Could there be a finer example of Perfect Pop Music than.....

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...."Atomic" by Blondie?

http://www2.drury.edu/ametz/dh2.jpg

I know it was a bigger deal in the UK (where it charted) than here in the States at the time of its glorious inception, but how anyone could overlook its sheer, divine brilliance is beyond the grasp of mortal cognitive ability.

Discuss.....

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 28 March 2003 23:28 (twenty-three years ago)

does putting an image of the artist with the relevant post make this ilMTV?

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Friday, 28 March 2003 23:30 (twenty-three years ago)

No, I just thought a corresponding visual would be a nice touch.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 28 March 2003 23:32 (twenty-three years ago)

Especially when it's one of the lovely Ms. Harry.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Friday, 28 March 2003 23:34 (twenty-three years ago)

C'mon....that signature riff, those disco hi-hats, that pulsing beat, that divine voice, that brilliant spine-tingling chorus, that inexplicable title (how exactly does someone's "beautiful" hair qualify as "Atomic"? What is this newfangled radioactive coiffure of which you speak, Ms.Harry?)

Could it be any better? I fuckin' think NOT!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 28 March 2003 23:41 (twenty-three years ago)

It's fine. But I prefer "Slow motion", which preceeds it on "Eat to the beat".

― Badger (Badger), Saturday, 29 March 2003 00:48 (twenty-three years ago)

Great! She was already about like 60 years old when Blondie started, you know.

― Gatinha (rwillmsen), Saturday, 29 March 2003 01:03 (twenty-three years ago)

http://www.hakushouse.com/images/RnR45/0a0613m.jpg

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Saturday, 29 March 2003 01:19 (twenty-three years ago)

funny, I always figured you for a "Tide Is High" man, Alex.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Saturday, 29 March 2003 01:22 (twenty-three years ago)

Blondie was okay, but I always preferred Tuco.

Tuco Benedito Pacifico Juan Maria Ramirez

― Davlo (Davlo), Saturday, 29 March 2003 02:11 (twenty-three years ago)

"Dreaming," anyone?

― Burr (Burr), Saturday, 29 March 2003 03:58 (twenty-three years ago)

I was thinking earlier this evening that in fact there is a finer example of PPM and it is ELO's "Do Ya", but the case for "Atomic" is damn near rock-solid; it alone -- well, that and "Dreaming" -- is why Eat to the Beat is almost inexplicably my favorite Blondie album.

― Nate Patrin (Nate Patrin), Saturday, 29 March 2003 04:09 (twenty-three years ago)

"Dreaming" is indeed fantastic, but "Atomic" is in a class of its own, I reckon. It's not even my favorite Blondie tune (that being the decidedly punkier "One Way or Another"), but I can't help but marvel at its shimmering perfection.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 29 March 2003 04:11 (twenty-three years ago)

I guess it's the follow-up to Heart of Glass in that it has the disco beat; man does Clem Burke go nuts on the high-hat. It just gives me a certain vibe that's amazing; I love it. And I love how the chorus turns on the phrase "your hair is beautiful" too.

― Sean (Sean), Saturday, 29 March 2003 04:12 (twenty-three years ago)

Pardon me for overdoing the swoon, but I just think it's perfect. Like Sean says, that massive, soaring chorus expressing such a comparitively banal sentiment ("your hair is beautiful tonight"), capped with that incongruous exclamation of the title before Chris Stein plays that idiotic four note riff ushering the whole cycle in again? Majesty. So simple and so fucking great.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 29 March 2003 04:18 (twenty-three years ago)

ha - when I saw this I though 'gee, I woulda thought "One Way Or Another" was Alex's fave Blondie tune'!

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 29 March 2003 04:19 (twenty-three years ago)

anyhow, this is my fave Blondie tune, just barely over "Call Me"

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 29 March 2003 04:20 (twenty-three years ago)

Imagine if Blondie had done a whole album with Giorgio Moroder!

― Sean (Sean), Saturday, 29 March 2003 04:22 (twenty-three years ago)

My fav Blondie is "Picture This" but I did my time with "Atomic" when I was 16. :-)

All of Alex's comments are hella OTM.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Saturday, 29 March 2003 04:23 (twenty-three years ago)

Yeah. I think "Atomic" is my favorite Blondie song these days, actually. It's the one I always play when I DJ.

― Arthur (Arthur), Saturday, 29 March 2003 05:08 (twenty-three years ago)

I think I like "X Offender" best for perfect pop, but "Union City Blue" is a close second.

