"Mother" is the lead single from Blondie's ninth studio album ''

Panic of Girls ''Panic of Girls'' is the ninth studio album by the American rock band Blondie. It was the band's first album of new material in nearly 8 years, since 2003's ''The Curse of Blondie''. The album was first released digitally on May 30, 2011, follow ...

'' and was written by Kato Khandwala, Ben Phillips (guitarist for

The Pretty Reckless The Pretty Reckless is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 2009. The band consists of Taylor Momsen (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Ben Phillips (lead guitar, backing vocals), Mark Damon (bass), and Jamie Perkins (drums). The band ...

) and the band's lead singer

Deborah Harry Deborah Ann Harry (born Angela Trimble; July 1, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter and actress, best known as the lead vocalist of the band Blondie. Four of her songs with the band reached on the US charts between 1979 and 1981. Born in ...

. It was released in the United Kingdom on May 22, 2011, on all major online platforms. It was the first single release from the band since "

Good Boys Good Boys may refer to: * " Good Boys (song)", a 2003 song by Blondie * ''Good Boys'' (film), a 2019 American film * ''The Good Boys'', a 1997 Indian Malayalam film * Goodboys Goodboys are an English house music group consisting of Joshua Gr ...

" 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 Declan Patrick MacManus Order of the British Empire, OBE (born 25 August 1954), known professionally as Elvis Costello, is an English singer-songwriter and record producer. He has won multiple awards in his career, including a Grammy Award in ...

. The song has been rarely performed since then but was added back into the setlist for Blondie's 2022 Against the Odds UK Tour.

Release

On December 5, 2010, "Mother" was made available as a free download from the official Blondie website. 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 BBC Radio 2 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It is the most popular station in the United Kingdom with over 15 million weekly listeners. Since launching in 1967, the station broadcasts a wide range of content. ...

's ''

The Ken Bruce Show Kenneth Robertson Bruce (born 2 February 1951) is a British Radio personality, broadcaster who is best known for hosting his long-running weekday mid-morning show on BBC Radio 2 from 1986 to 1990, and then again since 1992. Early life and caree ...

''. On Amazon.co.uk an explicit version was released alongside the regular one.

Artwork

The cover artwork for "Mother" was revealed on May 5, 2011. It displays a band picture digitally manipulated to resemble a

Chris Berens Chris Berens (born June 19, 1976) is a Dutch painter. While he takes inspiration from the quality of light in the paintings of Vermeer and Rembrandt, his themes lie more within the realms of surrealism and visionary art than traditional painting. ...

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 A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...

was directed by Laurent Rejto and features cameos by

Kate Pierson Catherine Elizabeth Pierson (born April 27, 1948) is an American singer, lyricist, and founding member of the B-52's. She plays guitar, bass and various keyboard instruments. In the B-52s, she has performed alongside Cindy Wilson, Fred Schneid ...

from

The B-52's The B-52's, also styled as The B-52s, are an American new wave band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1976. The original lineup consisted of Fred Schneider (vocals, percussion), Kate Pierson (vocals, keyboards, synth bass), Cindy Wilson (vocals, p ...

, James Lorinz (Frankenhooker),

Johnny Dynell Johnny Dynell (born John Savas) is a New York City DJ, record producer, recording artist, remixer, nightclub promoter, and nightlife impresario. Club DJ Dynell started his DJ career at the Mudd Club in 1980 and has been a resident DJ at influent ...

, Chi Chi Valenti,

The Dazzle Dancers The Dazzle Dancers are a performance group founded in 1996 in New York City's Tompkins Square Park during Wignot (the first year that Wigstock didn't happen in the park) by artist Mike Albo (aka Dazzle Dazzle) and Grover Guinta (aka Vinnie Dazzle) ...

Rob Roth Rob Roth is an American multidisciplinary artist and director based in New York City. He works in a variety of media including theater, video, sculpture and performance. Roth received his BFA from Pratt Institute and has exhibited different work ...

, Barbara Sicuranza,

Larry Fessenden Laurence T. Fessenden (born March 23, 1963) is an American actor, producer, writer, director, film editor, and cinematographer. He is the founder of the New York based independent production outfit Glass Eye Pix. His writer/director credits inclu ...

Allen Midgette Allen Midgette (born as Allen Joseph Midgett; February 2, 1939 – June 16, 2021) was an American actor and painter who is perhaps best known for playing Andy Warhol on a 1968 University lecture tour after the artist was shot by Valerie Solanas. ...

(

Andy Warhol Andy Warhol (; born Andrew Warhola Jr.; August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was an American visual artist, film director, and producer who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art. His works explore the relationsh ...

's double), The Five Points Band, Guy Furrow, Kitty Boots, and Hattie Hathaway. It was released on May 17, 2011, on the

YouTube YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...

channel of Blondie's record label,

Five Seven Music Five Seven Music is the alternative/indie sub-label under The Eleven Seven Music Group. Five Seven Music launched with Jet's Shaka Rock in 2009 followed by She Wants Revenge's Valleyheart in 2011. The label has rapidly grown since and has also ...

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

Charts

References

{{authority control 2011 singles Blondie (band) songs Songs written by Debbie Harry 2011 songs Songs written by Kato Khandwala Eleven Seven Label Group singles