Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Union City Blue
View on Wikipedia| "Union City Blue" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
| Single by Blondie | ||||
| from the album Eat to the Beat | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | November 23, 1979[1] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 3:23 | |||
| Label | Chrysalis (UK) | |||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producer | Mike Chapman | |||
| Blondie singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Audio sample | ||||
Union City Blue | ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Union City Blue" on YouTube | ||||
"Union City Blue" is a song by the American new wave band Blondie. The song was featured on their 1979 studio album Eat to the Beat. Written by Debbie Harry and Nigel Harrison, the song was inspired lyrically by Harry's experiences while acting in the 1980 film Union City as well as her New Jersey roots. Musically, the song features a drum part composed by drummer Clem Burke.
"Union City Blue" was released in the UK and Europe as the second single from Eat to the Beat, reaching number 13 on the UK Singles Chart. The single was not released in the US, despite drummer Burke's later assertion that the song would have been a good single release. The release was accompanied by a music video filmed aerially at the Union Dry Dock in nearby Weehawken, New Jersey. The song has since seen critical acclaim and a remixed version saw commercial success in the 1990s.
Background
[edit]"Union City Blue" was cowritten by singer Debbie Harry and bassist Nigel Harrison. Harry based the lyrics and title of the song on her experiences acting in the 1980 movie Union City, which she had appeared in as Lillian. According to Harry, she wrote the lyrics one evening during a break in the shooting.[4] Director Marcus Reichert later recalled that Harry was not allowed to sing on the film's soundtrack for contractual reasons, so the song did not appear in the film. Harry, who was raised in New Jersey, had also performed as a go-go dancer in Union City before finding success with Blondie.[5]
Musically, Harry described the song as "one of Nigel's English drinking songs."[6] Blondie drummer Clem Burke later stated that the song reflected the band's New York origins.[7] Burke composed the drum part himself; he recalled, "I come up with my parts generally, and things like 'Union City' or 'Dreaming', those were my parts, yeah." Burke named the song as a favorite to perform, stating, "I definitely enjoy playing that."[8]
Release
[edit]The song was released as the second single from the album in the United Kingdom, where it reached number 13 in the UK Singles Chart in late 1979. The song was never released as a single in the US; Popdose later wrote of this decision, "While 'The Hardest Part' is a great album cut, it's not exactly Top 40 friendly like 'Union City Blue' instantly is."[9] A video was produced for the single, directed by David Mallet, which featured the band performing at the Union Dry Dock in nearby Weehawken, New Jersey.[5] Nigel Harrison recalled:
We eventually went down to Union City and we have an aerial view with a helicopter and the whole bit way down there on the dock. It comes from across the river.[10]
The track was re-released on CD and vinyl on October 16, 1995,[11] as a maxi single in both the UK and US, featuring various remixes of the song by Diddy, Burger Queen, OPM and Jammin' Hot. A previously heavily bootlegged live version from 1979 of Donna Summer's hit "I Feel Love" was included as a b-side. Charting a second time after its original 1979 release, the single peaked at number 31 in the UK. The remixed version of "Union City Blue" was also included on the compilations Beautiful: The Remix Album (UK) and Remixed Remade Remodeled: The Remix Project (US).
The song appears in the 1981 horror film The Hand, and the 2007 dark comedy film Margot at the Wedding.[12]
Reception
[edit]Critics have acclaimed "Union City Blue". Debra Rae Cohen of Rolling Stone wrote, "'Union City Blue' evokes life-or-death romance. Mixed with the intertwined-guitars-and-keyboards density of 'Dreaming,' 'Union City Blue' has the force of an incantation. Key words — power, passion — slip out with a resonant urgency. Harry's finally using her sweet tones to create real emotional intensity." Sam Armstrong of uDiscoverMusic wrote that the song "conjures the sort of romantic yearning you only ever get from finding yourself adrift in a city where anything can happen."[13] Pop Expresso named the song as the band's fifth best song.[14]
Track listing
[edit]- UK 7-inch (Chrysalis CHS 2400)
- "Union City Blue" (Nigel Harrison, Deborah Harry) – 3:18
- "Living in the Real World" (Jimmy Destri) – 2:53
- UK 1995 Remix CD1 (7243 8 82466 2 0)
- "Union City Blue" (Diddy's Power & Passion Edit) – 3:38
- "Union City Blue" (Diddy's Power & Passion Mix) – 8:34
- "Union City Blue" (Vinny Vero's Turquoise Mix) – 8:23
- "Union City Blue" (Jammin Hot's I Can't Believe It's Not Diddy Mix) – 7:37
- "Union City Blue" (Burger Queen Peroxide Power Mix) – 7:40
- UK 1995 Remix CD2 (7243 8 82467 2 9)
- "Union City Blue" (Diddy's Power & Passion Edit) – 3:45
- "I Feel Love" (Live) – 7:53
- "Union City Blue" (The OPM Poppy Mix) – 8:48
- "Union City Blue" (Original Version) – 3:18
- US 1995 Remix CD (7243 8 58474 2 4)
- "Union City Blue" (Diddy's Remix Edit) – 3:38 *
- "Union City Blue" (Original Single Version) – 3:18
- "Union City Blue" (Vinny Vero's Turquoise Mix) – 8:23
- "Union City Blue" (Burger Queen Peroxide Power Mix) – 7:40
- "Union City Blue" (OPM Poppy Mix) – 8:48
- "Union City Blue" (Diddy's Power & Passion Mix) – 8:34
- "I Feel Love" (Live) – 7:53
- * Identical to the UK Diddy's Power & Passion Edit mix.
