A Rose By Any Name

Album: Ghosts of Download (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The lead single from Blondie's Ghosts of Download album, this song features The Gossip's frontwoman Beth Ditto on lead vocals with Debbie Harry. It was released as a digital download on June 21, 2013.
  • The phrase "A rose by any other name" originates from a dialogue in William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, in which Juliet argues that the name is of little consequence, what matters is the inherent qualities of the person or thing:

    "What's in a name? that which we call a rose
    By any other name would smell as sweet;
    So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
    Retain that dear perfection which he owes."
  • This was written by Blondie keyboardist Matt Katz-Bohen and his wife Laurel Katz-Bohen. The couple previously penned the Panic of Girls single, "What I Heard."
  • The Ghosts of Download album title is an illusion to Blondie's viewpoints on how technology and connectedness impact on artists. "I wonder what is to become of the fact that everybody is now connected to somebody else all the time, 24/7," guitarist Chris Stein told NME. "As (sci-fi author) William Gibson said, the body language of how people used to smoke cigarettes has now become cell phone manipulation. It makes for a whole culture that is less centred, maybe, whereas no place that people are drawn to because they're always connected to somebody else."
  • Debbie Harry explained to EW that Laurel was expecting, but the couple didn't know what gender the baby was. So Matt Katz-Bohen "came up with this song about whether you're a boy or a girl, I'm gonna love you just the same."

    The song went on to become an anthemic for transgender people "and all sexes in every shape and form."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Song Titles That Inspired Movies

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.