=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= B E T W E E N T H E L I N E S Volume 5, Issue 7 - March 31, 1993 DDDDD D D D D GGGG D D G DDDDD G GGG G G GGGG A Debbie Gibson Discussion Forum =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= CONTENTS =- ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES INTRO BY RUSTY SHELBY - Rusty Shelby _BODY MIND SOUL_ REVIEW FROM SAN DIEGO - Myra Wong "LOSIN' MYSELF" REVIEW - Steve Burstall REAL STRIPPERS TRY OUT "LOSIN' MYSELF" - Richard Evans "SHOCK YOUR MAMA" RELEASED IN ENGLAND - Dave Scutt JOBETH TAYLOR AND DEB SPLIT UP - Paul Burnim SECOND THOUGHTS ON _BODY MIND SOUL_ - Robert MacDowell SONG POLL RESULTS FOR _BODY MIND SOUL_ - Myra Wong NEW BtL FEATURE: OPINION POLL - Michael Falkner ALBUM PARTY IN NEW YORK - Ken Gebauer BMS LISTENING PARTY IN HOLLYWOOD - Bruce Roubitchek/ Billy Watson DEBBIE'S READING BETWEEN THE LINES - Myra Wong QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS DEBWATCH CLOSING REMARKS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= DISCLAIMER =- This forum does not necessarily reflect the views of Deborah Ann Gibson, Gibson Management Inc. (GMI), the Atlantic Recording Corporation, or any organizations to which members belong or represent. Opinions expressed in Between the Lines are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the entire forum. All songs by Debbie Gibson are copyrighted by Deborah Ann's Music, ASCAP or Possibilities Publishing, Inc./ EMI April Music, Inc., ASCAP. Between the Lines operates on a non-profit basis. Distribution is permissible only under the condition that no part of it will be used for profit. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES =- Before you submit your articles, please PROOFREAD them. Remember that over 250 people receive BtL via electronic mail and postal mail. Submissions via electronic mail should be sent to ALL moderators at their respective e-mail addresses listed below. To submit articles by postal mail, please send them to the postal address listed below. Postal submissions should be typed or written legibly. To submit articles by FAX, please call (604) 322-5936. We reserve the right to edit, defer, or reject submissions without notice. BETWEEN THE LINES c/o Felix Ng 2137 Qualicum Drive Vancouver, B.C. V5P 2M3 CANADA For those of you who do not have access to electronic mail, you may subscribe via postal mail. Issues are printed with a bubblejet printer which allows six pages of text to be printed on both sides of one sheet of paper. Back issues are also available on one MS-DOS 3.5" or 5.25" high density disk (please specify disk format when ordering). Prices are at cost and are subject to change: Canada $3.25 Cdn. for 5 issues / $2.75 Cdn. for back issues on disk United States $3.25 U.S. for 5 issues / $2.75 U.S. for back issues on disk International 3 IRCs for 2 issues / 7 IRCs for back issues on disk Please make a cheque or money order payable to Felix Ng and mail it to the postal address mentioned above. We are not responsible for cash lost or stolen in the mail. Issues are always mailed via first class. If you would like to be added to a loosely moderated mailing list where you can discuss Debbie Gibson and her music on a frequent basis with other BtL members, please send e-mail to debhead-request@scf.nmsu.edu. For those of you who have access to Telnet and are interested in discussing Debbie Gibson and her music in real time with other BtL members, please send e-mail to Jonathan Bradshaw (jonathan@nova.decio.nd.edu). Debbie Gibson GIFs (these are computer graphics files) and BtL back issues are available via anonymous FTP at cs.uwp.edu. For more information on how to use FTP, send e-mail to Myra Wong (mkwong@scf.nmsu.edu). Members without FTP access can obtain these files through two file-mailing services. For more information, send e-mail to Andrew Vernon (avernon1@ua1ix.ua.edu). -= BtL moderators =- Myra Wong : mkwong@scf.nmsu.edu mkwong@sdcc13.ucsd.edu JSXS97D on Prodigy Felix Ng : felix.ng@deepcov.wimsey.bc.ca 1:153/710 on Fidonet Andrew Vernon : avernon1@ua1ix.ua.edu avernon1@ua1vm.ua.edu avernon1@ua1vm.bitnet =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= INTRO BY RUSTY SHELBY =- Rusty Shelby - Atlanta, Georgia March 6, 1993 Hello! My name is Rusty Shelby. I've been a Debbie fan for almost five years now. It all started with "Staying Together." Deborah came into my life for the first time in late 1988. I saw the video for "Staying Together" on Nickelodeon. I was 10 years old at the time. The song was so catchy - I had to hear it over and over. Surprisingly, I learned later that the ST single didn't do very well on the charts. I ran out and bought the cassette single and the _Out of the Blue_ album. Then came _Electric Youth_. I bought everything domestic I could find. By this time I was turning 11 and had no idea that music existed overseas - the album, singles, posters, everything. Then, in early November of '89 I heard Debbie Gibson was coming to Atlanta. I freaked! I made my mom go out and buy tickets! Then, on November 15, 1989, my dad, my brother, and I all went to the Omni to see Deb preform. It was the first concert I had ever gone to and little did I know she would film her "Live Around