BLACKIE🎵 Blondie - Atomic REACTION

[@Xman156]

Blondie was punk, new wave, disco, pop, and even rap all rolled into one package. She was phenomenal!

[@paulboudreau3754]

And still is.

[@bellodrade]

Sorry, have to be that guy... Blondie is the group. Deborah Harry is the lead singer.

[@chandie5298]

Exactly.... Blondie experimented with all the new (at that time) styles. It was about exploring creativity. Compare that to now where all music is dictated by a handful of producers who tell the artists what to do.

[@johnboydTx]

The Tide is High 🤔add Reggae to your list .. Great singer 😊✌️❤️

[@TheOriginalFILIBUSTA]

@@bellodrade BE that guy! Remember the pins they had made up? "BLONDIE IS A GROUP!" Can't blame people for getting confused though, after all, Jethro Tull is a great flute player and Led Zeppelin is a good singer, and that guy Lynyrd Skynyrd...man he's amazing!

[@jennifercrowe7399]

I can’t believe you guys did this song. I’ve been asking people to do this forever. This is one of my favorite Blondie songs. Fun fact, one of the people dancing in the crowd is Gia, the famous model. There’s a movie about her life played by Angelina Jolie. It’s the first movie Angelina Jolie ever did.

[@robertasirgutz8800]

I've been on her for a while.

[@thediaz07]

Gia was a hottie...also I know this song from Trainspotting

[@everydayASMR_]

I love this song too

[@mynameispaul0530]

I was blown away the first time I heard this song. There's a youtube video of Blondie interview - she claims that Atomic was originally sort of a parody of disco but turns out "it really works". One of my top 10 all-time fave songs.

[@spacelab777]

This was recorded in 1979. Way ahead of its time.

[@Xman156]

But it was released in 1980, so still 80s! 😁

[@guyinsf]

@@Xman156 But 70s in origin because it was written, composed and recorded in 79 and released to the public in 79 via the album it was featured on but that's what great about Blondie their sound gave way to the 80s.

[@stephenflowers8516]

" Blondie " AKA Debra Harry is actually a Redhead in reality. The band Blondie was originally Punk/ New Wave. Later on they leaned toward Disco.

[@robertsterner2145]

I think of this as a "party at the nuclear apocalypse" song. It's the end of the world and your hair is beautiful!

[@jaysimoes3705]

Of course not. Atomic is another word for fantastic and explosive here. Explosive, tonight make it magnificent...your hair is beautiful etc...How obvious is it it is about a sexual encounter between two people that (probably) at first look understood what they wanted to do with oneanother. I don't know about these days, it seems dating is a digital and somewhat awkward thing but in those times even at age 15-16 your went out looking for girls (as a guy) vice versa and looked for love, for sex or both. Or just a nice time with your friends dancing, drinking something etc...At least in The Netherlands we did.

[@mickr1448]

Blondie were a late 70's institution, Parallel Lines was the Album that dragged glam rock and punk rock into the synth pop Eighties, every adolescent boy in that era had a crush on Debbie Harry and she was immensely talented as was her band, Clem Burke on drums mmmmmmm

[@markthomas2577]

It's a long time ago now but my memory is that the UK charts were dominated by British artists in the years around 1980 and that Blondie were probably the most successful US band at that time in the UK ?

[@TheoZoffrok]

Clem Burke's drumming on this song is feckin' insane, even by his high standards. Love the groove, love the bass, *LOVE* Debbie Harry's vocal - I really don't think her singing gets nearly enough credit.

[@ekgrafix]

Yes the drumming basically on all blonde songs are absolutely stellar ... dreaming is pure perfection and accidents never happen, a personal favorite

[@pjimmbojimmbo1990]

He certainly was worthy of his Nickname, Machine Gun Burke, on 'Dreaming'

[@billfraser7616]

Ive always thought Clem Burke was one of the great all time drummers. But hes never mentioned.

