Charlene

Charlene, born Charlene Marilynn Duncan, is an American singer best remembered for the 1982 ballad «I've Never Been to Me», a song about a woman reflecting on a life of freedom and glamour that left her feeling unfulfilled. Originally recorded in the mid-1970s, the track was reissued years later after a Florida radio DJ began playing it, and it unexpectedly became an international hit, reaching number one in several countries and the US top ten.

Her style sits in the easy-listening and soft pop tradition of the era, built around lush orchestration and a confessional, spoken-word bridge that became the song's most recognizable element. Beyond her signature hit, she recorded other singles such as «It Ain't Easy Comin' Down» and «Used to Be», a duet with Stevie Wonder.

Charlene's career is largely defined by the singular success of one song, which has since become a camp and pop-culture touchstone, referenced and parodied in film and television for its earnest, over-the-top delivery.