The Importance of Deborah Harry
March 29th 2008 11:30
There's one woman in music who I come back to time and time again.
I watch her videos from decades gone and marvel at her beauty, her fashion sense, her ability to command a camera and a stage and just sit in awe.
That woman is Deborah Harry.
I had the good fortune of seeing Blondie when they came to Melbourne in 2003.
The gig was at the Palais Theatre, and it wasn't the original lineup, but I pushed that aside because I was so excited to see the singer I had idolised since I was sixteen.
She still had it. The voice, the moves and while I'll admit it was a little bit like watching your mum dance at your 18th birthday party it was a total thrill for me.
I went with a good friend of mine, and we celebrated the momentous occasion by ingesting illegal substances beforehand which I think only heightened the experience of the evening.
We entered the Palais and skipped the support act (the Spazzy's, who, while I admire their spunk, I"m not the biggest fan of) and started imbibing the hard liquor.
I had never been to a show at the Palais before and couldn't believe that I would have to sit down while I watched one of the seminal new wave bands of the 20th century, a band who inspires all to dance.
We quickly got out of our seats, stood in the aisles and proceeded to shake and shimmy to hits such as "Call Me", "Dreaming" and a killer encore of the Ramones' "Pet Cemetery".
I still remember how out of it my friend and I were as we danced together and sang "Your hair is beautiful, ohhh tonight..." Tragic, I know...
Deborah danced, strutted and commanded the stage in a black skintight catsuit and boots, an outfit most woman of her vintage would never be able to pull off.
But fashion has never been something Miss Debbie has had a problem with.
I first came across Blondie's Parallel Lines album when I was about sixteen. Of course, before then I knew who they were and had danced along to "Heart of Glass" and "Call Me".
In fact, the first version of "Call Me" I ever heard was The Chipmunks version on vinyl, an album my grandfather had bought for us kids.
My high school boyfriend's mum was a huge Blondie fan, and in fact was as beautiful and blonde as Deborah herself.
After I discovered that album, I tried to find out all I could about Blondie, but to be fair my obsession was with the platinum blonde at the front of the band.
I was totally aware of women in rock music before this, but I was just fascinated with the aura and persona that surrounded Deborah.
In her videos she transforms from an ethereal disco queen ("Heart of Glass"), new wave kid("Atomic") and pink clad tough-girl next door ("X Offender").
Early Blondie albums are sensational, filled with punk-pop gold nuggets. In my humble opinion, as the 80s wore on things took a slide.
The legend and past surrounding Deborah is the root of the fascination. An ex Playboy Bunny, a groupie of the New York Dolls (LOVE) and former junkie. It's the rock n roll dream of the 70s for me.
And no one can doubt Deborah's pioneering attitude to music.
She was the first white female to rap ("Rapture") and in the video does so in hot pants and heels. Damn! Who doesn't want to pull off that sass.
So many females in music these days try to emulate her.
As far as I can see, Natalie Bassingthwaite of the Rogue Traders would kill to be Deborah Harry. They even rip off Blondie with the structure of their music!
There's nothing wrong with being a hot, strong frontwoman, I welcome it. But have some originality please! Bassingthwaite is like a robot programmed to sing.
Today, Deborah continues with her solo career and remains a revered woman in music.
To me, I will be fascinated by her until the day I meet her. I have a feeling she'd have a tough exterior and wouldn't take any crap.
But she sticks to her guns and it's just as well.
I'd hate to think what she'd be doing if she'd followed Patti Smith's advice and got "the fuck out of rock n roll".
I watch her videos from decades gone and marvel at her beauty, her fashion sense, her ability to command a camera and a stage and just sit in awe.
That woman is Deborah Harry.
I had the good fortune of seeing Blondie when they came to Melbourne in 2003.
The gig was at the Palais Theatre, and it wasn't the original lineup, but I pushed that aside because I was so excited to see the singer I had idolised since I was sixteen.
She still had it. The voice, the moves and while I'll admit it was a little bit like watching your mum dance at your 18th birthday party it was a total thrill for me.
I went with a good friend of mine, and we celebrated the momentous occasion by ingesting illegal substances beforehand which I think only heightened the experience of the evening.
We entered the Palais and skipped the support act (the Spazzy's, who, while I admire their spunk, I"m not the biggest fan of) and started imbibing the hard liquor.
I had never been to a show at the Palais before and couldn't believe that I would have to sit down while I watched one of the seminal new wave bands of the 20th century, a band who inspires all to dance.
We quickly got out of our seats, stood in the aisles and proceeded to shake and shimmy to hits such as "Call Me", "Dreaming" and a killer encore of the Ramones' "Pet Cemetery".
I still remember how out of it my friend and I were as we danced together and sang "Your hair is beautiful, ohhh tonight..." Tragic, I know...
Deborah danced, strutted and commanded the stage in a black skintight catsuit and boots, an outfit most woman of her vintage would never be able to pull off.
But fashion has never been something Miss Debbie has had a problem with.
I first came across Blondie's Parallel Lines album when I was about sixteen. Of course, before then I knew who they were and had danced along to "Heart of Glass" and "Call Me".
In fact, the first version of "Call Me" I ever heard was The Chipmunks version on vinyl, an album my grandfather had bought for us kids.
My high school boyfriend's mum was a huge Blondie fan, and in fact was as beautiful and blonde as Deborah herself.
After I discovered that album, I tried to find out all I could about Blondie, but to be fair my obsession was with the platinum blonde at the front of the band.
I was totally aware of women in rock music before this, but I was just fascinated with the aura and persona that surrounded Deborah.
In her videos she transforms from an ethereal disco queen ("Heart of Glass"), new wave kid("Atomic") and pink clad tough-girl next door ("X Offender").
Early Blondie albums are sensational, filled with punk-pop gold nuggets. In my humble opinion, as the 80s wore on things took a slide.
The legend and past surrounding Deborah is the root of the fascination. An ex Playboy Bunny, a groupie of the New York Dolls (LOVE) and former junkie. It's the rock n roll dream of the 70s for me.
And no one can doubt Deborah's pioneering attitude to music.
She was the first white female to rap ("Rapture") and in the video does so in hot pants and heels. Damn! Who doesn't want to pull off that sass.
So many females in music these days try to emulate her.
As far as I can see, Natalie Bassingthwaite of the Rogue Traders would kill to be Deborah Harry. They even rip off Blondie with the structure of their music!
There's nothing wrong with being a hot, strong frontwoman, I welcome it. But have some originality please! Bassingthwaite is like a robot programmed to sing.
Today, Deborah continues with her solo career and remains a revered woman in music.
To me, I will be fascinated by her until the day I meet her. I have a feeling she'd have a tough exterior and wouldn't take any crap.
But she sticks to her guns and it's just as well.
I'd hate to think what she'd be doing if she'd followed Patti Smith's advice and got "the fuck out of rock n roll".
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