Hip-hop was already in use. The band were friendly with some New York DJ's & rappers. They absorbed the culture & wrote the song. Fab 5 Freddy was a friend of theirs & got a name check as did Grandmaster Flash.
Blondie's “Rapture” (1980) became the first single featuring a rap to reach number 1 in the USA, and the first rap video ever broadcast on MTV. She didn't invent it or claimed to. Love Blondie! 🤩 Give her a little credit 😆
This I believe I remember hearing Casey kasem talk about this song on American top 40. This was the first song to hit the top 10 that had rap in it. This must have come out in 78 or 79 I think or maybe 80. I don't think rappers Delight by sugarhill Gang hit the top 10 originally it was Blondie with the first rap song in the top 10. Blows my mind! Love this song! This was one of my first 45 singles. Who knows what they are? And does anyone remember the little yellow plastic things you needed for the 45 singles? Lol!
She created a fusion of the underground sounds of late 70s early 80s. She managed to pull it together in a way that made it mainstream. I grew up with Blondie and she remains an icon in my life to this day.
My wife was a singer in the glee club (Radcliffe Pitches) at Harvard when the Sugarhill Gang released "Rapper's Delight." She heard it in early 1980 and was immediately inspired to write a song called "The Harvard Rap." She convinced her group to let her perform it while the group provided backup. Since they didn't know what rap was, she had to explain it as "one of those fast-talking songs like the Sugarhill Gang does." Someone taped the first performance of the song at a show in the spring of 1980, so as far as we know, my wife is the first white chick to record an original rap song.
The first time hip-hop artists appeared on national television, was made possible by Debbie Harry. She was the host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live. 2/14/1981. She ceded some of her screen time to the group, Funky 4 + 1. Introducing them as “her friends from The Bronx,” and “among the best street rappers in the country.” It helped propel the hip-hop genre, which originated in New York, from local block parties and clubs to a much wider audience. As a huge proponent of hip hop. That wasn't the only time time Harry helped hip hop's exposure to the world. In 1977, she went to The Bronx to see the DJ Grandmaster Flash do a set. After meeting him, she reportedly told him, “I’m going to write a rap about you on my next record.” She kept her promise with her 1981 “Rapture” single. The late 70s - 80s seemed like the best time to be in NY. I wish I could have lived there then.
Ah no. The Sugarhill Gang performed Rapper's Delight on Soul Train in 1979 and Kurtis Blow performed The Breaks in 1980. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-heXlCbrVzcc.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Te7FLFK3o7A.html
@@ldybozz Videos don't lie ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-heXlCbrVzcc.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Te7FLFK3o7A.html And this time don't delete my response like you did the other two.
Wikipedia: "In January 1981, "Rapture" was released as the second and final single from the album. The song became their fourth and last single to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it stayed for two weeks. It was the first number-one song in the U.S. to feature rap vocals." You, sir, could spend weeks on the 1980's. Deborah Harry was simply fantastic, and may still be performing. In the '80's I was in my 30's, and a great time to be young . . . pre-aids.
If I have possibly offended you by my comment I do apologize. However, I do not believe that "Blondie" was making reference to The Lord Jesus Christ by the use of the word "rapture" in the lyrics of the song. I admit I have never had that association in hearing the song, and have listened to it numerous, numerous times since the '80's, but with your comment I will now have to examine the lyrics more closely to see if I have erred. Thank you
Got to agree although I was born in 1960 My musical era was from 1973 to the early 90's I regard myself as very fortunate to have lived through Slade, Trex, Sweet, Wizard Bowie, Elton John, Roxy Music, Deep Purple Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac Blue Oyster Cult to Punk especially the Stranglers to the Smiths, The Cure, The last band to interest me in any way was Biffy Clyro and Razerlight. Now I don't know what's happened to music.
She was touring in 2019. We saw them along with Garbage. The venue, right outside Portland Oregon, only held maybe 1000 people so every seat was great.
The accompanying music video for "Rapture" made its US television debut on Solid Gold on January 31, 1981, and not only became the first rap video ever broadcast on MTV, but was part of its first 90-video rotation.
Hi @@HobDobson a Country Music Station??? What was the fall out from that?? The format back then was more Classic Country was it not? The Contemporary and Pop Country sounds and artists did not exist did they? I bet minds were BLOWN and stations probably received a ton of calls and complaints. Fill us in.
I don't know about complaints, but one of my classmates was still talking about some strange song that WQYK (country format since the early 70s) played about men from Mars eating cars the next day.
During her rap, there are so many references to ground-breaking artists that helped form the foundation of hip-hop. You should watch the video and see if you can identify who and what they are.
Fab Five Freddie was actually a gallery owner and he introduced Debby Harry to Flash because she heard one of Flash's sets at the punk clubs he and Bambaataa used to play at
@@MichaelHenryMusic - Not sure, but at the time, Sugar Hill Gang had a song called "Apache" (lyrics reference "Jump on it, Kemosabe"), so chance it may be a reference to that.
