For My Sunday Song #183, we are going to discuss a song from the self-titled gem called “Hooligan’s Holiday”. The song was the first single off their 1994 album and was the first song the world got to hear with new lead singer John Corabi. The song did pretty well reaching #10 on the U.S. Rock charts, but overall the album was a dud, sales wise. I find it to be quite a satisfying record and one of Crue’s best although the band now ignores this album. But it is an album that shouldn’t be ignored.
The title of the song come from the news that Nikki was watching during the LA Riots where the broadcaster stated that the rioters were on a Hooligan’s Holiday. Nikki liked it so much he and John based a song around that concept. The song is basically about living large and doing whatever you want. What started out as a demo between John and Nikki that no one wanted to do, became the first single and one of the more popular songs on the album.
The song is a pure, fun, rock song. It sounds like Crue at a time when Crue were going through major changes with a new lead singer. It opens with Mick and Tommy hitting a few riffs and fills and turns in to a ball buster when the whole band kicks in. The song has balls and delivers quite a punch. John Corab’s gravelly voice gives the vocals an edge of rebellion and toughens up the sound of the band without the high vocals they would have had with Vince Neil. It was the perfect combination the band needed and for me a shot of adrenaline the band needed.
Give the song a listen and let me know what you think. This is often an overlooked album when it shouldn’t be as it is all a solid affair and “Hooligan’s Holiday” is one of the reasons this is a favorite album of mine. Let me know what you think and have a Happy Hooligan Sunday!!
“Hooligan’s Holiday”
Drop dead beauties stompin’ up a storm, lines of hell on our face.
Bruised bad apples crawling through the night, busted loose, runaway, oo, runaway.
Always, always a thrill without a motive.
30 days, such a haze.
Everybody wants a piece of the action.
Everybody wants a piece of the pie.
We’re on a holiday, hooligan’s holiday.
I’m on a holiday, hooligan’s.
I gotta get away, hooligan’s holiday.
We’re on a holiday, hooligan’s, yeah.
Cross-eyed derelicts comin’, iron horse
between our legs.
Tattoos, black manes flowin’.
Everyday’s a holidays.
Everybody wants a piece of the action.
Everybody wants a piece of the pie.
They want a piece of mind.
We’re on a holiday, hooligan’s holiday.
I’m on a holiday, hooligan’s.
I gotta get away, hooligan’s holiday.
We’re on a holiday, hooligan’s.
Modern times and new blood’s pumpin’.
Only the strong survive.
This has always been my favorite Crüe record. I wish this lineup would have lasted the test of time.
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Me too! I wish they still gave this album love and would release on vinyl. I had to buy the John Corabi Live 1994 to get this whole album on vinyl. And it was so worth it.
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Really liked this song, a great single. I’m not quite as bowled over by the album as a lot of you guys are though. It has its moments.
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That’s okay! You don’t have to like it as much. We will forgive you.
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Haha! I think I like about half of it, if that helps? Uncle Jack is another great tune from those days. Love that.
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we don’t forgive around here John! haha
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I know, I didn’t want to make him feel worse than he already does for not liking it.
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The sound on this song and the heaviness. It’s
Groove rock and nu Metal before it was a thing
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That is a good way to look at it. It was a beast and I liked where the band was going with that whole album. I wish it would have amounted to more.
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Now you’re singin’ my tune John!
Love this album and era, and will defend it to my death.
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Hopefully you will be defending it for quite some time!!
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Corabi did a great job playing it too.
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Great song for sure. Looking at your previous post Primal Scream Motley was headed in the right direction and of course the singer change.
When I first heard Hooligans I was blown away. It was like the Crue got nasty with there sound and ditched the cheese.
Classic in 94 Classic in 2020.
Classic Post!
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Thanks! Too bad their 2019 stuff wasn’t classic. That shite on the Dirt soundtrack was so bad. Come on “Like a Virgin” WTF!!!
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Yeah the Virgin tune was goofy but I did like those other tracks. Kinda had that Generation Swine thing vibe about it. But I get where your coming from!
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They never connected with me, but the others aren’t the worse thing they have done.
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This weekend (tomorrow), there’s a holiday in Ontario named ‘Family Day.’
I prefer the name Hooligan’s holiday!
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Ha. Our holiday tomorrow is President’s Day which is the same as Hooligan’s Holiday with this a president.
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Fair play. I do like this one. In fact, that’s the only Crue album I’d actually sit through.
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I knew I’d get you on at least one track! 🙂
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Haha! Well played!
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