Band lore states that their name came from both a flippant reference to Adolf Hitler's dog Blondie as well as vocalist Harry's bright blond hair. Previously having been a Playboy Bunny, Harry fronted the early version of the band. initially known as "Angel and the Snakes". They built up underground fame in NYC. Blondie released their first album, 'Blondie', in 1976. The album was mildly successful and spawned the Australian hit single "In The Flesh". Gary Valentine left the band later that year, and they continued briefly as a foursome, recording 'Plastic Letters' and gaining more airplay with their track "Denis". Still in touch with their punk roots, having played in clubs such as CBGBs and hung out with rock artists such as the Ramones, the band broke out into other, more diverse influences such as older dance and pop music, particularly interested in Phil Spector's 'wall of sound' technique.
Valentine was replaced by Los Angeles-based musician Frank Infante (guitar, bass guitar) in 1977. Infante had already played guitar on one track on 'Plastic Letters'. The band went out playing live with Infante and Stein swopping between playing guitar and bass guitar throughout each concert. The band also added British born but LA-based Nigel Harrison (bass guitar), making Blondie a six piece group for the first time. Harrison was a former member of the glam rock band Silverhead.
In 1978, they released the album that would make them international stars, titled 'Parallel Lines'. The album spawned several hit singles, including the number one hit "Heart Of Glass", "Sunday Girl", "Hanging On The Telephone" (a cover of the famous power pop track by The Nerves), and "One Way Or Another". The success of the heavily disco influenced "Heart of Glass", a song sometimes censored for its use of strong language for the time and considered by the band as tongue-in-cheek, proved controversial among many fans of the band's punk background, but it managed to break them through at a massive level.
They released three more albums (1979's Eat To The Beat, 1980's Autoamerican (containing the number one singles "The Tide Is High" and "Rapture") and 1982's The Hunter) as well as a number one single "Call Me", from the score of the 1980 film "American Gigolo".
In 1980, Harrison contributed several unused Blondie songs to ex-Silverhead singer Michael Des Barres solo album I'm Only Human. In 1981, Harry released a solo album Koo Koo, Destri released a solo album Heart On A Wall. Burke recorded and played live with the Eurythmics, and Stein started a record label named Animal Records.
In 1982, health problems for Stein, declining sales and inter-band tension caused the band to split. Harry kept a low profile for a few years while she nursed (now former) boyfriend Stein through a serious illness, but then continued a solo career as an actress/singer.
Reformation plans begun in 1997 with a line-up that included Harry, Stein, Destri, Burke, Valentine, and Harrison. Infante was not invited to the reunion. Valentine and Harrison were eventually (and unceremoniously, they claim) replaced by Paul Carbonara (guitar) and Leigh Foxx (bass).
The band released No Exit in 1998, which did quite well in both US and UK charts and contained the number one hit single "Maria".
The album did not include any song contributions from Valentine or Harrison, despite them recording early sessions for the album and Valentine being assured by Stein that they would use his already recorded song "Amor Fati". Harrison and Infante later filed an unsuccessful lawsuit claiming breach of contract for not including them in the reunion.
The Curse Of Blondie was released in 2003 and, while not matching its predecessor in sales, was critically acclaimed and spawned the global dance hit "Good Boys".
Destri retired from touring in 2004. Kevin Patrick (keyboards), Destri's former keyboard tech and assistant, replaced him soon followed by Matt Katz-Bohen in 2008.
The band's 2006 induction ceremony into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame was the scene of an awkward moment between Infante and Harry, during which he asked that the former members be allowed to play along with fellow inductees Harry, Stein and Burke during the band's set, since it was the original band that was being inducted. Harry replied "Can't you see my band is up there?" prompting Infante to counter "I thought it was Blondie that was being inducted."
In 2006, the band toured as the opening act for The New Cars on the "Road Rage Tour." Although Harry was more than 60 years old, the band still managed incendiary versions of their old hits, while playing with enough fire to remind the audience of their punk roots.
In 2007, the band embarked on a tour of Europe, to coincide with the DVD release of the first ever music video album "Eat To The Beat".
Harry has since resumed her solo career, releasing 2007's Necessary Evil.
On June 5, 2008, Blondie commenced a world tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Parallel Lines with a concert at Ram's Head Live in Baltimore, Maryland. The tour covered some Eastern and Midwestern US cities throughout the month of June. In July, the tour took the band overseas to Israel, the UK, Russia, Europe and Scandinavia, wrapping up on August 2, 2008 at Rockefeller in Oslo, Norway.
Clem Burke and Paul Carbonara both recently told interviewers that the band is working on another record, which would be their first new album since the release of The Curse of Blondie in 2003. Carbonara described it as "a real Blondie record.
Blondie undertook a North American tour of mid-sized venues with Pat Benatar and The Donnas in the summer of 2009. Following the tour, in October, the band began recording sessions for their ninth studio album with producer Jeff Saltzman in Woodstock, New York. In December 2009, the band released the song "We Three Kings" to coincide with the Christmas holiday.
