Do you remember where you were and whom you were with when that number became important to you?
I do.
The group 'Tommy Tutone' changed a generation and influence others that have followed with the slightly off center lyrics penned by Alex Call and Jim Keller. One wonders just what inspired their musing and why it became a phenomenon? It's just a phone number, right?
Years after the success from the song, Alex Call claimed there was neither a "Jenny" nor an actual phone number associated with the rambling words that everyone seemed to know. That kind of made me sad because as I sang the words, I truly pictured some beautiful girl who would answer her phone for the wounded young man who so desperately sang her telephone number seeking her help and aid in his troubled life. Now, I am left with the sad image that he called into the void and received only static for his troubles.
But the singers claimed it WAS a real girl and they had posted her phone number on the bathroom wall as a joke and made hay with the results for years laughing at what they had done. Kinda makes me wonder if Elmo La Teca (of the SLC Maverick gas station bathroom stall fame) ever found Jenny's number and what the results might have been?
That number has created problems in the intervening years for those who have actually HAD it as their phone number. Although no area code is provided and we know that the song originated long before 10-digit dialing became the norm in some locations, one can only imagine the puzzling commentary of the folks on the other end of the line when their version of 867-5309 was dialed and some persistent callers demanded to speak to "Jenny".
Worse yet might have been the actual unsuspecting "Jenny" who haplessly answered from HER real area code and phone number who wondered why she was suddenly getting all of these phone calls from half-drunken love starved barflies that sought her attention and advice just before closing time.
Because I care, here's a video of a live performance of the song.
867-5309
Listen to it and remember... then, randomly pick an area code, dial the number and PLEASE ask for Jenny. Then smile and hang up.
