Dear Debbie,

Congratulations!

You have been selected as the pop artist to represent New York, as interpreted by me, for the Latitude exhibition at the NYCAMS gallery opening March 14, 2008.

Since you are probably not familiar with my work, I'll explain the project to you:

Myself and a few other performers will don headphones, all connected to the same source, and be listening to the original version of a particular song. We will be interpreting the song, both lyrics and instrumentation, for the audience, by vocalizing the instruments and using some non-traditional instruments. Since the original recording is not experienced by the audience, the result is perhaps not a melodic harmonious sound, but a raw interpretation of what the song has meant to each of the performers. It is continuing my exploration of the place where imagination and reality fail to meet.

It has been said that you condemn American Idol type shows. I can assure you, that my performance is not advocating such concepts. Instead of aspiring to become an "idol," the UnKaraoke Project is an attempt to experience the fantasy of being that star that we wanted to be, and yet, still see that our own identity lies in the difference between that fantasy and what we present.

I have chosen "Heart of Glass" as the song to be performed since it was your hit of the most worldwide success. You, as a singer, performer and personae, and the band had a deep influence on my life in terms of style and downtown coolness, dreams and fantasies of adulthood, my image of womanhood and of who I wanted to become. Your image and your public life were central to my adolescence, and looking back on it, I deeply wanted to be you. For a few minutes, in your home city, which is also mine, I will have my chance.

As I listened to your music in my bedroom in the late 1970's and early 1980's, I felt a promise of freedom - a romantic notion that independence, beauty and rebellion were ahead of me. I remember so clearly watching you on the Solid Gold countdown. and waiting in anticipation for the video of of Rapture to be played on MTV. I sang to The Tide is High while putting together outfits from my closet, and repeated the rap from Rapture as I danced around my parent's living room. You have no idea how badly I wanted to escape to your world of New York's nightlife. The fantasy of this made my adolescence bearable. You were one of my great role models.

We used to be neighbors. During the 1990's I lived in Chelsea, and I clearly remember the day when my roommate returned from the post office telling me that she had just seen you. She was waiting on line to retrieve a package, and you were in front of her. You had forgotten your identification, and she happily volunteered to corroborate your identity. Incredibly, the postal worker had no idea who you were.

It would be a great honor if you, and/or the former Blondie band members would join us for the evening of the performance. If you want, I would welcome your participation, but as I said, I am portraying you for the project, so you must choose another part, as the band will have to switch roles as well, because it's my rule for the show that you can't play an instrument that you have been trained on. I hope the piece succeeds in honoring you, even just a fraction of what you deserve.

With sincerest admiration,

Emily Lutzker