March 29, 2009
Here’s a selection of reviews from the Blondie show at the Pepsi Fest in Santiago (Chile) last night. They were taken from various Chilean newspapers and were translated by me, the webmaster. I apologize for possible mistakes.
La Nación.cl
 [...] Con el Arena repleto comenzó el show de Blondie, apelando a colores y visuales ochenteras, con rojos y morados que iluminaban el escenario. En más de una hora y veinte minutos la cabellera rubia de Deborah Harry se despeinó con temas como “Hanging on the Telephone”, “Dreaming”, “Maria” y “Call me”, que Harry coronó con un “Llámame”.
El mismo Blondie de siempre, la misma Blondie de siempre hicieron finalmente gozar al público con “Number one”, “Rapture” y “One Way or another”. Agradecida, la cantante declaró que deseaba volver a encontrarse con el público chileno. [...]
translation:
[...] Blondie started the show at a packed arena, reminding of colors and visuals of the 80’s, with red and purple that illuminated the stage. During more than one hour and twenty minutes Deborah Harry’s blonde hair got ruffled by songs like “Hanging on the Telephone”, “Dreaming”, “Maria” and “Call Me” which Harry finished with a “Llámame” (annotation: Spanish for “Call Me”).
The same Blondie as ever, the same Blondie as ever who eventually delighted the audience with “Number One” (annotation: “The Tide Is High”), “Rapture” and “One Way Or Another.” The singer thankfully declared that she would like to return to meet the Chilean audience. [..]
Cooperativa.cl
 Blondie, Rick Astley y A-Ha conformaron un trío que causó algarabía entre los cerca 14.000 espectadores que llegaron la noche del sábado a la quinta jornada del Pepsi Fest, marcada por el recuerdo de la música ochentera.
La jornada comenzó puntualmente a las 21:00 horas con la aparición en el escenario de Blondie, la legendaria encarnación del pop made in New York, con la rubia Deborah Harry a la cabeza.
Los de Manhattan hicieron bailar a todos los jóvenes y muchos no tanto que llegaron hasta el Movistar Arena, que lució su hasta ahora más concurrido día en el marco del Pepsi Fest.
Echando mano a sus mejores éxitos, los que reservaron para la última parte de su presentación, los músicos de Blondie fueron aumentado la expectación de la gente, que obviamente quería escuchar temas como “Maria” -su sencillo de retorno a las pistas tras su separación de principios de los 80- y composiciones aún más recordadas como “Call me”, “Rapture”, “One way or another” y “Heart of glass”, tema con que cerraron su hora y 15 minutos de show.
Punto aparte fue la performance de Harry, quien mostró esa actitud de diva pop con alma punk que le imprimió a su carrera desde mediados de los 70 y que se explica en su amor por la Gran Manzana, a la que recordó en el escenario.
translation:
Blondie, Rick Astley and A-Ha formed a trio who caused shouting among the 14,000 visitors that arrived on Saturday night, the fourth day of the Pepsi Fest, focusing on remembering the music of the 80’s.
The day started on time at 9 p.m. with the performance by Blondie, the legendary incarnation of pop made in New York, with the blonde Deborah Harry.
The band from Manhattan, who illuminated the till now most crowded day in the course of the Pepsi Fest, made all young people, and many who were not so young that had come to the Movistar Arena, dance.
Going back to their greatest hits, that were saved for the last part of their performance, the musicians of Blondie exceeded the expectations of the people who obviously wanted to hear songs like “Maria”, their comeback single after their split in the early eighties - and compositions which are even more remembered like “Call Me”, “Rapture”, “One Way Or Another” and “Heart Of Glass”, the song with which they closed their one hour and 15 minutes show.
Another point was the performance by Harry who showed her attitude as a pop diva with a punk soul which has paved her career since the mid 70’s which she explains with her love for the Big Apple, of which she was reminded on stage.
El Mercurio OnLine
 Blondie brilla en la Fiesta ochentera del Movistar ArenaLa banda de Deborah Harry dio un show de alta calidad frente a un gran marco de público; Rick Astley aburrió y a esta hora cierra AHA.
SANTIAGO.- Con un concierto de alta factura el grupo Blondie abrió la fiesta ochentena, que a esta hora se realiza en un repleto Movistar Arena. La banda puk-bailable tenía la misión de encender el espectáculo y no defraudó a su fanaticada.
La voz de la platinada Deborah Harry se mantiene firme pese a sus más de dos décadas arriba de los escenarios. El público del palco, al principio fome y estático, terminó bailando al igual que la galería y el sector de cancha con clásicos como “María”.
La sintonía de Harry con sus fans tuvo momentos de melancolía y diversión, como cuando la rubia cantante, ya toda una señora, no se complicó en bailar usando un cojín en forma de corazón con los colores patrios en su trasero.
