Harry has always been someone who tests boundaries and thinks outside the box. In the late 70s, Blondie became the first punk band to embrace the disco movement and throughout her time as frontwoman, she was leading a group of men in a male-dominated industry. She has since described herself as portraying a “transsexual creature” embracing all sides of her identity.

In a candid interview with NME, she was asked about whether she feels she would have identified with genderqueerness if the term was in use at the time.

“Perhaps,” she responded. “I don’t know if I made myself as clear as I possibly could with that because I always felt that lyrically with these songs, I was trying to represent the guys in the band as well as myself. I was trying to speak for all of us.

“And I always felt that since all my life, I was always called ‘Debbie’ or ‘Harry’ – so I embodied this myself and it’s just the way it was. It probably still is! Yeah, so I don’t know – I never really had any problems with that and I’m always surprised when people have a fear or frustration about their combination of sexualities – I think we do better recognizing both within ourselves.”

You can read the full interview here.

The post Debbie Harry Shares Her Thoughts On Queerness and Representation appeared first on Hot Pop Today.

The memoir will be titled “FACE IT” and will be published via HarperNonFiction and Dey Street Books. It will feature a curated selection of fan art, Harry’s own personal images and her wild stories as the frontwoman of Blondie.

Harry stated in a press release: “I didn’t want to, but I did. There are many more stories for me to tell; some funny, some scary, some warm, some chill to the bone and if FACE IT appeals to people then I will get to telling more of the anecdotal bits of the story of Blondie – like the time I met Rita Hayworth and Penny Singleton backstage at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles.

“This book is biographical and covers a lot of years. I know there will be questions asked because, in putting this together, I realized I have led a very full life and couldn’t possibly cover everything in just one volume. I’m prepared for the best and the worst comments, much like when I have released an album or done a big show. I don’t have a thick skin, but I do have a pretty good sense of humour.”

FACE IT will be available to purchase October 1 via HarperFiction.

The post Debbie Harry is Releasing Her First Memoir appeared first on Hot Pop Today.

One of our favorite parts is its amazing soundtrack, and director Jonathan Levine recently revealed how he put it together.

Music always played a huge role in his filmmaking process, and he took the same approach with this love story about a potential presidential candidate and her newly appointed speechwriter, played by Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen.

Levine shared his process in an interview with Slash Film, and explained he put together a playlist of songs he wanted to use, that served as a great source of inspiration.

“I was really going for this Cameron Crowe thing. Music is how you see the world. Music is the way you mark relationships. Music is what you remember about falling in love or breaking up. Music is the thing you share with someone when you want to get closer to them,” revealed Levine.

One of the most epic moments of the whole movie was surprise cameo by Boyz II Men. They gave the movie a ’90s flavor, and the love story between main characters probably wouldn’t even happen if it wasn’t for their music.

“They were the first call we made, and we we’re so excited they said yes, because from a character perspective, there’s so much of thinking about the young idealist and whether the young version of you would be happy with where you are today,” said Levine.

Here are some of our favorite tracks from this nostalgia-filled soundtrack:

Boyz II Men – Motownphilly

Boyz II Men – It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday

Lizzo – Juice

Roxette – It Must Have Been Love

Aretha Franklin – Bridge Over Troubled Water

Frank Ocean – Moon River

Blondie – One Way Or Another

David Bowie – Modern Love

The Cure – Close To Me

Robyn – Dancing On My Own

The post “Long Shot” Director Shares the Story Behind the Movie’s Epic Soundtrack appeared first on Hot Pop Today.

Harry has always been someone who tests boundaries and thinks outside the box. In the late 70s, Blondie became the first punk band to embrace the disco movement and throughout her time as frontwoman, she was leading a group of men in a male-dominated industry. She has since described herself as portraying a “transsexual creature” embracing all sides of her identity.

In a candid interview with NME, she was asked about whether she feels she would have identified with genderqueerness if the term was in use at the time.

“Perhaps,” she responded. “I don’t know if I made myself as clear as I possibly could with that because I always felt that lyrically with these songs, I was trying to represent the guys in the band as well as myself. I was trying to speak for all of us.

“And I always felt that since all my life, I was always called ‘Debbie’ or ‘Harry’ – so I embodied this myself and it’s just the way it was. It probably still is! Yeah, so I don’t know – I never really had any problems with that and I’m always surprised when people have a fear or frustration about their combination of sexualities – I think we do better recognizing both within ourselves.”

You can read the full interview here.

The post Debbie Harry Shares Her Thoughts On Queerness and Representation appeared first on Hot Pop Today.

The memoir will be titled “FACE IT” and will be published via HarperNonFiction and Dey Street Books. It will feature a curated selection of fan art, Harry’s own personal images and her wild stories as the frontwoman of Blondie.

Harry stated in a press release: “I didn’t want to, but I did. There are many more stories for me to tell; some funny, some scary, some warm, some chill to the bone and if FACE IT appeals to people then I will get to telling more of the anecdotal bits of the story of Blondie – like the time I met Rita Hayworth and Penny Singleton backstage at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles.

“This book is biographical and covers a lot of years. I know there will be questions asked because, in putting this together, I realized I have led a very full life and couldn’t possibly cover everything in just one volume. I’m prepared for the best and the worst comments, much like when I have released an album or done a big show. I don’t have a thick skin, but I do have a pretty good sense of humour.”

FACE IT will be available to purchase October 1 via HarperFiction.

The post Debbie Harry is Releasing Her First Memoir appeared first on Hot Pop Today.

One of our favorite parts is its amazing soundtrack, and director Jonathan Levine recently revealed how he put it together.

Music always played a huge role in his filmmaking process, and he took the same approach with this love story about a potential presidential candidate and her newly appointed speechwriter, played by Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen.

Levine shared his process in an interview with Slash Film, and explained he put together a playlist of songs he wanted to use, that served as a great source of inspiration.

“I was really going for this Cameron Crowe thing. Music is how you see the world. Music is the way you mark relationships. Music is what you remember about falling in love or breaking up. Music is the thing you share with someone when you want to get closer to them,” revealed Levine.

One of the most epic moments of the whole movie was surprise cameo by Boyz II Men. They gave the movie a ’90s flavor, and the love story between main characters probably wouldn’t even happen if it wasn’t for their music.

“They were the first call we made, and we we’re so excited they said yes, because from a character perspective, there’s so much of thinking about the young idealist and whether the young version of you would be happy with where you are today,” said Levine.

Here are some of our favorite tracks from this nostalgia-filled soundtrack:

Boyz II Men – Motownphilly

Boyz II Men – It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday

Lizzo – Juice

Roxette – It Must Have Been Love

Aretha Franklin – Bridge Over Troubled Water

Frank Ocean – Moon River

Blondie – One Way Or Another

David Bowie – Modern Love

The Cure – Close To Me

Robyn – Dancing On My Own

The post “Long Shot” Director Shares the Story Behind the Movie’s Epic Soundtrack appeared first on Hot Pop Today.