Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)

Album: Best Kept Secret (1983)
Charted: 84 9
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Released at the peak of her career (there was a time when Easton was more popular than Madonna), this quirky Pop song finds Easton singing somewhat obsessively about her lover as she wonders why he doesn't call her from overseas.
  • Note the alternate spelling of "Telephone" in the title. This could indicate that Easton or her lover are in a foreign country where they use this spelling, or maybe they were just trying to be different.
  • This was written by Greg Mathieson and Trevor Veitch. Mathieson also co-wrote "Heaven Knows" for Donna Summer and played on keyboards on this and many other hits, including Summer's version of "MacArthur Park" and "Mickey" by Toni Basil. Veitch also co-wrote Laura Branigan's version of "Gloria."
  • The video was shot in black and white and had a horror theme, with Easton encountering Dracula, Frankenstein's monster and King Kong. As was common in the '80s, the video had little to do with the song. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Michael - San Diego, CA

Comments: 5

  • Seventhmist from 7th HeavenThis was released on the same album as my personal favorite of hers, "Almost Over You."
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyJust a little addition to my post below {Barry - Sauquoit, NY}..:
    Ms. Easton just missed having two more #1 records when both "U Got The Look" with Price {1987} and "The Lover In Me" {1988} peaked at #2...
    Six of her twenty-one charted records with duets; two with Prince, one each with Kenny Rogers, Luis Miguel, Dyango, and Jeffery Osborne.
  • Steve from New YorkOne of my favorite songs growing up. Used to listen to it every morning with a friend of mine before we walked to school. Love Sheena Easton!!!
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 13th 1983, Sheena Easton performed "Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    The very next day on August 14th, 1983 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #67; and on October 23rd, 1983 it peaked at #9 {for 1 week} and spent 18 weeks on the Top 100...
    It also reached #9 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club chart and in Norway...
    Between 1981 and 1991 she had twenty-one Top 100 records; eight made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "Morning Train (9 to 5)" for 2 weeks on April 26th, 1981...
    Ms. Easton, born Sheena Shirley Orr, celebrated her 55th birthday four months ago on April 27th, 2014.
  • Mary from Phoenix, AzThis song has a great beat to it...and I just love the video. I used to be a big fan of Sheena's.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Curt Kirkwood of Meat Puppets

Curt Kirkwood of Meat PuppetsSongwriter Interviews

The (Meat)puppetmaster takes us through songs like "Lake Of Fire" and "Backwater," and talks about performing with Kurt Cobain on MTV Unplugged.

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger

Kelly Keagy of Night RangerSongwriter Interviews

Kelly Keagy of Night Ranger tells the "Sister Christian" story and explains why he started sweating when he saw it in Boogie Nights.

Vince Clarke

Vince ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

An original member of Depeche Mode, Vince went on to form Erasure and Yaz.

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty

Rob Thomas of Matchbox TwentySongwriter Interviews

Rob Thomas on his Social Distance Sessions, co-starring with a camel, and his friendship with Carlos Santana.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?