Entusiasmada, también pidió varias veces al público que se la acompañara los coros. Blondie se despidió entre aplausos después de poco más de una hora de show. Le siguió el “One hit wonder” Rick Astley. Claro que la diferencia con la banda que le presidió era notoria. [...]
translation:
Blondie was shining during the eighties festival in the Movistar Arena. Deborah Harry’s band did a show of high quality in front of a great audience; Rick Astley bored and A-Ha closes the show at this moment.
Santiago. - With a concert of high quality the group Blondie opened the eighties festival which is taking place at the packed Movistar Arena right now. The danceable punk band was on a mission to heat up the event and not disappoint their fans.
The voice of the blonde Deborah Harry remained solid despite being more than two decades older than the audience. The seated audience, first boring and static, ended up dancing just like the gallery and the field section during classics like “Maria.”
The harmony of Harry with her fans had moments of melancholy and amusement, like when the blonde singer ladylike didn’t stop dancing playing with a heart-shaped pillow of patriotic colors behind her.
Enthusiastically she also asked the audience several times to join her singing. After the show, which was a bit longer than one hour, Blondie said goodbye under great applause.
The one hit wonder Rick Astley followed. Of course, the difference to the preceding band was obvious. [...]
universia.cl
La nostalgia se apoderó del escenario del Movistar Arena, en el marco de la quinta noche del Pepsi Fest. La jornada comenzó puntualmente a las 21 horas con Blondie, que hizo bailar a los asistentes con éxitos como “Call me”, “María” y “Heart of glass”. Nota aparte fue la sólida actuación de Deborah Harry, quien a sus 63 años sigue demostrando una gran capacidad vocal y un dominio escénico como pocos. [...]
translation:
The nostalgia was powerful on the stage of the Movistar Arena in the course of the fourth night of the Pepsi Fest. The day began on time at 9 p.m. with Blondie, who made the audience dance to hits like “Call Me, “Maria” and “Heart Of Glass.”
Another point was Deborah Harry’s solid performance who at 63 continues to show a great vocal capacity and a scenic power like few.
February 26, 2009
Pictures of the show at the Fillmore in San Francisco last night can be found on gettyimages.com. A review has been posted on contracostatimes.com.
Review: Deborah Harry reigns supreme at Blondie’s San Francisco show
By Jim Harrington
Oakland Tribune
Posted: 02/26/2009 10:13:45 AM PST
Updated: 02/26/2009 11:32:39 AM PST
 My recent encounters with Deborah Harry, watching her perform both solo shows and with the band Blondie, didn’t prepare me for how great she’d be at the Fillmore.
Others in attendance Wednesday night shared similar sentiments: She sounded and looked terrific.
I don’t pretend to know what’s going on in the 63-year-old singer’s personal life, but, whatever it is, she should definitely keep it up. At the Fillmore, she looked, sounded and performed better than at any in my history of watching the vocalist, which dates back to the mid-’80s. The only time I’ve seen her as strong was in Blondie videos, filmed some 30 years ago.
Toss in the top-notch performances by the rest of her six-piece band, which still includes original members Clem Burke on drums and Chris Stein on guitar, and you had a night that seemed to completely justify the band’s 2006 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Harry looked trim and pretty as she appeared wearing a short zebra-patterned dress, stalking about in high heels in front of black-and-white-stripped stage that perfectly matched her outfit. The group opened the 80-minute set by roaring through “Hanging On the Telephone,” one of many tracks performed from the 1978 breakthrough album “Parallel Lines.”
Most of the best-received numbers, tunes such as “Heart of Glass” and “One Way or Another,” were released in the ’70s, yet, amazingly enough, the evening didn’t feel like a simple nostalgia show.
To the contrary, many of the songs sounded as fresh and modern as anything that fans will hear being played during this week’s trendy Noise Pop festival in San Francisco.
That just shows how far ahead of the game Blondie was in the ’70s. The band’s peers on the New York City new wave/punk scene might’ve once scoffed at the fashion in which Blondie mixed dance music, punk rock, radio pop, reggae and, even, hip-hop in mainstream-friendly ways, but it’s paid off to the tune of 30 million records sold worldwide.
More strikingly, it’s continuing to pay off. Blondie performed its songs at a breakneck punk clip, punching out most offerings at right around three minutes. But what was most impressive was how well the eclectic mix of sounds jelled. That’s because the band gives each song a highly distinctive musical stamp, a kind of glamorous gloss that might not work for any other lead singer.
Harry was astoundingly energetic throughout the night, jumping about on her tall heels during “Call Me” and commanding the microphone with “Rapture.” The latter, the tune that introduced millions to rap-sung lyrics, was a particular pleasure as Harry and the sold-out crowd shared the still-fun lead vocals.
