Destri penned the lyrics based on his fantasies while attending Catholic school, describing a feeling of "sexual repression causing incredible desire".
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