[@jerrycote659]

Clem Burke 🙌🏼 is a freakin’ drum God! He’s so damn good.

[@pjimmbojimmbo1990]

@@billfraser7616 He later played with the Eurythmics

[@joesmith8725]

Blondie was new wave, punk (this genre always had good bass guitars and danceable beats, some synths) and sometimes fusioned with funk, rap and disco. This is '80s alternative music. Yall see the dance moves from everyone in the video? Particularly the pogo (jump up/down)? That's typical dancing to punk and new wave. lol. Brad is right. Def dance club music. Esp at alteranative, punk, goth, new wave type clubs. Even at roller rinks and regular dance clubs. This song and many other Blondie songs are still played often on college/alternative radio stations to this day. "Atomic" is one of the favorites, classic. Lex is right about Goth vibes, too. They love Blondie songs. This song, video also has Cold War, nuclear war theme. This was during the Cold War. Which many songs and movies, TV shows in the past had that type of reference. Therefore, the melancholy feel (happy/sad). Yall should do "Maria" video next! That was a big hit in the late '90s, early '00s. Their reunion, comeback album.

[@danw3735]

Such an amazing drum, base and keyboard combo, top it off with angelic blondie singing.

[@galenstone9097]

The late, great, Gia Carangi appears in this video. Godspeed for a truly beautiful girl.

[@cmecu_seemeseeyou9330]

I love her laugh 6:16 its like this high squeaky laugh that is so cute to hear. :D

[@bhbluebird]

Great band, terrific lead singer, great sound and a kick ass drummer. This song was played in the clubs back in the day.

[@crispy5000]

A dance floor filler

[@TheMkamix]

One my favorite songs by Blondie.

[@Ecosse57]

very post apocalyptic vibe to the video. we were kinda fascinated by that stuff in the late 70s and much of the 80s. the music has strong disco beat. what a time! i played this lp over and over...

[@chrisharris7931]

I'd been requesting this song for months. So glad that you finally heard it.

[@maybedrinkin3241]

Thanks for the request. Good call!

[@HiddenCharmhome]

Me too!!! Only one other has done it and that was a year or two ago. Love it!

[@Gdpud]

One of my alltime fav's!check the extended mix for that full disco/dance vibe!:)

[@richardhall800]

This song was about partying in the ashes after the atomic bomb has been dropped, because we all thought that could and might well happen any day back then

[@gosccc]

I, along with most of the male teenage population of the UK at the time was in love with Debbie Harry. That aside, I would have to say that is a great song and brilliantly produced. Pure class and timeless.

[@melissas4874]

And most teen girls in the U.S. (or at least my oldest sister) wanted to do their hair and dress like her. Everyone loved her basically.

[@stixstudios3380]

What do you mean by "WAS" in love with her?

[@gosccc]

@@stixstudios3380 Ha ha 🙂

[@shanedesselle2590]

Blondie! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 Loooooooove this song!

[@Brian-lz5if]

Club song 100%. Sadly you will never know what you missed. Incredible times !

[@xmathmanx]

cocaine, i guess

[@JRcomments]

Studio 54

[@BuddyBoy68]

The band are still touring... but I guess you mean the clubs are different now... unless it's a retro disco... Æ 🤔

[@jaysimoes3705]

Indeed they do not know what they miss at all.

[@jaysonb.6669]

No kidding! My uncle Frank (Zio Franco) was a part of a local dance studio in Detroit that travelled to disco & latin dance competitions throughout the East Coast & Miami between 76'-81'. He stayed clear of the drugs & organized crime element, but the ladies (especially African American ladies) loved him lol. Studio 54 wasn't the only wild club. I remember him telling me they went to one VIP club in NY which started a ZOO theme and had female dancers on top of a tiger, lion & zebra cage during opening weekend! 😭

[@joeltwinx3805]

The queen of alternative Rock

[@guyinsf]

Queen of New Wave and Punk and the Marilyn Monroe of Rock and the Garbo of Punk

[@jhood758]

Blondie is the band. Deborah Harrie is the singer. (Angela Trimble is her real name.)

