Before Heart of Glass topped the charts, Blondie performed an earlier version called “The Disco Song.” The track sounded raw and playful then. The band mixed punk attitude with a dance beat. That blend helped spark debate about what got Blondie banned in some places.

Debbie Harry later said the song began partly as irony. She and guitarist Chris Stein loved disco but enjoyed provoking their punk peers. As they refined the tune, they borrowed from European electronic pop. Still, a single lyric wound up making the biggest fuss and explaining what got Blondie banned.

The Line That Caused an Uproar

According to Parade, early versions included the line, “Once I had a love, it was a gas, but soon it turned out it was a pain in the a**.” That one word drew quick attention. Broadcasters and ven

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