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.
Prism
Blondie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hope that you are too
I don’t suppose you lead me on
I don’t suppose you say the right thing
But for that someone, someone else
Not for me it was written on the wind
And not on a breeze
A most but not really
So close but not really
I don’t suppose you knew what’s done
I don’t suppose you have a conviction
That was strangers who have no intimacy
Cause of pieces from the kingdom lost at sea
Little slithers in the crowd in between
That was someone, someone else, not for me
In the lyrics of Blondie's song "Prism," the singer begins by expressing politeness and concern for the other person by saying "I'm fine, thanks for asking, I hope that you are too." This initial exchange sets a cordial tone for the conversation and hints at a past relationship or interaction that may have left some unresolved feelings or questions. The singer then goes on to mention their skepticism about being led on or hearing insincere words, indicating a level of distrust or caution in the communication between them.
The lines "But for that someone, someone else, not for me it was written on the wind, and not on a breeze" suggest a sense of longing or yearning for someone who may not reciprocate those feelings. The imagery of something being written on the wind versus a breeze conveys a notion of permanence or significance, contrasting with the fleeting nature of a breeze. This distinction implies a deeper emotional connection or attachment that may not be acknowledged or returned.
The repetition of the phrases "A most but not really, so close but not really" creates a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty in the singer's feelings or perceptions. It conveys a complex mix of emotions, where there may be elements of attraction or closeness, yet a simultaneous distance or disconnect from fully embracing those sentiments. This juxtaposition reflects the intricacies of human relationships and the nuances of unspoken emotions that can complicate interactions.
Further on, the lyrics delve into themes of unknown actions or intentions, with lines like "I don’t suppose you knew what’s done, I don’t suppose you have a conviction." These phrases suggest a lack of clarity or understanding between the singer and the other person, highlighting a gap in communication or comprehension. The mention of "strangers who have no intimacy" and references to pieces lost at sea and slithers in the crowd evoke a sense of fragmentation or detachment from a shared connection, hinting at unresolved issues or unspoken feelings. Overall, the lyrics of "Prism" by Blondie convey a mix of longing, uncertainty, and a search for deeper meaning within a complex relationship dynamic.
Line by Line Meaning
I’m fine, thanks for asking
I'm doing well, I appreciate your concern
I hope that you are too
I also hope that you are doing well
I don’t suppose you lead me on
I don't think you intentionally misled me
I don’t suppose you say the right thing
I don't expect you to always say the perfect thing
But for that someone, someone else
Those words were meant for someone else, not me
Not for me it was written on the wind
It wasn't meant for me, it was just words in the air
And not on a breeze
Not a fleeting thought or gesture
A most but not really
It seemed significant, but not truly
So close but not really
It felt close to something meaningful, but not quite
I don’t suppose you knew what’s done
I doubt you were aware of the consequences
I don’t suppose you have a conviction
I don't believe you have a strong belief in it
That was strangers who have no intimacy
Those were strangers without a deep connection
Cause of pieces from the kingdom lost at sea
Bits of a lost kingdom scattered in the sea
Little slithers in the crowd in between
Small traces of something hidden within the crowd
That was someone, someone else, not for me
Those were meant for someone else, not me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Chris Stein, Deborah Harry, Jeff Saltzman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kc
on Accidents Never Happen
Judging from the cultural framework at the time i read it as lies being exposed for the middle income layers of the society who ere led to believe that if they follow certain codes they will be happy and prosperous but so many fail so accidents nver happen is a mockery