"Picture This" is a 1978 song by the American rock band Blondie, released on their third album, ''

Parallel Lines In geometry, parallel lines are coplanar straight lines that do not intersect at any point. Parallel planes are planes in the same three-dimensional space that never meet. ''Parallel curves'' are curves that do not touch each other or int ...

''. Written by Chris Stein, Debbie Harry and

Jimmy Destri Jimmy Destri (born James Mollica, April 13, 1954, Brooklyn, New York City, United States) is an American musician. Background Destri is of Italian descent. His father was a novelist who also wrote screenplays and eventually advertising copy to ...

, the song features evocative lyrics that producer

Mike Chapman Michael Donald Chapman (born 13 April 1947) is an Australian-American record producer and songwriter who was a major force in the British pop music industry in the 1970s. He created a string of hit singles for artists including The Sweet, Suz ...

surmised were written by Harry about Stein. "Picture This" was released as the debut single from ''Parallel Lines'' in the UK and Europe. The single reached number 12 in the UK and appeared in the top 20 in Ireland and Sweden. It has since seen critical acclaim and has appeared on several compilations.

Background

"Picture This" was written by Chris Stein, Debbie Harry and

. According to Destri, Debbie Harry wrote the lyrics while Destri wrote the verse melody and Stein the chorus. Destri explained, "We all had little pieces of one anothers' songs, just throwing in bits. I always write with the band in mind." Producer

spoke glowingly of Harry's lyrics, writing, "The lyric to this day to me is elusive and beautiful. And it all came from this amazing girl." He explained his initial reaction to the song: Of the lyrics, Harry joked, "I was so excited that in 'Picture This' I rhymed 'solid' with 'wallet.' I thought, 'Wow! Things are happening now!

Release

"Picture This" was released in the UK in 1978 as the

lead single A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date. Release s ...

from their third album ''

''. It reached number 12 in the UK, giving Blondie their third UK Top 20 hit. It also charted in various other countries but was not issued as a single in the US. The B-side of the single, "Fade Away And Radiate", featured

Robert Fripp Robert Fripp (born 16 May 1946) is a British musician, songwriter, record producer, and author, best known as the guitarist, founder and longest-lasting member of the progressive rock band King Crimson. He has worked extensively as a session ...

on guitar and was also included on the ''Parallel Lines'' album. "Picture This" was included on the international version of the band's first 'greatest hits' compilation ''

The Best of Blondie ''The Best of Blondie'' (released in Germany and the Netherlands as ''Blondie's Hits'') is the first greatest hits album by American rock band Blondie. It was released on October 31, 1981, by Chrysalis Records. The album peaked at number four ...

'', released in October 1981. A music video was produced and released to promote the single, featuring a straight performance by the band. In the video, Debbie Harry wore a yellow dress created by fashion designer

Stephen Sprouse Stephen Sprouse (September 12, 1953 – March 4, 2004) was an American fashion designer and artist credited with pioneering the 1980s mix of "uptown sophistication in clothing with a downtown punk and pop sensibility". Career Stephen Sprouse's in ...

Reception

"Picture This" has seen critical acclaim since its release. Music critic Arion Berger of ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...

'' called "Picture This" "the tenderest new wave love song put to vinyl". '' Slant Magazine'' praised Harry's vocal range on the track, "her voice purring like a kitten and then building to a mean growl." ''

Pitchfork A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to ...

'' lauded the song as "exuberant new wave, far looser than the stiff, herky-jerky tracks that would go on to characterize that sound in the 80s". ''

Ultimate Classic Rock Townsquare Media, Inc. (formerly Regent Communications until 2010) is an American radio network and media company based in Purchase, New York. The company started in radio and expanded into digital media toward the end of the 2000s, starting wi ...

'' named "Picture This" as Blondie's ninth best song, writing, "The springy hook and girl-group snap of 'Picture This' turned out to be just the start of the album's treasures."

Release history

UK 7" (CHS 2242, August 1978) #"Picture This" ( Chris Stein,

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 ...

) – 2:53 #"Fade Away And Radiate" (Chris Stein) – 3:57

Charts

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Picture This (Song) 1978 singles 1978 songs Blondie (band) songs Chrysalis Records singles Song recordings produced by Mike Chapman Songs written by Chris Stein Songs written by Debbie Harry Songs written by Jimmy Destri