Debbie Gibson - Electric Youth

Released in 1989

Electric Youth, the follow up release to Out of the Blue, proved to the world that Debbie Gibson was indeed an accomplished singer songwriter rather than a one-album wonder. Although the album still falls into the teen pop category, it's much more mature and subdued than the bubbly original overall, though the ecstatic title track Electric Youth was certainly targeted towards her younger audience.

Silence Speaks (A Thousand Words) is a thoughtful and mesmeric ballad about how a lack of communication can destroy a loving relationship, and best shows the genesis of the performer's slow transition from the pop princess Debbie into the mature performer Deborah. This gradual transformation was essential, for it allowed her to continue her singing career (albeit a less explosive one) throughout the 90's and early 2000's whereas other less talented teen pop artists such as the boy band New Kids on the Block slipped into obscurity once the decade closed its book.

Some of the album highlights are:

• Lost In Your Eyes – Absolutely beautiful ballad with lush synthesizers and Debbie's enthralling vocals.
• Electric Youth – This frenetic anthem is as cheesy and youth-oriented as they come, but it's also irresistibly catchy and serves as a perfect guilty pleasure for adult pop fans.
• No More Rhyme – This gorgeous ballad featuring some melodic piano work became a radio hit (though not up to the same level as some of her other works).

While the title song is as peppy as anything she has ever created, Electric Youth manages to be fun without being as bouncy as her debut, and sugary without being sickeningly sweet. It's hard not to admire Debbie Gibson as both a lyricist and a vocalist after listening to her sophomore album, a musical work that she has reason to be proud of.

Rating: 8 stars

Track List Who Loves Ya Baby? Lost in Your Eyes Love in Disguise Helplessly in Love Silence Speaks (A Thousand Words) Should've Been the One Electric Youth No More Rhyme Over the Wall We Could Be Together Shades of the Past We Could Be Together (remix) No More Rhyme (remix)

Additional Resources:

• Out of the Blue Review

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