=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= B E T W E E N T H E L I N E S [tm] Volume 7, Issue 7 - June 6, 1995 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 MIKE WHALON - Mike Whalon UPDATED INTRO BY CHANNING HUMPHRIES - Channing Humphries DEBBIE GIBSON ON INSIDE EDITION - Ray Wong D.G.I.F. ONLINE - D.G.I.F. OPINIONS AND CONCEPTS - Mike Falkner PHOTO COLLAGE PROJECT - Jennifer Yeko DEBORAH ROCKS CBGB'S - Christine Rudakewycz CLOSING REMARKS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= DISCLAIMER =- Between the Lines (ISSN 1201-4826, electronic publication ISSN 1201-4834) operates on a non-profit basis. Distribution is permissible only under the condition that no part of it will be used for profit. "Between the Lines" and "BtL" are trademarks of Between the Lines. Copyright 1995, Between the Lines. This forum does not necessarily reflect the views of Deborah Gibson, Gibson Management Inc. (GMI), Electronic Music Industries (EMI), 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 lyrics by Debbie Gibson are copyrighted by EMI April Music, Inc./Possibilities Publishing, Inc. (ASCAP). =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= ADMINISTRATIVE NOTES =- Between the Lines has a central account and e-mail address. Please send all administrative requests and submissions to: BtL@egbt.org To submit articles by postal mail, please proofread and send them to the postal address listed below. 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. Submissions become the property of BtL. BETWEEN THE LINES 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 laser 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 $5.00 U.S. for 5 issues / $4.00 U.S. 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. -= BtL moderators =- Myra Wong : mkwong@ucsd.edu mkwong@ucsd.bitnet Felix Ng : fng@acca.nmsu.edu =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= INTRO BY MIKE WHALON =- Mike Whalon - Shelby Township, Michigan (User218753@aol.com) May 29, 1995 Hi! My name is Mike Whalon. I became a Debbie Gibson fan when I first heard the song "Out of the Blue." I believe that was back in 1988 or '87 (I cannot remember which). I have seen her in concert a couple of times. I saw her in Atlanta, Georgia at the Omni for the Electric Youth World Tour. I also saw her here in Michigan for the One Step Ahead Tour. I still have yet to meet her although I keep dreaming of that day. I guess I should tell you people why I became her fan. I not only became her fan because she is a great singer and is incredibly beautiful, but also because at the time she came out with _Out of the Blue_, my life was pretty messed up. I was basically living on the streets of Atlanta, Georgia. See my mom, my sister and I were fighting all the time so my mom kicked me out. Every now and then my mom would let me back in. I stayed with my Aunts and Uncles sometimes, other times I stayed with my religious friend and all the other times I was on the streets. I am 23 years old now so you guys do the math to figure out how old I was at the time. Same age as Debbie, basically. I tried to hold down jobs too although it was not easy. Anyway, I guess I was staying at my aunt's house when I saw the video for "Only In My Dreams." I could not believe it--there was someone my age who had made it. So I tried to find out all I could about her. She was someone positive that I could look up to. So I started to slowly turn my life around and listening to her every word and I tried to do everything she said to do and be through her interviews and her great music. Part of the reason I turned my life around was if I was to ever get the chance to meet my inspiration in life I knew I had to turn it around and make it better for good. I guess you could say me and Debbie kind of grew up together through the years. She inspired me to be better than I was. Anyway, a few years ago I managed to get my mom to give me a second chance and let me back in. She did and it has not been easy over the years. My mom, my sister and I have managed and now we get along just fine. I live in Michigan now with them and my new stepdad. I am also a manager at McDonald's and am doing well. I am a workaholic now. However, I am trying to be writer someday. I take advance creative writing classes down at the local college. I did manage to graduate from high school back in 1991. I have been told by several people that I am an excellent writer. I have been writing fiction stories on my word processor and hope to send them to a publisher one day. I guess you could say I owe my life to Debbie Gibson. People say now that I am the nicest person in the world. I do not know about that but it took a lot for me to get here from there. I owe it all to Debbie Gibson. Someday I hope to get to meet her to just say to her face to face thanks for helping through the years to turn my life around. I owe her my life. I know it is a debt that can never be repaid. Anyway, if she needs someone to write for her in her newsletters or anything else I would be honored. Deborah, if you are out there, I would like to say thanks. That is basically why I am and forever will be her fan and friend. You guys can contact me through America Online. My name there is user218753, e-mail me or chat with me in the Hollywood Tonight room. My real name is Mike Whalon, D.G.I.F. fan club member. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= UPDATED INTRO BY CHANNING HUMPHRIES =- Channing Humphries - Huntsville, Alabama (chumphri@uahcs2.cs.uah.edu) May 25, 1995 +NRG (POSITIVE ENERGY): AN INTRO REPRISE I'm 23 1/2 now, and I recently got a co-op job, so I can finally say that I'm a D.G.I.F. member--#11378! My original Intro appears in BtL 5.10 (June 1993), and I've been reading since 4.7 (July 1992). I'm a graduate student at The University of Alabama in Huntsville. I started January 1994. I've never felt like I had more in common with Miss G than I do now. There's always been the closeness of our ages--she's a year and nineteen days older than I am. I can identify so well with the lyrics she writes, and with few exceptions have liked all of her songs the first time I heard them (exceptions soon thereafter). The following is a list of points that I didn't know how else to write except that they're interests in common with her that I almost couldn't believe, especially when they were adding up. - She was in "Grease" which I loved as a movie. - I'm a big Olivia Newton-John fan, she is too. - The new album will be mostly ballads, which would be my choice if I had any say. - The new album is gearing towards the Adult Contemporary market, which would also be my choice if I had a say. If I listen to any pop, that's mostly what I listen to. I've gotten to where I don't listen to much pop though... - I've been listening to mostly country for a couple of years or so. I remember saying on Prodigy (I think it was on an ONJ board) that I'm glad I did or I would have missed so many great songs. A lot of country now is what used to be pop in the early to mid-80s, as well as some older songs. If any radio station plays Elvis, the Beatles, or the Eagles (till they released a new album) it's a country station. Country Music Television even ran an MTV Unplugged video of the Eagles "The Girl from Yesterday" (hope that's the correct title). I'm sure you all know that Deborah has been turned on to country lately. - My favorite country singer is Reba McEntire. She doesn't write very much, but she has a great voice! Her show is just that--a show! Deborah commented in the latest D.G.I.F. that she also loved Reba's show and Reba's a true performer. I also like songs by Tanya Tucker and Vince Gill, but Reba's my favorite. I have a picture of me with Reba too. Reba's fan club is cheaper than Deborah's, so I joined it with some leftover birthday money. Reba has a member's only fan club party where she signs autographs and lets us have pictures made with her. She stayed until about 5 A.M.! We got to gather in a group after the concert to ask her questions (no time for autographs and pictures with her, but we can take pictures). I listened to _Anything Is Possible_ awhile back, for the first time in months. I skipped some of the fast tracks, but the ballads brought back so much. I had forgotten how vocally great the album was. I can identify well with so many of the lyrics, and some of them, by the way, my sister must have felt when she and her husband were separated. Things change so much so fast, but some things never change. My first CD was _Out of the Blue_ in 1989 when I was planning on getting a CD player for graduation. My first CD-ROM was the BtL archive and it will probably be awhile before I have a drive. Luckily I have one on my computer at work. I really liked it. I agree with someone's suggestion for index pages, especially with number filenames. I think if another one is done, it would be good for someone to collect pictures from all the BtL members and scan them, so we can place faces with the articles we read. (Pictures alone, any pictures with Deborah could be another directory.) I don't log in to school as often as I used to, and when I do I don't always have time to read all of BtL. I used to be sure and read the "DebWatch" section in case she would be on television. I got BtL 7.3 and read about half. When 7.4 came out I was absolutely heartbroken to learn that Deborah was in Nashville and I didn't know about it. Only 2 hours away! I was the "producer" or project manager for a team in my class and we had a presentation that night. I guess I should have been in class anyway, even though I wasn't going to speak--I spoke for an earlier project. Imagining Deborah singing "Your Love Amazes Me" made up for some of it. That's a great song. Someone else (besides John Berry) sang it on some show, and I'm almost positive it was Vince Gill. I think the official switch to the AC market would be a good time to switch to Deborah on the label. (Surely I'm not alone.) All the little talk show people could ask her if it's some ploy to seem all-grown-up or whatever, and she can honestly say that she's always preferred it. I'm looking forward to the new album, and I send +NRG to Deborah for success! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= DEBBIE GIBSON ON INSIDE EDITION =- Ray Wong - Hayward, California (negativl@netcom.com) June 2, 1995 On Monday, 29 May 1995, "Inside Edition" aired a story focusing on Deborah and the pending release of her new album. Anything that's my comment or description is in square brackets and generally at the beginning of the line [like this]. DN == Deborah Norville, Host of Inside Edition. V == Voiceover, presumably reporter Bonnie Strauss. Deb == Debbie Gibson [and she looks great, as always, in all footage, BTW] F == Friend's voice, not specifically identified. [could be either friend Iris, or Melissa Hayden] "Interview footage" refers to all "Inside Edition" news footage, including her performing in her apartment on her piano. DN: ...Coming up next, she first was a teen dream, then a stage sensation, now Debbie Gibson's reinvented herself again... [commercial break] DN: She'd gone triple platinum by the time she was 17. We'll chat with Debbie Gibson in a moment, but first here's what's coming up on the next Inside Edition. [typical "Inside Edition" trailer] DN: ...Finally, she's a singer, a songwriter, an actress and a producer, but she's still probably best remembered as a squeaky clean teen. Well, Debbie Gibson's all grown up now, and with a new record coming out, she's adding another line to her resume. Bonnie Strauss reports. [video footage from "Lost In Your Eyes" video, including music track] I get lost in your eyes and I feel my spirits rise and soar like the wind... V: She was a Top 40 teen icon with a string of triple platinum hits. Most of her fans remember her as the good girl from the 80's. [Fade to interview footage, she's wearing what looks like a black CK Calvin Klein t-shirt, this footage is of her playing LIYE on the piano, music fades from the video to this performance.] Oh is this love that I am in? [cut to later in the song, still from interview footage, as the voiceover resumes] Don't know why Something's there we can't deny V: Seven years later, she has evolved into a sexy, self-possessed and sophisticated woman. Deb: The music now is about my personal life, where I'm at as a 24 year old young woman, [video cuts from "interview" singing to interview itself] so it's very honest and it's very pure and... it's very emotional. ["You're The One That I Want" London Grease video footage] V: Many teen pop stars fade and lose fans as they age. But Gibson stayed in the spotlight. Thriving on the London stage last year as Sandy in the musical Grease. [cut to Les Miz "On My Own" footage] V: And then on Broadway in a major supporting role in the successful Les Miserables. A long way from New York's Long Island. Deb: I always, always had people telling me, "You can't do this. You're from Long Island. How do you expect to be on Broadway? You can't go into the city and be on..." What do you mean? It's an hour away! Of course I'll get to be on Broadway someday... [brief clip from "Losin' Myself" video] V: From good girl to vamp, she proved she could do it all. [interview footage] Deb: I did like a couple of sexier videos because I all of a sudden I went, "Wow, I have a body! I have this side of me that I haven't shown yet." Umm, and I started kind of... playing around with that side of things. [still photo of Mom and Deb, followed by one of Deb with her sisters, then back to interview footage during voiceover] V: Debbie's evolution was helped by her mother who raised the family after divorce, three sisters who she says keep her humble, and her long time friend Iris and soap opera actress Melissa Hayden who help her transcend back to the world of a 24 year old, and men. F: Poor John. He's stuck on Wall Street on a beautiful day like today. [laughter] [cut to interview footage in park] Deb: Hey catch! [throws something to someone off-camera] V: When she's not working on her new album, [roller blading footage of Deb with Iris and Melissa] Deb: Major hill. [leans forward to pick up speed] V: Debbie hangs out in New York's Central Park. Deb: [looks over shoulder to her friends] Are you with me, team, are you with me? F: No, I'm not [laughter] [still photo from stage dive is shown during voiceover] V: From Roller Blading to stage diving after performing at a New York City Club, the former teen icon's life could probably best be reflected in this song from her new album. [cut back to interview footage, playing "For Better Or Worse"] You can know me fully and never fully understand Deb: [voiceover on top of her own signing] One of my favorite songs from the album is a song called "For Better Or Worse" and it's basically about unconditional love which is, I think an ongoing theme in my personal life. You can drive me crazy [fades to CBGB's showcase performance footage, music is also faded to match] like only you can Life's blessing, life's curse, For better or worse... You can leave me stranded or hold me with your eyes Deb: [voiceover on top of her own signing] What I love about how my career has gone up to this point, is that I've always, always put my head down on the pillow at night, and I've been able to say that I've