Blondie Tune Gets A Makeover

Written By Mike Greenblatt

PHOTO: Soraia by Cassandra Panek

When Jersey Girl Debbie Harry wrote “Union City Blue” with her British bassist Nigel Harrison for Blondie’s 1979 Eat To The Beat album, she must have been thinking of that Hudson County town. The following year Harry starred as neglected wife Lillian in the 1980 film Union City. Enter Philadelphia band Soraia whose lead singer ZouZou has captured the nerve, balls and aggression of the original while adding her own flair.

"I've wanted to cover `Union City Blue’ since I first heard it on the Sid and Nancy soundtrack,” remembers Zouzou. “I loved that movie! We were in Sweden touring in fall 2023, and decided that was the time to do it. We self-produced this time, bringing more of a Go-Go’s `We Got The Beat’ vibe to the tempo and approach."

A tour starts tonight in Connecticut that lands them in Morris County Saturday at the Sweet Vinyl Café (with the great coffee) in Denville.

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Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

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