=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= B E T W E E N T H E L I N E S Volume 2, Issue 3 - May 1990 DDDDD D D D D GGGG D D G DDDDD G GGG G G GGG A Debbie Gibson Discussion Forum =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ADMINISTRATION NOTES To BtL members, new and old : WELCOME to the "Between the Lines" (BtL) forum. The forum which is dedicated solely to Deborah Gibson celebrates its first year anniversary and we hope to have many more with you! Your comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Not only that, we encourage people to write articles for discussion and we thank you for your submissions. How these issues appear are a strong function of what goes into them. If you are attempting to reach another BtL member via e-mail and have been unsuccessful, please contact any one of the moderators and we will try to provide suggestions to alternative routings or additional addresses to your required site. If necessary, any one of the moderators will forward the e-mail. Back issues of BtL (Vol 1 #1 - #12; Vol 2 #1, 2) will be sent to those who request them. Please send e-mail requests to Matthew Jung at the following address (ccs013@bullwinkle.ucdavis.edu). For those who requested back issues but didn't receive them, please remail your requests again. DISCLAIMER : ********************************************************************* This forum does not necessarily reflect the views of Deborah Ann Gibson, Gibson Productions Inc. (GPI), the Atlantic Recording Corporation, or any organizations to which members belong or represent. All songs by Debbie Gibson are copyrighted by Deborah Ann's Music (ASCAP). This forum is a non-profit organization. Members may disclose information about merchandise and products but may NOT advertise them for monetary sale. The purchase and trading of merchandise as such MUST be kept confined to electronic mail. BtL is NOT intended to replace publications released by the Debbie Gibson International Fan Club (DGIF), the only authorized fan club. Information on DGIF may be obtained by e-mailing any one of the moderators OR by sending a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope (S.A.S.E.) to the following address : D.G.I.F. P.O. Box 489 Merrick, NY, USA 11566 Currently, the initial membership fee is $15US. The annual membership renewal fee is $10US for those in the U.S. and $12US for those outside the U.S. ******************************************************************** Thank you all for your continued patience and support. We look forward to hearing from you! >From your BtL Triumvirate - * Steve "Plastic" Burstall : hnr_443854@emunix.emich.edu * Matthew Jung : ccs013@bullwinkle.ucdavis.edu * Henry "Hitman" Lee : userhlee@cc.sfu.ca / userhlee@sfu.bitnet =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Table of Contents ----------------- * AN INTRODUCTION ... - Jennifer Yeko * HOPE FOR "Skirts"? - Henry Lee * QUICK TO HER DEFENSE - Matthew Jung * KEN MATHIS' RESPONSE - Ken Mathis * CAPTIONS "EVERYWHERE" - Henry Lee * POLYETHYLENE SPEAKS! - Steve Burstall * TOP TWO FAVE VIDS STANDINGS ... thus far * GIBSON NEWS IN BRIEF - M. Jung & H. Lee * QUESTIONS & ANSWERS * CLOSING REMARKS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= AN INTRODUCTION ... Jennifer Yeko Thursday, April 19, 1990 Hello! I've been reading every copy of Between the Lines that I can get my hands on and I think it's just great! So, I feel it is about time to introduce myself. Unfortunately, I am not hooked up to any of these computer networks, so I get my copies of BTL through postal mail from a friend. Anyway, I guess I'll tell you a bit about myself and how I first became interested in Debbie's music. Well, it all started back in the summer of 1987. I was flying on a United Airlines flight from New Jersey to California (to visit my mother) and I was listening to the music on my rented headphones. There was only one pop/rock station, so I listened to it the entire flight. All of a sudden, this wonderful song came on. I would listen to it and wait for the rotation of songs to come around to that one song again and again! I looked at the list of songs on the little airplane program and it said "Only in My Dreams" by Debbie Gibson. (Hey, I bet most people didn't even know her song made it to airplane listeners!) Anyway, I wrote down the song title and her name, anxiously waiting to check out this artist at a local record store once I landed in Los Angeles. Needless to say, I spent my summer well, but neglected to go to my local record store. Then, in the fall of 1987, I went to a local store to buy