There are five artists who share the name Holden: a French duo, a London-ba… Read Full Bio ↴There are five artists who share the name Holden: a French duo, a London-based producer, a disbanded Californian trio and a young Russian musician.

Holden #1, the French duo, began recording in 1997. Band members Armelle Pioline (vocals) and Dominique Dépret (aka Mocke, guitar). With Pierre-Jean Grapin (drums), Evan Evans (clavier) and Richard Cousin (bass), they released 'L'arrière monde' in 1998. In 2001, they met the producer Senor Coconut aka Atom aka Uwe Schmidt, who mixed their second album, 'Pedrolira' (2002). They recorded their next album, Chevrotine, in Chile, 2006. Their most recent album is 'Sidération' (2013).

Holden #2 is London based producer and DJ James Holden. He produces and plays a style that merges progressive house, techno and electronica. Better known as James Holden, he only released a few things under the name Holden, namely his more IDM based music.

Holden #3 is a trio from Santa Barbara, California, who don't exist anymore but used to consist of members Johnny Puailoa (guitar/vocals), Tom Cantillon (lead vocals/bass), and Dan Moore (drums). As of early 2007, Johnny and Dan decided to stop working in Holden, so Tom created a new band from Holden's remnants: Tommy and the High Pilots.
Their site is myspace.com/holdenrock

Holden #4 is young musician Anton Cherkasov from Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.

Holden #5 is a young rock band from the Netherlands.

Madrid
Holden Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Madrid, maquillée de strasses,
Malaxée jusqu'au thorax,
Se prélassait depuis longtemps déjà.

Madrid, sepoudrée de sucre,
Tout le long des allées en stuc,
Se préparait sans trop savoir pourquoi.

Madrid, une souricière,
Une avenue sans marche arrière,
Un rendez vous où personne ne viendra.

Madrid, où sont tes icônes
A la voix cassée ou aphone
Où sont les anges qui dormaient sur les toits.

Deux filles, au rayon lumière,
Devant un mur de réverbères,
Se donnaient la main pour la première fois.

Deux filles qui faisaient la paire,

Riaient si fort que la plus belle,
A bien failli mourir, mourir de joie.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Holden's song Madrid describe the city of Madrid as a superficial and materialistic place where people are constantly trying to keep up appearances. The city is compared to a painting covered in glitter and a woman who is plastic on the outside but empty on the inside. The city is getting ready for something without knowing why, suggesting a sense of aimlessness and disconnection.

The second verse talks about Madrid as a trap, an avenue with no way out, a meeting where no one will show up. It's a place where the icons who once held a prominent place in the city are now gone or forgotten. The imagery of broken or quiet voices and sleeping angels gives a sense of sadness and loss.

The final verse focuses on two girls who are experiencing something pure and genuine in the midst of all this artificiality. They are holding hands for the first time and laughing so hard that one of them almost dies of joy. They are a refreshing contrast to the rest of the city, highlighting the beauty that can be found in simple moments of connection.

Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on how easy it is to get lost in the facade of a city and the importance of finding real, meaningful connections in the midst of it all.

Line by Line Meaning

Madrid, maquillée de strasses,
Madrid, covered in rhinestones

Malaxée jusqu'au thorax,
Kneaded all the way to the chest,

Se prélassait depuis longtemps déjà.
Had been lounging for a long time.

Madrid, sepoudrée de sucre,
Madrid, powdered with sugar,

Tout le long des allées en stuc,
All along the stuccoed paths,

Se préparait sans trop savoir pourquoi.
Prepared itself without knowing why.

Madrid, une souricière,
Madrid, a mousetrap,

Une avenue sans marche arrière,
A one-way street,

Un rendez vous où personne ne viendra.
An appointment where no one will come.

Madrid, où sont tes icônes
Madrid, where are your icons

A la voix cassée ou aphone
With broken or hoarse voices,