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Blondie — Rapture
Album: The Best of Blondie
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 412









Released: 0
Length: 4:52
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Toe to toe, dancing very close
Body breathing, almost comatose
Wall to wall, people hypnotized
And they're stepping lightly
Hang each night in rapture

Back to back, sacroiliac
Spineless movement and a wild attack
Face to face, sightless solitude
And it's finger-popping
Twenty-four hour shopping in rapture

Fab Five Freddy told me everybody's fly
DJ's spinning, I said "My, my."
Flash is fast, flash is cool
François, c'est pas flashé non due
And you don't stop, sure shot
Go out to the parking lot

And you get in your car and drive real far
And you drive all night and then you see a light
And it comes right down and it lands on the ground
And out comes the man from Mars

And you try to run, but he's got a gun
And he shoots you dead and he eats your head
And then you're in the man from Mars
You go out at night eating cars

You eat Cadillacs, Lincolns, too
Mercurys, and Subaru
And you don't stop
You keep on eating cars
Then when there's no more cars

You go out at night
And eat up bars where the people meet
Face to face
Dance cheek to cheek

One to one
Man to man
Dance toe to toe
Don't move too slow

'Cause the man from Mars is through with cars
He's eating bars
Yeah, wall to wall
Door to door
Hall to hall
He's gonna eat 'em all

Rapture
Be pure
Take a tour through the sewer
Don't strain your brain
Paint a train
You'll be singing in the rain
Said don't stop, do the punk rock

Well, now you see what you want to be
Just have your party on TV
'Cause the man from Mars won't eat up bars where the TV's on
Now he's gone back up to space
Where he won't have a hassle with the human race

And you hip hop
And you don't stop
Just blast off
Sure shot

Because the man from Mars stopped eating cars
And eating bars
And now he only eats guitars
Get up

Man to man, body muscular
Seismic dancing, move, bite the jugular
One to one, teatime technology
And a digital add-up
No sign of bad luck in rapture.
Comments (121)add comment


Blondie Vs. The Doors - "Rapture" Riders :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnhKPw2NXIw



 baltimorelovejoy wrote:
Along with "Barracuda" this song was used to play out Sarah Palin....without permission from the artist, of course, who, like Heart, would probably be against using it in that manner...

 
Public venues pay ASCAP and other music licensing organizations for the use of incidental music performances such as that.  Permission from the artist has already been granted, through their music publisher, and specific permission to play a particular artist or song is not required.  Petulant artists, who have already been remunerated for the performance of their music, can complain about it and usually get their way.

Imagine if other businesses worked that way. 

 mrselfdestruct wrote:
That's one of the top three worst moments in the history of movies. Even back then it was brutal.
 
I thought the scene was pretty cool.....Hey Doc! This drug ain't workin'!

 fredriley wrote:
At least Debbie Harry could sing, unlike all the rap and hip-hop artists who so infest the airwaves, soundtracks, shop muzak, etc, etc these days. All I can say to rappers is - learn to f*ckin' sing!
 
Maybe they want to make sure you can hear what they have to say.

You've grouped "all the rap and hip-hop artists" together, but some of them are worth listening to.

Bill, you owe me another reconsideration (is that even a word? {#Lol}) of "Hanging on the Telephone" for playing this...it's no "harder" than "One Way or Another". {#Smile}
 kylemichael wrote:
This is rapture all right. I suspect hell plays it on loop.
 

So Bill mentioned there were some good comments on this one, so I thought I'd take a sneak peak at work.....

Thanks kylemichael for making me bust out laughing in my cube :P

cRapture
Great sax solo by my long-time favorite, Tom Scott. 

Pretty funny lyrics (rap section) too. Never really listened to it that carefully 'till tonight.

 rdo wrote:
really?  I don't think the word rap was even in use when this came out, it certainly was not the kind of thing for which someone would have a like or dislike yet.
Actually, Rapper's Delight was released in 1979, the year before Rapture. Check out Wiki's history of Debbie's intersection on the NY club scene during that period, with rappers and early hip-hoppers.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapper%27s_Delight
 gekkosan wrote:

*WHITE* Rap, you mean.
I remember clearly when this song came, and thinking something along the lines: "Urk! I don't very much like rap, but this "white imitation-rap" thing is truly awful!"
 