The band ended the show with a surprise cover of the Beatles’ “Please Please Me,” which was performed as a nod to George Harrison’s birthday (the “Quiet Beatle” would’ve been 66 on Wednesday).
Blondie certainly pleased its Bay Area fans on this night. If you missed the show, the band might be back in the near future. This rejuvenated Blondie is reportedly recording a new album, which could hit stores as soon as spring. Before Wednesday, that bit of news didn’t have me excited—but, having seen the Fillmore gig, I can’t wait to hear the disc.
July 11, 2008
Images and a news report about the Blondie show in Moscow on July 9 can be found on purepeople.com, lookatme.ru and russiatoday.ru.
Moscow fans in Rapture at Blondie gig
10 July, 2008, 09:46
Some call her the Queen of New Wave, others the Mistress of Punk Rock. One way or another, Debbie Harry is better known as Blondie. The iconic beauty whose posters decked the walls of millions of teenagers’ rooms in the late 1970s & early 1980s, has performed at the B1 club in Moscow with her band.
The band merged punk, disco and garage rock in what became the new wave of American pop rock.
Not surprisingly, though, it was the band’s vocalist Debbie Harry who became the centre of attention.
July 1, 2008
Deborah-harry.com wishes Debbie a very Happy Birthday and all the best in this world.
It’s the most special day of the year because the most wonderful person ever was born. This is your day. May all your loved ones be there with you and spend an unforgettable day with you and with tons of presents, flowers and whatever makes you happy.
Thank you for being the wonderful person you are, for your kindness and generosity, for all the wonderful music you’ve shared with us (especially your new solo album which is a real treasure) and the unforgettable moments during the shows.
May all your dreams and wishes come true.
—–
A review of the Blondie show at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago on June 27 can be found on examiner.com.
June 14, 2008
A review of the Blondie show at Casino Rama in Canada on July 12 can be found on canoe.ca.
 Casino Rama, Ontario - June 12, 2008
By JANE STEVENSON - Sun Media
RAMA, Ont. - Blondie’s breakthrough album, Parallel Lines, turned 30 this year.
So the New Wave veterans, fronted by the incomparable Debbie Harry, are back on the road performing their seminal disc from start to finish, plus throwing in some other hits and material from Harry’s most recent solo album, 2007’s Necessary Evil.
The only Canadian stop on the Parallel Lines 30th Anniversary tour was two back-to-back stops at Casino Rama that kicked off Thursday night.
Their backdrop even incorporated the black and white parallel lines that dominated the memorable album art - yes kids, those were the days when we stared at album covers for hours on end while listening to the record from start to finish.
Harry, who turns 63 on July 1, sounded as good and looked as great as she ever did back in the band’s heyday when she was a major stylesetter.
Decked out in a black and white stripped skirt and matching sleeves, red tank top, and matching converse sneakers, and black shades, with her trademark blonde bob haircut blowing in the breeze created by two fans in front of her, she personified cool.
The crowd rushed the front of the stage from the opening chords of Hanging On The Telephone and remained there for the duration of the night and someone even handed Harry a bouquet of flowers during One Way Or Another.
Those songs plus other Parallel Lines classics like the energetic Pretty Baby - with Harry waving and high-fiving various audience members while she prowled the stage - I Know But I Don’t Know, 11:59, Will Anything Happen, Sunday Girl, Heart Of Glass, and I’m Gonna Love You Too took the crowd back to a time when albums still mattered.
“Some days it feels like more than 30, and some days it feels like less than 30,” joked Harry, who eventually discarded her shades.
Other highlights during the 85-minute set included the Blondie comeback hit, Maria, the pioneering rap-disco song, Rapture, which incorporated a bit of Hey Bo Diddley in a shout-out to the legendary guitarist who recently passed away, Tide Is High, and a punk version of Celine Dion’s soaring pop anthem My Heart Will Go On.
“This is for all you Canadians,” said Harry, who even incorporated Dion’s chest-pounding antics during the song.
The only other original band members are guitarist Chris Stein and drummer Clem Burke, the latter who brilliantly pounded away on his kit while wearing a massive set of earphones and drove the show with his infectious beat. (Burke also wore a CBGB shirt in a nod to the now shuttered New York punk club where Blondie performed their early gigs.)
Stein was no slouch either delivering some stellar guitar moments during Picture This, I Know But I Don’t Know, Maria, Rapture, Harry’s reggae-tinged solo tune, Screaming Skin, and the title track from Necessary Evil.
Joining the threesome were more recent recruits, bassist Leigh Foxx, guitarist Paul Carbonara and keyboardist Matt Katz-Bohen, with Foxx and Carbonara also around when Blondie last played in Toronto at the Guvernment in 2004. (Harry played a solo show at the Phoenix last November that was one of the best gigs of the year.)
“Is anybody winning any dough out there?” said Harry. “I want to meet the winners.”
Chances are she did.
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