The World" home video here. Well, it was the best night of my life even though I never met her then, at age 11. And even to this day, I still haven't met my idol. After the concert came the ever-so-long wait for Deb's third album. I ran out that rainy Tuesday night and bought the _Anything Is Possible_ album. I loved every second of it! It was, however, disappointing to see the album "flop." Then came the summer of '91. I never saw Deb in concert on the One Step Ahead tour (and I hate myself for not making the effort to go to North Carolina to see it). So, no tour for me and I never went to New York City to see her in Les Miz. (I was too busy to go, with school and all.) And then, another ever-so-long wait. I started collecting Deb merchandise in 1991 with Jennifer Yeko to get me going. Now I have a huge collection I will treasure forever (and it's still growing). I finally joined D.G.I.F. (#010018) in 1991 also. If I would have had only some way of knowing how good it was, I would have joined years earlier. Finally on January 19th, 1993 I got another taste of Deborah! I think _Body Mind Soul_ will be an awsome album (chartwise, even though it hasn't shown too much...yet). It's my favorite album to come along. Then, about a month ago, my pen-pal/friend, Jeff Tharp introduced me to BtL. I figured I couldn't lose, so I joined. Two issues later, here I am writing my intro for you all. I'm glad Deborah came along in 1988. If she hadn't, there is no telling where I'd be now at 14 years old (drugs, Guns 'n' Roses, etc.). Deb taught me "Anything is possible if you just put your mind to it." She also taught me to be positive, speak my mind, and stand up for my rights. ("Electric Youth" seemed to come along at a perfect time for me.) I have also learned about AIDS and other things from her. If I hadn't received an audio tape copy of the One Step Ahead concert and heard the song "When I Say No," I would be at a point I wouldn't even want to mention now. If I ever have a chance to meet Deborah, I will thank her for years of keeping me a good person and keeping my feet on the ground. She's the biggest influence on my life. She's the world to me because we're "Staying Together!" Well, there you have it, my intro. Anyone who's interested can write me. I'd love to get some new pen-pals! Rusty Shelby 903 Byrnwyck Road N.E. Atlanta, GA 30319-1663 U.S.A. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= _BODY MIND SOUL_ REVIEW FROM SAN DIEGO =- Myra Wong - San Diego, California (mkwong@sdcc13.ucsd.edu / JSXS97D on Prodigy) February 25, 1993 This album review appeared in THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE, Night & Day section, on February 25, 1993. DEBBIE GIBSON TAKES TINY STEP FORWARD By Karla Peterson, Arts Writer Debbie Gibson, "Body Mind Soul" (Atlantic) ** (out of ****, Mixed) She was so cute when she was little, just a precocious bundle of talent with a chirpy voice and an amazing knack for tossing out bite-sized chunks of bubble-gum pop. But little girls grow up, don't they? And in the six years since Debbie Gibson put four self-penned songs in the Top 5, the cute girl became a photogenic young woman, her chirpy voice began to sound anemic, and her knack for songwriting became something of a lost art. With the questionable help of producers Elliot Wolff (Paula Abdul), Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers (Rhythm Syndicate), and Phil Ramone (Billy Joel), Gibson has spliced together pieces of Janet Jackson, Madonna and Abdul into a bland dance-pop mix that sounds like practically everybody but Debbie Gibson. Fast forward past the generic "Love Or Money," "Free Me" and the misguided "Shock Your Mama" (She couldn't shock your grandma with that tiny voice.), and you will hit a few tunes that rediscover Gibson's original charms while hunting at improvements to come. "Losin' Myself" is a warm piece of intimate adult pop, and the exceedingly peppy "When I Say No" and "Kisses 4 One" deal with such dicey issues as date rape and safe sex without a blush or a giggle. At the advanced age of 22, Gibson is torn between youthful exuberance and adult sophistication, and this album is an uneasy mix of both. Debbie Gibson's pop doesn't snap like it used to, but as the best of "Body Mind Soul" suggests, she could very well bounce back with something interesting. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= "LOSIN' MYSELF" REVIEW =- Steve Burstall - Yale, Michigan (hnr_443854@emunix.emich.edu) March 2, 1993 I must becoming older all of a sudden. For a long time I really enjoyed listening to Deborah's music. I really enjoyed _Out of the Blue_ and _Electric Youth_. I started to waiver on _Anything Is Possible_. At the same time I have been becoming more interested in classical music - a lot more interested. I now have a hard time listening to any of her new music, maybe because I don't like it. There is no emotion that the classics have. Only the single emotion the song portrays. Trying to keep an open mind, I was going to decide if I was going to buy _Body Mind Soul_ from her single release. So without hesitation I went in and bought the tape. I put it in and played it. Let's say I had a real hard time keeping the song playing. I detested it. I know I will get some flames from the other members of BtL but I had my reasons. First, the lyrics sound like something a teenager would say. In other words, I could not relate to it. The music sounded too much canned. Too mechanical. Too dry. I really think that Deborah can make a serious name for herself in the classical arena. If Bobby McFerrin can do it so can Deborah. She just has to release her problem of classical music being boring. So on a scale of 1 to 10, I rate the single a 2. It has some redeeming qualities but not enough for me to enjoy the single. Thus I will not put any money on the whole CD. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= REAL STRIPPERS TRY OUT "LOSIN' MYSELF" =- Richard Evans - Gainesville, Georgia (71161.463@CompuServe.COM) March 3, 1993 There is a small strip club about 45 miles north of Atlanta called Top of Gainesville in Gainesville, Georgia. Most of the dancers have experience from Atlanta clubs, a couple that I've talked to have come from the Ft. Lauderdale area. Tops has a comfortable and unique atmosphere. There are normally eight dancers each night, two at a time performing three song sets on separate stages. When not on stage the dancers mingle with customers. Somehow the phoniness of other nude dancing clubs does not encroach into Tops. When the girls sit down at your table they don't smile and discuss the weather, the conversations I've had have been honest and friendly. Being new in town and single I usually spend one night a week at "the top." One of the dancers (her stage name is Didi) had recently put "Red Hot," from _Out of the Blue_, into her act. When I had a chance to talk to Didi later she told me that she loved Debbie Gibson's music, a close second favorite was Paula Abdul. She had not yet heard of _Body Mind Soul_, living 20 miles outside of town on five acres of land without cable. I told her about the "Losin' Myself" video and brought her a copy of the CD the following week. I was mildly surprised that she wanted to dance to the music, and even more shocked that she wanted to on that night (I had always thought they rehearsed what they were doing!). She asked me what two good songs were, I told her "Love Or Money" and "Losin' Myself." Two sets later Didi was on stage. The results, measured in terms of tips, are what compelled me to write this experience up. The songs weren't played consecutively; "Love Or Money" was first, during the set where Didi was on the side stage. "Losin' Myself" was played half an hour later while she was on the main stage. The crowd really got into "Love Or Money," the "north Georgia redneck" surfaced in a lot of people. There was clapping and shouting, and it seemed as if every customer got up to tip the dancers. I'll bet that song is played again. "Losin' Myself," on the other hand, got the normal reaction from the customers (that is to say almost no reaction). I realize Debbie Gibson portrayed a stage stripper in the video because of the sensual sound of "Losin' Myself," still I thought the audience preferring "Love Or Money" was ironic. Nothing can be read into the results of my "experiment," except that I had a lot of fun with it. "Love Or Money" is simply a catchier, more up-beat, tune. Perhaps it should have been released as a single first. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= "SHOCK YOUR MAMA" RELEASED IN ENGLAND =- Dave Scutt - Surrey, England (CS_D604@atlas.kingston.ac.uk) March 22, 1993 "Shock Your Mama" was released today in the UK... at last! (It is about three weeks late!) I just picked it up on a 4-track CD single. The tracks are: 1) Shock Your Mama (London Apprentice Edit) 3:14 2) Shock Your Mama (LP Version) 4:04 3) Love Or Lust (Previously Unreleased) 3:57 4) Only In My Dreams (LP Version) 3:54 What more can I say?! Well, the London Apprentice Edit is basically the same as the LP version, with the rap very unceremoniously cut out. The "kiss my *scream*" is still there though, as are the other samples. "Love Or Lust" you should've heard of; I think it's pretty cool. The front cover is a close up of Deborah in a tight slinky black dress, from the shoulders up. She's wearing a leather peaked cap. One half of the picture is tinted yellow, the other half is a negative. On the inside cover is the full picture. In my opinion, it kind of suits her. I haven't seen any kind of promotion or advertising though, which is kind of worrisome. Basically unless it gets some airplay, it's dead in the water. IF it does get played, it should do pretty well. I like it, and I figure a lot of other people will like it, just so long as it's not another "sexy bump-n-grind" video. Somehow I doubt it will be. Also, there are no signs of any other formats as yet. But then again, I was so excited at seeing the CD, I didn't really take that good a look. It's been so long since I actually went and bought a Deb CD. It should be released on everything else soon. Anyway, I just thought you might want to know. UK DebHeads, now's the time to plug and request like crazy! I have to go; I have a CD to listen to..... =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= JOBETH TAYLOR AND DEB SPLIT UP =- Paul Burnim - Brisbane, Australia (paulb@cs.uq.oz.au) March 23, 1993 Here is an extract of an interview with JoBeth Taylor from this week's Australian Woman's Day. She had met American teen-queen Debbie Gibson, who wrote and produced Jo-Beth's debut album. Debbie's mother, Diane, became Jo-Beth's manager. There were two hit singles - 99 Reasons and You Don't Own Me. "But the album didn't take off," Jo-Beth admits. And after that, the dream fell apart. She severed her relationship with Debbie and her mother. It was not an amicable parting. "Debbie and I do talk now, on the phone. Occasionally. But things were strained when I finished with her mother as my manager," Jo-Beth says. [Editor's Note: JoBeth Taylor's debut album was not released in the United States; only the single, "If This Isn't Love," was released.] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= SECOND THOUGHTS ON _BODY MIND SOUL_ =- Robert MacDowell - San Francisco, California (bobmacd@well.sf.ca.us) March 21, 1993 Awhile back in BtL, I wrote about my first impressions of _Body Mind Soul_. I also wrote that first impressions can be unreliable. So here I am in the dome-lounge of Amtrak's Southwest Chief, on a sweet little piece of the Santa Fe Railroad. The timetable says we have 71 minutes to travel 100 miles between Garden City, Kansas and Lamar, Colorado. A fine environment, in my humble opinion, to give yet another listen to _Body Mind Soul_. It's in the walkman. What follows is how time, and this fine train, have shaped my opinion. "Love Or Money" is fun and danceable, a pleasure to listen to at any speed. (That's train speed not song speed!) I have fallen in love with "Do You Have It In Your Heart?" Smooth layers crafted together to make a wonderful song. I still don't know what to make of "Free Me." Its off-key warbling strings are quite catchy actually. I guess I like it but I don't know why. Hardly a resounding endorsement. Another enigma is "Shock Your Mama." The funky beat doesn't fit my tastes, but I like it anyway. Particularly the lyrics... you know Deborah's having fun. This song *works*. "Losin' Myself." Deborah, take me away! There's something about the lush sound of this song juxtaposed with the serene view out the wrap-around glass of the lounge, that just fits. "Smooth" describes the scene well. The music, the train gently slowing and banking into a curve. At the same time there is power in the music, as the easy but certain pull of the locomotives easing us back to speed. There is subtle emotional power of the song, an intense story of personal submission and dedication. It shocks the system to hear "Losin' Myself" right after "Shock Your Mama," and likewise for "How Can This Be?" A very pretty, but very sad song that seems somehow out of place here. Funny about the first five songs. Much is made of the Rhythm Syndicate influence, but I've heard Rhythm Syndicate, and these songs sound like mostly Deb. "When I Say No" definitely has a nerve-wracking "edge" to it that I've not noticed before. (As well it should, considering the subject matter.) It paints the passing scenery with a very different emotion than the rapture of "Losin' Myself." "Little Birdie" still makes me tap my feet and bounce around. ('course this time a bad stretch of track is helping!) This song's just pure fun. "Kisses 4 One" has my feet tapping too. Unlike "When I Say No," it doesn't have a nervous edge, it's an upbeat song. As it should be... love is wonderful even in the Nineties. She sings of "Luxuries this day and age couldn't buy", making me think that I'm lucky to be able to ride a double deck dome car across America. "Tear Down These Walls" feels much more like a message song. I look around the lounge car and I see as many senior citizens as young people, reminding me that walls go up between generations too. We traveled the 100 miles to LaJunta, Colorado in 74 minutes, not 71. We're now in a state where the message of "Tear Down These Walls" is needed more than anywhere. I wish I could amplify the song and play it for all to hear. Reading back, I've noticed how much the emotions of the songs stand out, indeed how much they painted the surrounding environment, how much they affected me. I wouldn't expect that to happen from music I didn't really like, so I guess I really like this album. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= SONG POLL RESULTS FOR _BODY MIND SOUL_ =- Myra Wong - San Diego, California (mkwong@sdcc13.ucsd.edu / JSXS97D on Prodigy) March 19, 1993 In BtL 5.2, I requested that BtL members send me their votes for their three favorite songs from the new _Body Mind Soul_ album. I also extended the opportunity to vote to Debbie Gibson fans on the Prodigy computer service. After nearly two months of collecting votes, I have tabulated them. A total of 68 people voted, an impressive showing. This gives us a total of 204 votes altogether. I'd like to thank everyone for their participation. And now, without any further delay, here are the results! VOTES : SONG - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 32 : Goodbye 31 : Losin' Myself 24 : How Can This Be? 21 : When I Say No 20 : Love Or Money 18 : Little Birdie 16 : Shock Your Mama 13 : Do You Have It In Your Heart? 