At least Debbie Harry could sing, unlike all the rap and hip-hop artists who so infest the airwaves, soundtracks, shop muzak, etc, etc these days. All I can say to rappers is - learn to f*ckin' sing! {#Frustrated}

This was an interesting experiment from an always innovative band, but a failure IMO. Nice bit of nostalgia. though.
 gekkosan wrote:

*WHITE* Rap, you mean.
I remember clearly when this song came, and thinking something along the lines: "Urk! I don't very much like rap, but this "white imitation-rap" thing is truly awful!"

Goes to show the power of nostalgia, though. Now I kinda dig this goofy song.{#Roflol}
 

really?  I don't think the word rap was even in use when this came out, it certainly was not the kind of thing for which someone would have a like or dislike yet.
"...like, in the phone book, her name would be 'Harry Deborah'...huh, huh..."

 eddief wrote:

Don't forget "Poindexter on the violin and Louis and Gilbert will be chiming in"
 


The fact that this is Timothy Busfield cracks me up.
 Danimal174 wrote:


Is it because Blondie rhymes "cars" with "bars" and "guitars", and on "Revenge of the Nerds", they rhyme "guitar" with "Lamar"?

Or, is it just because they're both horrible at rapping?
{#Yes}
 
Don't forget "Poindexter on the violin and Louis and Gilbert will be chiming in"

 jerkstore wrote:
does anybody else think of that rap scene from the movie "Revenge of the Nerds" when they hear this??
 

Is it because Blondie rhymes "cars" with "bars" and "guitars", and on "Revenge of the Nerds", they rhyme "guitar" with "Lamar"?

Or, is it just because they're both horrible at rapping?
{#Yes}
very likeable, increasingly very nostalgic, never very good....!
gekkosan wrote:

*WHITE* Rap, you mean.
I remember clearly when this song came, and thinking something along the lines: "Urk! I don't very much like rap, but this "white imitation-rap" thing is truly awful!"

Goes to show the power of nostalgia, though. Now I kinda dig this goofy song.{#Roflol}

You're farther along than I am, then.  I like Blondie but this song still makes me cringe. :-)

Even calling it "Rapture".  How dumb can you get?

This is rapture all right. I suspect hell plays it on loop.
Brings back memories of middle school slumber parties!
another example of good programming, these last tunes

Excellent tune.

When we were in Europe in 1999 you couldn't swing a cat without hearing Maria, which was a monster hit for Debbie and the gang that year, and a really good song to boot.

The regional differences in music are amazing —- Maria was Number 1 in the UK and got all the way to Number 82 in the US.
baltimorelovejoy wrote:
Along with "Barracuda" this song was used to play out Sarah Palin....without permission from the artist, of course, who, like Heart, would probably be against using it in that manner...

 

https://www.snopes.com/politics/mccain/barracuda.asp

A funny letter from Heart about the use of their song, but as it turns out, it was false.
Easily one of my all-time favorite songs
 AphidA wrote:
Almost the first and almost the worst rap song ever. Yeeeeahhhh!
 
*WHITE* Rap, you mean.
I remember clearly when this song came, and thinking something along the lines: "Urk! I don't very much like rap, but this "white imitation-rap" thing is truly awful!"

Goes to show the power of nostalgia, though. Now I kinda dig this goofy song.{#Roflol}
oh, so it was Blondie!  i always wondered who did that.  and single-handedly as well, i suppose, nice!

 
Gryn wrote:
Thank you, Blondie, for changing the direction of music to what it has become today.
 


 djblitz wrote:
She may be the first white woman ever to actual record herself rapping. :) 
  love it!

Rap-ture....

I like the "eating guitars" part at the end...
What? WHY?! {#Stupid}
She may be the first white woman ever to actual record herself rapping. :) 
Along with "Barracuda" this song was used to play out Sarah Palin....without permission from the artist, of course, who, like Heart, would probably be against using it in that manner...

