Sheena Easton - "Modern Girl"

(Debuted May 9, 1981, Peaked #18, 18 Weeks on the Chart)

"Modern Girl" had two different chart histories. In the U.K., it was Sheena Easton's first single and was issued as she was set to appear on the BBC program The Big Time. The show eventually helped push the single (as well as her followup single "9 to 5") into the Top 5. In the U.S., it was the followup single, as "9 to 5" -- retitled "Morning Train (9 to 5)" in the states to avoid confusion with Dolly Parton's hit -- was Easton's first Stateside hit.

"Modern Girl" is something of an updated version of a feminist anthem like "I Am Woman." This time, however, she's not saying she's as good or can do anything better; instead, she's living life on her own terms and doing her own thing. If she wants to just sit around her house after a long day at work and watching TV, that's okay. It's exactly what men have been doing for years.

Sheena Easton - "Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)"

(Debuted August 20, 1983, Peaked #9, 21 Weeks on the Chart)  

One of the jobs I've held over the years was a technician for a broadband company. My duties involved installation and repair of customer telephone lines. Yes, I was a telephone man. As a result, songs about phones catch my ear, whether I actually like them or not: Skyy's "Call Me" was already featured in this blog, New Edition's "Mr. Telephone Man" could have been one of my service calls, Tommy Tutone's "867-5309 (Jenny)" was another one and several ELO songs through the years addressed telephone lines.

This song by Sheena Easton really isn't about a telephone, though, even while it uses the device in its actions. The "long distance" refers to a personal connection rather than an electronic one. While the lyrics imply there's an ocean keeping them apart ("Operator, give me Transatlantic"), the words may simply be a metaphor for the gulf between two lovers who are about to split. In any case, she's calling and he isn't responding. Whether the two are on separate continents or just a few blocks apart, that's never a good thing.

The YouTube video below comes from the Solid Gold TV show. As usual, I'm enough of a sucker to show this one instead of a more official promo video from the era.