One way or another…This is Blondie

In September 2020, Miley Cyrus covered the band’s classic disco infused pop punk anthem Heart of Glass resulting in a truly compelling performance. Originally released by Blondie in 1979, Heart of Glass earned the band their first number one in both the UK and the US. Today, Heart of Glass stands out as one of the band’s most iconic tracks. It remains just as infectious to those on the dance floor today as it did when it was first released. Combining a pulsating synth line with a steady disco beat, crunchy guitars, a funky bassline and flawless vocals, Blondie created a timeless classic that is Heart of Glass.  

Blondie stormed onto the New York pop punk scene after their formation in 1974. They released their self titled debut album in 1976 and were regular performers at the famous CBGB music club in East Village at the early stages of their career. The band, lead by the effortlessly cool Debbie Harry, helped shape the New Wave genre as they blended pop, rock, punk and disco. As their musical career developed, they weren’t afraid to fuse other genres such as hip hop and reggae with their vibrant sound. We take a look at some of the band’s biggest hits throughout their career.

One Way or Another

One Way or Another was featured on the band’s third studio album Parallel Lines, released in 1978. Parallel Lines was the band’s major commercial breakthrough album as it reached number one in the UK and number six in the US. One Way or Another famously deals with Debbie Harry’s experience with a previous boyfriend who stalked her to the point that she had to move away from her home in New Jersey. The lyrical content on the song is said to have helped Harry deal with the traumatic experience. In 1982, Debbie Harry appeared on The Muppet Show to perform a bizarre yet memorable version of the song. In recent years, One Way or Another has been featured in major TV shows and movies including Mean Girls, The Rugrats Movie, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, The Simpsons and Dawson’s Creek.

The Tide is High

Featured on the band’s fifth studio album Autoamerican, The Tide is High was released in 1980. The track is one of many examples where Blondie managed to incorporate their favourite genres into their own New Wave sound. Written by John Holt and originally performed by the Jamaican vocal group The Paragons in 1967, Blondie covered The Tide is High, adding a touch of reggae to their repertoire. The single went to number one in the US and the UK and Atomic Kitten went on to cover the song in 2002 with an updated pop approach. 

Picture This

Picture This was the lead single on Parallel Lines and reached number 12 in UK charts. The track presents a more reflective, softer side to the band’s New Wave sound during the verse section which ultimately builds to a dramatic and lyrically passionate chorus. Picture This was the one of six singles released from Parallel Lines, an album that helped to cement Blondie as one of the most iconic pop rock acts of the 1970’s.   

Call Me

In 1980, Blondie released Call Me which was co-written and produced by electronic music pioneer Giorgio Moroder. The track is centred around a driving arpeggiated synthesizer while Blondie’s overdriven guitar chords and steady drum beat accompany Harry’s alluring vocals. Call Me was the band’s most successful single in their native country and it was the best selling single in the USA in 1980. Scottish indie rockers Franz Ferdinand covered the track in 2009 and it was featured on the War Child charity album that year. Alternative rock band Dandy Warhols also covered the track back in 2003 and was featured as the B-side to We Used to be Friends. 

The Island of Lost Souls

The 1980s saw Blondie dip their toes into new territory as they ditched their guitars for trumpets and saxophones on The Island of Lost Souls. Released in 1982, the track is influenced by calypso music and the music video, which couldn’t get any more 1980’s, features the band members dressed as monks while wearing fish masks. The Island of Lost Souls was featured on Blondie’s sixth studio album The Hunter which, after steadily releasing albums for six years, would be their last until their comeback album No Exit in 1999.

Rapture

Blondie released the hip-hop influenced track Rapture in 1981 and was featured on their album Autoamerican. Rapture was the first song to feature rap to hit the number one spot in America. Although acts such as Grandmaster Flash and Sugarhill Gang had laid the foundations for the genre from the mid 1970’s, it is Blondie who helped to break rap into the mainstream. With mentions of hip-hop pioneers ‘Flash’ and ‘Fab Freddie Five’, Blondie celebrated rap culture while they were a part of the New York music scene, a city where hip-hop was flourishing. In 1982, Grandmaster Flash featured Rapture in his vinyl mix, The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel, alongside Chic’s Good Times, Queen’s Another One Bites the Dust and Michael Viner’s Incredible Bongo Band’s Apache. This mix went on to be massively influential for future hip-hop producers and turntablists

Hanging on the Telephone

Originally performed by the Los Angeles power pop band The Nerves in 1976 and written by guitarist Jack Lee, Blondie covered Hanging on the Telephone two years later and it was featured on their album Parallel Lines. The track catches Blondie in one of their more punk influenced states, with slick guitar lines and an energy filled drum section marrying perfectly with Harry’s splendidly raw vocals. The track went to number five in the UK charts and in recent years, was covered by Girls Aloud and Def Leppard.

Sunday Girl

Blondie wrote a power pop song of their own with the release of Sunday Girl. The song wasn’t released as a single in the USA, but it earned them yet another number one in the UK. Released as the follow up single to Heart of Glass, Sunday Girl demonstrates Blondie’s impeccable ability to write upbeat musical pop songs while the lyrical content focused on a rather crushing theme of young love and heartbreak.

Atomic

Blondie continued with their disco fueled productions with the release of Atomic in 1980. The single was featured on the band’s fourth studio album Eat to the Beat. The band fused spaghetti western style guitar lines with the classic synth sounds that had earned them much praise in the late 1970’s. The track was covered by UK rock band Sleeper and was featured in the Trainspotting soundtrack in 1996.

Maria

After last earning themselves a number one in the UK in 1980, the band returned 19 years later to earn themselves the top spot once again with the release of Maria. After calling it a day in 1982, Maria was featured on the band’s comeback album, No Exit, released in 1999. The single contains an anthemic chorus and the energy of Blondie from the previous decade remained strong. And with this, the New Wave favourites were welcomed back to the charts right before the turn of the millennium. With the success of Maria, Blondie became the first artist to have a number one in the UK in the 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s.