=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= B E T W E E N T H E L I N E S [tm] Volume 8, Issue 3 - March 22, 1996 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 AMY LOUNSBURY - Amy Lounsbury INTRO FROM MARTIN BYRNE - Martin Byrne INTRO BY ANGIE YAN - Angie Yan INTRO BY KIM FERNS - Kim Ferns INTRO BY JEFF HALL - Jeff Hall GREASE! IN SAN DIEGO '96 - Archie Medrano D.G.I.F. CONVENTION SURVEY - Jennifer Yeko DATE WITH DESTINY OR DISAPPOINTMENT... - Melissa Fosseen NEW SONG PERFORMED AT CBGB'S - Ray Wong DEB'S CLOSING WEEK IN GREASE - Ron Coulter FAREWELL TO DEBORAH - Melissa Kramlinger 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 1996, Between the Lines. This forum does not necessarily reflect the views of Deborah Gibson, GMI Entertainment, Inc., Electric And Musical 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 Deborah Ann's Music (ASCAP) or 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@btl.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 $4.25 Cdn. for 5 issues / $2.50 Cdn. for back issues on disk United States $4.25 U.S. for 5 issues / $2.50 U.S. for back issues on disk International $6.00 U.S. for 5 issues / $3.50 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 Felix Ng : fng@btl.org =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= INTRO BY AMY LOUNSBURY =- Amy Lounsbury - Framingham, Massachusetts (amyl@student.umass.edu) February 20, 1996 I've been reading BtL for quite a while now. I thought it was about time I introduce myself... My name is Amy. I'm a 21-year-old journalism student at UMass in Amherst, Massachusetts. I have been a Debbie Gibson fan from the very start. I can still remember the first time I heard "Only In My Dreams" on the radio. I was really impressed by her young age. My sister bought her tape and I loved to listen to it, though I did not know what I was getting myself into until I decided last-minute to go to her concert on July 1, 1988. This was the first stop on her Out of the Blue Tour. From that night on, I was hooked! Debbie had an incredible stage presence and an incredible voice. I also saw her perform the next summer on her Electric Youth World Tour. I was ecstatic when I learned in 1992 that Debbie would be playing Eponine in Les Miserables! My parents and I bought tickets early and I counted down the days. However, the minute I entered the theater, my heart sank. Right in front of me was a sign that said, "At this performance, the role of Eponine will be played by..." Debbie was not there! I was devastated. Unfortunately, we could not afford to purchase more tickets and make the trip to New York again, so I never got to see Debbie perform in the show. This past summer my dream finally came true, though! I met Debbie at Borders in Peabody--part of her _Think With Your Heart_ promotional tour. This was one of the most exciting nights of my life. I will never forget it. It proved to me what I had known all along...Debbie Gibson is one of the sweetest, most sincere people I have ever met. Rather than just sign autographs and move on to the next person, she took the time to talk to each person individually. She really appreciates her fans. I can only hope to someday make someone as happy as Debbie Gibson has made me. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= INTRO FROM MARTIN BYRNE =- Martin Byrne - Dublin, Ireland (mjbyrne@iol.ie) February 23, 1996 Hi fellow Deb fans! I've been a BtL reader for a few months now, so I thought I should send an introduction. My name is Martin Byrne, I'm 23 years old and am a native Dubliner, and have been a fan of Deborah's since I first heard her British debut single "Only In My Dreams," way back in late summer '87. It's the usual story: I was doing nothing in particular at home one day, when the presenter of a television music show introduced a new single by a young lady who wrote and produced her own material... I turned the sound up to hear more and I've never regretted it! What I have regrets about however, is that I've never met Deb, nor even seen her live. (I know a lot of you can empathise with me!) It was frustrating in '89, when she supported Bros at Wembley, and in 1993, when she starred in _Grease_ in London, I was unemployed, so I couldn't afford to go. (If you're reading, Deborah, *please* come to Ireland: I want to see you live!) Anyway, I bought all her early singles, and all her albums, but it became difficult finding out what she was doing until Grease in '93, and the situation was the same when she finished in London. I got online last year and couldn't believe the amount of fans I discovered that are on the Net. It was thanks to BtL that I found out that Debbie had released _Think With Your Heart_ last year. I bought it (on import) a couple of weeks later, and have never been so impressed with an album! There have been plenty of reviews in BtL, so I needn't say anything more than this: it is superb, from the first song to the last, and is always playing in my house! To conclude, I would like to thank Deborah for making music that's taken me through the good and bad times of my life. Songs that have special meaning to me are "For Better Or Worse," "Goodbye," "Lost In Your Eyes," "Anything Is Possible" and "Two Young Kids." =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= INTRO BY ANGIE YAN =- Angie Yan - Singapore (yanling@singnet.com.sg) March 16, 1996 I am a fan of her and I first got to know her songs through the album _Electric Youth_. I love her songs but didn't buy her any other albums until I saw her concert in Singapore in 1990. I was totally mesmerised by her performance and went in search of her past albums and the current one, and I have never looked back ever since. I collected all her albums and I also bought two videos of her which feature songs from her first two albums. After that I could not get anything of hers except her albums. Last year, she was in town to promote her latest album and I had a chance to meet her in person. She is so nice, but I got all tongue tied and couldn't say all those things that I wanted to say. Lastly I would like to say that I think her latest album is simply wonderful and it's my favourite album. I will be visiting the states in May this year and hope to have information about joining her fan club as well as getting her music videos (from the album _Anything Is Possible_ onwards). Thanx. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= INTRO BY KIM FERNS =- Kim Ferns - Woodhaven, Michigan February 8, 1996 Hi! My name's Kim Ferns and I'm from Woodhaven, Michigan. I'm a freshman in college majoring in Journalism and radio-television. I have been a Debbie fan ever since I first heard "Only In My Dreams." Although I had been a fan for many years, I had never got the chance to see her live till the summer of '95. My friend and I drove to Chicago, Illinois to see Debbie during her promo tour. This was the most exciting day of my life. Not only did I finally get to see Debbie, but I also got to meet her. Even though I was so nervous, and all I said to her was "Hi," it was still great! A few months later my friend and I went to see Debbie in Grease! twice. I thought she was fabulous as Rizzo. As for the _Think With Your Heart_ CD, I love it! This is my favorite Debbie album so far. Well I guess that's all, but if there's anyone who wants to talk about Debbie or anything else, feel free to write me via snail mail. Kim Ferns 21225 Danbury Woodhaven, MI 48183 U.S.A. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= INTRO BY JEFF HALL =- Jeff Hall - Holiday, Florida (Jhall1@osprey.unf.edu) February 15, 1996 How I Became A Deb Fan My name is Jeff Hall and I am a 19 year old freshman at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. I have only been a Debbie Gibson fan for about a year and a half. Back in the late 80's, I watched a lot of MTV, but Deborah's music never caught my fancy. The way I became a fan is quite unique, in my opinion anyway. Here's my story. People in high school always made fun of me because I liked 80's music. I never knew anything about current music and my friends often accused me of living in the past. I was embarrassed to say (for some reason) that my favorite singers were Cyndi Lauper and Belinda Carlisle. One of the few people I talked to about my music tastes was my good friend Val, even though she likes alternative music. Back in 1994, I had bought one of those 80's compilation tapes off T.V. (Totally 80's) and Val and I were talking about it one day. As usual, she was making fun of me (in a loving way). I told her that Debbie Gibson's song, "Only In My Dreams" was on the tape and that I really liked it. She shook her head at me at first, but then she admitted that she still had her copy of _Out of the Blue_ at home. I begged her to give it to me, and she did. I fell in love with Debbie's music almost immediately. I was never a fan of hers back in her hayday, but I now realized what I had been missing out on. "Red Hot," "Play the Field," and "Shake your Love" are my favorite songs off her debut album. After a short while, I drove down to the local used music shop and looked for more of Deborah's work. I found _Anything Is Possible_ and took it home. At first, I didn't like it, but after repeated plays, I couldn't get enough. To this day, it is still my absolute favorite album of all time. The title song is my favorite. All of the songs on AIP are so positive and inspirational that you can't help but be happy while you are listening. "One Hand, One Heart," "Mood Swings," "Deep Down," and "This So-Called Miracle" are my favorites. The maturity Deborah showcases is phenomenal. By now, I was a rabid (I don't bite) Deb fan and I knew there was at least one tape I didn't have. It didn't take long to find _Electric Youth_. The energy radiates from this album and I liked it after the first time I listened to it. Again, the title track is my favorite ("Lost in Your Eyes" is a close second). I thought I had everything until one day I was in Wal-Mart and saw _Think With Your Heart_ I couldn't believe it, a new Debbie Gibson release. I really like the maturity of this album. It picks up right where AIP left off (I didn't know about _Body Mind Soul_ at the time). Just like most people, "Dontcha Want Me Now?" is my favorite