The new album, to be titled Panic of Girls, which was being mixed at the time, was said to follow in 2010. Chris Stein stated that Dutch artist Chris Berens will provide the cover art. In April 2010, it was announced that guitarist Paul Carbonara had amicably left Blondie to pursue other projects and was replaced by Tommy Kessler. Panic of Girls is tentatively set to be released in 2010/2011.
In June 2010, Blondie began the first leg of a world tour named "Endangered Species Tour", which covered the United Kingdom and Ireland, supported by UK band Little Fish. The set lists featured both classics and new material from the forthcoming Panic of Girls. After a break in July the tour will resume in August and cover the United States and Canada over a course of six weeks. Blondie is then set to take the "Endangered Species Tour" to Australia and New Zealand in November and December. It was revealed that the bands album will be released on the Australian Sony label in November 2010, and elsewhere in January 2011.
Songfacts reports that Mother, the first single from Panic of Girls received its global premiere on BBC Radio on March 17th, 2011 and was made available for purchase on May 23, 2011.
In May 2017 a new album was released named Pollinator with the single "Long Time" which saw the daylight in March.
In 2021, the band released a short film along with a soundtrack EP titled Vivir en la Habana. They also released an alternate version of their song Rapture titled “Yuletide Throwdown” which featured Fab 5 Freddy.
In 2022, Blondie released a Sunday Girl EP consisting of an unreleased demo and live version
of the song as well as the previously released french version of the track in honor of Record Store Day. The band went on a UK tour with support from Johnny Marr followed by a US tour with support from The Damned titled “Against The Odds Tour”, which Chris Stein did not attend due to health problems. They also announced the release of their first archival project and box set, titled Against The Odds: 1974 - 1982, which took six years to compile, began recording their twelfth studio album and remastered their music videos in HD.
Mother
Blondie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was foolish, you were right
All night rookies pass the time
Looking for somewhere to go
Shiny boots are up their thighs
Mother in the night
Calling you, calling you
Where are you, where are you now?
Mother's left the building
We're the missing children
Mother in the night
Where are you, where are you tonight?
Mother, may I stay all night?
Lift your curfew like the light
Collars turned against the cold
I'm looking for someone to hold
In your packed-in-leather night
Mother in the night
Calling you, calling you
Mother in the night
Where are you, where are you now?
Mother's left the building
We're the missing children
Mother in the night
Where are you, where are you?
Now that I can't remember
I need you more than ever
Why can't we be together always?
Mother in the night
Mother in the night
Mother's left the building
We're the missing children
Mother in the night
Where are you, where are you now?
Mother in the night
Calling you, calling you
Mother in the night
Where are you, where are you tonight?
The song "Mother" by Blondie explores the theme of longing for a sense of belonging and the need for maternal love and guidance. The first verse describes the singer's life as being "packed-in-leather," suggesting a fast-paced, superficial lifestyle. The line "I was foolish, you were right" implies that the singer has made mistakes, and perhaps faces the consequences of living recklessly. The following lines describe "rookies" who are "looking for somewhere to go," hinting at a sense of displacement and aimlessness, perhaps searching for a sense of community or purpose. The line "shiny boots are up their thighs" suggests a night-time scene or perhaps a contrast between these newcomers and the singer's leather-clad lifestyle.
The chorus introduces the concept of "Mother in the night," calling out for guidance, comfort and a sense of safety. The line "Mother's left the building, we're the missing children" suggests abandonment and a sense of disconnection, with the singer and others feeling lost and searching for a sense of belonging. The bridge adds to the sense of loss and longing, with the singer admitting "Now that I can't remember, I need you more than ever," emphasizing the importance of maternal love and guidance even after growing up and moving on.
Overall, "Mother" is a heartfelt and emotive song that explores universal themes of longing, connection and the human need for love and belonging, particularly from significant maternal figures.
Line by Line Meaning
In a packed-in-leather life
Amidst a life restrained and confined like an over-stuffed, tightly-packed leather bag
I was foolish, you were right
I acted foolishly while you were correct in your opinions or decisions
All night rookies pass the time
All night long, inexperienced newcomers bide their time
Looking for somewhere to go
Searching for a destination or a purpose
Shiny boots are up their thighs
Their thighs are adorned with shiny boots
Mother in the night
A mother figure is sought in the darkness of the night
Calling you, calling you
A desperate plea to be found and rescued echoes out into the night
Where are you, where are you now?
A struggle to locate the missing mother figure, seeking her whereabouts and assistance
Mother's left the building
The mother figure is no longer available or cannot be found
We're the missing children
The ones seeking assistance are like lost and abandoned children
Where are you, where are you?
Still searching for the missing mother figure, who is nowhere to be found
Mother, may I stay all night?