― Justyn Dillingham (Justyn Dillingham), Saturday, 29 March 2003 06:28 (twenty-three years ago)

Spaghetti Western sci-fi garage disco classic. And what knob do they twirl just before "your hair is beautiful" that makes it sound like she's taking a transporter straight through the mixing board? One of the rare great pop songs with a bass solo, too.

And since no one's mentioned it yet, I have a serious soft spot/hard-on for "(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence Dear."

― Jesse Fox (Jesse Fox), Saturday, 29 March 2003 07:34 (twenty-three years ago)

I prefer the Sleeper (?) version on the Trainspotting soundtrack, b/c i am child of the 90s

― Dave M. (rotten03), Saturday, 29 March 2003 07:59 (twenty-three years ago)

The best Blondie song is Dreaming. Listen to how he beats the shit out of his drum kit, holy crap. It's like it did something to him.

― Ally (mlescaut), Saturday, 29 March 2003 09:26 (twenty-three years ago)

god do I love "Dreaming." god oh god do I love it.

― M Matos (M Matos), Saturday, 29 March 2003 09:33 (twenty-three years ago)

how come blondie so bad?

― chaki (chaki), Saturday, 29 March 2003 09:43 (twenty-three years ago)

cuz hurt so good

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 29 March 2003 09:49 (twenty-three years ago)

"Union City Blue" roxx ur all gay

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Saturday, 29 March 2003 11:19 (twenty-three years ago)

jbr dropping blondie science - '"atomic" is sooooo tenth grade!'

― James Blount (James Blount), Saturday, 29 March 2003 11:22 (twenty-three years ago)

One day later, I'm listening again -- and my conviction is strenthened as if injected with a mighty syringe-load of sparkly steroids..... THIS IS THE GREATEST POP SONG EVER RECORDED!

By the way, this post was in no way inspired by the three beers I have just consumed.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 29 March 2003 23:14 (twenty-three years ago)

I haven't listened to the song in years, but this thread has inspired me to put it on.
And I'm also drinking, which is completely irrelevant.

― Bruce Urquhart (Bruce Urquhart), Saturday, 29 March 2003 23:26 (twenty-three years ago)

b-b-b-but when she comes in booming ATOMIC

― brg30 (brg30), Saturday, 29 March 2003 23:54 (twenty-three years ago)

I was wanting to hear "Slow Motion" all day today, but when I got up to lift the tonearm I saw the next track was "Atomic" and let it play. Swoon I did. How about those background vocals? Love, love, love.

― Sean (Sean), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 03:09 (twenty-three years ago)

It does nothing for me, as does most Blondie songs. The only one I've ever really had anything for is "Hanging on the Telephone." Maybe "Call Me" too.

― My name is Kenny (My name is Kenny), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 03:14 (twenty-three years ago)

one month passes...

Thank you thank you thank you to Alex in NYC for this thread. I've been listening to this song intermittently ever since. You nailed it, bud, it's perfect.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 07:12 (twenty-three years ago)

But still, Dreaming is the best..

― dave225 (Dave225), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 16:21 (twenty-three years ago)

Atomic might be the best pop song ever (or Dreaming) but some recent ones have kicked ass as well. I love Spiller/ Sophie Ellis Bexter and TaTu and Freak Like Me by the Sugababes.

But I'd vote for Blondie.

― Calum, Wednesday, 7 May 2003 18:45 (twenty-three years ago)

The only one I've ever really had anything for is "Hanging on the Telephone."

Search: the original by the Nerves.

― Jody Beth Rosen (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 18:54 (twenty-three years ago)

four months pass...

Kids in America is the best Blondie song EVAH.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Monday, 15 September 2003 13:39 (twenty-two years ago)

???

I still think Dreaming is the best Blondie song ever. Dude, seriously, he's really pissed off at his drumkit.

― Ally (mlescaut), Monday, 15 September 2003 14:32 (twenty-two years ago)

that's NOT blondie, silly.

― nonononononono, Monday, 15 September 2003 18:28 (twenty-two years ago)

dreaming is such a great song that the pumpkins cover is even heavenly.

― Felcher (Felcher), Tuesday, 16 September 2003 17:29 (twenty-two years ago)

Sunday Girl!!

― David Merryweather (DavidM), Tuesday, 16 September 2003 17:48 (twenty-two years ago)

"Atomic" sounds great in Vice City! Especially when you're driving a boat.

― Tom Breihan (Tom Breihan), Tuesday, 16 September 2003 19:01 (twenty-two years ago)

dreaming vs. atomic is VERY tough:

dreaming is better cuz of the lyrics are more metaphysical... ponderous...

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 16 September 2003 19:08 (twenty-two years ago)

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