11 : Free Me 10 : Tear Down These Walls 8 : Kisses 4 One While the first single released, "Losin' Myself," faired quite well taking second place by a one vote margin, the next single "Shock Your Mama" got votes from less than a quarter of the voters ending up in seventh place. "Goodbye" came out on top receiving votes from nearly half the voters. This ballad and the other three songs in the top five, "How Can This Be?" "When I Say No," and "Love Or Money," should definitely be considered for future singles. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= NEW BtL FEATURE: OPINION POLL =- Michael Falkner - Eau Claire, Wisconsin (FALKNEMJ@cnsvax.uwec.edu) March 9, 1993 In the spirit of a discussion forum, BtL receives input from the people in the forum. To take that idea another step, former BtL moderator Sandy Chen suggested a regular opinion poll to see what you, the members of BtL, thought about Deborah Gibson, her music, her career, and some other interesting and timely things. After consulting with the moderators, and considering my "stimulating" discussions on the bouncing list, I decided to take up the project. The format of the poll will be simple: To begin with, I will ask 8 yes/no questions. I would like each person who wishes to respond to respond yes or no to the question, and, if they see fit, give a reason for your response. If you give a reason to your response that you would like me to consider putting with the results of the poll, let me know as such with your answers and comments. {The reason I'm asking 8 questions rather than just one or two is to give our postal mail members more of an opportunity to be part of this.} Those who receive BtL who have Internet accounts can e-mail me their answers at: FALKNEMJ@cnsvax.uwec.edu Those who receive BtL through postal mail can mail me back their answers to the following address: Michael Falkner 436 1/2 Water Street Eau Claire, WI 54703 To aid the postal mail subscribers, Felix Ng will be sending this part of BtL on a separate sheet of paper. Also, please put any comments on a plain sheet of paper separate to the answers (postal mail only, and please number the comments with respect to which question you're commenting on). I must receive all votes before April 25, so I may compile the votes and prepare the results in time to be submitted to the next BtL issue after that date (even if one or more issues have been released in between). And who knows? It is becoming common knowledge that Deborah herself reads the BtL issues given to her by members, so Deborah may be able to read your insightful comments and the group's opinions on the following questions: 1> Do you like the direction that Deborah is heading with her music and her image? YES NO 2> Looking back, was the strip-tease in the "Losin' Myself" video a good idea? YES NO 3> Should Deborah Gibson continue to collaborate with other artists on future work? YES NO 4> Should Deborah, if possible, change record labels for future albums? YES NO 5> Do you think Deborah should go back to a musical style more consistent with _Electric Youth_ and _Anything Is Possible_ rather than the style of music in much of _Body Mind Soul_? YES NO 6> [For those who are now, or have been members of D.G.I.F.] Do you think D.G.I.F. is doing a good job? YES NO 7> Do you think the music climate is conducive for Deborah to have reasonable success with _Body Mind Soul_ and its singles? YES NO 8> Would you prefer chart success over creative success for Deborah's career? YES NO If you have any suggestions on how the polls could be improved, questions, or the like, please mail me at one of the addresses above. Remember, the deadline date is: April 25, 1993 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= ALBUM PARTY IN NEW YORK =- Ken Gebauer - Hoboken, New Jersey (U92_KGEBAUER@VAXC.STEVENS-TECH.EDU) March 1, 1993 On February 25, Atlantic Records and Interview Magazine held a party in New York to celebrate the release of _Body Mind Soul_. I was one of the lucky fans that received an invitation and I had a great time. I got there just after 7:00 P.M. and there were all ready a good number of people sitting around the bar watching the "Losin' Myself" video that was playing on several screens. Well, the videos kept playing and the people kept coming in and I kept on waiting. They played LM about every third video but I still haven't seen it straight through. As the people came in, it seemed like everybody knew everybody else. It made me feel a little out of place. I was there with my friend Woodley. We met two fans from New Jersey and the four of us just stood there waiting and exchanging stories as people like Deborah's sister Karen, Buddy Casimano, and Stepp Stewart walked by. About 10 minutes after Deb got there, we finally found out that she was singing upstairs. Not wanting to miss any more than we all ready did, we tried to make our way upstairs only to be blocked by someone saying that it was too crowded upstairs so we couldn't go up. Then a very nice lady came over and went upstairs to kick some people out so we could go up. When she came back down, she said we could go up, but we had to stay in the back. Yeah...sure. We walked into a small and very crowded upstairs room only to realize we had no choice but to stay in the back. There was another bar on the side and a stage up front. The stage was