It was 1985. The neon lights of the New York club scene were flickering, and freestyle music—that jittery, emotional, synth-heavy sound—was officially taking over the world. Right at the center of it was Shannon Brenda Greene. Everyone knew her from the massive, world-altering success of "Let the Music Play," but the real test was what came next. Could she do it again? When Do You Wanna Get Away dropped, it didn't just answer that question; it cemented her as the definitive voice of a genre that was still figuring out its own name.
Honestly, follow-up albums are usually a nightmare for artists. You’ve got the "sophomore slump" lurking around the corner, and the pressure to replicate a global smash is basically enough to make anyone want to actually "get away." But Shannon, working again with producers Chris Barbosa and Mark Liggett, managed to capture lightning in a bottle for the second time.
The Sound of an Era: Breaking Down Do You Wanna Get Away
When you listen to the title track today, the first thing that hits you is that unmistakable LinnDrum beat. It’s crisp. It’s aggressive. It has that "icy" electronic whip that Barbosa became famous for. Unlike the disco that preceded it, Do You Wanna Get Away felt industrial yet soulful. It was "high energy" music that didn't sacrifice the groove.
The song was written by Barbosa and Anne Godwin. It wasn't just a random dance track; it was a curated escape. The lyrics talk about needing a "private space" and finding a "holiday" within a lover’s arms. It resonated with everyone working a 9-to-5 who just wanted to lose themselves under a strobe light for four minutes.
It’s easy to forget how much of a technical powerhouse this record was. We’re talking about an era where MIDI was still relatively new and gear like the Roland TB-303 and JX-3P were defining the textures of the street. Barbosa used his "Fire and Ice" formula—street-heavy bass and percussion (the fire) mixed with shimmering pop melodies (the ice). It worked. The single shot straight to number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, marking Shannon's third time at the top in less than two years. That’s a run most modern pop stars would kill for.
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Not Just a One-Note Album
A lot of people think of Shannon as a singles artist, but the full Do You Wanna Get Away album has some wild choices on it.
Take her cover of Foreigner’s "Urgent." On paper, a freestyle queen covering a hard rock staple sounds like a disaster. In reality? It’s a standout. She turned the guitar-heavy original into a sleek, synth-pop odyssey that proved her voice could handle more than just "club" tracks.
Then there’s "Stronger Together," which leaned into a more melodic, almost R&B-inflected sound. The album showcased a singer who was graduating from the "dance-pop" label and becoming a versatile artist.
The Chart Stats and Why They Matter
Let's look at the numbers because they tell a story of a shifting industry.
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- Dance Charts: The single hit #1.
- Billboard Hot 100: It peaked at #49, showing it had real crossover appeal beyond the clubs.
- R&B Charts: It reached #13.
Why does this matter? Because in 1985, the lines between "Black music," "Dance music," and "Pop" were heavily policed by radio programmers. Shannon was one of the few artists who could bridge those gaps effortlessly. She was a jazz-trained vocalist from York College who ended up being the face of the Latin-influenced freestyle movement.
The Technical Wizardry of Liggett and Barbosa
If you’re a gear head or a producer, this era is like the Holy Grail. The production on Do You Wanna Get Away featured mixing by the legendary Lord-Alge brothers (Tom and Chris). If those names sound familiar, it's because they went on to mix basically every major rock and pop record of the next 30 years.
They brought a "big" sound to the record. The drums didn't just sit in the background; they felt like they were punching you in the chest. This was essential for the song to work in massive clubs like The Funhouse in NYC.
Why the Song Still Matters in 2026
Freestyle never really died; it just went underground and then re-emerged in the DNA of modern electronic music. You can hear the echoes of Do You Wanna Get Away in everything from house music to the "synthwave" revival.
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The track represents a moment of pure optimism. It’s about the transformative power of a night out. In a world that feels increasingly heavy, that "wanna get away" sentiment hasn't aged a day. It’s the ultimate "Friday at 5:00 PM" anthem.
Most people associate Shannon strictly with "Let the Music Play," and sure, that's the classic. But Do You Wanna Get Away is the sophisticated older sister. It's tighter, the production is more polished, and Shannon's vocal performance is arguably more confident. She wasn't just a girl in the studio anymore; she was a star.
How to Revisit the Shannon Catalog Today
If you’re looking to dive back into this era, don't just stick to the radio edits. The 12-inch "Vocal/Long Version" is where the magic really happens. It gives the percussion room to breathe and lets those iconic synth stabs build the tension properly.
- Find the 12-inch Dub Mix: This version strips away most of the vocals and lets the Barbosa production shine. It’s a masterclass in 80s drum programming.
- Listen for the "Urgent" cover: It’s a great example of how 80s artists were experimenting with genre-blending long before "collabs" were a marketing requirement.
- Check out the 2000s remixes: Producers like Junior Vasquez and Hex Hector eventually revisited Shannon’s work, proving that her vocals are essentially "remix-proof"—they work in any decade.
The next time you're feeling burnt out and need a mental reset, put on Do You Wanna Get Away. Turn it up loud enough that you can't hear your phone notifications. It’s the best four-minute vacation you can take without leaving your house.