"Good Boys" is a song by the American band Blondie. Released in 2003, it was the only single to be released from their eighth studio albumThe Curse of Blondie. The single was released as part of a two-CD set and on vinyl. CD 1 features live versions of "Maria" and "Rapture", plus the video for "Good Boys" directed by Jonas Åkerlund. CD 2 featured a remix by Giorgio Moroder. The 12-inch vinyl featured remixes by Giorgio Moroder, Arthur Baker, and Scissor Sisters. Promotion included several TV performances in the United Kingdom and the United States It charted at number 7 on the BillboardHot Dance Club Play charts. The single peaked at number 12 in the UK. The Australian single release coincided with the band's 2003 tour of the country, peaking at number 37 and becoming their first top 40 hit there as a group since "Island of Lost Souls" in 1982. The single peaked at number 93 in Germany. "Good Boys" was the final single from the band for eight years.
Songwriting credits
Although not credited on the original single release, Brian May of the British rock bandQueen was later credited as a co-writer because Debbie Harry used lyrics that were similar to those of Queen's 1977 hit "We Will Rock You" for the rap section. Although the lyrics are not entirely identical, Queen threatened to sue, as was explained by Harry and fellow Blondie member Chris Stein on a VH1 special. The lyrics used in "Good Boys" were "You got me on your face / A big disgrace / Shakin' your feathers all over the place." While the lyrics from "We Will Rock You" are "You got mud on your face / You big disgrace / Kicking your can all over the place."
Music video
The music video for "Good Boys" was directed by Jonas Åkerlund. Filmed partly in black and white and partly in color, the video starts out in the style of an old silent film, with a title screen that presents the band, the song, and the director. Debbie Harry appears in a brunette wig, playing a ringmaster conducting the band in a vintage circus setting, intercut with scenes of a circus drama in which a clown is thrown inside a cage with a tiger and mauled to death. There's also a "blond" version, where Harry doesn't wear the brunette wig. Åkerlund also made an over 8 minutes silent short film also entitled "Good Boys" extending the clown story.