done, honestly what I felt like I wanted to do, and I that's really all you can hope for I think in everything you do. Come home empty-handed... [fade to Deborah Norville] DN: Debbie's new album, "From My Heart [sic]," hits the stores July 4th. And that's it for today, I'm Deborah Norville... Commentary: Well, I must admit this is the first time I've bothered to watch "Inside Edition" in quite a while. The odds are significant I won't bother to watch again for a longer time, but I was rather pleased with their coverage in this story. As always, there is just something utterly MAGICAL about Deborah. "For Better Or Worse" is an absolutely GORGEOUS song. I really hope a large number of people have caught this, as the song is too good to let people miss it. I think Deborah does an excellent job in evaluating her career to date, and that she definitely knows who she is and what she is trying to do right now. This woman has clearly learned to accept who she is, and is quite comfortable with the emotions she's been experiencing in life. I think "Inside Edition" has managed to figure out that this is indeed a woman who isn't afraid to pursue her dreams, and that she has the confidence and perseverance to realize those dreams. They really do a fantastic job of showing how complex an individual she is, and the broad range of her talents. I would have liked to see a bit more coverage of her family, since she's made it clear in the past that she is very close to her mom and sisters. I also noticed that the facts provided don't seem quite accurate. The reversal of the order of Les Miserables and Grease seems like it might be an attempt to build up to credibility, instead of the likely case of simple carelessness it probably is. Overall, I'll say that this was a nice feature, and probably introduced quite a few people to one of the most moving songs I've heard in quite a while. The mistakes really aren't that big of a deal, as I've heard similar mistakes in stories about bigger name artists like Michael Jackson. This is some of the first real coverage I've managed to hear about in quite a while. It certainly reaches a much broader audience than the typical music news sources. Everything that might be brought up as a question is covered, and Deborah's maturity and talent are clearly evident. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= D.G.I.F. ONLINE =- D.G.I.F. - Huntington, New York (DGIF@aol.com) June 5, 1995 We were thrilled to be able to offer some fans tickets to come down to see Debbie perform a couple of weeks ago at CBGB's Gallery in NYC where she was performing at an ASCAP showcase. I'm sure those of you who were there would agree, it was definitely a magical performance - complete with candelabras (something she wants to use more often in performance). The new newsletter is at the printers and is an 8 page newsletter again. It should be mailed out by June 15. However, the next magazine will be a 16 page full color issue and will hopefully go out in July. We know these are rather close together, but we are trying to get back on schedule. As many of you know, D.G.I.F. has a new hotline number you can call at 212-803-5425. It will give you the most up-to-date information available and occasionally have personal messages from Debbie herself (there is one on there now). We've got many calls regarding Deb's appearance with The Circle Jerks at CBGB's. No, she hasn't gone "punk." It was just a fun thing to do, complete with stage-diving! However, there is no long-term significance to it (musically or personally). The album is still scheduled for release July 4th (in-store date) with the first single being "For Better Or Worse." There is no commercial single being released since the album is going to be in the stores at the same time. Many people have asked about the International release of _Think With Your Heart_. As of right now I can confirm that South East Asia and Japan are both releasing the album simultaneously with the U.S. for July 4th or thereabouts and that Debbie is planning a three week trip to both areas at the end of July/beginning of August for promotion. The rest of Europe (with the exception of the U.K. oddly enough) and Canada are also releasing, but I don't have specific information on that yet. The Japanese release with have two bonus tracks on it (for those of you that look for those things: "You Know Me" and "You Call Yourself A Lover" - two upbeat songs that weren't included on the U.S. release, but will probably be future "B"-sides). That's all for now! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= OPINIONS AND CONCEPTS =- Mike Falkner - Milwaukee, Wisconsin (mfalkner@csd.uwm.edu) May 30, 1995 Some interesting responses this time around. So let's get right to them. First, some questions by Levien de Braal: 1> Considering what you've heard about it so far, what is your prediction of commercial success for _Think With Your Heart_? (number of albums sold?) Most of the answers were between 200,000-500,000, though some optimistic souls thought it might go platinum [1 million]. Shelley Hayhurst still hopes for the best: "I think TWYH is going to be Deb's best album yet, in terms of accomplishments. As for sales... I don't know... I think it'll go double platinum through the adult contemporary audience. I hope anyway." As do we all, Shelley. As do we all. 2> Do you regard Deb's career commercially oriented (on scale 0-10) ? Here are basically the schematics: 0-two votes 2-two votes 3-three votes 4-one vote 5-three votes Robert Evans gave an interesting answer: "If we are talking about Deborah making music only for the benefit of building up a large bank account... I'd say give her a "5" simply because I know she wants to make enough money to live comfortable, but at the same time I think she really enjoys her career. If she only wanted commercial success, I could see her maybe staying with Atlantic or doing anything for attention i.e. posing for Playboy, doing the outrageous just to get into the news, taking on film roles such as the Sister Act II role. She turned down that role so she could be in Grease because it was something she had always wanted to do." Eric Vansickle: "You know what, I don't really see Deb's career to be really commercially motivated. Sure, it would be nice to sell records, but I get the feeling that she's been in it for about 8 years now just because she lives to sing and record songs. I think the commercial aspect is just a byproduct of her early successes. On the scale from 0-10, I'd give the commercial motivation a 4." 3> If you had to make a choice between D.G.I.F. and BtL membership, which would choose and why? D.G.I.F. 5 BtL 5 Very interesting. Robbie Po sums up both sides really well: "You know, this is a very very difficult question! At first, I said BtL hands down, but now I think I'd pick D.G.I.F. Why? Though BtL is much much more informative, D.G.I.F. has the 'straight from Deb' word with the handwritten message from Deb and the Q&A section (I guess now it's the Fan Forum) to which Deb responds. So though I'd get much much less information, I would still get the word from Deb. Fortunately for us, we can have our cake and eat it, too!" 4> How many hours a week do you nowadays listen to Debmusic? Anywhere from 1-2, 2-3, 5-7, 40% of all the music listened to, 10 or so, NONE [how could you?? =)], "whenever I get the urge," et cetera. Robert Evans sent in this one: 5> What made you a fan of Deborah's, and likewise why do you continue to be a fan of hers? Harold Hutchinson: "Why did I become a Debbie Gibson fan? Well, first it was primarily catchy music and the fact she was VERY pretty. Nowadays, I see an optimistic message not often heard outside of Rush Limbaugh or Newt Gingrich. If any one musician was to be the OFFICIAL musician for Rush's show, I would expect Debbie Gibson to be a finalist." Robert Evans answers his own question: "Hearing the first songs Deborah sang on the radio off of the _Out Of The Blue_ album and seeing her perform live on Atlantic's Anniversary show. That's what made me a fan. I continue to be a fan because of the love I have for Deborah's voice i.e. vocal range and the diversity of her talent, i.e. Broadway, Les Miz, Grease, singer/songwriter talent. There's a lot more to Deb than meets the eye." Fabrico Courtois with an interesting answer: "I am a STRAIGHT guy. I like people who speak their mind now. No game playing, in the music industry, try to find that. I have been looking for a STRAIGHT girlfriend for a long time. Either they drink and/or smoke, do drugs, get pregnant out of wedlock, etc. So, in a way Deborah represents to me the kind of woman I'd be glad to find and marry in the prospect of building a family. She keeps my mind focus on what I really want. But, wait a minute... I found her. :-)" Eric Vansickle: "What made me a fan of Deborah's, and what makes me continue so, is her music, pure and simple. She has a great talent in her singing, and I really like her songs. I am a kind of a person who sticks to his guns and doesn't give up on someone or something or some team. I am also a Chicago Cub, Bull, Bear, and Blackhawk fan and an Iowa Hawkeye fan and I haven't changed since I have become one. I also have not dropped a single class, which, I think, is rare here at the University of Iowa. That shows how devoted I am to something and is an example why I stay a fan of Deb's." Levien de Braal: "The music made me pay attention. Her being different from all other musicians and me agreeing to that, made me a fan. I didn't join D.G.I.F. after I got in contact with BtL though. If it wasn't for BtL, I would've forgotten all about Deborah by now. Why I continue, I don't really know. I'm at a moment where I'm basically sitting back and waiting for things to happen. SBK doesn't seem to care anymore, same even for GMI(!). If they don't make an effort, I don't see why I should. I have no idea what their goals are, and how they are planning to get there. I'm too confused about the long list of bad news we've had in the last years. I almost feel that all the bad news is putting me in a more negative mood than Deb's music has made me feel good in the first place." And a few questions from me: 6> Do you believe that Deborah's