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.
slow motion
Blondie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The boy in the back on his second attack
Wants his baby back (wants his baby back)
What's all that commotion that you hear?
The girl in the back who was doing the quake
Got a belly-ache, she can't concentrate
Pick up the beat, you can move like you're made out of vapour
Come on and take me back (can you take her back?)
When she gives you the beat and you get the shine
The world slows down and she stops on a dime
Got a number when you close your eyes
Like a real magician
Still she knows she'll never lose a thing
She can put you up on a shelf until she wants to pull the string
Still you know she'll never slip away
Keep time in your head, counting in your head
Slow motion, I can play with time
I can keep today but tomorrow's fine
Stop and look at the pictures rolling in your head
Slow motion, you can play with time
You can leave her today but tomorrow's fine
Stop and live in your dreams at night
Rolling in your bed
Slow motion, you can stop on a dime
Slow motion, you ought to try it sometime
Take me back on another track
Take me back, take me back
Slow motion, you can pick up the beat
Slow motion, you can stop on the street
Take me back on another track
Take me back, take me back
Slow motion, you can stop on a dime
Slow motion, you ought to try it sometime
Take me back on another track
Take me back, take me back
Slow motion, you can pick up the beat
Slow motion, you can stop on the street
Take me back on another track
Take me back, take me back
The lyrics to Blondie's "Slow Motion" seem to be about the power of music and the ability of it to slow down time or make it seem like time is standing still. We start off with a boy in the back who is trying to get his girl back, creating all sorts of commotion. Meanwhile, a girl in the back is dancing so hard she gets a belly ache and can't concentrate. But when she gives you the beat and you get the shine, everything slows down to a stop. The song seems to be about the effect that music can have on us - how it can transport us to another place, make time seem irrelevant, and give us the illusion that we can control the world around us.
The lyrics speak to the idea that music can create a sense of timelessness, or even time manipulation. The verses describe how people can get lost in rhythms and sounds, and how those experiences can freeze moments in time. The chorus encourages the listener to embrace these sensations and even try them out for themselves, suggesting that stopping time and soaking up the world around us can be a transformative experience.
Overall, the lyrics to "Slow Motion" seem to encourage people to let go of their inhibitions, be present in the moment, and as the chorus repeats, "take me back on another track." The song is about the power of music to transport and transform us, and the idea that when we let ourselves get lost in a beat, we have the ability to transcend our everyday experiences and achieve a state of true euphoria.
Line by Line Meaning
What's all that commotion going on?
The singer is curious about the noise she hears.
The boy in the back on his second attack, Wants his baby back (wants his baby back), What's all that commotion that you hear?
A boy is trying to win back his love and his actions are the commotion being referred to.
The girl in the back who was doing the quake, Got a belly-ache, she can't concentrate
A girl who was dancing got sick and now can't focus on the song.
Pick up the beat, you can move like you're made out of vapour, 'Catch me if you can' is what she said with her hands
The girl is encouraging the others to dance faster as if they were made of vapor, and she challenges them to catch her with her hands.
Come on and take me back (can you take her back?), When she gives you the beat and you get the shine, The world slows down and she stops on a dime, Got a number when you close your eyes
When the girl gives someone the rhythm and they get into the groove, they feel as if time has slowed down and it's easier to concentrate. Closing your eyes helps to visualize the rhythm and beats.
Like a real magician, Still she knows she'll never lose a thing, She can put you up on a shelf until she wants to pull the string, Still you know she'll never slip away
The girl is skilled at creating and maintaining the rhythm and can do so at will. She is in control of the situation and can keep the rhythm going.
Keep time in your head, counting in your head
It's important to keep the rhythm in your mind in order to stay in sync with the beat.
Slow motion, I can play with time, I can keep today but tomorrow's fine, Stop and look at the pictures rolling in your head
The singer can manipulate time and feels happy in the present moment, but is also able to let go of the past and look forward to the future. There are memories that can be revisited in one's thoughts.
Slow motion, you can play with time, You can leave her today but tomorrow's fine, Stop and live in your dreams at night, Rolling in your bed
Others can also manipulate time and take the time to reflect on what they want in the future while living in the present moment. In addition, others can relax and have dreams while resting.
Slow motion, you can stop on a dime, Slow motion, you ought to try it sometime, Take me back, take me back
It's possible to stop on a dime and to relax or slow down, and the singer encourages listeners to try it out. The phrase 'take me back' refers to going back to a previous state of mind or experience.
Slow motion, you can pick up the beat, Slow motion, you can stop on the street, Take me back on another track, Take me back, take me back
It's possible to speed up or slow down to fit the rhythm and to stop while walking on the street. The singer asks listeners to go back to another rhythm and state of mind.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JIMMY DESTRI, LAURA DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kirkfeather1
Ever since I first heard her I have been astonished by flawless pitch, the sheer power, breadth and effortless volume of her voice and the steely control she exercises over it at every turn. Countless singers tie themselves up in knots trying to prove they're "emotional" while Deborah just spreads her wings and glides in clean air over a song like a gorgeous yet unsettling bird of prey. Countless men's (and a not a few women's) hearts have been clutched in her talons!
@vittorioflender7628
I think you found the right words to describe what Deborah can do with her voice. Is somethig incredible. I don't want to add anything, because I find my sensations in your words. She does all this things without having studied singing, is the description of what the word Talent means! One other thing, is very interesting to notice, she is camaleontic, if you listen her in Atomic, is totally different. Thank you Deborah for all emotions.
@aly513
i am so inlove with Debbie
@stewartdavies929
Me too
@strosguy7483
Get in line brother.
@mikedab6572
Been in Luv with Debs since 1978
@jimrobertson8579
You and 10 million other guys 😁
@pappapata
We all been❣ One way/time or another she got us🥰
@mjtaylor26
Absolutely brilliant video showing Blondie at the time when the song was made. They were so talented, looked good and made great song after great song.
@joelane7146
Eat to the beat, that whole album is excellent.