Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday explained

Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday
Cover:Boney_M._-_Hooray_Hooray_(1979_single).jpg
Type:single
Artist:Boney M
Released:26 March 1979
Recorded:1979
Genre:Reggae, Euro disco
Length:3:56
Label:Hansa Records (FRG)
Producer:Frank Farian
Prev Title:Painter Man
Prev Year:1979
Next Title:El Lute / Gotta Go Home
Next Year:1979

"Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday" is a 1979 single by German Euro disco band Boney M. as an adaptation of the song, "Polly Wolly Doodle". Despite breaking their row of 7 consecutive German #1 singles, peaking at #4, the single was a big hit all over Europe, peaking at #3 in the UK. The song and its B-side, "Ribbons of Blue", were taken from the movie Disco Fever. "Ribbons of Blue" has a strong country feel with the addition of a pedal steel guitar. Even though the single cover announced the arrival of the next Boney M. album, Oceans of Fantasy, it would still be another six months before the album was released, and of the two songs, only "Ribbons of Blue" (penned by the group's drummer, Keith Forsey) was included and just in a one- or two-minute edit, depending on the pressing.

Single

Unlike other Boney M. singles, there appears to be no different mixes. In Germany, this was the first single to picture a specially designed label with a star-spangled Boney M. logo on a blue background. In the UK, the single was released in a picture sleeve – it was also pressed on a picture disc and a 12" clear yellow vinyl with card picture cover insert.

Reception

Smash Hits said, "If a knees-up in a holiday camp is your idea of a good time, then you might possibly - just possibly - enjoy this excruciatingly dreadful singalongaboney. But make no mistake, whether you love it or hate it, you will hear it.[1]

Chart positions

Releases

7" singles

12" single

"Hooray! Hooray! (Caribbean Night Fever)"

Hooray! Hooray! (Caribbean Night Fever)
Cover:Boney_M._2000_-_Hooray_Hooray_(Caribbean_Night_Fever)_(1999_single).jpg
Type:single
Artist:Boney M.
Album:20th Century Hits
Released:8 November 1999
Label:BMG Records (FRG)
Producer:Frank Farian
Prev Title:Daddy Cool '99
Prev Year:1999
Next Title:Sunny (Remix)
Next Year:2000

"Hooray! Hooray! (Caribbean Night Fever)" is a Double A-side Boney M. single from 1999 with a new remix of their 1979 hit "Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday" and a Megamix of their hits "Brown Girl in the Ring", "Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday" and "No Woman No Cry", all taken from their remix album 20th Century Hits, released at the same time. The single fared poorly, peaking at just #79 in the German charts and #80 in the Swiss charts. After producer Frank Farian had dropped the idea of launching an all-new Boney M. line-up with young people, he announced that original lead singer Liz Mitchell and her Boney M. line-up would promote the album before dropping this idea again. Consequently, the accompanying video featured a cartoon movie of the original group. The 12" single featured "Tropical" and "Carnival" mixes, both unavailable on CD.

Releases

CD

  1. "Caribbean Night Fever – Megamix" (Radio Edit) – 3:55
  2. "Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday" (Radio Edit) – 3:30
  3. "Caribbean Night Fever" (Extended Version) – 5:28
  4. "Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday" (Extended Version) – 4:26
  5. "Brown Girl in the Ring" (Remix) – 4:01

12" single

"Caribbean Night Fever – Megamix" (Extended Version) – 5:26 / "Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday" (Extended Version) – 4:26 / "Caribbean Tropical Mix" – 6:02 / "Caribbean Carnival Mix" – 6:02

Chart positions

Cover versions

(Hooray Hooray) It's a Cheeky Holiday
Type:single
Artist:Cheeky Girls
Album:Party Time
Released:[3]
Recorded:2002
Length:3:04
Label:Multiply
Producer:The Cheeky Boyz
Prev Title:Take Your Shoes Off
Prev Year:2003
Next Title:Have a Cheeky Christmas
Next Year:2003

See also

Notes and References

  1. Smash Hits . Singles. Cliff White. 11. 3 May 1979.
  2. Web site: Cash Box - International Best Sellers. worldradiohistory.com. Cash Box. 25 August 1979. p. 38..
  3. Key Releases: Singles. Music Week. 19. 2 August 2003. 8 September 2021.
  4. Web site: Cheeky Girls. Official Charts Company. 8 September 2021.