japanmoran wrote:
Um, correction: Thanks a lot, Blondie, for changing the direction of music to what it has become today. We all must suffer. AAARGGHH!
Yes, Blondie was just about the coolest band around when they first started out in the mid-70's. We all loved the retro-sounding "girl-group" pop, which progressed nicely through about 4 albums. I still think "Heart of Glass" is a great song, even if they did cash in for a trandy pop smash. But then they started exploring the NYC underground with crap like this. It sounded "OK" at the time (nothing great), but in retrospect, it hasn't held up well. And let's not get into the sorry state of "pop music" it spawned 25 years later, which shows absolutely no signs of slowing down...RP, please crank up "In The Sun" or "X Offender" the next time you want to give Debbie's voice a listen.
mxdcec wrote:
Every now & then someone makes a mis-statement that falls perfectly into your hands, establishing the basis for a wonderful retort . . . *snip* Overall, their unfluence was collectively greater than the Beatles.
I couldn't resist this just for the smile; I make no inference about the song!
Good for a turn on the fun machine!
jerkstore wrote:
does anybody else think of that rap scene from the movie "Revenge of the Nerds" when they hear this??
That's one of the top three worst moments in the history of movies. Even back then it was brutal.
does anybody else think of that rap scene from the movie "Revenge of the Nerds" when they hear this??
Another guilty pleasure. I have always really liked this song.
babygirl614 wrote:
Great stuff. I love this song.
Me too. This is classic Blondie.
Almost the first and almost the worst rap song ever. Yeeeeahhhh!
Zygomatic wrote:
rupture
LOL.... I like this song, but that's funny!
japanmoran wrote:
Um, correction: Thanks a lot, Blondie, for changing the direction of music to what it has become today. We all must suffer. AAARGGHH!
Gryn wrote:
Thank you, Blondie, for changing the direction of music to what it has become today.
Um, correction: Thanks a lot, Blondie, for changing the direction of music to what it has become today. We all must suffer. AAARGGHH!
Thank you, Blondie, for changing the direction of music to what it has become today.
I never criticise the dead, with the exception of ronald reagan while he was in office, but would have like to have seen Joey Ramone try to sing Heart of Glass. It is a very difficult song to sing. The Ramone's were a great band that shared the same venues and time with Blondie. The difference is, Blondie broke all world records by being the only band to reach the Billboard Top 10 in 3 decades- 70's, 80's, and 90's. The Ramones became insanely jealous of Blondie, and tried that "Artiste" argument that the erst-while-neer-do-well's, so often employ. Don't kid yourself, if that's "selling-out", the Ramones wish they could have been so commercial. Look, I turn people on to music that have never really never heard much American music in their lives. Funny, but Blondie, and The Supremes, are instantly popular. I love The Ramones, but it doesn't get a very high approval rating when it's introduced to new listeners. So, Joey had his wish granted, "OK, so you are a Garage Band, R.I.P." sweet_william wrote:
Joey Ramone said Blondie sold out the day "Heart of Glass" was released. He was right.
I thought Shatner sang on this cut?
Every now & then someone makes a mis-statement that falls perfectly into your hands, establishing the basis for a wonderful retort. The writer refers to Blondie as a 2-hit wonder! Blondie is the only band to ever make the Billboard Top 10 in 3 decades- 70's, 80's, and 90's! Give them their due, go back and listen to Union City Blues, you'll change your tune. This band can go head to head with any band. Their stuff holds up a lot better around the world, and is more popular (not in the US)than The Beatles. I wish you could take a trip back in time to see them in New York's East Village at CBGB's! Overall, their unfluence was collectively greater than the Beatles. They are probably one of the top 5 bands to emerge during the mid-70's and to see the century end. Shesdifferent wrote:
Blondie is overrated. This song has a good sound, starts off good and then just goes to hell. I don't know why everyone makes such a big fuss over this group. They're a 2 hit wonder!
it sounds old, last <-(
rupture
Great stuff. I love this song.
ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
Go Home Productions remixed this with Riders on the Storm... worth a listen. The same folks who mixed A Day in the Life with that Radiohead song Karma whathaveyou. (click here)
correction: https://www.gohomeproductions.co.uk
RP doesnt have her best song, "Maria"
Following Brubeck with this is like following filet mignon with Jello. Decent, but no classic.
Blondie is overrated. This song has a good sound, starts off good and then just goes to hell. I don't know why everyone makes such a big fuss over this group. They're a 2 hit wonder!
You know, I like old-school rap, but this is why white folks SHOULD NOT RAP! Stop it!!!!
