'Keep On Movin' is one of the best boyband songs ever <3 deservingly top 10 for you!

8. Blondie - Maria

Rank: 9/10

Reason: Of all the acts to score a No.1 single in 1999, perhaps the most unexpected was Blondie. Formed in New York in the mid 1970s, Debbie Harry and her band peaked in the UK in 1979 and 1980 when they scored five chart toppers, all classics - Heart Of Glass, Sunday Girl, Atomic, Call Me and The Tide Is High. Rapture was their final top five hit of that imperial phase, in 1981, and then iconic frontwoman Debbie Harry went solo, scoring several hits under that name, as well as under the more formal Deborah Harry. I Want That Man was my favourite from her solo career, one of the best songs of 1989 and a strong top 15 hit right at the end of the decade.

Come the end of the 90s and Blondie reformed after a 15 year break, with the first new material being the 1999 album No Exit. Maria was the lead single from that album and retained some of their early new wave sound but was also more of a power pop/rock single in the Belinda Carlisle mould, or similar to When You're Gone by Bryan Adams and Melanie C, which was still hanging around when Maria was released.

Debbie Harry was 53 - a year older than Cher was when she topped the chart with Believe a few months earlier - but had lost none of her star power or charisma and it was a genuine joy to have them back, especially with such a powerful song, with brooding verses and a massive chorus, while the rest of the band had also clearly lost none of their talent, with great songwriting, production and instrumentation (and even bells, so you could add it to your Christmas playlist if you wish).

Amidst a run of slightly unexpected No.1 singles at the start of the year, Maria went straight to No.1, Blondie's first since 1980 and sixth overall, although it would be their last as follow up single Nothing Is Real But The Girl only made the top 30. But this was a great No.1 to add to their tally, a famous return to the top of the charts after a long absence, and on the radio all the time in 1999. It was also a global hit, reaching the top in Spain, Greece and Poland, and top three in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland and Switzerland, but only reached No.59 in Australia and No.82 in the US.

Peaking at #59 in Australia explains why I'd probably never heard it. I'm familiar with the classics like Call Me, One Way Or Another, The Tide Is High and Heart Of Glass and on first listen whilst Maria isn't as good as those four I mentioned it certainly is a strong song. I quite enjoyed it.

My second favourite UK # 1

3 weeks at # 1

9th place in Year-End chart

Edited 19 hours ago19 hr by Last Dreamer

What an incredibly strong top 7 songs you have left @gooddelta! Genuinely can't call which way you'll go, though I do have my preferences.

I agree with those saying 'Keep On Movin' is one of the best boyband songs, so I'm happy it's in your top 10! It was great to hear it again at the weekend as part of 5ive's medley performance during the Strictly Come Dancing final. I first came across the song as a kid when I had to do a cheerleading routine to it as part of an assembly! This was the same 'Going for Goals' one that also featured 'That's My Goal' and 'Three Lions '98'. I'm pretty sure that is on video somewhere good memories and such an uplifting, infectious pop song.

Blondie are one of my favourite bands ❤️ I'd say the majority of my love is for their first four albums but 'Maria' was a strong comeback song and the added #1 status is a great chart story. Love that they managed chart toppers in the '70s, '80s and '90s <3 it's interesting that they just about snuck into two of those decades, in 1979 and 1999, meanwhile quickly ticking off the eighties during 1980

"Maria" is great. I have ranked it slightly higher. What a comeback from Blondie.

Here are my places 10 to 8, which were all already introduced:

10 Lou Bega - Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of ...) 8.5/10

09 Shanks & Bigfoot - Sweet Like Chocolate 8.5/10

08 Robbie Williams - She's The One 9/10

From my Top 7, 4 are in common with Gooddelta 😉

Edited 16 hours ago16 hr by DaTilt

'Maria' ❤️ what a comeback from Blondie. Would be in my top 5 I'd say!

I like all 3 records in your Top 10 so far. Armand Van Helden is possibly my favourite of the year. I did find the superstar DJ thing a bit cringe but it was undeniably good music.

Remember hearing the Five record for the first time on the radio in my car. Whilst other songs of theirs is more students union guilty pleasure material this is a genuinely good song.

Blondie were quite unusual in having a comeback record that's up there with the records they did in their prime. Very few musicians manage to do that.