publicized recording with the Circle Jerks will: HELP THE NEW ALBUM HURT THE NEW ALBUM MAKE NO DIFFERENCE Votes: 0 2 6 Fabrice Courtois: "I guess it all depends on how much exposure they will have themself. And how Deborah is going to reinforce that link with them. Beside, who knows really what they are all about. Maybe the song is about destroying negativity. What about that Mike?" Levien takes an opposing view: "I think I made my viewpoint rather clear on the list. I think there's a good chance that program directors will either not take her serious or play FBoW while remembering the audience of her not knowing what kind of music she really wants to make. That'll make it less likely for AC listeners to take the gamble of buying the entire album. They won't be sure what to expect. (Please note the effect is only worsened since there's no single out.)" 7> Do you feel that D.G.I.F., in being on the Internet, is getting away from dealing with those fans who are not on the 'Net?? 4 7 Robert Evans: "No, I don't see D.G.I.F. dealing any less with fans not on the Internet, but the fans on the Internet are just more up to date at a much faster speed, for having this access is very helpful...for example the Nashville "meet & greet" information would not have been available had it not been for computer access with D.G.I.F. I look at this the same way I look at people who have cable T.V. vs. those who do not. More is better if you can access it, but there are always going to be information limits." 8> Do you think that Deborah could _EVENTUALLY_ cross over into country music? 6 5 9> In your opinion, what lasting legacy will Deborah leave on music? Myra Wong: "I think that Ms. Deborah Gibson will be remembered as an intriguing songwriter and performer who achieved much at a young age, yet continued to grow as a music artist and performer. She will be known for her extraordinary love songs (starting with her first two #1s "Foolish Beat" and "Lost In Your Eyes") as well as her theater dream roles as Eponine (Broadway debut in Les Miserables), Sandy (Grease), and Fanny Brice in the 21st century revival of "Funny Girl." B.J. Law: "I don't even know what legacy she's left so far, how can I know what she will leave later. So far, she was a smashing success in the late eighties pop scene. If she does anything else, we'll find out then. What good is a legacy anyway? I mean, Deborah will die and there's no hope retreading the past anyway. I guess the only legacy that matters is that she entertains at least all of us here." Shelley Hay: "She already has one... the youngest female ever to write, produce, and sing a #1 song. I hope she can just add to the list in the future. It really depends on the sales. I know _I'll_ remember her for being the most "real," generous person the music business." Finally, a question akin to number 5: 10> You're talking to someone in the music business, and you tell this person that Deborah is one of your favorites. This person tells you words to the effect of, "Look, this woman is past her prime. She hasn't had a top ten hit in 6 years. Why don't you move on??" How do you respond?? Levien summed most answers up quite nicely: "I'd say that I *AM* moving on, and so is Debbie. I'd also say that I don't let the charts decide what I listen to, that I prefer to make up my own mind." That said, here's some questions for this poll... You can either e-mail your responses to me at or snail-mail them to me at: Mike Falkner, 2636 N Newhall St., Basement Apt., Milwaukee, WI 53211 Deadline for submissions is: July 5, 1995 I ESPECIALLY want to hear from all you guys that get BtL through the postal mail!! Where are all of you?? 1> You have a time machine and a Debbie Gibson CD. Which CD would you take to what point in time to play for whom? [Assuming you brought the CD player and enough batteries, etc.] 2> What are YOU looking for in this next album? 3> What's the best way that you believe you can congratulate Deborah for her new album? 4> Hate to sound morbid, but: What Debbie Gibson song would you want to play, as a tribute, something to remember you by, whatever, at your funeral? 5> If this were Deborah's last album [only an assumption!!], what would you like to see her accomplish while this album is out? 6> Deborah made a big deal about climbing a tree in a letter in the last BtL. What thing that you did when you were a child would you like to have Deborah join you in doing? 