Maria by Blondie - Songfacts

Album: No Exit (1999)

Charted: 1 82

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"Maria" was written by Blondie keyboard player Jimmy Destri, who when asked what it was about, replied: "Desire. Teenage desire because I have a teenage daughter and she's pretty beautiful and I watch all these boys gawk at her. I put myself in their shoes thinking about what I used to do with girls back then. I wasn't a very forward guy at all, I was like from afar and I'd go home and write a poem about her - I was really a sad little bastard. It sounds cute but you don't get any attention that way. So 'Maria' is about desire and the whole idea of using the Ave Maria thing is a way of saying she's on a pedestal, she's almost holy. It's not a religious thing at all, I don't believe in religion really." (from the official Blondie website)
This was Blondie's comeback song - their lead singer Debbie Harry was 53 when it was released. The band re-formed in 1998 for a tour and album after breaking up in 1982. The new version of the band was made up of original members Chris Stein (guitar) and Deborah Harry (vocals) as well as former members Jimmy Destri (keyboards) and Clem Burke (drums) along with two new members. The band was gone for about a generation, which meant there were a lot of new fans who were just discovering Blonde and hearing their earlier hits for the first time.
When "Maria" hit #1 in the UK, it gave Blondie chart-toppers there in three different decades: the '70s, '80s and '90s. Queen also pulled this off with "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Under Pressure" and "Innuendo."
This may seem like a great Karaoke choice, but it's more challenging to sing than many people think. Says Debbie Harry, "It has undone many a Karaoke singer. And me."
The song came together quickly for Destri, starting with a simple guitar idea, even though he wasn't a guitarist. "It began as a sort of shuffle on guitar," he told Classic Rock magazine. "I just started pumping an 'A' chord in a rockabilly beat, over and over."

After shifting a few chords and adding lyrics, Destri recorded the idea into a tape machine. "I had the whole idea for the song fleshed out in 15 minutes."
The "Maria" title isn't based on a real person. Instead, Destri used the name to capture his teenage fantasies while attending Catholic school. He described the environment as one of "sexual repression causing incredible desire among a school full of boys," which fed into the song's romantic longing.

Comments: 14

Harald Gunnes from NorwayNo it was not. The song Maria was writhen long before of Crissie Hynde, who is a friend of Debbie Harry, and gave it to her, when blondie and debbie was totally on the bottom and was totally down "there."
K The Bob from UsaEverywhere I look on the Internet I find what I believe are incorrect lyrics for this song. I am 100% that Harry is singing "Regina" not "Latina." Also, she is singing "candlelight" not "candle lights." Candlelight is slang for candle power--an old and now obscure term for illumination brightness; somewhat, but not exactly like, lumens. It was a common enough term when I was a kid and when the writer, Destri, was a kid. Also, Latina makes no sense at all. Regina is from Latin for queen. I would buy the CD for the liner notes if I knew for sure it had the lyrics included.
So, the whole Internet is wrong and I'm right? In this case I think so.
Eric Kamp from Dallas, TxMy two crushes in the '70's: Debbie Harry and Stevie Nicks. Their talent and beauty truly had lasting appeal!
Leo Z from BrazilAm I crazy or the line “I’ve seen this thing before…”
Should be “…in my best friend DAN the boy next door”?
Her best friend is DAN and he lives next door.
Joe from Sheffield, UkWhat a tune! Takes me straight back to 1999 and being 16 at a school disco.

Just had my heart broken for the first real time as my best friend was getting off with the guy I really liked. This was on at the time as I looked around the room and felt utterly gutted.

Haha, seems silly now looking back, but in my mind's eye, whenever this song comes on I'm taken straight back to that moment. Strange the power of music to recall memories.
Chris from Germany One of their best songs ever

and a huge hit on the worldwide charts
peaked at #3 on the German Charts but was the 11th best selling single that year
John# from Melbourne, AustraliaWhen the song reached No. 1 in the UK in February 1999, Debbie Harry, who was then 53 & 255 days old and became the oldest female singer to achieve that feat. The previous record was held by Cher the week before with the song 'Believe.'
Mjn Seifer from Not Listed For Personal Reason, EnglandRe My last comment: I got the wrong song, I meant to put it in "Heart of Glass" I don't know how it got here!

I love this song too though, I have opinions of the vid though as I haven't seen it.
Mjn Seifer from Not Listed For Personal Reason, EnglandI love this song! The music video is a TINY bit "look at me!", but not as much as a lot of other vids out there.
Joanne from Virginia Beach, VaThis is one of the best Blondie tunes of them all. Excellent product!
Darren from Hull, EnglandWith this song Debbie Harry became the oldest female to have a UK number 1 hit single. As mentioned, she was 53 when this hit the top.
Dave from Cardiff, WalesStrictly speaking, it's incorrect that Blondie were the first act have No.1 UK hits in the 70s, 80s and 90s - Cliff Richard has had a UK No.1 in every decade since the 50s (apart from the 2000s, but I'm sure he'll achieve that feat eventually)
David from Waco, TxI thought this was a great "Blondie" song. I had really missed them
Pete from Nowra, Australiathis particular song was used in an episode of The Bold N the Beautiful, models were parading to the song on the catwalk

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