Backfired


"Backfired" is the debut solo single from the American singer-songwriter and Blondie vocalist Debbie Harry. Released in 1981, it was taken from her gold-selling debut solo album KooKoo.

Song information

Despite Blondie having two number one singles and a top 10 album within the previous twelve months, "Backfired" failed to make a significant impact on any of the charts. It peaked at #32 in the UK, and #43 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It crossed over to Black radio and peaked at #71 on the U.S. Soul chart, and peaked at #29 on the Dance chart. The single managed to become a hit in only a few other countries including Sweden and Australia.
In an attempt to distinguish herself as a solo artist, Harry's image upon the single's release was quite different from her established image with Blondie. She had dyed her hair darker and had a new sci-fi inspired look, as seen in the music video for the song directed by H.R. Giger, who appeared in the video wearing a mask and mimes the male back-up vocals on the song.
Produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of the Chic who had just produced a huge hit album for Diana Ross, "Backfired" further developed Harry's experimentation with dance music as seen in some of Blondie's material, this time delving more into funk music.
The 7" edit of "Backfired" appears on the Chrysalis Records/EMI compilation Most of All - The Best of Deborah Harry. A remix of the track by Bruce Forrest and Frank Heller was included on the 1988 Blondie/Debbie Harry remix compilation Once More into the Bleach. The original extended 12" mix from 1981 appears as a bonus track on both the 1994 and 2005 CD re-issues of the album KooKoo.

Track listing

7"
  1. "Backfired" - 3:34
  2. "Military Rap" - 3:47
12"
  1. "Backfired" - 6:23
  2. "Military Rap" - 3:47

    Charts