Here goes: I had a little radio / cassette player boombox in my room growing up in the suburban Central Valley of California. I tuned in to the local pop radio station all the time, especially on weekends during Casey Kasem's American Top 40 countdown, my index finger on alert to hit record whenever one of my faves came on. (Remember the days of radio dubbing, GenXers?) 

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#music #80sMusic #NewMusic #synthpop #electropop #altpop #alternativeMusic #GenX #80sKids

This one hit the top of the chart in 1986, and it got my attention. Within my little musical universe, populated mainly by popstar singers with big 80s hair, this song came out of nowhere and opened up a whole new world of imagination for me. (Isn't music magic like that?) I was totally intrigued & compelled by it, and I managed to get a decent radio dub of it so I could listen to it whenever I wanted

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#music #80sMusic #NewMusic #synthpop #electropop #altpop #alternativeMusic #GenX #80sKids

The place I went to listen to this song — in particular — was inside the small walk-in closet in my bedroom, hunched over my boombox on the floor, lights off. From that dark closet I was transported to a new and foreign world for which I had no reference point — is it raining there? what is this person's accent? someone is walking ... who is it? where are they going? 

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#music #80sMusic #NewMusic #synthpop #electropop #altpop #alternativeMusic #GenX #80sKids

I closed my eyes and tried to imagine the scene. I didn't know at all what the song was about, what the lyrics meant; but what I did know is that it sounded urgent, kind of forbidden, and sexy. What did sexy mean to this 12-year-old? Who knows, but I imagine it explains my impulse to listen inside the closet.

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#music #80sMusic #NewMusic #synthpop #electropop #altpop #alternativeMusic #GenX #80sKids

So that's the story. Do you have any guesses?

@hilljam and I had so much fun making this one — it really made an impact on both of us growing up. I can't wait for you to hear it. Get your radio dubbing fingers ready for Friday!

6/6

#music #80sMusic #NewMusic #synthpop #electropop #altpop #alternativeMusic #GenX #80sKids

@shannoncurtis @hilljam I lived on Earth equivalent of moisture farm orbiting binary star system, and still had the Casey Kasem radio dubbing finger closet experience, that guy's syndication really got around.

My 1986 closet song was Banarama "Venus", but I guess you are singing "West End Girls".

@greywarbler @hilljam I love that you had the same kind of experience as I did!! 🥰 and your guess is very interesting indeed!! 🤓🤓🤓

@shannoncurtis @greywarbler @hilljam
I was rooting for Sledgehammer before reading your clues story, but that’s not the right mood. I think @greywarbler got it right, but Simply Red Holding Back the Years might also be a plausible fit.

@mcmullin @greywarbler @hilljam Sledgehammer: what a great song!!

@mcmullin @shannoncurtis @greywarbler

ooohhh, what a fantastic song!! 🙌