[@John_Chu]

She was adopted at the age of three months by Mr. & Mrs. Harry of Hawthorne, New Jersey, who renamed her Deborah Ann. She located her birth mother in the 1980s (she was a concert pianist) and her mother declined having further interaction with Debbie.

[@bernman23]

@@John_Chu Her mother must not have respected punk and new wave music. She was a classical snob.

[@alexandrneba1584]

🤔

[@jollyrodgers7272]

Her REAL name is Deborah Ann Harry - born as Angela Trimble, but given up for adoption - LEGAL NAME CHANGE is Real.

[@davidmellish3295]

No Deborah Harrie is her REAL name,Angela Trimble was her birth name but it was legally changed

[@donnielangley9344]

From what I understand a lot of bands back then like Blondie and the police Etc changed up there formats to get radio play. So when Blondie came out disco was popular

[@yorkshirepauper]

Fab 5 Freddie in the crowd, that's who Brad has always reminded me of! 😄

[@PaintedCavern]

Always lived this song! Thanks for doing this Blondie reavtion!! ❤️👍

[@throwabrick]

I love this song, a great mashup of disco and punk.

[@rdub9767]

I know this has a disco vibe to it, but what a frickin' jam this song is. The drums really drive this song.

[@luriankosovo8767]

This song is not disco in any way, blonde only has one song with a disco sound in their entire discography, they started doing punk!

[@6Sinister6Minister6]

In the vid for “The Hardest Part” she’s wearing a black (money heist) wig, see if that gives you the different vibes. But I’d say their most “goth” sounding song is Victor which there’s a vid of as well. For more spy sounding songs by them, check out: For Your Eyes Only, Goldfinger (live at Musikladen), and Contact in Red Square (also live at Musikladen) 🤘😎

[@robertevans2450]

One of her good friends was Siouxsie Sioux and another was Chrissie Hynde...both were dark-haired lead singers in the same era and in the case of Siouxsie, the same genre....so your theory about what it would be perceived if she was black-haired could be looked at through their lens. Her vocals in this...unreal, and epic. Consider she had no meaningful electronic assistance and then listen to how pitch-perfect she is... underrated is understated.

[@poindexterjones206]

Blondie is my favorite band. Please listen to "Detroit 442". It's their awesome punk song. I consider "Atomic" to be a new wave dance song. I danced to it many times at clubs back in the day. Watch the official video for "The Hardest Part". Debbie has dark hair in the video. :) Wearing trash bags back then was a cool punk/new wave fashion. Lex I agree. The song does have sort of spy sound.

[@craigplatel813]

Don't forget guys the band is Blondie, the singer is Deborah Harry.

[@danielmchenry1000]

You have to undestand your history. Back in the day, other than having records or going to a concert, there were 3 ways to hear music A/M Radio, F/M Radio and College Radio. On FM radio one day somewhere in between Aerosmith, Kansas, Rolling Stones, AC/DC they slipped in Blondie - Heart of Glass, Planet Claire (B-52s) (and a couple of others e.g. Elvis Costello, Cars etc). It was a 'wait, what' moment. The world has not been the same since.

[@danielmchenry1000]

@adamsisuleiman stop hacking me.

[@danv9872]

Wicked scene in trainspotting uses this song. Like dropped as always

[@ronpotts6385]

Check out the band The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, if you want to know what Blondie would sound like with more of a punk sound, and if the singer were a brunette. Karen O., the lead singer, is the next gen version of Debbie Harry. Standout songs from them include "Maps", " Heads Will Roll", and "Date With The Night".

[@easyrolling]

With this album, Eat To The Beat, one of the biggest selling albums of 1980, (released at the end of 79) Blondie continued to touch on different types of music genres, as they expanded their punk-new wave roots.. This was an album cut for sure, but got plenty of airplay in the day .. due to it's electronic rhythm as compared to direct punk -new wave-disco vibes.. The whole album is super.. think you hit on a couple others already.. Great reaction ..loved it as aways..

