Grenade
Wasn't there a Super Grenade in the NES version? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 66.191.17.168 (talk) 02:46, 26 January 2007 (UTC).

Yes, which destroyed all on-screen enemies at the time, and there was also an unlimited-grenade bonus in underground bunkers (though if the player is shot and killed, they lose the upgrade when they respawn) TyVulpine (talk) 20:16, 6 March 2010 (UTC)

Prequel to Bionic Commando?
In the PS2 compilation Capcom Classics (volume 1) it is stated that Bionic Commando featured the same character as in this game. So technically isn't Commando a prequel? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.206.124.190 (talk) 09:52, 9 January 2008 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Commando.gif
Image:Commando.gif is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 20:23, 13 February 2008 (UTC)

New super 3D world 100.33.159.206 (talk) 16:58, 21 January 2024 (UTC)

title: Talk:Commando (video game)


text: File:Alan scott-ross.jpg

title: File:Alan scott-ross.jpg


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User talk:Mitte

Welcome!
Hello, Mitte, and welcome to Wikipedia! Thanks for your contributions; I hope you like it here and decide to stay. We're glad to have you in our community! Here are a few good links for newcomers:

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I hope you enjoy editing and being a Wikipedian. Although we all make mistakes, please keep in mind what Wikipedia is not. If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to see the help pages or add a question to the village pump. The Community Portal can also be very useful.

Happy editing!

-- Sango  123  22:46, July 15, 2005 (UTC)

P.S. Feel free to leave a message on my talk page if you need help with anything or simply wish to say hello. :)

title: User talk:Mitte


text:
User:Kommunaut~enwiki

Kommunaut:

Kommunaut.

title: User:Kommunaut~enwiki