Blondie and the Andrews Sisters are my grandfather’s two favorite bands. There is truly no relationship between these two groups in vocal style or content. It’s as simple as comparing the 1940’s to the 1980’s. Add three major wars, a baby boom and a technology revolution, and that’s a pretty massive shift in pop culture. Just the lyrics alone indicate what a complete change ensued over the course of forty years! Time and music march on.

Mista S-to the-KIPPER

LaVerne, Maxene and Patty, of the Andrews Sisters, were known for their harmonizing on swing and boogie-woogie music. While performing for soldiers during World War II, tensions between the sisters reached an apex, and tore this idyllic picture apart. Blondie, on the other hand, is known for their new wave and punk music. Fronted by Debbie Harry, Blondie offers both a musical progression over time, and a series of surprising career reinventions.

I can recall many drives to Tahoe with Skipper as he blasted a combination of the two bands. Notably, the groups were fronted by female singers, which is pretty cool, and Skipper still attends regular Blondie concerts. He is in his eighties! Go, Skip! In no particular order, Skipper has ranked his two favorite songs performed by each band. His favorite lines are included…

1. “Sunday Girl” “I know a girl from a lonely street/Cold as ice cream but still as sweet”
2. “Hanging on the Telephone” “I had to interrupt and stop this conversation/Your voice across the line gives me a strange sensation” 

1. “Nice Work If You Can Get It” “Holding hands at midnight/’Neath a starry sky) 
2. “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” “A-toot, a-toot, a-toot-diddelyada-toot”