Picture This (song)

"Picture This"
Single by Blondie
from the album Parallel Lines
B-side	"Fade Away and Radiate"
Released	August 1978
Format	7" vinyl
Recorded	1978
Genre	New wave
Length	2:59
Label	Chrysalis (UK)
Writer(s)	Chris Stein Deborah Harry Jimmy Destri
Producer(s)	Mike Chapman
Blondie singles chronology
"(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear" (1978) "Picture This" (1978) "I'm Gonna Love You Too" (1978)
Music sample Picture This

"Picture This" is a song by the American rock band Blondie. It was released in 1978 as the lead single from their third album Parallel Lines. 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.

Background

"Picture This" was written by Chris Stein, Debbie Harry and Jimmy Destri. Debbie Harry wrote the lyrics while Destri and Stein each wrote portions of the music. The B-side of the single, "Fade Away And Radiate", featured Robert Fripp 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, released in October 1981.

Music critic Arion Berger of Rolling Stone called "Picture This" "the tenderest new wave love song put to vinyl".^[1]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single featuring a straight performance by the band and Debbie Harry wearing a yellow dress designed by Stephen Sprouse.^[2]

Release history

UK 7" (CHS 2242, August 1978)

1. "Picture This" (Chris Stein, Deborah Harry, Jimmy Destri) – 2:53
2. "Fade Away And Radiate" (Chris Stein) – 3:57

Charts

Chart (1978)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[3]	88
Ireland (IRMA)[4]	13
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[5]	15
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[6]	12

References

1. Berger, Arion (June 8, 2000). "Review: Parallel Lines". Rolling Stone. New York: Superseventies.com: 129.
2. Che, Cathay (1999). Debbie Harry: Platinum Blonde. Cornwall: MPG Books Ltd. p. 96.
3. "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved July 16, 2014.
4. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Picture This". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
5. "Swedishcharts.com – Blondie – Picture This". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
6. "Archive Chart: 1978-09-23" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved June 28, 2013.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics