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Debbie Gibson Interview
When she was only 16
years old, Debbie Gibson was signed to Atlantic Records. Her first album "Out
Of The Blue" went triple platinum, with four singles - "Only In
My Dreams," "Shake Your Love," "Out of the Blue," and "Foolish
Beat" - going Top 5. "Foolish Beat" went all the way to number
one, making Debbie, at 17, the youngest artist in history to write, produce,
and perform a number one single.
"Electric Youth," Debbie's second album, went all the way to number
one on the charts, producing two gold singles - "Electric Youth" and "Lost
In Your Eyes."
Debbie Gibson's third album "Anything Is Possible" (Atlantic Records)
is out, and Debbie has taken to the road in support of that album. Debbie
will perform, (as part of her "One Step Ahead" World Tour) here
in Syracuse, at the Landmark Theatre on Saturday, August 10.
We spoke with Debbie Gibson about her musical career to date.
Q. Debbie, tell me a little about this tour you're on. Where will it
take you? How long does it last?
A. O.K. Well, we've just gotten back from doing six weeks overseas. I
was in Japan and Southeast Asia. This part of the tour will be six weeks
in the U.S.
Q. I would think it's a rather strange time to be out on the road. Ticket
sales are off, for everybody, including the headliners.
A. Yeah, it's a weird time for the economy, and touring.
Q. Your tour is going fine then?
A. It's going fine. So far, everything’s been sold out, at this
point. I just got a call to add another show in Atlantic City. So, it's
going pretty good for me. But, I'm playing smaller venues, than a lot
of people. I think a lot of people are trying to go into arenas right
now and it's not working out, because like you said, it's a real strange
time for touring. I want to be out on the road, so I'm just gonna do,
whatever I can do.
Q. Are you the only one in the family in show biz?
A. Well, in the one stage part. My two older sisters are working with
my mom in the management company, and the music publishing co. My youngest
sister Denise wants to be a fashion designer. Actually, she just came
out today. She's gonna start helping with wardrobe on the tour. So,
they're more into the behind-the-scenes stuff. That's just what they
chose to do.
Q. When you get right down to it, your success or failure, rests squarely
on your shoulders. Would you ever like to be part of a group?
A. No. I don't think I ever could be part of a group. I could be, in
terms of theatre, and film, but when it comes to my music I need to be
able to do it the way I want to do it. It's definitely a bigger responsibility
being a solo artist, because I always look at groups and say wow, they
divide up the interviews, and stuff like that, and my thing is my thing.
The only way I would ever have been part of a group is with my sisters.
We used to sing together. Sometimes I kid around with my mom and say,
we could've been like Wilson-Phillips, but they just didn't want to do
that. But, I never felt enough of a strong musical bond with anyone to
even have considered starting a group.
Q. You were still in high school, when you had a number one record in
the charts. Your teachers must've been looking at you a little funny,
because you're in their classroom.
A. Yeah, some of them went out of their way to make life difficult for
me.
Q. How did they do that?
A. How they did that was, I never wanted to get a tutor. I always wanted
to stay in regular school. I was very used to juggling school work
and a career, 'cause I'd been doing it forever. I would go to them
early, and say can I have the work for the next week. And they'd say,
O.K. but there's a test on Friday, on this, this and this. So, I would
take my work home, read the chapters, do it all. I would come in on
Friday and I'd take the test, and I would get, let's say a 90. But
then, they would say, it's great that you got a 90, but you have to
take another test on all the things you missed in classroom discussions
this week. I said, wait a minute, so you're telling me I have to do
more, work than everybody else?
Q. The more success you have, of course, more is expected of you.
A. Right.
Q. Is it hard to live up to that? Every record has to be as big, if
not bigger than the next one.
A. Well, I don't think of it that way. I don't put that kind of pressure
on myself. For me, every record has to be a personal growth. If I start
writing songs, and I feel I'm taking steps backwards, instead of forward,
then I'd feel really depressed. Everytime I write, I feel my writing
gets stronger,'" so it's really more of a personal thing , for me.
And, it's the same thing with live shows. My whole goal when I'm on tour,
is to make every show better than the last.
© Gary James All Rights Reserved
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