From the city of Cape Girardeau, Missouri — known to some as “The City of Roses” — we have Retro City. Becoming buds at their local college before forming their band, they bring influences from artists such as Colony House, Young the Giant, and The Black Keys. Today they bring us a lively track titled “Holiday”
Fading in with a series of guitar notes that cycle from high to medium, the fun and free-spirited nature reminds me heavily of Young the Giant, particularly their album of the same name. Just as we get into the whimsical nature of this track, the vocalist comes in to sing:
“I met you on the Fourth of July at the party
you were dancing in the street
I joined you just for the memory”
While you normally wouldn’t talk to strangers, you feel confident tonight as you approach this fellow partygoer. You’re not really expecting much, but at the same time, what’s the worst that can happen? If nothing else, you’ll have a good story or memory to share.
You jump in and hope for the best, bringing out the best (or worst) dance moves in your arsenal.
“I love the way, the way you see the holiday
explosions in the sky, in the sky, in the sky,
when you say my name”
At this point, it feels so good to be with this person. You’ve got no regrets, even if you might not be the best dancer. All sorts of bells, whistles, and fireworks are going off in your pounding heart as you dance the night away.
“On the same summer night colors lit up the sky, all the water
that look in your eye lit the flame and that brought me under”
You weren’t sure if they were just having some friendly fun or something flirtier at first, but after some time you can tell they’re sharing many of your same feelings. You’re falling hard and fast for this person whom you’ve just met. You can’t help but wonder if you should get all your feelings out there for them to see.
“Baby let’s lose control,
light up the sky, you know,
my hearts been jumping”
Retro City’s playing a rhythm that’s like a heart skipping a beat as you reach your boiling point, blurting out all the things you’re feeling in this moment and how crazy it is but how right it feels. You want to see so much more of them and get lost in all sorts of parties and adventures with them.
As you let all this out, Retro City repeats the refrain one last time, hinting that your choice was the right one. You can see they were thinking the same things and may have even gotten close to blurting them out too. Whatever it is, the song fades out on a descending guitar while another one holds a higher pitched sustained note, leaving the two of you to figure out the next part of your holiday night.
Overall, this is a fun and peppy song that’ll easily get stuck in your head with its catchy refrain and melody. If you’re looking for the next track that could add some cheerful spontaneity to your life, this might just be the one.
