RIP Ian Curtis, 20 years ago today. We should all listen to Unknown Pleasures before going to bed tonight.

Blondie's "Rapture", released in 1980, is a near singular release in the history of music. It is a remarkable case of a very, very mainstream act paying homage to a very, very underground movement. Who, outside of select circles of people in New York, even knew what hip-hop was in 1980? I remember becoming acquainted with the video around 1983, and I've never been sure why I didn't consider it to be radical -- everyone's favourite musical sex kitten, Debbie Harry, was slumming it with graffiti artists in some dimly lit after-hours location. The mind struggles to come up with a possible contemporary culture clash. Christina Aguilera going trance? AC/DC doing drum 'n bass? The closest examples in recent times are Madonna's take on electronica on "Ray of Light" and Bowie going jungle on "Earthling". However, these albums were career resurgences by their respective artists. On the other hand, "Rapture" featured Blondie at the peak of their commercial viability. Also, while Bowie and Madonna looked to increase their hipness quotient by embracing electronica with a considerable amount of fanfare, Blondie did no such thing. Hip-hop was years from being trendy and their recognition of it presaged that of any other mainstream group by a considerable margin.