just big enough to fit a small electric piano and Deb. She was in the middle of singing a song from Les Miz when we got there. I'm not sure which one it was but it sounded so good that it made me a little upset that I had missed seeing her in Les Miz. There was a little problem when they were trying to cue up the music for the next song so Deb decided to do a little stand up and tell a joke. Just as she started to tell her joke, the music started and she told them to shut it off because she wanted to tell her joke now. Here's the joke as best I can remember it. George Bush was going ice fishing. He cut a hole in the ice and heard a voice from above say "There are no fish under the ice." So he decided to try another spot. He cut another hole in the ice and heard the voice again. It said "There are no fish under the ice." He moved again and cut a third hole in the ice. Then the voice said "This is rink manager, there are no fish under the ice." With everything working now, she went into "Love Or Money." Feeling a little constrained by the small stage, she decided to get down from the stage and get up on the bar. After she was finished with "Love Or Money," she thanked everybody for coming and went behind the stage. There wasn't any curtain or anything so you could see behind the stage fine. As the press jumped backstage and people left, we took the opportunity to move as close as we could, which happened to be right in front of the stage. Deb sat down at the piano facing backstage for a photo session. While all the reporters were taking pictures, we were working our way around the side of the stage to try and get in a couple of shots. Once she realized we were there, she was nice enough to turn around for a picture. Then channel 9 WWOR news had an interview with her. Finally she came back out on stage to hold a raffle. When we first walked in the door, we each got a raffle ticket. She was raffling off two platinum _Out of the Blue_ albums. She went through a lot of numbers before she found a winner that was still there. And guess who it was?...my friend Woodley. I just missed it by one number. I didn't know if I would have a better chance later so I gave Woodley a copy of BtL 5.5 and he handed it to her when she gave him the album. She said thanks and she would read it tonight. Before she had a chance to leave, a couple of people up front talked her into singing some more songs. There wasn't enough people to call it a chant, it was more like we were talking right to her. Well we were talking right to her, we were only about 3 feet away from her. She sat down at the piano and after some trouble getting it turned on, she sang "Streets Of London." It was a nice song and she said that she would like to record it someday. Then Karen had a request which Diane gave a little groan at like "not that old thing." She had requested "Lost In Your Eyes." It sounded great. Then she said goodbye again and went backstage. If the night would have ended here, I would have been happy. But Woodley had his heart set on getting his album signed. He asked somebody that was on the stage if he could go back there to get his album signed. She said wait here. She came back with an autographed 1993 calendar. Not quite what he had in mind. We were still waiting around when I heard Woodley say she's gone (meaning the lady that wouldn't let us backstage). Before I could say anything, I see him squeezing past the side of the stage. So I followed. We popped out the other side right in front of Mr. Gibson. We started talking to him and he told Woodley how lucky he was. Then Woodley asked him if he could get Debbie to sign it for him. He said sure...wait here. Mr. G. went over to talk to Deb and then waved Woodley over. You have to bypass all these security people and go right to the important people. They're the ones that get things done. Woodley felt a little guilty for winning the album since if I wouldn't have invited him, he wouldn't have done any of this. So when he was up there getting it signed, he explained that to Deb and asked her if I could get my picture taken with her. She said of course and I pushed my way through the crowd of people that was surrounding her. When I made it through, she was talking to somebody so her back was towards me and I was just standing there waiting. She finally turned around and I froze. I didn't know what to say or do. I'm not even sure I remember everything that happened. It's all a little fuzzy. She said hi and held out her hand. I shook her hand and I'm pretty sure I said hi but I don't think I managed to get my name out. This kind of thing must happen to her all the time because she just took charge of the situation. She turned me around to face the camera and put her arm around me. I put my arm around her and tried to hold back a cough (I had been coughing all night). Then one of her bodyguard type people took the picture and it was all over. He gave me back my camera and kind of pushed me out of the way. We left after that so I don't know if she came back out to sing anymore or not. On the way out we got a bag full of stuff from a store called Body Mind Soul. The only cool thing in it was a promo CD of "Losin' Myself". I just wish I could have talked a little bit