Charts
[edit]
|
Certifications[edit]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References
[edit]- ^ Porter, Dick; Needs, Kris (2017). Blondie: Parallel Lives. Omnibus Press. p. 239. ISBN 9780857127808.
- ^ Lavington, Stephen (2011). "The Hand (1981)". Virgin Film: Oliver Stone. Random House. ISBN 978-0-7535-4766-3.
- ^ Swanson, Dave (March 15, 2017). "Blondie Albums Ranked in Order of Awesomeness". Diffuser.fm. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
- ^ Bangs, Lester (1980). Blondie. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-6712-5540-4.
- ^ a b Lustig, Jay (January 27, 2015). "'Union City Blue,' Blondie". Njarts.net. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ O'Brien, Glenn (September 7, 2019). "Blondie: Our 1986 Cover Story". Spin. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ Swinnerton, Matthew (March 1, 2020). "Exclusive Interview with Clem Burke from Blondie". Event Santa Cruz. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ Kramer, Barry L. (July 9, 2011). "Clem Burke's interview with the fans". Blondie.net. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ "Lost in the '70s: Blondie, "Union City Blue"". Popdose. July 10, 2008. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ Porter, Dick; Needs, Kris (2017). Blondie: Parallel Lives. Omnibus Press. p. 233. ISBN 9780857127808.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. October 14, 1995. p. 27.
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Original Soundtrack – Margot at the Wedding". AllMusic. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
- ^ Armstrong, Sam (October 13, 2019). "Eat to the Beat: How Blondie Served Up a New Wave Classic". uDiscover Music. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
- ^ "The Top 10 Blondie songs on the iconic Debbie Harry birthday". Pop Expresso. July 1, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Union City Blue". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
- ^ "Blondie – Union City Blue". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 26, 2013.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart on 15/12/1979 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Blondie". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). p. 33. Retrieved May 25, 2024.
- ^ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts (West Germany)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart on 28/10/1995 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
- ^ "Blondie – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
- ^ "British single certifications – Blondie – Union City Blue". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
Union City Blue
View on GrokipediaBackground and creation
Inspiration and writing
"Union City Blue" was co-written by Blondie lead singer Debbie Harry and bassist Nigel Harrison in 1979.[9][3] The song's lyrics and title drew direct inspiration from Harry's starring role as Jean in the 1980 independent film Union City, a neo-noir drama set in 1953 New Jersey.[3][10] Harry drafted the lyrics one evening during a break while filming on location in Union City, New Jersey.[10][9] Harry's personal ties to the area deeply informed the song's concept, as she had worked as a go-go dancer in a Union City discothèque before Blondie's rise to fame.[11] Raised in the nearby town of Hawthorne, New Jersey, where she attended high school and lived until her early adulthood, Harry often reflected on her roots in the region's working-class suburbs.[11][12] These experiences, including time spent living across the Hudson River from New York City, shaped the track's evocation of urban isolation and a poignant longing for the distant glow of Manhattan's skyline.[13][3] Musically, the song features a drum part composed by drummer Clem Burke during the recording sessions, which defined its driving rhythm.[14] The track later appeared on Blondie's 1979 album Eat to the Beat.[9]Recording process
"Union City Blue" was recorded during the spring and summer of 1979 in New York City at The Power Station, Electric Lady Studios, and Media Sound as part of the sessions for Blondie's fourth studio album, Eat to the Beat.[15] The track was produced by Mike Chapman, who had previously helmed the band's breakthrough album Parallel Lines and aimed to refine their sound into polished, radio-ready new wave anthems.[16] Engineering duties were handled by Dave Tickle and Peter Coleman, who captured the band's live energy while enhancing the production's clarity and depth through meticulous mixing at MCA Whitney Studios in Glendale, California. The song's driving rhythm section centers on bassist Nigel Harrison's prominent bassline, which he co-wrote alongside vocalist Debbie Harry, providing a melodic foundation that propels the track forward.[17] Guitarist Chris Stein contributed rhythmic and lead guitar parts that add textural bite, while keyboardist Jimmy Destri layered atmospheric synth elements to evoke the moody, urban nightscapes of the New York-New Jersey skyline.[18] Drummer Clem Burke's emphatic beats were emphasized in the mix to deliver a rhythmic drive reminiscent of the band's punk roots, recorded in a spontaneous style that contrasted with the more labored takes of prior sessions.[17] Debbie Harry's lead vocals were multi-tracked and layered with backing harmonies from band members, creating a soaring, emotive quality that highlights her versatile delivery against the instrumental backdrop.[16] These production decisions, guided by Chapman's expertise in balancing pop accessibility with rock edge, resulted in a cohesive track that blended the band's evolving new wave style with subtle atmospheric touches.[19]Musical style and composition
