The lyric "like a millionaire / walking on imported air" was actually recycled from an earlier Blondie track, "Walk Like Me," from their 1980 album Autoamerican . Chart-Breaking Success
Destri penned the lyrics based on his fantasies while attending Catholic school, describing a feeling of "sexual repression causing incredible desire". Maria - Blondie
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 lyric "like a millionaire / walking on
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. The name and the "Ave Maria" motif were
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.