instead of standing there like a dope. I got home in time to see the channel 9 news. They didn't really show that much and they even got the name of the album wrong. They called it _Sound Body and Mind_. And as I was watching the tape to find out what they called it, I realized that she sang "Free Me." So that's at least one song that we missed. Then there's that cough I had. It seems to have turned into a little bit more because I was pretty sick for the next couple of days. But it was still worth it. I got my pictures back and they all came out great... except for the most important one. The picture of Deborah and myself came out blurry. And besides that, I have a pretty awful look on my face from trying to hold in a cough. You could still make out who's in it though so it's not a total waste. But be on the look out Deb. I still need a good picture. Someday, somewhere, somehow we shall meet again. And this time I promise not to freeze up on you. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= BMS LISTENING PARTY IN HOLLYWOOD =- Bruce Roubitchek - Torrance, California Billy Watson - Hawthorne, California March 8, 1993 When I first heard about the possibility of being invited to a listening party/live show for the new album _Body Mind Soul_ I was real excited. But as the weeks passed after the release of the new album I started to give up hope of receiving a phone call concerning a listening party. However, on March 3, 1993 I was just sitting down to eat dinner and the telephone rang. On the other end was a reliable BtL source, Myra Wong. She informed me that there was going to be a listening party at 8:00 P.M. that evening at a club called Bar One located in Hollywood. After getting all the important information, I called fellow Debbie Gibson fans Billy and Larry Watson and informed them of the phone call I just received. Unfortunately Larry had to work. But, Billy and I decided to go and try to get in the party. From this point on Billy and I will alternate telling our account of the entire evening. BW = Billy Watson BR = Bruce Roubitchek BW: I was arriving home at around 6:30 P.M. while listening to the last song on Debbie's new album. Little did I know after turning off the ignition, when my car door flew open. It was my brother, Larry. "Hurry up! There's not much time!" he said. "You're going to see Debbie tonight!" He told me that Bruce was on his way and that I should get ready. Well, I quickly got myself together. Then Bruce arrived and we were on our way. Well, we made it to Hollywood, but we spent a half hour in a traffic jam on Sunset Boulevard, thanks to Van Halen who were supposedly playing at The Whisky. Bruce and I (especially Bruce) were anxious and impatient. We parked on a side street and walked up to the entrance of the club. There were a few other fans waiting outside the club. BR: It was now approximately 7:30 P.M. , we waited until about 8:00 P.M. and they started to let the people with invitations into the club. A few minutes later a very nice young lady came outside with several different guest lists. She approached us and asked if we were on a guest list, and I said, "I don't know. I did not receive an invitation but I have been in the fan club for several years." I also showed her my D.G.I.F. member card. We then asked her if there would be a problem getting into party tonight and she said, "Oh, you're fans then no problem. You guys can go in". I shouted, "YEAH!" After entering the club we were handed grab bags which included a press kit and the promo CD for "Losin' Myself." We then headed towards the stage area. The inside of the club was decorated with many Debbie posters. The posters were just like the ones that were on the display in Sam Goody promoting the new album and the "Let's Do Dinner" contest. BW: We waited around for about 30 to 45 minutes while listening to the new album and watching a bunch of Debbie's music videos being played back to back on several television monitors situated all throughout the club. Eventually, the album was cut off and everybody started to cheer. We could hear the first few notes to "Free Me" and then we heard Deborah's voice. She suddenly appeared seemingly out from nowhere and was escorted onto the small stage. BR: During the first few notes of "Free Me" her wireless mic went out and she had to trade it with Mike Portnoy for a mic that was working. After singing "Free Me," she then thanked the audience for coming and asked the audience, "Have you ever had one of those days when everything went wrong?" She then continued, "It started with the major traffic jam with Van Halen playing down the street and my soundcheck got all messed up because of that." The next song she sang was "On My Own," followed by "Goodbye" and she asked the audience to help her pick a piano sound that would sound right with the song. She eventually found the right sound and sang a beautiful version of "Goodbye." BW: Afterwards, she commented on how things go wrong at intimate performances. She said that earlier she hit her head on the very low overhang above the stage. (Poor Debbie!) Then she said, "Hit it!" and kicked into "Love Or Money." After the song ended, she thanked everybody for coming, including In-fashion magazine and Atlantic