song with "Too Fancy" a close second. I also like "Two Young Kids" and "Let's Run Away" a lot. While this is an excellent album, I feel it's a little too slow. I still love it, but I wish there were a few more fast paced songs. Deborah can sing whatever she wants though, I like anything she does. Last September, I found _Body Mind Soul_ one day while I was browsing through the CD section at the used music store. I couldn't believe she had an album I didn't even know about! I bought the CD even though I didn't have a CD player. I like _BMS_ a lot, but some of the songs don't have the heart that Deborah seems to put into all her songs (probably because some were co-writes). None the less, it is still a wonderful piece of work. "Shock Your Mama," "When I Say No," and "Tear Down These Walls" are my favorites. Now that I have a CD player, I went out and bought most of Deb's music on CD. She is truly an inspirational woman and very admirable. I saw her on "Jenny Jones," "Ricki Lake," and "Step by Step" and thought she seemed really nice. Since I wasn't a fan back in the 80's, I've missed out on all the merchandise, videotapes, etc. I recently joined D.G.I.F., so I hope to acquire at least a poster or something. I have also become fans of other 80's singers since I became a Deb fan, Tiffany (I know it's a bad word!), Martika, and Kylie Minogue. None of them can compare to Deborah, she is so talented that it just boggles my mind. I've never been to a concert and I hold out some hope that maybe, someday, Deborah will come to north or central Florida. I was hoping Grease! would come, but unfortunately it didn't. Deborah's music inspires me every day and I know I will be a fan for a long time to come. If anyone would like to e-mail please do so, I don't have any friends who share my music interests. Not many 19 year olds are Debbie Gibson fans, I'm sorry to say. If they only knew. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= GREASE! IN SAN DIEGO '96 =- Archie Medrano - San Diego, California amedrano@ucsd.edu February 12, 1996 2:30 A.M., Monday, February 12, 1996 I should be preparing for my office hour tomorrow but I thought I'd write a brief summary of what happened this past week, in my perspective. Please note that this is not a complete transcription of all the events. I attended three (!) shows: February 6, 10, and 11. I couldn't attend the Planet Hollywood "event" (February 7) because I had to give an exam that day while the professor was away. Anyway... Tuesday, February 6, was the opening night for Grease! here in San Diego. Myra Wong and I arrived at the San Diego Copley Symphony Hall at about 7:30 P.M. First stop was at the booth where various Grease! items were being sold, including caps, jackets, t-shirts, CDs, keychains, postercards, and program books (one version with Adrian Zmed as Danny Zuko and another with Debbie Gibson as Betty Rizzo). I bought the "Rizzo" one, of course. Next stop was getting seated. Myra had a seat in the front row and mine was right behind hers. Those seats were great because we could actually see faces. The only setback is that everything was so loud and there was this constant annoying noise that sounded like "ear-ringing." The performances were great, especially Sutton Foster's and Debbie's, but in my humble opinion, Debbie's speaking voice didn't fit Rizzo's role because as we all know, Debbie has a mid-to-high speaking voice and doesn't sound tough at times. Anyway, after the show, Myra and I saw David Green in the lobby and then we all walked to the stage entrance where we waited for Debbie to come out. A few of the cast were already leaving, but we did catch Sally Struthers (who played Miss Lynch) coming out and she told us that she always gets out before Debbie. Then the time came and Debbie finally came out. She looked very tired but she did stop to sign a few autographs and pose for pictures. I gave her a copy of the February 1 issue of THE GUARDIAN, the UCSD twice-weekly newspaper, which has an interview with Debbie by Jeff Niesel, Hiatus (Arts & Entertainment section) Editor. I did get Debbie to sign the Rizzo poster, although it wasn't personalized since she was in a hurry (can't blame her). This weekend was more fun since other BtLers joined us. On Saturday, February 10, Ray Wong, Myra, and Jeff Liew came by my place to pick me up so we could join Kazuto Okayasu, Harvey Wong, Shaun Stuart, Craig Bernstein, and David Lemons for dinner. After dinner we headed over to the Copley Symphony Hall. Myra, Ray, Kaz (as Kazuto likes to be called), and I sat close to the back (of the orchestra section). The show was basically the same except for the standing ovation at the end. The signing and picture-taking was also similar except for getting autographs from the amazing Sally Struthers, the beautiful Sutton Foster (who played Sandy), and the surprised-and-confused Amanda Watkins (who played Marty). Debbie seemed happier (maybe due to the fact that Chris Bruno was there) and more conversable this time around. I actually got to tell her how great she was and I think she asked how I was as she signed (personalized!) the "Didn't Have The