Debbie Gibson

Electric Youth     

Promoted as a kind of singer/songwriter child prodigy, Debbie released some fine dance/pop gems from her first two albums for Atlantic Records. Her wholesome image helped her sell millions of albums. Her biggest US hit came from her second album, Electric Youth. The ballad Lost In Your Eyes peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, although it didn't fare as well in the UK. 

The higher they rise...

A new decade called for a sleek new image and a more sophisticated sound. Debbie's next CD Anything Is Possible was an unfortunate attempt to mix two albums on one CD, the first half is dance and the second is comprised of ballads. Sadly the material was pretty poor, and it failed to yield a big hit anywhere. There was a great radio mix of Anything Is Possible by PWL for the UK, but it didn't help gain any interest in the album, it was a massive flop. The next single One Step Ahead was only made even more unbearable when it was remixed by Jellybean Benitez a few months later.

Bargain bucket...

She next appeared in 1993 with a sexy new look, and this time with an excellent album in the shape of Body Mind & Soul. However the ludicrous lead single Shock Ya Mama killed the album stone dead. As if it weren't hard enough for 80's pop princesses to grow up, Debbie had to sing lines like:

"While she's serving dinner, I'll be serving time"

And expect people to take it seriously! It was a big shame because there are some brilliant tracks on the album like Free Me and Losin' Myself which was a US single, mixed by Masters At Work. It's sexy but sophisticated and classy at the same time. Kisses 4 One is another pop gem! 

In 1994 she released a single with ex Australian soap star Craig McLachlan, You're The One That I Want' from the West End production of Grease. It was a Top 20 hit here in the UK in 1994. Her next album, Think With Your Heart was aimed squarely at the US adult contemporary market and was filled with ballads. I can't be the only one that thinks Debbie's upbeat material is far more worthwhile. Needless to say it was the final nail in the coffin and her final album for a major label. A greatest hits followed.

Independence

Debbie continued to record as Deborah Gibson and put out her next CD entitled Deborah on her own label. The album is quite good with a mix of mid tempos and ballads for the most part. There is a tragic dance remake of Only In My Dreams with Junior Vasquez tacked on the end of some editions, along with a remix of the song Only Words. I think they were both singles.

Shock Your Mama (Music Video)

Mind your own business...

In 2001 Deborah released another album, M.Y.O.B., which was a hark back to her earlier recordings. A fabulous mixture of upbeat contemporary pop and some nice mid-tempos and ballads. It was her best effort for a very long time. The singles What You Want, an R&B tinged track produced by Tony Moran and Your Secret which was remixed by Mike Rizzo are just excellent and really should've re-launched her career. A Broadway inspired album, Colored Lights followed in 2003. That year also saw her move into the realm of reality TV when she was a judge on American Juniors, an American idol spin off.

Deborah finally shed her wholesome image and her clothes when she posed for Playboy in 2005, although she didn't flash her muff like Tiffany did. A cash-in single, Naked was released but nobody cared. She has recently appeared on Skating with Celebrities and released a single with Jordan Knight which was a US Top 30 Hot Adult Contemporary hit.

- Jamie

Electric Youth (1989)

What You Want (2000)