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Maria (Blondie song)

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"Maria"
Song

"Maria" is a song by the American band Blondie, taken from their 1999 album No Exit. The band's first single release since "War Child" in July 1982, "Maria" marked Blondie's return to the charts after an almost 17 year absence. It reached #1 in the United Kingdom; Blondie's sixth UK chart-topper (and their first since 1980).

Overview and chart success

"Maria" was written by the band's keyboardist Jimmy Destri, who had also penned some of their earlier hits such as "Atomic". A line from the song: "...like a millionaire/walking on imported air", was used in a previous Blondie track, "Walk Like Me" (also written by Destri), from the album Autoamerican (1980).

In the UK, "Maria" was released as a two-CD set, the first containing remixes of the song,[1] and the second containing live versions of "Screaming Skin" (a track from the No Exit album), and their very first hit single "In the Flesh". Both were recorded during Blondie's No Exit Tour.[2] The song gave Blondie their sixth UK #1 (and their first chart-topper in 18 years, after "The Tide Is High" in November 1980). Topping the singles chart in February 1999, the release of "Maria" came exactly 20 years after Blondie's first #1, "Heart of Glass".[3]

"Maria" also topped the charts in Spain, and was a Top 10 hit in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and Switzerland. In the US, however, "Maria" was not a successful hit for the band, stalling at #82 on the Billboard Hot 100, although it did reach #14 on the Adult Top 40 listing.[4]

The song was included on the 2014 compilation album Greatest Hits Deluxe Redux. The compilation was part of a 2-disc set called Blondie 4(0) Ever, which included their tenth studio album, Ghosts of Download, and marked the 40th anniversary of the band's formation.

Music video

The music video for "Maria" was directed by Alan Smithee, and is set in New York City. Parts of New York through night-vision goggles are seen before zooming into an apartment where Blondie are performing. Mysterious dark-clothed individuals are seen spying around different buildings setting up spy equipment. Toward the end of the video, one of the dark-clothed individuals aims a sniper rifle towards lead singer Deborah Harry, and fires a bullet at her. Smashing through a window, a light bulb and the microphone, Harry simply grabs the bullet from the air and examines it as the surveillance systems are switched off.

Release history

All tracks written by Jimmy Destri unless otherwise noted.

UK CD 1

  1. "Maria" (Radio Edit) – 4:09
  2. "Maria" (Soul Solution Remix Radio Edit) – 4:08
  3. "Maria" (Talvin Singh Remix Edit) – 4:39

UK CD 2

  1. "Maria" (Radio Edit) – 4:09
  2. "Screaming Skin" (Live) (Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, Romy Ashby, Leigh Foxx) – 6:05
  3. "In the Flesh" (Live) (Harry, Stein) - 2:56

UK CD 3 (promo only)

  1. "Maria" (Radio Edit) – 4:09
  2. "Maria" (Talvin Singh Rhythmic Remix) – 7:26

UK Cassette

  1. "Maria" (Radio Edit) – 4:09
  2. "Maria" (Soul Solution Remix Radio Edit) – 4:08

US CD

  1. "Maria" (Soul Solution Full Remix) – 9:27
  2. "Maria" (Talvin Singh Remix) – 7:27
  3. "Maria" (Talvin Singh Rhythmic Remix Edit) – 4:39
  4. "Maria" (Album Version) – 4:51

US 12" 1

  1. "Maria" (Soul Solution Full Remix) – 9:27
  2. "Maria" (Soul Solution Bonus Beats)
  3. "Maria" (Talvin Singh Remix) – 7:27
  4. "Maria" (Talvin Singh Rhythmic Remix Edit) – 4:39
  5. "Maria" (Album Version) – 4:51

US 12" 2[5]

  1. "Maria" (Ether Dub)
  2. "Maria" (White Trash Dub)

Mexico CD (promo only)

  1. "Maria" (Radio Edit) – 4:12
  2. "Maria" (Album Version) – 4:51
  3. "Maria" (Soul Solution Radio Edit) – 4:08

Thailand CD (promo only)[6]

  1. "Maria" (Radio Edit) – 4:09
  2. "Maria" (Talvin Singh Rhythmic Remix) – 7:26
  3. "Maria" (Soul Solution Remix Radio Edit) – 4:08
  4. "Maria" (Album Version) – 4:51
  5. Radio Sampler of album "Best Music From Blah Blah Blah" – 7:03

Cover versions and appearances in other media

Charts and certifications

Preceded by UK Singles Chart number-one single
February 7, 1999 – February 13, 1999 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Spain number-one single
February 20, 1999 		Succeeded by

References

  1. ^ "Maria~ England CD #1". Recmod.com. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  2. ^ "Maria~ England CD #2". Recmod.com. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  3. ^ a b "Blondie: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  4. ^ "Blondie - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  5. ^ "Blondie - Maria Dubs (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  6. ^ "Maria~ Thailand CD (Promo)". Recmod.com. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  7. ^ "Welcome to". Levispioneersessions.com. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  8. ^ Another Woman's Life: Film Review - Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 February 2012
  9. ^ "ariaNET The Chart! Top 100 Singles – Week Commencing 29th March 1999". ARIA. Retrieved 2016-03-27.
  10. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  11. ^ "Blondie – Maria" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  12. ^ "Blondie – Maria" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  13. ^ "Blondie – Maria" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  14. ^ "Brazil" (PDF). ABPD. October 6, 2001. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
  15. ^ "Blondie – Maria" (in French). Les classement single.
  16. ^ "Blondie – Maria". Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  17. ^ "Blondie – Maria". Retrieved 18 February 2018.
  18. ^ "Blondie – Maria" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  19. ^ "Blondie – Maria". Top 40 Singles.
  20. ^ "Blondie – Maria" Canciones Top 50.
  21. ^ "Blondie – Maria". Singles Top 100.
  22. ^ "Blondie – Maria". Swiss Singles Chart.
  23. ^ "Blondie Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  24. ^ "Blondie Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
  25. ^ "Swiss year-end chart". swisscharts.com. 1999. Archived from the original on March 1, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ "British single certifications – Blondie – Maria". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Maria in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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