One way or another, heart of glass, The tide is high, and Maria are all good ones by Blondie also. Debbie Harry had some skills back in the day! The late 70s and early 80s was the time of Blondie. 👍😊
I absolutely hate the tide is high, and literally have my entire Life. My mother said everytime it came on the radio she would get violently ill while pregnant with me. And it is only the Blondie version, as I have heard other versions that I do not get triggered by, and I love Blondie just have a visceral dislike of The Tide Is High.
Hi! This song actually came out the year I graduated high school in 1981, and Blondie had us all rapping about the man from Mars eating cars, lol! Fun fact, Blondie was the first person, male or female, to ever rap on MTV! 💃🎵 I should add her name, Debbie Harry! Blondie is the name of their band.
When this came out in 1981, it wasn’t really a song I would normally listen to, but it became my favorite song. My friend and I would cruise up and down the Main Street of our town blasting this song. Great memories!
1980 is correct, all of you that says 1981 mix it up with the single and video that came in january 1981. The album "Autoamerican" was released in nov 1980. End of discussion.....
You’ve got to remember this is 40 years old. Some of us didn’t really know what to think of the rap sections because we’d never heard that before. I think it might have been a first, or at least pretty early.
so that every one knows " Rapture " is a song by American rock band Blondie from their fifth studio album Autoamerican (1980). The song was released as the second and final single from Autoamerican on January 12, 198. Blondie’s #1 Hit “Rapture” Became the First Rap Song to Ever Top the Charts
This is the song that brought Rap/Hip hop from the underground to the mainstream radio play, basically the beginning of the explosion of it to today's standard
Debbie heard hip hop in NYC and called it out in this album. Oddly making the first #1 rap hit a Blondie song. But her love of the genre brought national attention to a local style. Girls rock!
Rapture was not the first no.1 rap song because it's not a rap song. MTV put that lie our there in the late 80's. The first rap song to go no.1 was Vanilla Ice's Ice Ice Baby in 1990.
Like he says in the video, it has a bit of everything in it. I've read posts from all age groups on here talking and arguing about what it is and what it isn't. Does no one but me know why she named Fab Five Freddy and Francois in the song? Because they were who taught her to Rap.
“What was that ? “ Yup, that’s what we Blondie fans were saying back in 1981 when this was first released. This was back when rap still wasn’t played on commercial radio, and was mostly circulated around record shops and between friends. This was the first rap video played on MTV. I have to admit, I didn’t care for it at the time. It took me a long time to even acknowledge rap as a music form. Spoken word art, no problem. But music, nope. I’ve evolved. And now everyone is calling it Hip-Hop. Slow down, I’m an old fart. I can’t keep up. 😆
Yes, I was a Blondie fan back then and it was a shock for we former punk/new wave boys to be hit by the delicious Debbie rapping out the words like a vocal machine gunner. Rap may have been circulating in its own circuit here in the UK but certainly hadn't reached close enough to mainstream to get to me!
@@j.jennings1722 Credited by MTV and MTV only. And for the record RUN DMC's Rock Box was the first rap/hip hop video played on MTV www.songfacts.com/facts/run-dmc/rock-box dailyrapfacts.com/6656/rapture-was-the-first-video-with-a-rap-on-mtv-rock-box-was-the-first-hip-hop-video-by-a-rap-group-on-mtv/
@@charlesjonessr3684 As you say RUN DMC's Rock Box was the first rap video played on MTV of a Rap-group, but Blondie was not a Rap-group but they where the first video on MTV containing rap. Its not only credited by MTV, its credited of the whole world wide music community to be the first rap-song reaching no 1. It was the no. 49th first played video on MTV in 1981 after they started in august and RUN DMC's Rock Box was released in 1984. I have seen your comment about Rapture several places on RU-vid. If you dont like it, just stop watch it.....Rapture is the first rap-song that reached no 1 and its true, even you like it or not.
@@Ihatetocreateuserid Containing a rap verse in a song doesn't make it a rap song no matter who it is. If that were the case Fantastic Voyage by Lakeside and Square Biz by the late Teena Marie should be considered rap songs but theyre not. Jody Watley's song Friends featured the rapper Rakim and it's not labeled a rap song. Now Rock Box by RUN DMC is the first rap video to air on MTV whether you like it or not. www.okayplayer.com/music/songs-that-shook-america-episode-three-run-dmc-rock-box.html www.songfacts.com/facts/run-dmc/rock-box
@@claytoncourtney1309 - all had a part, but she was lead lyricist and came up with the majority of concepts. Chris Stein created a majority of melodies and involved the rest of the band in the process of bringing the tunes to maturity. Harry and Stein were the main songwriting engine.
