Did you know that John Travolta and Julie Christie could play the heroes of the crime melodrama American Gigolo? But the Saturday Night Fever and Grease star turned down the lead role. Upon learning of this, Christie also did not want to star in the film. Instead, director Paul Schroeder invited Richard Gere and Lauren Hutton.
There was also a problem with the performer of the main musical composition of the soundtrack. Giorgio Moroder opted for Stevie Nicks, but the Fleetwood Mac vocalist was not interested in the offer. Then the composer turned to the Blondie group for help.
The story of the song Call Me by Blondie
Debbie Harry recalled that they agreed to take on the song for the film, as they dreamed of working with producer Girgio Moroder:
He was the king of disco, and we were still considered outsiders, encroaching on the foundations of society.
At that time, Giorgio had an instrumental called Man Machine. Debbie composed the melody and lyrics in a few hours. Many are sure that the song is about a prostitute, but Harry offers a different interpretation of the meaning:
When I wrote it, I imagined an open space in which I drive along the California coast.
Autoweek, 2012
Working with rock musicians was not easy. Moroder later recalled:
Fights broke out constantly. And after that I had to record an album with them. We came to the studio, and there the guitarist fought with the keyboardist. I called their manager and left.
Billboard
The result of the joint work of the Italian disco legend and members of Blondie was the song Call Me (“Call me”).
Release and achievements
On February 1, 1980, Call Me was released on three labels at once and topped the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks. It also climbed to number one in Canada and the UK.
The record turned out to be the best-selling single of the year and the most successful track by Blondie in the US.
Video of Call Me by Blondie
Two music videos were filmed for the song Call Me. First, I suggest watching a clip from the Blondie channel.
And now let’s see an alternative video Call Me by Blondie, in which the main character is a New York taxi driver..
Interesting Facts
- The song was also released in Spanish with lyrics by Mary and Buddy McCluskey.
- Rolling Stone included Call Me in their list of the greatest songs of all time.
Call Me Lyrics by Blondie
Color me your color, baby
Color me your car
Color me your color, darling
I know who you are
Come up off your color chart
I know where you’re comin’ from
chorus:
call me on the line
Call me, call me any, anytime
call me my love
You can call me any day or night
call me
Cover me with kisses, baby
cover me with love
Roll me in designer sheets
I’ll never get enough
Emotions come, I don’t know why
Cover up love’s alibi
Chorus
Oh, he speaks the languages of love
Oh, amore, chiamami, chiamami
Oh, appelle-moi mon cherie, appelle-moi
Anytime, anyplace,
Anywhere, any way
Anytime, anyplace,
Anywhere, any day
Chorus
Lyrics of Call Me Alternate
Consider me your baby
Consider me your machine
Consider me your baby
You know who I am
Give up your habits
I know where you are from
Chorus:
Call me
call me, call me anytime
call me darling
You can call me day and night
Call me
Cover me with kisses baby
Surround me with love
Wrap me up in designer sheets
I will always want more
Emotions fill me up, I don’t know why
Cover me, love is an alibi
Chorus
Oh he speaks the languages of love
Oh, amore, chiamami, chiamami1
Oh, appelle-moi mon cherie, appelle-moi2
Anytime, anywhere
Anywhere, any way
Anytime, anywhere
Anywhere, any day
Chorus
- Italian “darling, call me, call me”
- Fr. “call me darling, call me”
