Holy Moly

Album: Youth (2017)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This braggadocious track finds Tinie Tempah really letting his guard down and telling listeners just how he feels about his successful career and the stick he gets from haters. He told Zane Lowe on Beats 1:

    "That's my unapologetic side. That's just the unapologeticness in me, the tension that's built up all along these years. Constant recording, touring, record deal situations, people talking my name… I've always just tried to be the artist that just tries to bring from my culture a little bit of positivity.

    But within our culture, especially within England, not only just a global show but I'm talking to you about what we've had to go through in England. Like our scene and our sound is always the one that has been uninvited, it hasn't been one that was welcomed. So for us to even get to this place now where we at which are these global interviews where we are able to be on global platforms. There's been a big fight man and I feel like one of the biggest fights in my respect isn't to only be that belligerent MC but just trying to blaze the trails and try to get my culture in to the environment that it wasn't always necessarily welcomed in. And that isn't always easy, people know that I'm a real person, I go through real life stuff. But MCs have this certain kind of stereotype that painted a certain type of picture. In England 8 or 10 years ago if you wanted to do a certain kind of show your show's getting shut down by the police. It wasn't easy and so there's a lot of tension that sort of has built up in that.

    And now that I'm at the third album, there's a lot of rappers globally, not just form the UK, that don't even get an opportunity to make that first record. I was definitely feeling free, I was definitely feeling very confident in myself and I was feeling like I just really need this one moment to tell it out how it is and that moment is 'Holy Moly' for me on the album."
  • That's fellow Disturbing London labelmate and close friend G Frsh giving Tinie Tempah a pep-talk on the intro.
  • The beat was supplied by London based house producer Shift K3Y, whose best known for his UK Top 3 hit single "Touch." Shift K3Y started his music career remixing the likes of Tinie Tempah.
  • "Holy Moly" is an exclamation in surprise or dismay, which was popularized in the mid-20th century by its use by the comic-book hero Captain Marvel. The phrase is essentially a jocular euphemism for "Holy Moses," an oath that, at that time, might well have been offensive to some people. Some belief it could also be a reference to the "moly" plant, the name of a magical herb in Greek mythology. (Captain Marvel's extraordinary powers to fight evil are ascribed to mythological sources).

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Brenda Russell

Brenda RussellSongwriter Interviews

Brenda talks about the inspiration that drove her to write hit songs like "Get Here" and "Piano in the Dark," and why a lack of formal music training can be a songwriter's best asset.

Edwin McCain

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."

Tom Johnston from The Doobie Brothers

Tom Johnston from The Doobie BrothersSongwriter Interviews

The Doobies guitarist and lead singer, Tom wrote the classics "Listen To The Music," "Long Train Runnin'" and "China Grove."

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.

Rick Springfield

Rick SpringfieldSongwriter Interviews

Rick has a surprising dark side, a strong feminine side and, in a certain TV show, a naked backside. But he still hasn't found Jessie's Girl.

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?Fact or Fiction

Bradley Cooper, Michael J. Fox, Rami Malek, Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow and George Clooney: Which actors really sang in their movies?