I like Blondie and this song is OK, but it doesn't really seem like it should be on RP. How about "Atomic"?
This is rap at the very beginning...at its best. It all went downhill from there. :D
lizardman_tcs wrote:
This song should only be listened to by people with short attention spans. Once you start focusing on the lyrics, you become very, very disappointed
Uhh... sorry, what was that? I wasn't paying attention.
resonator wrote:
Rapture? This must be on Bush's iPod. Still cool, I think.
Now that's funny! A great bumper sticker... "When rapture comes, can I have all your stuff?"
Rapture? This must be on Bush's iPod. Still cool, I think.
AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! This SUCKS! Why the HELL did she decide to rap? Her rhymes are worse than a Hallmark greeting card written by Emily Dickenson... MAKE IT STOP!!!!!!!!!
lizardman_tcs wrote:
This song should only be listened to by people with short attention spans. Once you start focusing on the lyrics, you become very, very disappointed
Sorry, what did you say? I could hear you...I was listening to the MUSIC!!!
Sorry, this isn't doing anything for me.
I haven't heard this since I was playing GTA: Vice City. =P
Classic song. Bravo.
blondie rocks
royal_ink wrote:
What up with the big bell in this song?
They hadn't yet discovered the cowbell. More cowbell! Can't have enough cowbell! Yes the song does seem a bit cheezy from today's standpoint. But you've got to hand it to them, they were the first to try to take rap mainstream, back when most white artists though it a passing fad.
Lyrics?? You can make out the lyrics?
This song should only be listened to by people with short attention spans. Once you start focusing on the lyrics, you become very, very disappointed
Way, way ahead of their time. Blondie Rocks
Shimmer wrote:
Hasn't aged well at all.
Aged? Like a fine whine? Cut cheese? Aged? It should never even have been given a born-on date.
WOW, only RP could go from Dave Brubeck straight into Blondie
Almost expected Jim Morrison to pop out there singing...
Blondie was a fun band and it still is..and Debbie Harry is my mamacita
Fine song, just been hearing it on RP a little too often.
ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote:
Go Home Productions remixed this with Riders on the Storm... worth a listen.(click here)
I can testify to that. It's double the kitschy fun of the originals!
wonderunit wrote:
Even more ludicrous now than the sorry day it was released.
This is true, but its kitschy charm still entertains.
Go Home Productions remixed this with Riders on the Storm... worth a listen. The same folks who mixed A Day in the Life with that Radiohead song Karma whathaveyou. (click here)
DaWiz wrote:
...in other words... it should have stayed in the 80s. :P
Amen
many thanks for the explanation. shayde wrote:
This is from: https://selector.soundsnz.com/Legends.asp?Legend=Blondie Rapture from the album Autoamerican, is an example of Blondie�s originality and innovation. This song helped expose rap music and introduce a whole new style music to the world, at a time when everyone in the music industry (both blacks and whites) were discounting rap as merely a passing fad. It started when Harry went along to one of Grandmaster Flash�s block parties, in his neighbourhood. Harry hung out in the background, watching the Furious Five control the dancing crowd with their tightly-choreographed raps, watching Flash cut the records with his elbow, his toes, his knees, scratching and spinning like James Brown on the stage. Harry stayed for the entire show, marveling at the skill of the rappers and the DJ, then left. After the party finished, Flash heard second hand that Harry was so impressed with the group's skills, she was thinking of writing a song about the Furious Five. Flash remembers that "People came up to me and said, 'Flash, we heard your record on the radio,' and I said 'What did it say?' And they said 'Something about eating cars and eating bars.' So I started listening to the radio. Fab 5 Freddy told me that Blondie (Harry) was at one of our parties. She was really there, I couldn't believe it. Then he said that someday she would do a record representing what I did on the turntables. When I heard it, I thought, hell she really did it." Rapture was the first mainstream hit in America to feature rap, and give it a wider exposure, at a time when rap was still very much an underground music that had no media profile whatsoever. Rapture was also the first song featuring rap to be played on MTV.
MiataDJ wrote:
Ummm...I may be wrong...but this is NOT edited! I can CLEARLY still hear, "...finger f**king!" I'm not complaining...
I hear that too, but they lyric is offically "Finger Popping"... :D
...in other words... it should have stayed in the 80s. :P
i know this song was all "ground breaking" and stuff, ahead of its time, blah, blah, blah . . . it still annoys the crap out of me. it is a great combo of bad, stiff rap and disco cheeeeeeeeeeese.
Hasn't aged well at all.