Records (which was located next door in the building above us). She then told everybody to enjoy the rest of the evening and she was escorted off the stage to a small booth where she would meet and greet people in attendance. BR: For those of you who are interested, she was dressed in a black pin stripe blazer with a matching mini-skirt. Under the blazer she was wearing a black see-through lace blouse. She also wore black fishnet stockings with black knee-high go-go boots. She looked absolutely beautiful. When it was my turn to meet her, I asked her if she had received a package Billy and I had sent her and she said, "I don't know." I then had my picture taken with her, had her sign the promo CD and told her I loved the new album and she said "Thanks." I then thanked her and it was Billy's turn to meet her. BW: After Debbie's sister Karen let me go next, I went up to Debbie's mom and said, "Hi Diane! Remember me?" She said, "Oh yes! How could I forget Disneyland and the big banner you made." Then she pointed at the T-shirt I was wearing and said, "You probably made that too." Then I shook Debbie's hand and said, "Remember me?" She said, "Yes. Hi, how are ya?" I showed her the back of my T-shirt which read "BODY MIND SOUL WORLD TOUR 1993" I said, "I'm hoping for a world tour, if you're going to?" Deb said, "I hope so! We're now working on bringing the musical for Grease to Broadway and to tour with it. Maybe we'll squeeze in a few clubdates." Then I said, "So it looks like you won't be touring?" Deb said, "We don't know yet." Oh well. With that, I had a couple of pictures taken with Debbie. I then said, "It's good seeing you, again." She said, "It's good seeing you, too." We said our goodbyes and as I was leaving, I said "Bye, Diane!" She said, "Bye bye!" In conclusion, even though the club was packed with many people, you could tell who the real big Deb fans were. When she told us she was going to sing a song from Les Miz, about five to ten people let out a cheer because they knew what she was going to sing next. Though we both enjoyed the entire evening immensely, it was way too short. We estimated that from the time Deb came onstage until the time we said goodbye to her only 45 minutes had expired. But we will always reflect on this evening as another Deb experience, and hopefully she WILL tour this summer. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= DEBBIE'S READING BETWEEN THE LINES =- Myra Wong - San Diego, California (mkwong@sdcc13.ucsd.edu / JSXS97D on Prodigy) March 29, 1993 At the Hollywood album party, my friend Caroline Tsai was lucky enough to meet Debbie. Caroline was kind enough to take that opportunity to give Debbie the latest issue of BtL (5.6). At the same time, she asked Deb if she had read the last issue (which Ken Gebauer had brought her). Debbie replied that she had "started to read it" but hadn't finished. For over a year and a half, Deb has been given BtL issues in person by many different BtL members all over the country. Since then, Debbie has become familiar with BtL. Although every issue is now postal mailed to Debbie, if you are ever given an opportunity of seeing and meeting Debbie in person, it would be great if you could give her the latest issue of BtL. Someday, when Debbie performs that last song from her classic debut album, we will know that she's singing words that are all too true: "I'm reading between the lines....." =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS =- If anyone has the answer to this question, please submit it for the next issue of BtL. Miscellaneous questions that have not been answered in a previous issue of BtL are also welcome. Q. Ray Wilmott (wilmott@remus.rutgers.edu) Was a vinyl version of _Body Mind Soul_ released in any country? If so, does anybody have information on where to obtain one? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= DEBWATCH =- Here's a summary of the significant television appearances that Debbie has made between 3/2/93 - 3/30/93: 3/6/93 : ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT 3/13/93 : VH-1 TOP 21 COUNTDOWN Deb hosted the weekly Top 21 countdown from the celebrity weekend at Squaw Valley Ski Resort in California. At the end of the show, she performed "Lost In Your Eyes" accompanying herself on keyboards. Here's a summary of recent significant articles in national magazines: THE ADVOCATE : February 23, 1993, "Debbie Gibson Does The Advocate" Extensive six page article and interview with Debbie by the national gay and lesbian magazine. RAY GUN : March 1993, Issue #4, "redd kross meets debbie gibson" The members of the alternative music group Redd Kross interview Debbie on a multitude of topics. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= CLOSING REMARKS =- According to GMI, "Shock Your Mama" will be the second single in the U.S. The release date is Monday, April 5th. "Losin' Myself" has been released in Australia on two formats. The cassette single and 5" CD single both contain the same four tracks as the U.S. cassette single with "Love Or Lust" appearing twice. According to Heather Coughlin, Debbie will be performing at The Ritz in New York City on April 22nd. Tickets should be currently available. This was announced on the K104 Concert Line.