Debbie Gibson - Out Of The Blue

Released in 1987

For some reason there are many today that try to distance themselves from Debbie Gibson, attempting to suppress the fact they ever enjoyed her work during their youth. Perhaps it's because Gibson perfectly represented the 80's flair and style with her big hair, ripped jeans and glitzy style. Or perhaps it's because it's no longer "cool" to admit to ever having enjoyed what was dubbed teen pop. Whatever the reason, many of those that try and deny it today did indeed indulge in her innocent, polished pop gems when they were younger, for her debut album, Out of the Blue, racked up millions of sales and produced five Top 40 hits, four of which reached the Top Five.

While I can understand why adults would want to stay far, far away from teen pop these days, it was a completely different beast back in the 80's. Today "artists" like Britney Spears generally rely on style over substance; appealing to their audience's base instincts by dressing in skimpy clothing such as schoolgirl uniforms rather than selling their albums through sheer singing talent.

Debbie Gibson may have been stylish for the time, but she was also truly talented. She not only a very accomplished singer, she was also responsible for writing, arranging, producing and even playing some instrumentation on many of her hits. Such multi-tasking is a difficult feat for experienced industry veterans, so when you consider that a teenager was able to juggle everything so effectively and release a platinum-selling album as a result, it becomes clear she deserved the respect of her fans. Unlike many/most "artists" today, Debbie was the real thing, not a record label creation. With Out of the Blue, she paid her dues.

Some of the album highlights are:

• Only In My Dreams – The first single of the album and one of her most memorable. Perfect musical execution backed by soaring vocals.
• Foolish Beat – Beautiful and emotional ballad about allowing a loved one to slip through your grasp.
• Out Of The Blue – A snappy pop gem that took over both the radios and the dance floors.

Unfortunately the teen pop bands of the 90's and 2000's (and yes, even some in the 80's) made such a label a near insult, synonymous with shallow foolishness and style rather than musical or singing talent. But don't let that dissuade you from experiencing Out of the Blue, one of Debbie Gibson's (and in fact, the genre's) best albums.

Rating: 8 stars

Track List Out of the Blue Staying Together Only in My Dreams Foolish Beat Red Hot Wake Up to Love Shake Your Love Fallen Angel Play the Field Between the Lines

Additional Resources:

• Electric Youth Review

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