The Tide - Is High

: Blondie originally asked The Specials to back them on the recording, but the ska icons declined.

: Sean Lennon recalled that "The Tide Is High" was one of the few modern songs his father, John Lennon , would play constantly and dance to at home. The Tide Is High

: To maintain its Jamaican soul, the band hired three percussionists and added a lush arrangement of horns and strings. : Blondie originally asked The Specials to back

: Their version hit #1 in the US, UK, and Canada, cementing their reputation for successfully blending punk/new wave with world music like reggae, rap, and disco. The 2000s Pop Update: Atomic Kitten : Their version hit #1 in the US,

The song proved its timelessness again in when British girl group Atomic Kitten released a poppier, "Get the Feeling" version. It reached #1 in the UK once more, making it one of the rare tracks to top the charts twice with versions by different female-led acts. Cultural Impact & Fun Facts

: When Blondie covered it, they simply switched the gender from "I'm not the kind of man" to "I'm not the kind of girl" without losing any of its determined romantic spirit.