Founded by Jennifer Finch, the former bass player for all-female metal-grunge band L7 in 1997, the band was a far cry from what many anticipated to come next from the L.A. punk rock scene veteran. Embracing the nickname “Precious”, switching to guitar and sharing lead vocals with suave, charismatic (and male!) guitarist Xander Smith, Finch confounded expectations by leading a band that mixed elements of punk, alt-rock, pop and new wave. A milion miles away from the femme-grunge sound of Finch’s former band, OSP spotlighted more of Finch’s nuanced songwriting/crafting talents that had been hidden within the belly of the wail of L7, while still featuring her heavy rock chops front and center. To round out the band, Finch and Smith recruited Todd Phillips on drums (formerly of The Juliana Hatfield Three) and later, neophyte Japanese bass-player Junko Ito.
Keeping a low-profile initially in order to avoid being snapped up by Slash Records (L7’s label, which legally had first right of picking up the band under a leaving member clause in Finch’s contract), the band held out and after successfully evading that contractual mess, the band signed a high-profile deal with A&M Records in 1998. The band quickly went into the studio with 70’s superstar producer Roy Thomas Baker (Queen, Journey, Foreigner) to record “Diamonds In The Belly Of The Dog”, just prior to the music industry imploding with the gigantic Universal/Polygram merger that basically closed down A&M Records (for all intents and puposes) for good. Surprisingly, their debut album was one of the few that survived the transition and earned an August 1999 release date during a time when most well-known Universal/Polygram artists were still trying to figure out whether they had a deal or not.
Sadly, probably due to Universal/Polygram still figuring out their internal marketing division, the record didn’t find the audience it deserved and after only one record, the band and A&M/Universal parted ways, with the group disbanding not much later in 2002. “Precious” went on to perform with Betty Blowtorch and formed the band The Shocker in 2003. She has also concentrated on her photography and in 1996 had a L.A. Weekly sponsored art show of her work called “14 and Shooting” on display at the Aidan Ryley Taylor Gallery in Hollywood.
Holiday
Other Star People Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's too late to take that pain away,
Too late to save ah Holiday (Hey Hey Hey)
Like to think your that makes it so great,
Like to think you the one that never makes an mistake (I know it, I know it)
Like to think your that the one that makes it suck them up,
Like to think your the jelly in the doughnut (I know it, I know it)
But it's too late!
Chorus: Too late to say your sorry,
It's too late to take that pain away,
Too late to save ah Holiday (Hey Hey Hey)
Like to think your the one makes me turn around,
Bring it up then always gonna bring it down (I know it, I know it)
Like to think your the one can't do anything,
Like to think your the one that won't eat my wings (I know it, I know it)
But it's too late
Chorus X2
Like to think your the one makes it so good,
Like to think your the one that ever could (I know it, I know it)
Like to think your the one that makes it suck them up,
Like to think your the jelly in the doughnut (I know it, I know it)
But it's too late.
Chorus X2
La la X21
The song "Holiday" by Other Star People tackles the theme of regret and missed opportunities. The chorus highlights the idea that it is too late to fix the pain caused by someone's actions, making it too late to save a holiday. The verses introduce the idea of a person who fails to recognize their mistakes and, instead, feeds their belief in their infallibility. They like to think that they are the one who makes everything great and that they never do wrong. This perspective ultimately leads to the loss of something precious, symbolized by the "holiday" referred to in the chorus.
The repetition of "I know it, I know it" after each verse implies that the singer is aware of the person's flaws. However, they are forced to accept that it is already too late for them to change. The use of this phrase works to create a powerful sense of resignation to the state of the situation. The repeated "Hey Hey Hey" in the chorus also creates a catchy hook that draws attention to the main theme of the song.
In conclusion, "Holiday" by Other Star People is a relatable song about regret and missed opportunities. The message of the song is impactful, and the catchy chorus adds to the song's memorability.
Line by Line Meaning
Too late to say your sorry,
It is too late to apologize and make up for the wrongs committed.
It's too late to take that pain away,
Any damage that has been done cannot be undone.
Too late to save ah Holiday (Hey Hey Hey)
The situation has become irreparable, and nothing can fix it.
Like to think your that makes it so great,
You think that you are the reason behind everything good that happens.
Like to think you the one that never makes an mistake (I know it, I know it)
You believe that you are infallible and incapable of making mistakes.
Like to think your that the one that makes it suck them up,
You fancy yourself as someone who can handle anything and everything.
Like to think your the jelly in the doughnut (I know it, I know it)
You believe that you are the essential element that makes everything work smoothly.
But it's too late!
Unfortunately, your self-perceived importance cannot fix the current situation.
Like to think your the one makes me turn around,
You think that you are the reason for someone's positive change.
Bring it up then always gonna bring it down (I know it, I know it)
You bring up positive aspects only to follow them up with negative ones.
Like to think your the one can't do anything,
You believe that you are helpless and that nothing can be done.
Like to think your the one that won't eat my wings (I know it, I know it)
You think that you are the person responsible for someone's aversion to a particular food.
Like to think your the one makes it so good,
You believe that everything is excellent because of your involvement.
Like to think your the one that ever could (I know it, I know it)
You think that you are the only one capable of achieving something noteworthy.
Chorus X2
Repetition of the chorus for emphasis.
La la X21
Nonsensical vocalization to end the song.
Contributed by Josiah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.