Hollywood Express — Harvey Milk
Madonna’s “Hollywood” meets Giorgio Moroder’s “Chase”: the 2004 French dance single credited to Harvey Milk, a No. 30 hit that spent 14 weeks on the chart.
- French dance single from 2004, credited to a project named Harvey Milk.
- Built on samples of Madonna’s “Hollywood” and Giorgio Moroder’s “Chase”.
- Peaked at No. 30 in France and spent 14 weeks on the chart.
Take vocal samples from a recent Madonna single, put it over a much-imitated Giorgio Moroder synth track, and you have “Hollywood Express”. The 2004 single, credited to a French project called Harvey Milk, spent the autumn of that year in the French chart.
Two famous sources
The vocal samples come from Madonna’s “Hollywood”, the second single from American Life, released by Maverick in May 2003 and written and produced by Madonna with Mirwais Ahmadzaï. The music leans on “Chase”, the electronic instrumental Giorgio Moroder recorded in 1978 for Alan Parker’s film Midnight Express. Parker had asked for something in the style of “I Feel Love”, and Harold Faltermeyer arranged it under Moroder’s direction. “Chase” reached No. 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1979 and No. 48 in the UK, and returned in 2000 in a version credited to Giorgio Moroder vs. Jam & Spoon. The sleeve of “Hollywood Express” credits the “Midnight Express” part to Moroder and Chris Bennett, and the title splices the two sources together.
Who was behind Harvey Milk?
The record says little about its makers. The sleeve notes credit the track to “an original idea by Alberkam”, a French electronic duo made up of Albert Swim and Kamille Farrel. The single came out through Universal, with the labels K-Mylle Sound, U.L.M TV Market and Marquee Moon on the credits. The name has nothing to do with the San Francisco politician, nor with the American band called Harvey Milk.
Formats
The French CD single carried a 3:15 radio edit, a 6:22 Club Mix and, on some editions, a 5:22 Dub Mix and an extra track, “One Night in Cairo”. A 45 rpm 12-inch picture disc in France put the Club Mix on the A-side, and Universal Music Australia issued a CD-R edition.
Chart run
“Hollywood Express” entered the French singles chart on 6 September 2004 at No. 47, peaked at No. 30 and stayed for 14 weeks, leaving at No. 97 on 22 November. For more French club records of the decade, see “I Feel for You” by Bob Sinclar and our overview of French dance music from French touch to EDM.
FAQ
What does Hollywood Express sample?
Madonna’s “Hollywood” (2003), written and produced by Madonna and Mirwais Ahmadzaï, and Giorgio Moroder’s “Chase” (1978), from the Midnight Express soundtrack.
Is this Harvey Milk the politician or the rock band?
Neither. It is a French dance project; the single has no link to the San Francisco politician or to the band Harvey Milk from Athens, Georgia.
How did Hollywood Express chart?
It entered the French singles chart on 6 September 2004 at No. 47, peaked at No. 30 and stayed for 14 weeks.
