Deborah Ann Gibson, credited as Debbie Gibson (born August 31, 1970, in Brooklyn, New York,[1]) is an American singer-songwriter who was a teen idol in her youth. She appeared repeatedly on the covers of teen magazines such as Tiger Beat. In contrast to the prevalent use of the name "Debbie" in her teen-idol phase, she showed a preference for "Deborah" even then, and her fans had, before the release of Naked, signalled a departure from that image by using this name to refer to her.
Debbie Gibson | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Brooklyn, New York |
| Years active | 1987–present |
Early life
Gibson was born in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up living in the Long Island suburb of Merrick, New York.
At the age of five, she and her sisters began performing in a community theater, and she wrote her first song. When she was eight, she sang at the children's chorus in the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, where she met Plácido Domingo and other such singers. When she was 12, Gibson was already performing in Broadway, but as an actress.
Career
When Gibson turned 16, she was signed to a recording contract by Atlantic Records, and soon she became the youngest person ever to write, record and produce a number 1 hit, with her single Foolish Beat. Three other singles from her debut LP Out Of The Blue also cracked the Top 5 of the Billboard Top 100; Only in My Dreams, Out Of The Blue, and Shake Your Love.
While Britney Spears was still in diapers Deborah was the first to have a single "Lost In Your Eyes" and her second album "Electric Youth" chart #1 simultaneously.
By the time Out Of The Blue was established as a hit album, she and Tiffany, with her remake of I Think We're Alone Now, fought for the top position as teen queen of the United States. She also had considerable success in the UK, as well as Japan and southeast Asia with stadium tours.
Anything Is Possible
After her popularity as a pop singer waned, she returned to Broadway in 1992, playing Eponine in Les Misérables. She then went to London, where she starred in the lead role as Sandra Dee in the West End (UK equivalent of Broadway) production of Grease. The single of You're the One That I Want, co-sung with Craig McLachlan, from the Original Cast Recording reached #13 on the UK charts in 1993.
On returning to the States, she appeared in the Broadway version, but this time she played Rizzo. She played Fanny Brice in the Funny Girl touring production. She participated in the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast (as Belle), and Gypsy at The Papermill Playhouse (as Gypsy Rose Lee). She participated in a national tour with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, where she played the part of The Narrator, and as Cinderella in the national tour of the play of the same name. In October 2002, she began work in the play Chicago in Boston. In 2003, she played Sally Bowles in the Broadway revival of Cabaret, alongside Neil Patrick Harris as The Emcee.
The Mid 1990s
In 1995, she signed with EMI's SBK Records division and recorded what would be her only album for the label, Think With Your Heart. This album is an Adult Contemporary heavy album consisting of piano ballads and keyboard ballads. Only a pair Dance Pop songs, Dontcha Want Me Now and Too Fancy serve as the faster moments on the album. The album's producer, Niko Bolas (usually Neil Young's co-producer), was also producing the reunion album for veteran punk band The Circle Jerks, and invited Gibson to a recording session for that band's album. She subsequently ended up singing background vocals on the song I Wanna Destroy You as well as appearing at and participating in the Circle Jerks' performance at legendary punk venue CBGB's, wearing one of the band's t-shirts and sharing a microphone with frontman Keith Morris. This footage has been uploaded to youtube.com.
In With Deborah, Out With Debbie
After parting company with EMI, Gibson formed her own record label to release her original material. Her sixth album, Deborah, marked her full return to dance-pop albeit with a more mature approach. Deborah includes the lead single Only Words. Only Words (Dance Edit) became a Top 40 Hot Dance Music/Club Play hit. The album's other single is the ballad, Naturally. Deborah received rave reviews from fans and remains one of her most respected works. During this time, she started referring to herself only as Deborah Gibson, not Debbie as a sign of maturity, as she was always known to her family, friends, and in writing credits of all of her self-penned hits. As a sign of respect, her fans soon started to refer to her as Deborah.
In 2001, Deborah released her seventh album on her record label, Golden Egg, titled, M.Y.O.B. It features the three singles, the sensual pop song, What You Want, the Latin infused Dance-pop song, Your Secret and the bass heavy M.Y.O.B. Highlights from the album include the sultry Latin favoured Smooth Jazz song, In Blue, her vintage style ballad, Wishing You Were Here, Jaded, and a remix of M.Y.O.B.
In the summer of 2003, she was a judge on the kids show American Juniors.
In 2005, Gibson co-wrote and recorded a song titled Someone You Love with the O'Neill Brothers. With the O'Neill Brothers, Gibson also released an updated, acoustic version of her former #1 hit Lost In Your Eyes.
Controversially for some of her fans who were more comfortable with her earlier wholesome image, the March 2005 issue of Playboy featured a nude pictorial with Gibson, the publication of which also coincided with the release of her single, Naked.
Long Awaited Success: 2006 and Beyond
In January 2006, she joined the cast of Skating with Celebrities on FOX, partnered with former Canadian World Champion figure skater Kurt Browning. She was voted out in the third episode. She has since had an unexpected surge in popularity, especially with the gay male and Club/Dance communities.
Her single Your Secret came back from its dormant state and became popular on some radio stations, none more than Super 91.7 WMPH in Wilmington, DE. Your Secret has been on their request show, Total Control Radio for over 4 months. Your Secret hit #1 on its third week on that station's chart on the last week of May 2006. It charted along with a few of her other singles M.Y.O.B. and Only Words (Dance Edit) which is a Eurodance mix of the song. They all have become recurrent hits on the station since.
Her popularity in this niche market is growing. She tours and has become a popular attraction at Gay Pride concerts. Her 2006 single, Say Goodbye featuring dance-pop artist, Jordan Knight, has made a good impression on the Adult Contemporary and Hot AC radio stations becoming the third-most added new single on the format during summer 2006. It debuted at #35 on the AC chart and has climbed to #30 on at two weeks standing August 2006.
Discography
Her discography includes:
Out of the Blue (1987) (BB 200) #7 US, #26 UK
Singles released:
- "Only in My Dreams" (BB Hot 100) #4 US, #11 UK
- "Shake Your Love" (BB Hot 100) #4 US, #7 UK
- "Out Of The Blue" (BB Hot 100) #3 US, #19 UK
- "Foolish Beat" (BB Hot 100) #1 US, #9 UK
- "Staying Together" (BB Hot 100) #21 US
Electric Youth (1989) (BB 200) #1 (5 weeks) US, #8 UK
Singles released:
- "Lost In Your Eyes" (BB Hot 100) #1 US, #34 UK
- "Electric Youth" (BB Hot 100) #11 US, #14 UK
- "No More Rhyme" (BB Hot 100) #17 US
- "We Could Be Together" (BB Hot 100) #71 US; #22 UK
Anything Is Possible (1990) (BB 200)#41 US , #69 UK
Singles released:
- "Anything Is Possible" (BB Hot 100) #26 US
- "One Hand, One Heart" (BB Hot 100) (Did not chart).
- "One Step Ahead" (BB Hot 100)(Did not chart).
- "This So-Called Miracle" (BB Hot 100) (Did not chart).
Body, Mind, Soul (1993) #109 US
Singles released:
- "Losin' Myself" (BB Hot 100) #86 US
- "Shock Your Mama" #74 UK
- "Free Me" (Japan release only)
- "How Can This Be" (Japan release only)
Grease: The Original London Cast Recording (1993) UK
Singles released:
- "You're the One That I Want" (1993, #13 UK)
Think With Your Heart (1995)
Singles released:
- "For Better Or Worse" (Received moderate radio airplay. Did not chart).
- "Didn't Have The Heart" (promo).
Deborah (1997)
Singles released:
- "Only Words" (#38 U.S. Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.)
- "Moonchild" (Japan release only)
- "Only In My Dreams 1998" (Hot Dance Music/Club Play) (Did not chart).
- "Naturally" (Japan release only)
M.Y.O.B. (2001)
Singles released:
- "What You Want" (Charted in the Top 20 and/or Top 40 on some U.S. radio stations. Received limited airplay exposure. It did not chart elsewhere.)
- "M.Y.O.B." (Peaked in the Top 5 and/or the Top 20 on some U.S. radio station airplay chart. Received limited airplay exposure). (Did not chart).
- "Your Secret" (Peaked at #1 and/or the Top 10 on some U.S. radio stations. Received limited airplay. It didn't chart elsewhere).
Colored Lights: The Broadway Album (2004) (Did not chart).
- "Say Goodbye" (2006) (Adult Contemporary) #30 2 weeks and counting'
Trivia
- Mojo Nixon wrote a song called "Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant With My Two-Headed Love Child."[2]
- She is the subject of a song titled "Make Believe," written and sung by drummer David Lovering from The Pixies.
- She was a cheerleader in high school.
- As a child, she was friends with Ricki Lake.
- On the call sheets of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Natalie Portman was listed as "Debbie Gibson."
- Enjoys painting, and has sold works on ebay.
- Owns Liberace's mirrored piano, outbid Sir Elton John for it.
- She was born just eight days after the late River Phoenix, in the same month of the same year.
References
- ^ Biography at official site of Deborah Gibson
- ^ "Mojo Nixon : Bio". Mtv.com. MTV.