[@timebandito4278]

You've got a point about the black hair. I once read a study about why certain people are attracted to certain hair colors, and the conclusion was that blonde hair attracts light a lot more than black hair, giving the face an ethereal glow. If she had black hair the mood of this video would be a lot darker, but with her ultra blonde hair lighting up her face, it's more of an angelic vibe. So I totally see where you're coming from. The mood would be a lot different.

[@greypossum1]

You guys would have loved 80s nightclubs Blondie was so much and everything more.

[@alexanderbeta-werburghii6176]

The clue is in 'Atomic'; post-apocalyptic, hence the costumes and zombie movements and lyrics about beautiful hair [glowing with radiation after nuclear war] and "'let's make it magnificent"... the final sexual coupling before death as Brad began to pick up on. The first time I saw punks wearing bin bags ['trash bags' *US] was two years previously [1977] at a Mutants gig in Manchester [UK]. For more pop-punk check out The Buzzcocks. Intersting that Lex mentions 'Blackie' as an idea, because that's early Siou xsie and the Banshees,; where Goth started. Also 'The Mutants' were the band that were a last minute replacement for Siouxsie and the Banshees [the band that we supported at that gig]. For another New Wave song about nuclear war check out Young Marble Giants 'Final Day'.

[@robertasirgutz8800]

She's so GORGEOUS! A style icon. Spot on, Lex. It is dark.

[@RonnieT44]

Blondie was really out there, back in the day, she really pushed the boundaries!!!

[@LordEriolTolkien]

Blondie were the bleeding edge of music when the 70's ticked into the 80's

[@goatslunch6991]

Blondie never sat still just kept experimenting and almost always hit it on the head. I know you have reacted to several of their tracks but stil so many left in the cuboard to discover. Picture This, Union City Blues and Dreaming just to name a few. Love them.

[@b.a.j5168]

My favorite Blondie song 💛🖤💛🖤💛

[@JissenkanHonbu]

It’s post-apocalyptic punk/dance (that vibe was prevalent at that time, movies like mad max came out etc…) pre “house” style music. That intense energy that is held so tight and restrained creates a tension, her sexy flirting combined with it creates an intense attraction makes you want to “explode” like and atomic bomb 😂

[@richhornburg4497]

One of the best songs off the Vice City soundtrack also

[@petemcfeet28]

In an alternate universe, introducing the dark haired wonder goth and her new song its Blackie with Hydroponic! Bah! Lol

[@Steffe]

I will never confess to it, but it was my younger brother, ( by 4 years), who made me a Blondie fan by playing their music on his turntable.

[@SilentBob731]

Blondie was an awesome band, and Debbie Harry is a Goddess of Song. So much amazing material.

[@brackguthrie9470]

They are still awesome!!

[@Kulsarieff]

Vice City, Ocean Drive, sunset, chopper motorcycle, hawaiian shirt and "Blondie - Atomic"

[@trishriley9681]

❤️❤️❤️ I have loved them/her for 40 years🤩

[@aaronarnold7653]

Debbie "Blackie" Harry...Hilarious

[@meheuck]

This song was used very effectively in Danny Boyle's 1996 hit TRAINSPOTTING, which even though it was set in the club culture of that era, by using this song and another even older song, Iggy Pop's "Lust for Life" on the soundtrack, demonstrated how ahead of its time this single was.

[@bjam27]

In Trainspotting, it's a cover by Sleeper

[@Tyrone-NZ]

My favourite blondie song, of many great songs. Deborah rocks.

[@mckrackin5324]

Blackie. lol... Never change Lex. I enjoy Brad's reactions to Lex as much as the music ;)

[@netzahuacoyotl]

I think atomic was used as a compliment for a person’s appearance. Your hair is beautiful tonight, atomic.

[@surlechapeau]

Brad & Lex, you'll love their "(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear" !!