Debbie's OOTB album and Tiffany's debut album also. (This was probably due to the fact that MTV played Debbie's "Shake Your Love" video 24 hours a day on Dial MTV). Anyway, after previewing both albums, I put Tiffany's aside and listened to Debbie's constantly. I guess that's how I became a fan. Since then, I have become some what of a "Debamaniac." I've seen her perform seven times and most recently saw her at the New York Music Awards which took place March 31, 1990 at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. I've even started my own fan club on her called (don't laugh, ok?) the Debbie Gibson Lovers Club. Well, I hope I haven't bored you with my long introduction. Since I don't have access to this computer network, please write to me by regular mail: Jennifer Yeko P.O. Box 496 Georgetown, CT 06829 and please tell me that you read about me in Between the Lines, so I'll be sure to write back ASAP! I already have over 100 pen pals, but am really interested in corresponding with other big Debbie Gibson fans or trading material, such as audio, video, photographs, etc. Hope to hear from you real soon and remember to stay "electric" and always believe in your "dreams"... =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= HOPE FOR 'Skirts'? Henry Lee (userhlee@cc.sfu.ca) Saturday, April 7, 1990 / 1300h PDT Watching MuchMusic's "FAX" daily news program last night, I found out that Dawn Steele had been hired to an "exclusive contract" with Disney Studios. Steele, formerly of Columbia Pictures, had "Skirts" (along with 2 or 3 other films) foremost on her mind before she decided to leave Columbia. Steele was a major factor in getting huge films out to the screen, one of which was "When Harry Met Sally". At any rate, it appears that "Skirts" has a much better chance of being produced with Disney Studios. Given the theme of the film, I think that Disney Studios would give "Skirts" better attention to plot and character detail. It will be very interesting to see what happens with Disney Studios in the next few months. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ! Moderator's Note : Recently, a most "severe" rumour came to our attention as early as Tues, April 10th by way of people first hearing of it in Los Angeles. What follows are refutations and confirmation that the rumour itself can not be true. QUICK TO HER DEFENSE Matthew Jung (ccs013@bullwinkle.ucdavis.edu) Sunday, April 15, 1990 / 1553h PDT The highlighted (>) portions that follow are quoted from the article in the April 17th issue of Star. Below each portion, I've attempted to refute the accusations. >Bubble-gum pop star Debbie Gibson has shocked her family by telling >them:"I want to pose nude for _Playboy_." Her friends say she's tired >of her clean-teen image and wants to bare it all in time for her 20th >birthday, which she celebrates Aug. 31. Obviously, the author of this article doesn't know much about Debbie. It is public knowledge that Deborah's friends DO NOT TALK TO REPORTERS or FANS. In fact, Deborah's close friends have this sixth sense and can tell if you are sincere or trying to pry info. It is possible that some jealous person from her Calhoun High days decided to make up something ridiculous and claim to be her friend in order to upset her. According to Debbie, in numerous interviews and articles, a third of the students in high school resented her success. >Debbie's new attitude comes in part from her feelings for >_Growing_Pains_ star Kirk Cameron. "Debbie was infatuated with >Kirk and often visited him on the set", says a source. Impossible. Like she stated many times before, SHE HAS NEVER BEEN IN LOVE, let alone infatuated. Sure, she likes Growing Pains and she had a pinup of Kirk in her tour bus for the Out of the Blue tour, but that was the extent of it. Besides, we know for a fact that if Deborah was attracted to anyone in the business her age, it would be River Phoenix because she has mentioned him numerous times before as being cute. >"They were getting pretty friendly when he dumped her for his new co-star, >Chelsea Noble, the voluptuous brunette who plays his love interest. Again, Deborah barely knows Kirk. If she was friendly with anyone in the Los Angeles area, it would be with Scott Grimes or Wil Wheaton. The only truth in this statement is that Chelsea Noble is gorgeous. >That forced Debbie to take a good look at herself - and she realized 'cute' >doesn't match up. She was to get some racy parts in movies and thinks >the first step is taking off her shirt for the magazine. As Deborah has said before, her image is not sexy. Remember, Atlantic