Maria | - Blondie

The name and the "Ave Maria" motif were used to place the subject on a pedestal, making her seem almost holy or unattainable, though the song itself is not religious.

While many listeners assume the song is about a specific woman, songwriter and keyboardist wrote it as a reflection on "teenage desire".

"Maria" wasn't just a comeback; it was a record-breaking moment for lead singer . Maria - Blondie

Directed by , the music video features the band performing in an apartment while mysterious figures set up surveillance equipment outside. In a surreal climax, a bullet is fired through a window toward Debbie Harry, who calmly plucks it from the air. Musically, the track returned the band to their new wave roots, blending "street-smart" rock with a pop intelligence that defined their trademark sound.

At 53 years and 227 days old, Harry entered the Guinness World Records as the oldest female singer to reach number one on the UK charts at that time. The name and the "Ave Maria" motif were

The song hit number one in 14 countries, including Greece and Spain, though it only reached number 82 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The success of "Maria" made Blondie the first American band to have UK number-one singles in three different decades: the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Music Video & Style Directed by , the music video features the

On February 7, 1999, made a triumphant return to the top of the charts with "Maria," their first single after a 17-year hiatus. Released as the lead single from their seventh studio album, No Exit , the track became their sixth number-one hit in the UK—exactly 20 years after their first, "Heart of Glass". The Story Behind the Song