Structure and elements
"Union City Blue" is a mid-tempo new wave track clocking in at 125 beats per minute (BPM) and composed in the key of E major.[20] The album version runs for 3:22, providing a compact yet dynamic listening experience that builds tension through its arrangement.[21] Its core framework follows a verse-chorus structure. The song features contributions from bassist Nigel Harrison and drummer Clem Burke on rhythm, Chris Stein on guitar, and Jimmy Destri on keyboards.[22] This arrangement highlights Blondie's versatility in merging new wave elements with pop composition.[23]Lyrics and themes
The lyrics of "Union City Blue," co-written by Debbie Harry and Nigel Harrison, portray a narrative of urban alienation and romantic yearning set against the backdrop of New Jersey's industrial landscape. The opening lines—"Oh, oh, what are we going to do? / Union, Union, Union City blue"—capture a sense of entrapment in the city's blue-collar grit, while imagery of tunnels emerging into daylight symbolizes fleeting escape from daily drudgery.[9] At the heart of the song is the central metaphor of the "Union City man" as an elusive lover, representing both allure and unattainability amid industrial decay and distant skyline views. Lines like "I say, he's mine" and "You wait for the train to come / It's like the morning sun / But it's coming from the other side" blend personal longing with the unpredictability of urban existence, where the promise of connection arrives from an uncertain direction. The refrain "Oh power, passion plays a double hand" underscores the duality of city life—its energizing force and destructive undercurrents.[9][24] The overarching themes revolve around hope flickering in the face of ambiguity, merging intimate escapism with broader critiques of the grind. The bridge—"Touch me, I'm what you made me / I've got the power of the city in me"—affirms empowerment drawn from the environment, even as the chorus poses existential questions: "This is the crux of the matter / To be or not to be." This creates an ambiguous narrative that avoids resolution, evoking a life-or-death intensity in romantic pursuit. Harry's vocal delivery enhances these elements, with verses building tension that erupts into choruses, amplifying the emotional peaks without overshadowing the lyrical focus.[9][25]Release and promotion
Single releases
"Union City Blue" was initially released as the second single from Blondie's album Eat to the Beat on November 23, 1979, by Chrysalis Records in the United Kingdom and various European markets, including Germany, Scandinavia, Portugal, and Ireland.[5][26] The album itself had debuted on September 28, 1979.[27] Unlike previous singles, it was not commercially issued in the United States.[28] The 1979 single appeared primarily in 7-inch vinyl format at 45 RPM, pairing the title track (3:18) with the B-side "Living in the Real World" (2:41), another song from Eat to the Beat.[26] Limited 12-inch editions were available in select international markets. The UK pressing featured a picture sleeve with a photograph of the band against an urban backdrop.[29] In addition to its album appearance, "Union City Blue" was included on the 1981 compilation The Best of Blondie, where it appeared in its single version on international editions.[30] The song received a remix reissue on October 10, 1995, as a maxi-single on Chrysalis and EMI Records, available in both CD and 12-inch vinyl formats across the UK, US, and Italy.[28][31] This version promoted the remix album Beautiful: The Remix Album and included edited and extended remixes such as Diddy's Power & Passion Edit (3:45), the OPM Poppy Mix (8:49), Jammin' Hot's I Can't Believe It's Not Diddy Mix, Vinny Vero's Turquoise Mix, and the Burger Queen Peroxide Power Mix, alongside the original version (3:20) and a live recording of Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" (7:48) as a bonus track.[32][31] The 12-inch UK edition utilized light blue vinyl.[32]Music video and performances
The music video for "Union City Blue," directed by David Mallet, was released in 1979 and features aerial shots of the Union Dry Dock in Weehawken, New Jersey, along with scenes of the band performing on a boat amid the New York City skyline.[7][33] The video formed part of Blondie's Eat to the Beat video album, recognized as one of the first full-length video albums commercially released for home viewing in 1980, which included promotional clips for every track on the corresponding studio album.[34][35] It was later remastered in high definition and reissued on DVD in 2007, with the HD version uploaded to YouTube in 2009.[36] "Union City Blue" debuted in Blondie's live repertoire during their 1979 tours, including a performance at the Glasgow Apollo on December 31, 1979, broadcast on BBC's The Old Grey Whistle Test.