Happy Birthday Debbie Harry: Seven Lessons of Awesomeness from the Queen of Punk-Pop

 

July marks the birthday of one of my all time favourite women – front woman, feminist and fashion icon Debbie Harry, who turns 69 on July 1st.
Harry shot to fame in 1976 as the lead singer of new wave punk-pop band Blondie. With her cool sexuality, streetwise attitude and platinum blonde steeze, Harry pioneered a punk-inspired idea of feminism and empowerment and combined punk, disco, pop-rock and rap to forge a new sound. Her deliberately transgressive, sexy-yet-androgynous style, bold attitude and colorful flair for life inspired generations of women to be both raw and feminine at the same time, and continues to do so even today.

So big and wide is Harry’s influence both in the realms of music and fashion that in February she became the second woman to scoop NME’s prestigious Godlike Genius award.

Whether she’s channeling a silver tin-foil jacket, putting her middle finger up to the establishment or doing philanthropic work on top of a fully-fledged music career, you won’t find many like Debbie Harry. For that, she’s the ultimate awesome woman.

So as the original new-wave chick approaches her seventh decade, let’s celebrate by taking a look at seven lessons of awesomeness that we can take from the queen of punk herself.

Lesson 1: You don’t have to spend a fortune to look fabulous

In fact when Harry first started her career, despite having fashion stylists to hand, she chose to source most of her outfits from second hand stores, or made them herself.

Lesson 2: Feminism is sexy

Harry is famed for championing punk-inspired feminism. Sick of being pigeonholed, she challenged the ‘good girl’ image in what was then a heavily male dominated industry, without compromising on her sexiness. As Harry herself said, “’How can one be a woman and not be a feminist? That’s my question.”

Navigating her way around an industry dominated by men, especially back in the 70s, she refused to conform to gender stereotypes; “I’m comfortable being around guys. I’m comfortable around certain types of women, but I’m kind of bold. I have other sides to my nature but I don’t necessarily live within the rules of feminine behaviour.”

Lesson 3: Take whatever inspires you, and wear it

Like this Zebra print pillowcase, which Harry found in the garbage and turned into a top, proving that you don’t have to pay a fortune (or anything at all) to create an amazing outfit and look fabulous.

Lesson 4: Don’t be afraid to be yourself

Back at the start of her career, and even now, Debbie Harry is not afraid to say what’s on her mind, despite what others may think, or how hard it may be. Lester Bangs wrote of Harry: “She may be there all high and mighty on TV, but everybody knows that underneath all that fashion plating she’s just a piece of meat like the rest of them.”

Harry didn’t let this deter her. Choosing to be herself was, as she said “at times, very uncomfortable… There were some girls doing music, but not a lot, and the record industry certainly wasn’t geared for it the way they are now.”

 

As she explained to Sunday Time Style Magazine in 2013: “I was dead sick and tired of all of these songs by the R&B girls, the trios and stuff. They were all victimised by love. I was sick of it. I didn’t want to portray myself or women as victims.”

Lesson 5: It’s never too late for a comeback

Fifteen years after the band split, after Harry had done a stint in rehab for drug addiction, Blondie started working together again.

Proving it’s never too late to relinquish your career, in 1999, with Harry age 54, Blondie’s comeback single Maria topped the UK charts at number one. And with a spot on this year’s Glastonbury bill, Blondie is still going strong with Harry at the helm.

Lesson 6: Charity starts at home

Shortly after Blondie split, Harry’s then long term partner and ex-band member Chris Stein become ill with Pemphigus Vulgaris. Unable to look after himself he was cared for by Harry, who put her solo career on hold to do so. As Harry said at the time, “being sick on your own is no fun”. True words.

Lesson 7: You are never too old to dress like a Humbug. Ever.

 

Happy birthday Debbie Harry, you rock.

 

 

 

 

 

Image source:

Debbie in black and white

Blondie Poster

Lesson 1 – Debbie Harry

Debbie in zebra print

Debbie, don’t be afraid to be yourself

Debbie, charity starts at home

Band shot with Debbie in stripes