Synopsis

Joan Wasser moves through a playful procession of retro television worlds, appearing in a succession of costumes and personas as curtains open onto new sets. Surrounded by dancers, musicians, and exuberant supporting players, she shifts from a 1970s soul-show look to a domestic sitcom character, a country variety performer, and a late-night host-style setting. The bright, theatrical sequence turns the song's romantic and spiritual imagery into a celebration of performance, self-invention, and the ecstatic feeling of finding love.

Factoids & Trivia

• The video premiered online on February 6, 2014, ahead of the release of *The Classic*, Joan As Police Woman's fourth studio album.

• The concept was built around recreating the feel of 1960s and 1970s television programs. The curtain-opening structure allows each section to function like a separate TV segment.

• Its visual references include *Soul Train*, *I Love Lucy*, *Hee Haw*, and *The Tonight Show*. Murray Hill appears in the late-night sequence as a flamboyant Johnny Carson-like host.

• Joan Wasser said the video's concept came from the treatment rather than from a literal interpretation of the lyrics. The deliberately artificial television settings contrast with the song's direct account of desire and emotional release.

• The song itself was inspired by Wasser's visit to Jerusalem and the Wailing Wall. She connected the visible ecstasy of people praying with the similar intensity she experiences through music and falling in love.

• The production assembled a large ensemble of performers, including Parker Kindred, Donna Barkman, Dean Haspiel, Stephanie Sidjakov, Matt Whyte, Dan Yahraes, Michele Zayla, Bill Moulton, and Stephanie McKay.

• The dance ensemble included Alexandra Phipps, Gina Mayers, Chinasa Uche, Danika Manso-Brown, and Yoo-Sun Park, reinforcing the video's variety-show atmosphere.

• The song features an outro vocal contribution from Reggie Watts, whose presence links "Holy City" to the playful vocal experimentation found elsewhere on *The Classic*.