"Mother"
Single by Blondie
from the album Panic of Girls
ReleasedMay 23, 2011
Recorded2010
GenreNew wave, pop rock
Length3:09
LabelEleven Seven
Songwriter(s)Deborah Harry
Kato Khandwala
Ben Phillips
Blondie singles chronology
"Good Boys"
(2003)		 "Mother"
(2011)		 "What I Heard"
(2011)
Music video
"Mother" on YouTube

"Mother" is the lead single from Blondie's ninth studio album Panic of Girls and was written by Kato Khandwala, Ben Phillips (guitarist for The Pretty Reckless) and the band's lead singer Deborah Harry. It was released in the United Kingdom on May 22, 2011, on all major online platforms.[1][2] It was the first single release from the band since "Good Boys" in 2003.

Background

The song was first performed in 2010 along with several other tracks from Panic of Girls during the band's Australian tour, as well as during festival appearances in the UK. It was subsequently included in the setlist of the Panic of Girls Tour in 2011 and the band's 2012 co-headlining tour with Elvis Costello. The song has been rarely performed since then but was added back into the setlist for Blondie's 2022 Against the Odds UK Tour.[3]

Release

On December 5, 2010, "Mother" was made available as a free download from the official Blondie website.[4] The track was later remixed with a different vocal take for the album and single release. The track was played for the first time on March 17, 2011, on BBC Radio 2's The Ken Bruce Show. On Amazon.co.uk an explicit version was released alongside the regular one.[5]

Artwork

The cover artwork for "Mother" was revealed on May 5, 2011.[6] It displays a band picture digitally manipulated to resemble a Chris Berens painting, like the artwork for its parent album. Elements of the Panic of Girls cover art are used. Also the text is inspired by the original writing by Berens.

Music video

The official music video was directed by Laurent Rejto and features cameos by Kate Pierson from The B-52's, James Lorinz (Frankenhooker), Johnny Dynell, Chi Chi Valenti, The Dazzle Dancers, Rob Roth, Barbara Sicuranza, Larry Fessenden, Allen Midgette (Andy Warhol's double), The Five Points Band, Guy Furrow, Kitty Boots, and Hattie Hathaway.[7] It was released on May 17, 2011, on the YouTube channel of Blondie's record label, Five Seven Music.[8]

Synopsis

The video starts with a queue of people waiting to enter the nightclub (called 'Mother') where Blondie are performing. The loudness of the song causes zombies below the club to wake and, as the song progresses, they make their way up to the dancefloor. They start to turn the clubbers into zombies until everyone in the club has been turned. The video ends with Blondie themselves being turned. The video was shot in Kingston, New York.

Track listings

Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."Mother"3:09
Digital download
No.TitleLength
1."Mother (Explicit)"3:09
Promo CD single
No.TitleLength
1."Mother"3:09
2."Mother" (Instrumental)3:17

Charts

Chart (2011) Peak
position
UK Indie (OCC)[9] 30

References

  1. ↑ Mother at Amazon.com
  2. ↑ ""Mother" – now available for download/upcoming TV and radio appearances". Deborah-harry.com. May 22, 2011. Archived from the original on November 21, 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
  3. ↑ "Mother by Blondie Song Statistics". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  4. ↑ "Free download of "Mother" now available!". Blondie.net. December 5, 2010. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
  5. ↑ Mother (Explicit) at Amazon.com
  6. ↑ "cover art for Blondie's new single "Mother"". Deborah-harry.com. May 5, 2011. Archived from the original on November 21, 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
  7. ↑ "VIDEO CREDITS". Blondie.net. May 18, 2011. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
  8. ↑ "music video for Blondie's new single "Mother"". Deborah-harry.com. May 18, 2011. Archived from the original on November 21, 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-21.
  9. ↑ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company.
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