7> Will Deborah's mature look help her or not? YES NO 8> Finally, as we turn the page to the new album, what do you feel Deborah has learned about herself, us, and the world of music that she can take and give in this album? Poll submissions are due: July 5, 1995 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= PHOTO COLLAGE PROJECT =- Jennifer Yeko - Norwalk, Connecticut (JENNIFERYEKO@delphi.com) June 3, 1995 Calling all Deb fans: Finally, I'm collecting photos for my infamous (or soon to be) collage. Just send me a photo of yourself (no larger than 4"x6" and if you have one of Deb and you together, even better!) with your name, address and phone number the back; put it on a Post-It note so it doesn't ruin the picture and stick to the back of the photo. I will take all the photos and make a big collage of all of us to give to Deb for the release of _Think With Your Heart_. Yes, that means send them in before July 4th as I'd like to give/mail it to her as close to the release date as possible. It will probably be a big poster in the shape of a heart; when I have collected all the pictures I will start work on it. Also, if you want, write her a message on an 8.5"x11" piece of paper and I will also make a "scrapbook" to give to her from all us fans--say "best of luck on the new album" or whatever you want. You can decorate the paper in any way you please but try not to fold it too much when mailing it to me. You can use any color paper, decorations, messages, photos, etc. that you want. Hopefully this will be a great keepsake for Deb! Well, I think that's about it. Feel free to have any other fans send in their picture and message too! E-mail me if you have any questions. Thanks! Jennifer Yeko ATTN: DG Photo Collage P.O. Box 2128 Norwalk, CT 06852-2128 U.S.A. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= DEBORAH ROCKS CBGB'S =- Christine Rudakewycz - Clifton, New Jersey (crudakew@sitvaxc.stevens-tech.edu) June 2, 1995 I cannot describe the elation I felt over being chosen to see Deborah perform at CBGB's in New York City. It was a golden opportunity, a chance to hear Deb's new material before most people on this planet. All day on May 25th I dashed about in a frenzy. 12:00. I should eat lunch but I'm too excited. 1:00. Do I have everything? My Between the Lines book, the BtL newsletters, gift, and letter in a Disney bag (direct from my trip to Florida), money, ID, etc. in my purse. 2:00. Change into my jeans, brown shoes, and photo t-shirt. It's the photo of Deb and me at Oheka Castle, the one in D.G.I.F. Vol. 6 No. 3. 3:00. Seven more hours till I see Deborah on stage!!! I'm jumping up and down all over the house. My mother can't wait for me to go either. 4:00. Grab an early dinner, do my makeup, brush my hair. 4:55. One final rehearsal in front of the mirror. "Hi....I'm Christine, the one who sneaked out to see you at Oheka Castle last year...." 5:00. I'm off!!! I first drove to North Arlington to pick up Ken Gebauer. Although he was eagerly awaiting the show, Ken looked as calm and composed as if this were a typical day. Not so with me...I'm sure everyone within a two-mile radius could tell that this was no typical day for me. We took the 5:46 train to Hoboken and the 6:12 PATH to 9th Street in Greenwich Village. After a short walk we arrived at CBGB's about 6:45. There were two doors--the "main" door which read CBGB-OMFUG, the site of Deb's stage-diving incident; and the door to the Gallery, a much smaller locale. The performance would be in the Gallery, where a sign next to the door listed the evening's entertainment: Ricky Byrd, Dayna Kurtz, Gordon Chambers, Robert Ellis Orrall, and Debbie Gibson. Ken and I stood outside to wait for Sara Gauchat, Jen Mussi, and Jen Yeko. Sara and Jen Mussi arrived shortly afterwards, and we chatted enthusiastically for several minutes. Occasionally I glanced into the club and noticed people staring back at us. Sure enough, the door opened and a lady I recognized immediately (the family resemblance is unmistakable) said, "Hi, I'm Karen Gibson. Are you the contest winners?" I glanced at my t-shirt. How did you guess, Karen? She invited us inside as soon as we were ready, stating that the reserved seats would be filling up quickly. I told her that I was still waiting for Jen, and we conversed briefly. Sara and I both expressed our appreciation for all that she is doing on the Internet. Around 7:00 Jen arrived and I could wait no longer--I had to go inside. The club was much smaller than I expected. A bar on one side led to a room not much larger than the living room in my house. This chamber was replete with tiny black tables and chairs, enough for about fifty people. The stage, elevated maybe six inches off the floor, could barely fit the grand Baldwin piano. I walked on, looking for Sara who was saving me a seat. I saw her in the front. All the way in the front. She pointed to my seat and my eyes widened --the chair was touching the stage! Wow. I did not think that anything would top Oheka Castle, but this did. The "ASCAP Quiet on the Set" program began around 8:00, with each artist performing 30-40 minutes. After Robert Ellis Orrall finished, it became apparent that the final performer was someone very special. Six or eight crewmen appeared, placing grand, majestic candlesticks all over the stage. One began to clean the piano keys while others set up video cameras. Even Karen walked up and placed a tall glass of water next to the piano bench. We had waited all day for this moment, and it was finally here. When Deborah was introduced, she confidently walked over to the piano and began playing immediately. The songs were: 1. For Better Or Worse 2. Didn't Have The Heart 3. Foolish Beat/Lost in Your Eyes medley 4. Two Young Kids 5. Too Fancy 6. A song with Robert Ellis Orrall 7. Let's