The best comeback song of all time. Blondie was on Hiatus from 1982 to 1999, when they returned with this song, smooth as silk and cool as air.
It was written by keyboardist Jimmy Destri, who was not a main song-writer in the band. Interestingly he also wrote the other of my favorite Blondie songs, Atomic.
The song captures the intense idealizing attraction you could feel as a teenage boy. Your heart beats like a subway train.
The song is all about the C♯5 high note chorus:
Maria, you've gotta see her
Go insane and out of your mind
Regina, Ave Maria
A million and one candlelights
Debbie Harry: "It has undone many a Karaoke singer. And me."
Oddly internet lyrics has it everywhere as “Latina, Ave Maria”, which doesn’t make much sense. Anyway it is clear from the live version that she sings “Regina” (latin for queen). “Candlelights” is an old expression that is a measure of brightness, and saying “a million candlelights” is a way to describe how luminous she is.
Regrettably, the guitar solo at 3:06 is not very good. One could suspect guitarist and head song writer Chris Stein of not giving his best effort.
In 1999, with Believe, Cher became the oldest female singer ever to have a number 1 hit at 53. Then one week later, Debbie Harris beat it with Maria, at 54. Regina.