This song is *so* cool. I remember seeing them in concert in the late \'70s. They were the opening act for Iggy Pop\'s \"comeback\" tour. Deborah Harry danced around the stage all night in a little white silk slip. Heh. Great show.
I normally don\'t like to be overly opinionated on things in general, but this song sucks. Come to think of it, I hate most of her stuff. Sorry
Originally Posted by FerretRob: I'd really like to hear the history of this song. Anyone? As far as I recall, somehow Deborah Harry was plugged into the Original (late 70s) "rap/disco/whatever" scene in New York. Long before it was defined. I never thought of her as an OG before!
This is from: https://selector.soundsnz.com/Legends.asp?Legend=Blondie Rapture from the album Autoamerican, is an example of Blondie�s originality and innovation. This song helped expose rap music and introduce a whole new style music to the world, at a time when everyone in the music industry (both blacks and whites) were discounting rap as merely a passing fad. It started when Harry went along to one of Grandmaster Flash�s block parties, in his neighbourhood. Harry hung out in the background, watching the Furious Five control the dancing crowd with their tightly-choreographed raps, watching Flash cut the records with his elbow, his toes, his knees, scratching and spinning like James Brown on the stage. Harry stayed for the entire show, marveling at the skill of the rappers and the DJ, then left. After the party finished, Flash heard second hand that Harry was so impressed with the group's skills, she was thinking of writing a song about the Furious Five. Flash remembers that "People came up to me and said, 'Flash, we heard your record on the radio,' and I said 'What did it say?' And they said 'Something about eating cars and eating bars.' So I started listening to the radio. Fab 5 Freddy told me that Blondie (Harry) was at one of our parties. She was really there, I couldn't believe it. Then he said that someday she would do a record representing what I did on the turntables. When I heard it, I thought, hell she really did it." Rapture was the first mainstream hit in America to feature rap, and give it a wider exposure, at a time when rap was still very much an underground music that had no media profile whatsoever. Rapture was also the first song featuring rap to be played on MTV.
I\'d really like to hear the history of this song. Anyone? As far as I recall, somehow Deborah Harry was plugged into the Original (late 70s) \"rap/disco/whatever\" scene in New York. Long before it was defined. I never thought of her as an OG before!
Originally Posted by bernpuc: One of the first rap songs ever.
You can't be serious... are you?
I don\'t hear this much anymore, but still dig it. This was really a unique song when it originally came out. Good set today, Bill.
One of the first rap songs ever.
I am utterly shocked that I kinda like this song. Except for this rap-wannabe part. Blecky.
I can\'t stand The Bangles \"Walk Like an Egyptian\", but love this song? Go figure. :)
Originally Posted by MiataDJ: Ummm...I may be wrong...but this is NOT edited! I can CLEARLY still hear, "...finger f**king!" I'm not complaining...
I am...its clearly not necessary to the song. Just another example of sex selling songs. Its not art just because there is profanity in it.
Love that funky saxin\'. Reminds me of Average White Band.
Someone correct me if I\'m mistaken, but this isn\'t a \"crossover\", but actually the first time the idea of \'rap\' was named and used. IIRC, it predates Rapper\'s Delight. C.
Joey Ramone said Blondie sold out the day "Heart of Glass" was released. He was right.
This sucked the first time around; it isn\'t any better now.
ahhhh Rapture. Reminds me of 7th grade summer at the roller rink... Cadillacs, Lincolns, too; Mercuries and Subaru. Yee hah!
Blondie - yes. Blondie rap - no.
it does bring back memories. ;)
Even more ludicrous now than the sorry day it was released.
Ummm...I may be wrong...but this is NOT edited! I can CLEARLY still hear, \"...finger f**king!\" I\'m not complaining...
Like Blondie, but I always thought the rap was lame.
I dug this song in particular, and Blondie in general, waaaaay back in the late 70s... and now my stepkids (ages 9 and 6) ALWAYS request my Blondie Greatest Hits CD in the car. Rapture is one of their favorites! It works on many levels... the antics of the Man from Mars are hilarious to them, and I appreciate the confluence of musical styles in one song. The word \"sacroiliac\" never sounded so sexy!
Just saw them this past Monday night (The Wiltern), they are still phenominal live. This song was one of the highlights of the show, nice little tribute to \"Rapper\'s Delight\" thrown in at the end.
Even though this song is often heralded as having a part in helping rap cross over into the mainstream, I\'d never really listened to the rap in it before. Wow. Eating cars? Bars? Guitars? Jesus. I kinda like it anyway.
wah i didn\'t expect to hear this here, and the edited version to boot.
Only thing by Blondie I can honestly say I like.
Not their best, but I love them
Not a song that I expected to hear on RP but enjoyable all the same. Brings back some old memories.