Gentlepromotion stelt voor: een video voor Bondie’s new single ‘Fun’
Last month Blondie announced their 11th studio album Pollinator, to be released by BMG on May 5th – an incredible new record and a modern take on the classic, vintage sound of one of the world’s most influential and legendary bands.
They also unveiled the first single “Fun”, universally embraced as an uplifting disco classic. Now the video for ‘Fun’ is launched with the band going intergalactic, escaping the confines of an unsteady earth for the party planet of Mars - where everyone is welcomed, accepted and celebrated. And Blondie are the house band.
As Chris Stein puts it: “Quoting Emma Goldman, ‘If I can’t dance I don’t want to be part of your revolution.’ In these trying times we need some fun. We're very serious about fun.” Debbie Harry adds, "This is music as it's supposed to be, filled with spirit, fun and true soul.”
Directed by Dikayl Rimmasch, the New York based photographer and director who most recently worked on Beyonce’s Lemonade and her Formation World Tour, the film is a literal escape from the current state of tension and division gripping the USA and beyond.
It uses imagery inspired by Blondie songwriter and guitarist Chris Stein’s remarkable photography that spans their experience of New York’s music and club culture from the 1970s onwards. Many of the extras are current New York club scene regulars and friends of Blondie’s Matt Katz-Bohen, including Project Runway favourite and make up artist, Raja.
Says Dikyal Rimmasch, “The band was really welcoming and open. Debbie is beautiful and beautifully enigmatic. It was amazing to be on the other side of the glass from her - when those “Debbie moments” happened it felt like I had stepped into a parallel dimension.
“Chris was great because he’s generated so much of the band’s strong iconography. Such a great photographer....
“Matt connected us with Raja - the Queen of Mars - and others who showed up at the bar to film the party sequence. Raja embraced the whole thing including getting onto a very large horse for the first time and creating her costume. It was all very organic and felt like a family affair - The Blondie universe is a beautiful place. I’m very glad I could visit.”
“Fun” is available to stream and download now. Plus a highly collectible 7” vinyl pressing of “Fun” is available to order from independent retailers on February 1st - with only 1000 copies available.
Blondie also announced their 2017 US Rage And Rapture tour dates last week, a joint headliner with Garbage, running across the USA in July and August.
"If I was a looking for a great show to go to,” says Debbie of the two bands joining forces, “it would be to the Blondie/Garbage show. It's a full on great rock show.”
Comments about ‘Fun’
"Debbie Harry and the New York legends are back with this Studio 54-worthy hit of sparkling dance floor fuel..." NME
"Fun" is vintage Blondie, channeling the airy, disco-ball conjuring sound at the heart of tracks like "Heart of Glass" and "Rapture" and filtering it through the sharp production capabilities afforded to musicians now we live in the future.” - Noisey
"Over 40 years into their career they're sounding as brilliant as they ever have done..... With the release of their new single, the outfit are showing their unparalleled ability to remain on the pop pulse. The aptly titled "Fun" (above) is a bounding banger showcasing the group at their most energetic. Hairbrushes at the ready: this is a karaoke anthem for the modern age." - The Line Of Best Fit
About Pollinator
Blondie’s classic writing duo of Chris Stein and Debbie Harry are at the heart of Pollinator’s creation - with “Doom Or Destiny” and “Love Level”, while keyboardist Matt Katz-Bohen’s two tracks (“Already Naked” / “Too Much”) prove the band continues to evolve almost song by song. Blondie’s founding drummer Clem Burke provides the unmistakably thrilling propulsion throughout. And Chris Stein’s fascination with modern culture sees him mine a song from Adam Johnston aka an Unkindness (“Fragments”), first heard as a sample on the Vancouver based indie artist’s YouTube movie reviews.
Producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, John Grant, War On Drugs, David Byrne) brought the band into the studio to record live, capturing the essence of one of the founders of punk rock, a genre that defined his life. Pop’s uber writers and chart queens Sia (the shimmering synth led “Best Day Ever”) and Charli XCX (digital, bubble gum punk of “Gravity”) are fans invited by an admiring Blondie to contribute. “Fun” co writer and TV On the Radio’s Dave Sitek, perhaps more a descendent of Blondie’s New York post-punk legacy, returns them to a 21st Century Studio 54 with the new single. With Debbie Harry and the band sounding better than ever, Blondie’s euphoric new track plays like the best party ever thrown and captures that unique combination of their enviable cool and sheer melodic joy. The Smiths’ Johnny Marr, an old friend and admirer writes “My Monster” and joins the band on guitar, while Dev Hynes (Blood Orange, Lightspeed Champion) cements an enduring partnership with Blondie by channeling shards of “Heart Of Glass” into the irresistible “Long Time”. Along the way, Joan Jett and Laurie Anderson make studio appearances (“Doom or Destiny”) along with The Gregory Brothers (“When I Gave Up On You”). “Their material is part of us and we are part of them”, says frontwoman Debbie Harry of their co-writers, all of whom were influenced by her band in the first place, “It’s a celebration of recycling!”
Sounding more vital and essential then ever, Pollinator is a Blondie record for 2017 that stands alongside any in their extraordinary career. World-renowned artist Shepard Fairey has designed the Pollinator artwork which, as well as CD, digital and heavy weight vinyl, will be available as a limited edition 7” box set. Fans will also be able to order a limited red heavy weight vinyl album from the artist store and an exclusive white heavy weight vinyl from independent retailers. Blondie have already announced April 2017 Australia and New Zealand dates, now followed by the concert dates in the US and Canada (summer 2017). The UK and Europe will follow.
Blondie are: Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Clem Burke, Matt Katz- Bohen, Leigh Foxx and Tommy Kessler. Undeniably one of the most trailblazing and influential bands of our time, Blondie is pioneering frontwoman/songwriter Debbie Harry, guitarist/conceptual mastermind Chris Stein and powerhouse drummer Clem Burke, along with now long standing band mates bassist Leigh Foxx, guitarist Tommy Kessler and keyboardist Matt Katz-Bohen.
Pollinator Track List
- Doom or Destiny
- Long Time
- Already Naked
- Fun
- My Monster
- Best Day Ever
- Gravity
- When I Gave Up On You
- Love Level
- Too Much
- Fragments
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