Runaway 8. Will You Love Me Tomorrow? After singing "For Better Or Worse," Deborah mentioned that she was sick of playing these songs in her living room and annoying her neighbor. She also discussed the stage-diving incident--"Was I supposed to go head first?" Jordan Goldstein said no, to which Deb replied, "I'm surprised that someone who listens to my music would know the answer to that!" On the same topic, she continued, "I just found out what a circle jerk is...so did my mother. Calm down, Mom..." The songs were all excellent. I cannot describe them any better than Mike Falkner did after Tin Pan South. The only new one was "Two Young Kids," and Deborah told its story: When Deb was in Grease, she met a couple who had been married for over fifty years. They inspired her to write the song about a similar couple, and how "two young kids are wishing they were us." (I think those are the correct lyrics.) It's about a husband and wife staying romantic through the years and never losing their love for each other. My favorite song was "Too Fancy." It was very upbeat, and Deborah seemed to have a lot of fun with it. She displayed her acting skills through all sorts of facial expressions, much to everyone's delight. All of the songs had simple melodies. Each was beautiful in its own way, and each left its own lasting impression on the audience. After the show, Deborah first took a group picture with all the people from CBGB's, then mingled with other guests. While she was socializing, Jordan unrolled his huge poster from the "No More Rhyme" video. Deborah turned around and saw it--you should have seen the look on her face! She looked quite surprised. The meet and greet was held across from the bar in a roped-off area. It was the typical get-an-autograph-and-picture scenario, only Diane was not there. Karen acted as security instead. I was more nervous than I thought I'd be. It was my third time meeting Deborah, but it felt like my first. When I approached her, the first thing she noticed was my t-shirt. She said "Oh, wow!" quite genuinely, which made me very happy. I said (just as I'd rehearsed), "I'm the one who sneaked out to see you at Oheka last year." She said, "Oh, yeah!" Again, it seemed that she had a real recollection, which made me strongly believe that she read the story I had given her last year. (Yes!!!) I then gave her my Between the Lines book and asked her to sign it for Alexandra. Alexandra is a good friend of mine who is seven months shy of her 16th birthday, who would have done anything to see the show. (The club was 16-and-over.) Deborah graciously signed, "Alexandra--we missed you! (heart) Debbie Gibson." I cannot wait to give it to her. I then pulled out BtL issues 7.4 and 7.5, each bound in a Mead "Kwik Clip" report cover for added class (only the best for Deb). I said, "Myra Wong asked me to give these to you...they're the newsletters..." Deborah smiled in recognition, but Karen said "I'll take those" so I gave them to her. I then brought forth the final gift. I explained, "I just came back from Florida and got you this." I handed her (or rather, Karen) the Disney bag containing my letter and present. Karen said, "She'll open it later," which I expected, given the long line behind me. Then I had my picture taken with her, and that was it. I said goodbye to everyone and ran to catch the 12:35 train leaving Hoboken. I got home, ate some leftover meatloaf, and went to bed. What a day! This was without a doubt the greatest show I have ever attended. It was worth anything. It was worth having my seat stolen by a cameraman, forcing me to sit on the floor during "Too Fancy." Deborah was positively radiant, and her energy seemed boundless. She was always smiling and making the audience feel like a part of her. She reminded me time and time again why I became a fan in the first place. I would like to thank everyone involved--CBGB's, the entire Gibson family --for making the performance so successful, and for giving all the fans an extraordinary experience. We greatly appreciate your efforts and for being so friendly and accommodating. Everyone was so nice that I felt like a family member instead of a fan. I will never forget that night, and I know that no one else will either. THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= CLOSING REMARKS =- Although Deborah could not take time out of her hectic pre-album schedule to appear on this past weekend's Children's Miracle Network Telethon, they showed her 1992 performance of "On My Own." Debbie's first personal hotline message to her fans was put on the D.G.I.F. hotline on Tuesday, May 30th. Can you believe that the next issue of BtL is already in the works? Depending upon the amount of submissions received in the next few weeks, BtL 7.8 will be released either in mid or late June. More articles about Deborah's performance at CBGB's are welcome. Don't forget about our ongoing best article contest. The first set of articles from this year (before the release of the fifth album) will be judged in early July by the BtL moderators. Thanks to everyone who has submitted articles so far this year!