@@jamesredman1263 I was just pointing out to 16FEET that Blondie was the band, 16FEET's comment could be looked at as implying that "Blondie" was Debbie's nickname and the musicians were just players. As to your statement that she was the "lead lyricist" if you look at the writing credits on the Blondie LPs she usually had credits on 5 or 6. for example of the 12 songs on "Parallel Lines", one was a cover and of the other 11 she was involved in 6.
I heard a song from her that I never heard before but it is an old one. It's called "The hardest Part" In the music video she has on a black wig and singing it sounds cool just like her.
The 2001 date that you mentioned, Was a release The song was the 1st song with rap in it that was ever played on the radio. And on MTV both happened in 1981
Blondie was known for their eclectic style...disco, pop, reggae and early rap. Heart of Glass, Call Me, The Tide is High and One Way or Another are some you need to check out.
2001 was when it was uploaded. Song came out 1981 I have it on a compilation album of greatest hits of 1982. Tide Is High, One Way Or Another, Call Me. All amazing songs. Debbie Harry kills every style.
1981, my friend! They are still cutting albums & touring! Debbie Harry is in her 70's! Still one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen! Great Reaction!
It came out in 1981! Rapture was I believe the first ever music video with rap on mtv. You could call her the first white rapper and then the Beastie Boys. Heart of Glass , The Tide is High and Call me are more great songs from her!
Grandmaster Flash and the Sugar Hill Gang were the only African American rappers out at that time.Rap really didn't pick up steam until the early 1990's when labels forced MTV to play them.Mtv wanted to stay a rock and roll format,but the labels threatened to pull their big name rock band's videos.Rap is easy and inexpensive to make,and with a big turnover..they didn't have to deal with eccentric pain in the butt rock stars.They could get a new rapper every hour of every day because it doesn't take much thought or talent.True story
I was a young teen when this song came out in the early 80's. I don't hear it often, but when I do, it reminds me of being at the roller rink and trying to pick up girls. Man, I am old! I still like the song though.
First song to ever include rap and hit #1 in the USA! Debbie Harry is a woman of so many musical ranges with her voice. She is and always will be a timeless classic and truly the Queen of rock and roll! Long live Debbie Harry!!
You are an incredible reviewer and very knowledgeable about music. It’s great to see a young person get why the great bands of the 1970s (Fleetwood Mac, Abba, Linda Ronstadt etc) made such good music. Blondie’s “Rapture” was the 1st #1 Rap song ever, and she crossed Rap over into the mainstream. The song had Jazz, Disco, Rap, and Rock components, and Blondie blended them seamlessly.
Deborah Harry in a supermarket we were both getting a salad at the salad bar she was in Red Bank New Jersey visiting her father in the hospital and we chatted about vegetables
blondie's pretty diverse musically, so no, all of their music does not sound like rapture... heart of glass, one way or another & union city blue are just of few of their other great songs, thx for the video, rome!
Blondie is one of the most popular bands of all time! Huge in Europe and North America! They had four number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in America! Blondie could do it ALL!! Punk, New Wave, Disco, Rap, Reggae, Pop, Rock and put their own spin on it, so it sounded uniquely like them!
Wow, I got goosebumps reacting to your reaction, specifically during the RAP when she says very deliberately RAP-TURE. That twin sax duet for the bridge is quite a jam as well.
2:05 Jeezzz.....I forgot that her voice could melt icebergs. I remember hearing this thinking that it had EVERYTHING....it sure does.. Beautiful voice... Horns.... Funk.... Rap.... Howling guitars....
"Rapture" incorporates pop, punk, new wave, hip hop, jazz, funk and dance music all in one song. It was a huge hit in 1981 reaching #1 in the charts. This song was the first exposure of rap to a wide audience of listeners. Blondie is the name of the group and Debbie Harry is their vocalist. Blondie's songs are all different and cover a wide spectrum of styles.
Blondie was always on the cutting edge. They discovered rap on the street scene before it was anywhere close to mainstream. They loved to experiment with new music. They were considered New Wave, but they incorporated Disco, Rap, Reggae, Punk, Fusion, and more into their music, which made them quite unique.
Reckon they would be new wave but they punky, funky, disco, rock. Album parallell lines is on most top 100 album of all time list. Pick a track n play man
This album incorporated many genres of music. This band liked to show their fans that they could ROCK any genre, not just Punk Rock. This is my all-time favorite Blondie album. They rocked Reggae and Calypso music in a few albums.
Also possibly the first trip hop song too! It has a simple catchy melody but the construction of this song is anything but simple. It's got jazz saxophone, rock guitar riff, funk rhythm... all on top of a dance pop sound!
This song was produced/recorded in 1980...one year after "Rapper's Delight". Blondie the group, and Debbie Harry in particular, were years ahead of their time!
Blondie was a great band. They played all kinds of music. This album (Auto American) came out in the early 80's and has a bit of everything on it. "Live It Up" and "Angels on the Balcony" are my favs.
The first song with rap that hit the Nº1 charts and to play on MTV, back when MTV was the biggest source for music. Blondie opened the way for hip-hop culture on the mainstream.