tried to make Deborah look older and sexy and she did all she could to resist it. It is not logical for her to drastically change her image now because she has spent the past three years defining her current one. Even if she decided to change her image, why would she have to pose nude? When Olivia Newton-John and Sheena Easton changed their images, they didn't have to. >She's proud of her good looks and think it'll catch producers by storm. I don't know if she is really that proud of her looks. She knows that she is not a beauty queen and even tells photographers which side of her face to photograph. >She says there's nothing dirty about posing for _Playboy_. The insider >claims that Debbie will get $250,000 from _Playboy_ for posing in the buff. Michael Scheele called up Playboy and talked to Elizabeth Norris, a publicity person. She thought it was a good idea but referred to the Star article as false. If Playboy did indeed offer Deborah a sum of money, then they would not have denied it. Remember, Steffi Graf was offered $700,000 to pose for Playboy (she turned it down). >"Debbie doesn't care about the money," adds the insider. "She'll >do it for the exposure." If Debbie wanted exposure, she would have been visible at the Grammys or American Music Awards. She wouldn't have to pose nude. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= KEN MATHIS' RESPONSE Ken Mathis (mathis@handel.CS.ColoState.Edu) Saturday, April 21, 1990 / 1354h MDT Hello fellow BtL'ers. I hope your semesters/quarters are going well. I don't have anything significant to say right now, but I thought I'd let you know what I found out on the Playboy/Debbie Gibson article. As many of you probably know, the STAR printed an article about Debbie posing for Playboy. When I first heard of this, I couldn't believe it. One of my friends here at the lab read the mail about this over my shoulder, and gave me a bit of a ribbing about Debbie. But after he finished, he also said that he didn't believe it at all. He told me that his wife occasionally read the STAR just for laughs, and that from the articles she had told him about he wouldn't believe anything they wrote. He also said she had quit reading the STAR a long time ago because the articles were so phony. I never actually saw the article, no one I know around here would be caught dead with a STAR in their possession. (This includes several girls who religiously read the Inquirer and the Globe.) So apparently the STAR is not to be taken seriously by even Gossip-Junkies here at CSU. And from what I heard about the article, it sounds like the STAR added a lot of extra, false, information to the original British version of the story to try and make the article more "juicy" for the public. After talking with some BtL'ers that it might be worth-while to call GPI and see if they had anything to say about the article. So I did. I didn't ask who I was talking to, although I should have, but I was told that at no time had Debbie even considered posing for Playboy. I was also told that Debbie made several statements to this effect to different press organizations, but that GPI wasn't sure anyone would print anything. The official statement was something like: "The article that appeared in the STAR is totally false. Debbie has not, is not, and never will consider posing for Playboy, or any other such magazine. It's unfortunate that the STAR would print this article, but there is no truth to it at all." I also asked if GPI knew how or where this rumor started and was told that their best guess was that the rumor started in some tabloids in England, and that the American scandal-sheets had picked it up in the vain of "Anything for a story." I think it's really too bad that articles like this can be written about Debbie, and people like her (meaning stars, or public figures) and get away with it. But as I learned in a Business Law class, there is almost nothing Debbie or any other public figure can do because their lives are public, and the public has the right to know all about them, even things that aren't true. This is unfortunate because these type of articles can do irreparable damage to a persons career and life. A few people I know of lost quite a bit of respect for Debbie when they heard about the article. Hopefully the blatant FALSEness of the article and the responses of Debbie and GPI will help to restore most of the respect that Debbie lost because of this rumor. And hopefully things like this won't happen in the future. Well, until next time, keep looking for the good stuff. Ken Mathis =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= CAPTIONS "EVERYWHERE" Henry Lee (userhlee@cc.sfu.ca) Saturday, April 21, 1990 / 1718h PDT Many of you may be unaware of photographs (colour or b/w) that are found in "reputable" publications. If your local library subscribes to Billboard, Rolling Stone, etc., check out the following (which is but a mere sample) : Billboard - February 17, 1990 issue page 86 (bottom) : Deborah presenting homemade cookies to Atlantic's CEO and Atlantic Chair to celebrate multiplatinum album "Electric Youth" ... Rolling Stone - March 8, 1990 issue with "The Rolling Stones" on cover; Readers' & Critics' Choice for Best of '89 multi-pg. "spread" of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ceremonies in N.Y.C. page 13 (bottom) : Deborah with Terence Trent D'Arby Billboard - April 7, 1990 issue page 85 (top) : "Careers in Music Industry" day at N.Y.'s LaGuardia High School sponsored by NY chapter of NARAS; Deborah, Keeth Stewart, Jellybean Benitez etc. in group photo I was also looking through some "older" issues of Billboard and found the following "gems" for "THE data of 'Trivial Pursuit'"... Billboard - October 17, 1987 issue page 19 under the "RADIO heading on top / bottom left picture : Sponsored by Hot 103 - WQHT (NY), a younger Deborah Gibson at NY's club 4D with various other people including a "4D dancer", otherwise known as Buddy Casimano!! Billboard - April 9, 1988 issue page 26 under "Hot Dance Music Sales" chart (12 inch?) : "Out of the Blue" (remix) #4 (5) and was still going up : "Speed of Light" A&M SP-12268 by a (Japanese?) young lady by the name of Reimy ... debut at #48 "Speed of Light" was written by Deborah. Since both happened to be under Breitbart management, Reimy was given the song to sing. As you'll see next, the latter song hung on for at least 5 weeks. Billboard - May 7, 1988 issue (forgot page no.) under "Hot Dance Music Sales" chart : "Speed of Light" #19 / #22 / #26 --> 5 weeks ON chart : "Out of the Blue" (remix) #23 / #6 / #1 --> 13 weeks ON Again, as mentioned before, references are numerous, pictures-a'plenty. If you're starting to think about collecting statistics about her music (whether she performs or not), or collecting photographs (say, in music trade publications), all you have to do is ask around. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= TOP TWO FAVE VIDS STANDINGS ... thus far Henry Lee (userhlee@cc.sfu.ca) Saturday, April 21, 1990 Tentatively, the results as of April 21, 1990 are : * 5 people have submitted/e-mailed their choices * In order of chronological release of singles : SONG VOTES #1 #2 Only in My Dreams : 0 - - Shake Your Love : 0 - - Out of the Blue : 4 4 - Foolish Beat : 3 1 2 Staying Together : 0 - - Lost in Your Eyes : 2 - 2 Electric Youth : 0 - - No More Rhyme : (1) - - We Could Be Together : 1 - 1 * This poll was for the top 2 (two) vids but someone had written in "N.M.R." as their 3rd choice. I included it in the count nonetheless. * Please continue to send/submit your choices if you haven't already done so. The final list goes "up" in June. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= POLYETHYLENE SPEAKS! Steve Burstall (hnr_443854@emunix.emich.edu) Wednesday, April 25, 1990 / 2048h EDT Greeting members of BtL, It is I, Steve "Plastic" Burstall writing from the Great Lakes State (aka Michigan). I must say these past few weeks have been pretty interesting in the way of Gibson "news". Through a friend here, I was able to find out about the big "Debbie Scandal" or "Debbie in the Buff" around these parts. I sent this out to many members of BtL to get their response. I got plenty of support that this story was false and many agreed that such a undertaking would be detrimental to her career. I've had a few jokes about it with them saying that they would purchase the issue. But like I said, it was a joke (wasn't it???) Now on a different note, my collection of Debbie paraphrenalia is starting to increase by leaps and bounds. I have recently purchased some sheet music (I think I'm the only one who does) and a new book of music called _The_Best_of_Debbie_Gibson_. Only available at a music store, it's an organ big-note book. A big Thanx goes to Henry, I have called up Rock Express and have purchased a poster, OOTB back-stage pass and program. All of the articles have arrived and I'm having a great time with them. I also have on order a Japanese import CD which will come in this Monday. Well, that's it for now. Besides working hard at my job, I am trying to keep up with Debbie news. It's hard at this time, but I know I can keep up with it. Keeping the faith and love, Steve