[@JRcomments]

This album is probably my favorite. Also one of the first LPs i ever bought as as young teen. Everything on Eat to the Beat is worth reviewing. Please do their Dreaming video. Clem Burke goes off on drums.

[@brucedonaldson3627]

I remember this song being used for fashion show, runway music.

[@TZ61]

Don't know if this was their intent, but I've always thought of this song as a party in the wake of "the big blast". They finally dropped the big one, but it's Friday night and we're gonna roll with it. They assembled some of New York's underground "stars" for the dance of death.

[@albaPhenom]

Blondie is just one of the most effortlessly cool people to have ever existed, she just exudes cool.

[@albaPhenom]

@amirayusuf7067 OK Spam Bot (sarcastic thumbs-up emoticon)

[@thediaz07]

Yeah and WAY ahead of their time.

[@jaysimoes3705]

Yes while not making it her job to be cool. Nothing fake about her. these days we miss authentic people. They do mind a whole lot about what others think about them..

[@nicolasmiley7181]

You need to watch Blondie “ picture this” the last line Debbie sings about a pocket computer 😮

[@Butters66]

It's amazing you can be so high on so many drugs and produce such a fantastic song! It's my favorite Blondie song.

[@LordEriolTolkien]

Heroin, i think was her drug of choice for a long time

[@thomasbarr5940]

Downers for Chris

[@onfoenemgrave]

end the worldwide war on drugs.

[@CBGB_1977]

Garbage bags, foil, paper clothes for Debbie and some of the dancers = Post-apocalyptic punk

[@cafeAmericano]

Here's a fun fact. The girl in the audience with the long hair dancing like her life depends on it? Late Supermodel Gia Carangi who apparently was megafan and Got to be a dancer.

[@mikecaetano]

Future clubbing with Blondie! "Atomic" (1980) is from Eat to the Beat, the same album as "Dreaming", "Die Young Stay Pretty", "Union City Blue", and "The Hardest Part" another dance song. Check out the deeper tracks from Parallel Lines, the album before that one -- "Pretty Baby", "I Know but I Don't Know", "Hanging on the Telephone" ...

[@Johonnac]

LOVE “Union City Blue”!!!!❤

[@EnglishRalph]

I THINK that “Eat to the Beat” was the first video album but it’s a long, long time since I’ve seen it and I can’t remember if they’re all performance videos, or music videos as we know them today.

[@opencarry3860]

Such a great time period to live through.

[@cosmocassidy420]

You asked when someone would listen to this song? Hmmm, it's a good driving song or cleaning the house or apartment, playing cards etc.

[@johnmcgarry9519]

LEX! The vampire re-make! Genius.

[@Prodigal1]

Guys..BLONDIE is not her name, it is the name of the BAND!! (Common mistake). Her name is Deborah Harry and her hair naturally is not blonde, she bleaches it but their are clips where her hair color is quite different.

[@bradcolorado8149]

Yes ! She was a goth vampire !!

[@aloysha38]

The. Musicians in this band are vastly underrated

[@Floridafanatic28]

Agree completely!

[@bellodrade]

This one always brought the house down. It didn't matter which country they were touring. Everyone always lost their minds at the start of those four notes.

[@andyandy2629]

One of the greatest song ever. Blonie were great and Debbie Harry has always been a goddess.

[@Don-lg3oy]

To me it’s a song about 2 people that are going to share a powerful moment together…atomic. You can dance to the song but you can do other things too while it’s playing 😅That’s why I think it’s so sexy sounding. “Tonight, make it right” “Make it magnificent” “Your hair is beautiful…” Song gives me chills. Blondie was an amazing band.

[@mana3735]

It's about one last fcuk before the bomb goes off.

[@jaysimoes3705]

Sure it was (and is). People these days seem to be so literal they can't even see the very obvious thing and how the music works to achieve that. Not all people, but some are pretty clueless. Irony etc is also lost on them.

