Greatest Hits Radio's guide to 11 of the greatest Blondie songs
Which song is your favourite?
Last updated 23rd Feb 2024
With their pulsating disco beats mixed with their punk rock edge, it's fair to say that Blondie became a cultural phenomenon when their tracks began to dominate the charts in the late 70s. Debbie Harry's infectious vocals, backed with the band's unique punk rock sound, saw the new wave group create some of the most iconic songs of the 70s, 80s and 90s.
From their debut album in 1976, to their 11th and most recent album 'Pollinator' in 2017, Blondie have released some huge tracks throughout their career. With the band working on new music as we speak, let's take a look at 11 of their biggest hits - from the infectious dance groove of 'Heart of Glass' to their defiant anthem 'One Way or Another', and some you may have forgotten about...
11 of Blondie's biggest songs of all time:
'Call Me' (1980)
From their fifth studio album 'Autoamerican', this song came out in 1980 and went to Number 1 in the UK chart. A signature track from the band, Debbie Harry even performed it on The Muppet Show.
Listen to Blondie's 'Call Me' here on YouTube.
'Heart of Glass' (1979)
Released in 1979, this song was originally intended to be reggae, but was changed to a disco song instead. Hitting the Number 1 spot in the UK chart, the song is also now certified Platinum.
Listen to Blondie's 'Heart of Glass' here on YouTube.
'Rapture' (1980)
Along with their trademark funk bass, Blondie's 'Rapture' also features rap vocals, and became the first ever rap video to be shown on MTV. Hitting Number 5 in the UK chart, the song is now certified Silver.
Listen to Blondie's 'Rapture' here on YouTube.
'Atomic' (1979)
The third single from Blondie's's fourth studio album 'Eat to the Beat', 'Atomic' is Blondie's best-selling UK single, staying at the Number 1 spot in the chart for two weeks. The track was also famously used in the film Bend It Like Beckham in 2002, years before the band re-recorded the song for their compilation album - 'Greatest Hits Deluxe Redux'.
Listen to Blondie's 'Atomic' here on YouTube.
'The Tide Is High' (1980)
Blondie covered Jamaican vocal group The Paragons' 'The Tide Is High' track, releasing their version in 1980. The cover served as the first single from Blondie's fifth studio album, 'Autoamerican', and charted at Number 1 in the US and Number 5 in the UK. The song again saw a resurgence in popularity when it was covered by Atomic Kitten in 2002, with their cover featuring a new bridge. Atomic Kitten landed the Number 1 spot with their cover of 'The Tide Is High'.
Listen to Blondie's 'The Tide Is High' here on YouTube.
'Sunday Girl' (1978)
'Sunday Girl' was written by Chris Stein to cheer up Debbie Harry, when her cat called Sunday Man had run away while they were on tour. The song featured on their third studio album 'Parallel Lines', which was released in 1978, however when the track was released as a single in May 1979, it hit the Number 1 spot in the UK and topped the charts for a whopping three weeks.
Listen to Blondie's 'Sunday Girl' here on YouTube.
'Maria' (1999)
'Maria' is a signature song of Blondie's, featuring on their 1999 seventh album 'No Exit'. The infectious song is widely considered one of the band's most successful, with it hitting the Number 1 spot in the UK and now being certified Platinum. As well as the track being Blondie's sixth UK Number 1, it also marked their first chart-topper since their 1980 hit 'The Tide Is High'.
Listen to Blondie's 'Maria' here on YouTube.
'Good Boys' (2003)
Considered a slightly more 'haunting' yet funky track, 'Good Boys' was released in 2003 as the only single from their eighth studio album 'The Curse of Blondie'. Accompanied by a chilling clown and carnival-inspired music video, the song peaked at Number 12 in the UK chart, and has been described as one of the band's 'overshadowed' releases.
Listen to Blondie's 'Good Boys' here on YouTube.
'One Way or Another' (1978)
Featuring on their 1978 album 'Parallel Lines', Blondie's iconic track 'One Way or Another' - written about Debbie's ex who stalked her after their breakup - is now certified Platinum in the UK. Interestingly, the song was never released as a single in the UK, therefore didn't enter the charts upon its initial release - however, thanks to a cover from The X Factor phenomenon One Direction, Blondie's hit in fact entered the UK chart due to download sales in February 2013.
Listen to Blondie's 'One Way or Another' here on YouTube.
'Rip Her to Shreds' (1976)
'Rip Her to Shreds' is one of Blondie's earlier releases, featuring on their self-titled debut album back in 1976, and serving as their first UK single. The stand-out vocals along with the band's signature twang helped propel the band into the legendary status they maintain today, with it also featuring on their 1981 greatest hits album 'The Best of Blondie'. The song also famously featured in the hit 2004 film Mean Girls.
Listen to Blondie's 'Rip Her to Shreds' here on YouTube.
'Hanging On The Telephone' (1978)
Written by American songwriter Jack Lee, 'Hanging On The Telephone' was initially released by his own band The Nerves in 1976. It wasn't until two years later, in 1978, that Blondie recorded and released their version of the track, becoming one of their most known bops of all time, thanks to its fast-faced pop-rock nature. The song featured on their third album 'Parallel Lines', peaking at Number 5 in the UK chart.
Listen to Blondie's 'Hanging On The Telephone' here on YouTube.
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