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Original name of the Sony Walkman
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that i can actually answer! there was an entire movement/subculture thing anchored to the word "freestyle" in the late 70's-early 80's. think rollerblading, skateboarding, downhill skiing, extreme sport stuff, and pastel overalls, headbands and sunglasses:
there was even a band named freestyle. my mum was really into them as a teen.
also, sony sweden insisted. they were adamant that "people wouldn't get it" if the thing was called a walkman. and they were right; the word freestyle is still in common use, while "walkman" never really took off.
Swedes love freestyle skateboarding. 2 in particular might be responsible for the sport still existing in Europe at all, Stefan Akesson and Denis Sopovic.
oh wow, stefanie is even from the same area as me and i had no idea
I have to admit a freestyler sounds better than a stowaway and a sound-about for sure. Might even beat Walkman if I never heard of either words and could make a decision unbiased. Do you also know anything about Australia's reason?
i have no idea :/ a while back i read an interview with the guy at sony sweden who made the decision, but for australia there is literally no info. i sincerely doubt it was a coordinated effort, since it went on sale in like 1979.
Maybe they saw a vhs of Swedish freestylers and said we want that too.