[@nomisnestral6956]

Lex's Blackie comment made me spit out my beer like I was a sitcom dummy.

[@stevethomas7986]

I love Blondie, they were one of my first big influences to be myself and quit trying to fit in with everyone else in my pre teens 11/12 in the early 80s.

[@smartin807]

Debbie Harry's hair is naturally brown, bt she often dies it blonde with brown streaks in the back.

[@jeffreekoch9298]

Blondie! 🕺 New wave punk with some disco flair.

[@dennisjames1792]

The band is called Blondie ,the singers name is Debra Harry.

[@iainweller452]

Union City Blues is my favourite Blondie song

[@Johonnac]

DITTO 😂

[@dudermcdudeface3674]

Blondie music accomplishes a lot. Somehow it manages to be imaginative, edgy, and accessible all at the same time.

[@TheNeonRabbit]

Debbie Harry's hair is naturally dark and much of the time she'd only bleach part of it. Blondie released an album of remixes in 1988 called "Once More into the Bleach". In the official video for "Blondie - The Hardest Part" she's wearing a long dark wig and looks amazing. Great song too.

[@stevem7192]

She posed for some nude shots in the early 70s and she's definitely not a natural blonde.

[@brucedonaldson3627]

The Hardest Part is one of my favorites.

[@EdwardGregoryNYC]

Like many of the punks, new wavers and punk kids of the day, they didn't have a lot of cash to keep up with fashion. It came organically out of the second hand shops and sidewalk vendors. As for her hair, when you dye dark hair the roots show pretty quickly. I'm sure she couldn't spend a lot of money or time doing her hair. Rather than fighting it, she went with it. And it totally rocked.

[@maybedrinkin3241]

Yes!! Although, if I'm being really honest, Deborah Harry always looked amazing. I maintained a solid crush on her throughout the '80s, but starting in '79 when I first heard "Heart of Glass". I was sure I was in love before I even saw her.

[@lloydsenterfitt4913]

The New Wave, back in the old days.

[@festidious2644]

Brad & Lex: More than half of the Eat To The Beat album is this quality or better. You should give it a serious go on your reaction channel. I think you would love Union City Blue, Dreaming, Shay;a, Slow Motion, Victor, Sound-A-Sleep...etc. I'm not crazy about Blondie but I really like this one.

[@HiddenCharmhome]

One of my absolute fav Blondie songs! Clem Burke is AMAZING!!!!! Just love the whole thing. Perfect shower and get ready music

[@bearhawk426]

The entire band is Blondie, the singer is Debra Harry.

[@JonathanCourtauld]

Come on guys - its a club song with a little of the robot dance thrown in that was fashionable at the time. Its new wave/ new romantic with the person she's dancing with being beautiful (hair is beautiful) and the night thats going to be magnificent. Its not about a hair product!!!

[@jaysonb.6669]

BLACKIE!!! Love you Lex, dont ever change 😩💀

[@qhl5579]

She was "Brunette" Harry, in the Video for the song, the Hardest Part.

[@wolf762x51]

The thing to remember about Debbie Harry, is that she was high as a kite 99% of the time, even on her Sesame Street appearance, she was stoned out of her mind. Love her though.

[@Vesparado]

All your questions are answered on the Wiki page for a lot of songs, including "Atomic". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_(song)

[@dipsydoodle7988]

“A small get together with friends..” uhh, this could literally have depicted Studio 54 in the 80s. 😂 Probably, more like a CBGB’s, punk get together. It’s about hair.. 😂😂😂☠️☠️☠️

[@xtiants]

It's a vibe. This was modernity to the utmost . We still ain't there yet.

[@varyingredbeard9827]

i had a crush on blondie

[@vectorifix3218]

Love your conversations! Great vid.

[@hairlokk8672]

Gia is in this video, worlds first supermodel. Died young

[@youcantleavethisempty]

Now you've got me wondering what Blondie would sound like with Blackie Lawless singing for them. Thanks for that.