Burstall =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= GIBSON NEWS IN BRIEF Matthew Jung (ccs013@bullwinkle.ucdavis.edu) & Henry Lee (userhlee@cc.sfu.ca) Thursday, April 26, 1990 / 2150h PDT At the Beacon Theatre on March 31st, Deborah won three 1990 New York Music Awards. Along with winning the Female Artist of the Year award, she won Song of the Year for "Lost In Your Eyes" and Video of the Year for "Electric Youth." Since the show ran over- time, she was only able to receive the award for Song of the Year. Incidentally, she beat out Billy Joel and Michael Bolton in that category. Deborah made an appearance on the Joan Rivers show that was broadcast March 29th. The segment was over fifteen minutes long and most of the interview was conducted while Deborah was at the piano. During parts of the interview, she played parts from "Lost in Your Eyes", "Out of the Blue", "In the Still of the Night", "New York State of Mind", and a song she wrote for Joan Rivers. Keeth Stewart was also in the audience. On that same day (29th), Adam Tese (percussion and sax) appeared as part of the backup band for Taylor Dayne on Arsenio Hall. According to Entertainment Tonight, children were polled about whom was the first female to sew the American flag. Deborah was ranked second beating out Betsy Ross (ranked fifth). On a recent Casey Kasem video countdown TV special about teen acts of the 80's, Deborah was ranked 2nd, beating out acts such as Tiffany, New Kids on the Block, The Jets, Bobby Brown, & New Edition. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Q : Ray Wilmott (wilmott@topaz.rutgers.edu) from BtL V2#2 > "... The last (2#1) issue mentioned that MTV never showed the > We Could Be Together video. Was it ever shown on other > video shows (e.g. - Friday Night Videos,etc)? Can anyone > give a synopsis of it? It was also mentioned that a > compilation of Electric Youth videos is due to be released - > anybody know *when*?" As far as we know, people have stated they "never" saw "We Could Be Together" on MTV. Much Music showed it only once and that was during their Debbie Gibson spotlight on January 2, 1990. I don't think it was shown on any of the Canadaian video shows (Good Rockin' Tonite or Video Hits both on CBC) or NBC's Friday Night Videos. However, Hit Video USA was quick to add the video. It subsequently entered their video countdown at #19 on Sat., Sept. 23, 1989. Speaking to the folks at WEA Canada in both Toronto and Vancouver, they said that the WCBT single was never really "officially" released to radio even though WEA here in Vancouver had it charted for 8 weeks last fall!!! As far as any new videos go, WEA Canada also said that they "suspect" that the compilation of videos from "Electric Youth" as well as the "Electric Youth" concert stop in Atlanta, GA would both be released in the "coming months". They can only "suspect" because they get their stuff from Stateside. Hopefully, it'll be out before the expected 3rd album! Q : Jong Lee (lee26@husc2.harvard.edu) from BtL V2#2 > "...(by the way, does anyone remember Debbie singing > 'Silent Night' a couple of years ago for WPLJ in NY? Has > that ever been released?). ..." The song, "Silent Night" (Dec 1988) was played as a "local" Christmas release ONLY to the greater New York metropolitan area by way of WPLJ-FM (Power 95). I don't think it was ever intended for a "national" release. Also, at about the same time, there was a duet of Deborah and her father for "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" that received many requests and heavy airplay over the New York airwaves over Christmas '88. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= CLOSING REMARKS Alas, my very first issue as a moderator comes to a close. Although this involves quite a bit of time and good effort, it is a tremendously 'heady' experience to read articles as they're entered into the issue. I will go on and moderate the June newsletter before Matthew (Jung) takes "the helm" for July and August. I have got to thank my two partners, Matthew and Steve, without whose help I would have been really stuck! (With this issue, I conclude my undergraduate studies ...) CALL for BtL Vol 2 #4 (June 1990) * I've perceived a collective frustration & dissatisfaction with the way that Deborah has been treated by those within the music industry (mistrust and resentment) and by those in the press (legitimate or otherwise). What are your feelings to this regard and what you, as members, would do about this if you had the abilities for change? * Top 2 Fave Videos Poll will be published; again, please send us your votes!