What early ‘80s hit inspired thousands of unwanted phone calls?
Remember the days not only before cell phones but before caller ID? It was madness.
If your phone rang and you were home, not only did you definitely answer it, everyone in the house raced to be the first to pick it up. It could literally be anyone calling you for all you know, but you sure as hell weren't going to miss that chance to interact with the outside world.
Now if I get a call I don't recognize, and usually even when I do know who it is, I immediately decline it. Who the crap still wants to actually talk on a phone??
But that's why in the '80s there were simply more songs about calling people. And this one inspired a bunch of unwanted calls — and still does to this day. Which song is it?
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The answer is: 867-5309/Jenny. According to Jim Keller, a Tommy Tutone songwriter, the 1981 song was inspired by an actual Jenny with the phone number 867-5309, and “she thinks I’m a real jerk for writing it.” However, his co-writer Alex Call stated that the name and number were random. In any case, the song has inspired tens of thousands of nuisance calls to homes, schools, and businesses. The number has also been seen as an asset. In 2004 an eBay auction offered 867-5309 with a NY area code, and bidding reached $80,000. Verizon interfered with the sale, stating that a phone number couldn’t be sold unless it was part of a business deal. In 2009 a toll-free version 867-5309 was leased for $25 million by the nutrition company Natrient LLC. At last check, the 800 number was no longer in service. Source
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