A request to stay through the night and be granted permission by the motherly figure
Lift your curfew like the light
Lift the restrictions and rules, like how light lifts the darkness of the night
Collars turned against the cold
The collars of clothing are wrapped around to protect against the frigid temperature of the environment
I'm looking for someone to hold
Seeking a person or something to embrace and hold onto during difficult times
In your packed-in-leather night
During a tightly-restrained, difficult period
Now that I can't remember
Memories have faded or cannot be recalled
I need you more than ever
Desperate need for the motherly figure in a time of hardship and loss
Why can't we be together always?
A longing for a permanent union and bond with the mother figure
Mother in the night
Continuing to seek the maternal figure during a dark time
Mother's left the building
Reiteration of the absence of the maternal figure
We're the missing children
Repetition of the helplessness and vulnerability of those seeking aid
Where are you, where are you now?
Final cry for help, still seeking the maternal figure's presence and assistance
Mother in the night
Final, desperate appeal for the maternal figure
Where are you, where are you tonight?
Last attempt to locate the missing maternal figure, still searching relentlessly
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BEN PHILLIPS, DEBORAH HARRY, KATO KHANDWALA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
єℓℓiαทє אליאן טרגינו ♎
Mãe 😫😥
Na vida de couro
Fui tolo você estava certo
Todos os estreantes da noite passada o tempo
À procura de alguma outra forma
botas lustradas todas as suas coxas
Mãe na noite
Chamando você
Chamando você
Mãe na noite
Onde está você onde está você agora
Mãe deixou o prédio
Nós somos as crianças desaparecidas
Mãe na noite
Onde você está, onde está você esta noite
Mãe Posso ficar a noite toda
Levante o seu toque de recolher como a luz
Coleiras voltou-se contra o frio
Estou à procura de alguém para segurar
Na noite de couro
Mãe na noite
Chamando você
Chamando você
Mãe na noite
Onde está você onde está você agora
Mãe deixou o prédio
Nós somos as crianças desaparecidas
Mãe na noite
Onde você está onde você está ...
Agora que eu não posso lembrar
Agora que eu preciso de você mais do que nunca
Por que não podemos estar juntos sempre
Mãe na noite
Mãe na noite
Mãe deixou o prédio
Nós somos as crianças desaparecidas
Mãe na noite
Onde você está, onde está você esta noite
Mãe na noite
Chamando você
Chamando você
Mãe na noite
Onde está você onde está você agora
Михаил Сергопольцев
Blondie - "Мать"
В жизни лакированной кожи
Я была глупой, ты была права
Все прошлые обманчивые ночи
Ища какие-нибудь другие пути
В сияющих сапогах на бедрах
В ночи мама
Зовет тебя, зовет тебя
В ночи мама
Где ты, где ты сейчас
Мама покинула этот дом
Мы скучаем по ней
В ночи мама
Где ты, где ты сегодня ночью
Мама, могу ли я остаться на всю ночь
Подними свой комендантский час, как свет
Воротники от холода
Я ищу кого бы обнять
В ночи лакированной кожи
В ночи мама
Зовет тебя, зовет тебя
В ночи мама
Где ты, где ты сейчас
Мама покинула этот дом
Мы скучаем по ней
В ночи мама
Где ты, где ты сегодня ночью
Теперь, когда я не могу вспомнить
Теперь, когда ты нужна мне больше, чем прежде
Почему мы всегда не можем быть вместе?
В ночи мама
Зовет тебя, зовет тебя
В ночи мама
Где ты, где ты сейчас
Мама покинула этот дом
Мы скучаем по ней
В ночи мама
Где ты, где ты сегодня ночью
Brandon Miller
This deserves more views! Blondie rocks!❤️❤️❤️
AnthonyYouTubeFan
One of MANY reasons I love this band and this intelligent, poetic beauty of a Lady. This needs to get played more often on the radio.
Jett Carlburg
This song is a perfect example of why after 40+ years.... I STILL LOVE BLONDIE!!!!!!! (BTW... that's Kate Pierson of The B52's at 1:16 :-D ) FWIW..... after DECADES, this is the song that brought me back to Blondie!!!!!!!!
Drew Hurst
Is it? Wow!
Well spotted.
spankieblue
A smile is always playing on her lips. She loves what she is doing and so do I. Next lifetime I get to play guitar for her.
scott phillips
Been a Blondie fan since '78. Debbie just gets better with time. Her along w/ Chris and Clem are just killer. I do miss Jimmi on keyboards. love this video.
loswaldo777
She's got guts hitting the stage at her age in such a harsh business. Does a damned good job too.
Jon Spencer
Going out playing their songs in the middle of a zombie apocalypse is exactly how you want a band like Blondie to end.
Wee Zee
Love that Blondie is staying current. Evolution is the only way to survive. Debbie looks great! They all do. Can't wait to see them.
Faerie Tale
saw them at the Chicago HOB last night, awesome!! Debbie looks gorgeous and her voice is still clear as a bell. She IS and always has been , the real thing. Accept no substitutes!!!