‘The Tide Is High’: The pop song John Lennon “played constantly”
Receiving a compliment from John Lennon is an honour that every artist would love to boast on their resumé. Despite his sullen exterior and the negative remarks that typically fell from his mouth regarding other artists, music was the primary reason John Lennon woke up in the morning.
Through his artistry, he developed a voice to navigate the problems that arose in his personal life or attempt to change the mindset of millions by clambering for world peace on ‘Imagine’. Lennon could eloquently express himself through his songwriting in a way that he struggled to do in ordinary life. When he put pen to paper, Lennon beautifully articulated his thoughts and feelings and spoke to the souls of millions.
As much as Little Richard and Chuck Berry inspired him during the early years of The Beatles, Lennon developed a unique voice unlike anyone else. However, once he achieved fame, he didn’t keep his ear to the ground regarding new voices and focused more on his own work rather than that of his contemporaries. Admittedly, while in the Fab Four, he still had a clear understanding of popular music, but he wasn’t rushing out to record stores to buy the latest new releases.
In his later years, Lennon almost stopped following contemporary musical trends altogether. Instead, he became isolated within his own creative bubble in New York City. His music taste largely stayed in the past, with his record collection still consisting of the same names as a decade prior.
However, according to his son Sean Ono Lennon, there was one song by Blondie that he couldn’t get enough of. Sean was only a child when his father was tragically murdered outside the Dakota Building in 1980, and he is now determined to keep his dad’s legacy alive by restoring his records. Thankfully, he still holds precious memories of the times they shared together, which largely revolve around music. During an interview with Rolling Stone in 2006, Sean recalled: “My father had an old Wurlitzer in the game room of our house on Long Island,” he said. “It was filled with 45s, mostly Elvis and the Everly Brothers.”
He continued: “The one modern song I remember him listening to was ‘The Tide Is High’ by Blondie, which he played constantly. When I hear that song, I see my father, unshaven, his hair pulled back into a ponytail, dancing to and fro in a worn-out pair of denim shorts, with me at his feet, trying my best to coordinate tiny limbs.”
‘The Tide Is High’ wasn’t originally by the New Yorkers, but their version is the one that most are familiar with. Initially, it was recorded by the Jamaican band The Paragons—fronted by John Holt, who had penned the song before Blondie made it their own. The Paragons’ interpretation was an underground hit in Jamaica and the United Kingdom, far outweighed by the mainstream attention Blondie brought to the track.
The track is also Chris Stein’s favourite song by his band, with the Blondie member telling Vulture: “All of our songs are part of a larger movement, so it’s virtually impossible to choose. All I can say is the only song I knew for sure was going to be a hit before we recorded it was ‘The Tide Is High.’ The original was so fantastic. I knew what our position was at the time: If we had the ear of the public and if we did a successful version of this thing, it would be successful.”
Although Lennon never spoke publicly about his adoration for Blondie, he was a fan. In a postcard that he sent to Ringo Starr in 1979, which surfaced after his death, he referenced the group and recommended them to Starr. In the note, he offered career advice to the drummer and wrote: “Blondie’s ‘Heart of Glass’ is the type of stuff y’all should do. Great and simple.” Moreover, The Beatles and Blondie had different approaches to music, but Stein once told The Sun that the Fab Four were their “role models” because “you never really knew what to expect from them”.
