"Holy, Holy" is the debut solo single by Geordie Greep, best known as the frontman of Black Midi. Released on August 20, 2024, as the lead single for his album The New Sound, the track marks Greep’s bold transition from bandleader to solo artist, arriving just days after Black Midi announced their indefinite hiatus12.
Musical Style and Production
- Genre: Progressive rock, art rock, with elements of Latin rock and jazz fusion2.
- Length: 6:042.
- Production: Produced by Seth “Shank” Evans (Black Midi touring/session member) and co-produced by Greep himself. The recording features a large ensemble, including brass, multiple pianos, and a robust rhythm section, resulting in a lush, genre-blurring arrangement3.
- Instrumentation: Greep performs vocals, guitars, synths, and fretless bass, with contributions from a wide cast of musicians on drums, percussion, piano, horns, and backing vocals3.
Lyrical Themes and Character
"Holy, Holy" is a satirical, character-driven piece sung from the perspective of a boastful, predatory man encountered in nightlife settings. The lyrics dissect his manipulative bravado and self-obsession:
"I could tell you were lonely from the moment you walked in
...
You must have heard about me
Everyone knows my name
Everyone knows I’m holy (holy, holy, holy, holy)"45.
The character brags about his reputation, both locally and internationally, with lines referencing recognition "from the shores of Havana to Moscow and Tokyo," and even by "all the revolutionaries, all the jihadis too"415. Greep has explained that this aspect was inspired by real-life braggadocio, notably referencing Andrew Tate’s claims about his global notoriety12.
The song’s narrative is intentionally unsettling—Greep crafts a persona that is both charismatic and repulsive, exposing the transactional, performative, and predatory nature of certain social interactions5. The repeated chorus of "holy, holy" becomes a mocking refrain, satirizing self-worship and the commodification of intimacy.
Artistic Context and Reception
- Critical Response: The track was met with acclaim, praised for its ambitious arrangement, theatrical vocal delivery, and biting satire62. Pitchfork ranked it among the best songs of 20242.
- Thematic Depth: Critics highlight the song’s blend of humor and discomfort, noting Greep’s talent for embodying and skewering the archetype of the egotistical, manipulative man on the prowl65.
- Musical Approach: The song’s dense, shifting arrangement—combining prog, post-punk, funk, and jazz—mirrors the psychological complexity and instability of its narrator62.
Notable Lyrics
"Do you come here often?
Do you know how this thing works?
Do you go to bed with a different man every night?
Don’t tell me I’m the first..."45
"Everyone knows my name
Everyone knows I’m holy
(Holy, holy, holy, holy)"45
Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Release Date | August 20, 2024 |
| Album | The New Sound |
| Genre | Progressive rock, art rock, Latin rock, jazz fusion |
| Producer(s) | Seth “Shank” Evans, Geordie Greep |
| Lyrical Themes | Satire of male bravado, manipulation, performative holiness, celebrity, self-worship |
| Reception | Critical acclaim, praised for ambition and biting character study |
"Holy, Holy" stands as a six-minute, genre-blending masterclass in theatrical satire and musical ambition, cementing Geordie Greep’s reputation as one of contemporary art rock’s most inventive and provocative voices625.