[37] The song has since become a setlist staple, performed at major events such as Glastonbury Festival in 1999—often transitioning from "Shayla"—the Enmore Theatre in Sydney on December 8, 2010, the AO Arena in Manchester on May 1, 2022, Cruel World Festival in Pasadena on May 11, 2024, and The Piece Hall in Halifax on June 9, 2024.[38][39][40][41][42] In concerts, Debbie Harry's emotive and dynamic vocals emphasize the chorus's yearning quality, complemented by the band's high-energy instrumentation, with occasional medleys incorporating tracks like "Shayla" to enhance the dramatic flow.[43] Promotion included television appearances in late 1979, such as on BBC's Top of the Pops on November 29—featuring the music video—and The Old Grey Whistle Test live broadcast, alongside European programs that helped amplify the single's visibility during its UK chart run.[44][37][45]Reception and legacy
Critical reception
Upon its release in 1979 as part of Blondie's album Eat to the Beat, "Union City Blue" earned acclaim for its emotional depth and stylistic polish. Rolling Stone critic Debra Rae Cohen praised Debbie Harry's evocative vocals, describing the track as evoking a sense of "life-or-death romance" with a cinematic intensity that blended the band's growing power with personal introspection.[25] Similarly, the song was noted for capturing romantic yearning amid urban disorientation, reflecting the thrill of a fantastical New York City where unpredictability reigns.[16] In retrospective analyses, the album Eat to the Beat has been viewed as a more polished effort compared to predecessors like Parallel Lines, with some critiques noting a departure from the band's earlier punk edge.[27] However, this shift was later reevaluated positively, with Far Out Magazine ranking Eat to the Beat as the band's second-best album and hailing "Union City Blue" as its finest track, showcasing the group's versatility during their pop ascendancy.[46] In retrospective analyses, the song has solidified its status as a standout in Blondie's catalog. uDiscover Music positions it as a key highlight of Eat to the Beat, emphasizing its role in showcasing the group's versatility during their pop ascendancy.[16] Music blog Terminal Jive (2020) called it one of Blondie's strongest entries despite its straightforward verse structure, appreciating how the simplicity amplifies its emotional resonance.[47] Rankings consistently affirm this, with The Guardian placing it 8th among Blondie's 20 greatest songs for Harry's underrated lyrical skill in conveying yearning and melancholy, matched perfectly by the music.[48] Classic Pop Magazine ranked it 7th in their top 20 Blondie songs for its evocative nod to Harry's New Jersey roots.[24] The consensus portrays "Union City Blue" as an enduring favorite, lauded for merging pop accessibility with substantive depth in themes of longing and urban escape.[49]Cultural impact
"Union City Blue" has left a notable mark in film soundtracks, appearing in Oliver Stone's 1981 horror film The Hand, where it underscores key scenes with its moody atmosphere. The track also features in Noah Baumbach's 2007 dark comedy Margot at the Wedding, enhancing the film's themes of familial tension and introspection.[50][51] Reflecting its New Jersey connections, the song was selected for NJArts.net's "350 Jersey Songs" project in 2015, celebrating Harry's upbringing in Hawthorne and her early experiences in Union City, which infused the track with authentic regional flavor. This inclusion underscores its symbolism of the Hudson River area's industrial nostalgia, capturing the faded glamour and working-class resilience of 1970s urban life along the waterfront.[3] As a cornerstone of new wave's evolution, "Union City Blue" exemplifies Blondie's transition from punk underground to mainstream pop stardom, with its polished production and evocative storytelling helping propel Eat to the Beat to global success and broadening the genre's appeal in the late 1970s. The song's themes of longing and urban isolation continue to resonate, echoing in discussions of city life amid changing social landscapes.Commercial performance
Chart positions
"Union City Blue" achieved moderate success on international charts following its release as a single in late 1979, particularly in the United Kingdom and parts of Europe, though it was not issued as a single in the United States, limiting its airplay there.[52] In the UK, the track entered the Singles Chart on November 24, 1979, and peaked at number 13, spending a total of 10 weeks on the chart.[5] This performance came after the stronger showing of the preceding single "Dreaming," which reached number 2 on the same chart.[53] The song demonstrated greater traction in Europe compared to other markets, outperforming several tracks from its parent album Eat to the Beat but falling short of Blondie's blockbuster "Heart of Glass," which topped the UK chart earlier that year.[54]| Chart (1979–1980) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | 30 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 17 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 47 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 13 |
| West Germany (Official German Charts) | 54 |