Heart" page of my issue of D.G.I.F. 7.2. Yesterday was more fun since I actually got to join the gang for lunch at 12:30 P.M., although most of us (excluding Kaz, Jeff, and me) ate breakfast (weird! :-)). Yuji Honma, who we saw at the signing the previous night, was there for "breakfast" as well. We all got to sign Deb's advance copy of the previous BtL. After lunch, we went to Kaz's car to listen to the "Didn't Have The Heart" promo CD, the London Grease CD, and _Out of the Blue_. We stood at the sidewalk looking like fools (:-)) deciding for at least an hour on what we should do as a group before the show. We spent most of the time trying to figure out how and where to watch the "Didn't Have the Heart" video since we were far away from where either of Myra and I live. We finally decided to split up and meet later. Myra, Jeff, and I went to get film developed and then to Music Trader where Jeff and I each bought a copy of Alanis (Morissette)'s self-titled first Canadian CD, although mine was an unused copy and Jeff's wasn't (Sorry Jeff! :-)). I almost bought Barry Manilow's boxed set, too, except I couldn't afford to spend 40-something dollars on it, especially since I am now broke after this past week! The show was again very similar to the previous ones except there were a few mistakes some of the cast made due possibly to having previously performed a matinee show. There was a "slow standing ovation," too. Tonight's signing wasn't as good as the previous night's. I was going to try to get a picture taken with Sally Struthers but she left before I could ask her. I was also going to try to get a picture taken with Debbie and get her to sign Jason Donahue's _Think With Your Heart_ CD booklet, but she didn't come out the stage entrance because of some lunatic across the street shouting. I did get a picture with Sutton Foster so I guess that made up for it. At least Debbie was spared from the lunatic. Well, this article has gone on longer than what I had intended. Gotta get back to preparing for office hour and then sleep. Until the next Deb-event! Thanks again, Debbie, for the great performances and for finally performing here in San Diego! Come back anytime! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= D.G.I.F. CONVENTION SURVEY =- Jennifer Yeko - Norwalk, Connecticut (JENNIFERYEKO@delphi.com) March 2, 1996 Please answer these questions and mail responses back to: Jennifer Yeko or JenniferYeko@delphi.com P.O. Box 2128 Norwalk CT 06852-2128 U.S.A. The results will be sent to D.G.I.F. to give them a better idea of how many will be attending the convention, when the best to have it is, etc. 1. Do you plan on attending? (If not, you don't need to answer the rest of the questions!) 2. How many others do you plan on bringing with you? ____ number of other D.G.I.F. members ____ number of other fans/non-D.G.I.F. members + ____ family members/others ------------------------------------------- = ____ TOTAL number anticipated to attend (including yourself) 3. What would be the most convenient month for the convention to be held this summer? ____ June 1996 ____ July 1996 ____ August 1996 ____ September 1996 4. Would you prefer the convention be held in: ____ New York City/Manhattan ____ Long Island ____ Northern New Jersey ____ other (please specify) 5. Would you be interested in a "group" discount for a hotel? 6. Which of the following events is of interest to you? (please check all that apply) ____ concert by Debbie ____ "meet and greet" with Debbie (get her autograph/have photo taken) ____ "schmooze with Debbie" - she walks around the room and tries to talk to as many fans as possible ____ Question & Answer period - ask Deb what you've always wanted to! ____ talent contest (you sing your favorite DG songs, play fave DG song on piano, etc.) ____ view her videos (from "Only In My Dreams" to "Didn't Have The Heart") ____ view other concert footage, "behind the scenes" type clips ____ listen to unreleased songs, demos, etc. ____ DG trivia contest ____ auction of her clothes from videos/personal collection for charity ____ general time to "mingle" with other fans ____ having a videotape to take home of the entire weekend (provided by D.G.I.F.) ____ other (please list other suggestions below) 7. Which statements reflect your feelings? (choose all that apply): a. I will only attend the convention if it is free to myself and others I wish to bring. b. I will attend as long as admission is no more than ____ per person. (fill in dollar amount) c. I will attend no matter what! d. I think only D.G.I.F. members should be allowed to attend. e. I think all who want to attend should be allowed in. 8. Any other comments/suggestions? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= DATE WITH DESTINY OR DISAPPOINTMENT... =- Melissa Fosseen - Fargo, North Dakota (fosseen@plains.NoDak.edu) March 13, 1996 Spring break wasn't going to be the same old thing everyone has been doing. I wasn't going to Mazatlan or Florida to lay out on the beach and fry my skin and drink like a fish (which I don't do anyway). I was going to a place that held much more in store for me. I was going to Minneapolis. Yes, usually the place is a frozen iceberg in March. But who cares about the weather when "Grease" is showing at the Historic State Theater in downtown Minneapolis...with Debbie Gibson as Rizzo? I certainly didn't care one hoot about the weather, that's for sure. So, I get downtown about an hour before the show and wait till they open the doors at 1:30. This is March 2, Deb's second to last day with the show. My brother and I finally got our seat and watched Vince Fontaine dance to the oldies and do his little DJ thing...along with a dance contest which my brother insisted on joining. Of course he wore his Debbie Gibson t-shirt from her last concert tour. Vince spotted that a mile away and called him a brown noser. By then everyone around us knew why he and I had come...to see Deb. The show was great, but it wasn't what I was so hyped about. I was hoping to meet Deb after the show. I even found out where the stage door was ahead of time so I didn't have to waste time looking for it. My brother and I waited for the crowd to dissipate and then headed outside into the 35 below windchill. We waited outside for probably 15 or 20 minutes when a lady passed us and asked if we were waiting for Deb. We said we were and she told us Deb had just left by the front door and hopped into a limo. Well, you can imagine our disappointment at missing her...and acquiring frostbite in the process. Later that night I decided I was going to go back to the afternoon show the following day and wait for her to leave. I figured I would always wonder if I could have met her if I didn't at least try. This time I waited at the front door. I waited for 35 minutes this time and too late noticed a few people piling into a gray limo. Somehow (I am assuming this was Deb again) there was another door to the place they could leave from. Now I was really disappointed. I had missed her twice and wouldn't have another opportunity to see her since it was her last night. I know everyone of you would like the chance to meet Deb and have something you would like to say to her. What would I have said? Well, since I bought my tickets back in early February, I had thought about that. Had the opportunity arisen, I probably would have said the usual, I love your music, you are a terrific singer, etc. But what I had rehearsed over and over in my head was, Deb, through your words, rhythm, and music I have been introduced to your soul. I am glad to have finally met you face to face. Yes, it is kind of corny and obviously not something one would just think of off the top of their head. But it is what I would have liked to have said. Deb, if you read this, know that there were two people in Minneapolis really looking forward to meeting you and expressing their appreciation of the gifts you have given through music. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= NEW SONG PERFORMED AT CBGB'S =- Ray Wong - Hayward, California (negativl@best.com) March 20, 1996 On May 25th, 1995, ASCAP held a show at the Gallery of CBGB's in New York, entitled, "Quiet on the Set," to showcase some of its artists. Featured performers were Ricky Byrd, Dayna Kurtz, Gordon Chambers, Robert Ellis Orrall, and Debbie Gibson. D.G.I.F. invited several fans to this event, including Christine Rudakewycz, who originally wrote of the show, in BtL volume 7, issue 7. D.G.I.F. also recorded the evening, and first offered other fans a chance to see Debbie's show that night in the form of a promotional video. This same video has apparently been used in the promotion of the _Think With Your Heart_ album, parts of it having been included in several televised reports, such as the story on the show "Inside Edition," first aired several days later, on May 29th, 1995. The video itself is approximately 36 minutes long, and contains all of Debbie's appearance that evening. Camera work is quite good, and appears to have been filmed with at least 3 cameras. The sound quality, editing, and video transfer are all very good. It's quite clear that the concerned parties intend to use this video for more than just typical archiving purposes. The one problem reported so far is that of damage in shipping, with part of the videotape cartridge being cracked. The copy I received was also cracked, but seems to still be perfectly functional. Debbie performed several of the songs, mostly from the then unreleased _Think With Your Heart_ album: For Better Or Worse Didn't Have The Heart medley of "oldies" Foolish Beat Lost In Your Eyes Two Young Kids Too Fancy Teach You To Love (with Robert Ellis Orrall) Let's Run Away Will You Love Me Tomorrow? While she has always been acknowledged as an exceptional live performer, it was certainly an even more special event for those in attendance to have heard a brand new song, lead vocals by Deborah and Robert Ellis Orrall on the piano, one of the other featured performers that night. Titled "Teach You To Love," this ballad was the third of three songs written by them in a two hour session: TEACH YOU TO LOVE (Deborah Gibson and Robert Ellis Orrall) They teach you to read They teach you to write They teach you to say Your prayers at night They teach you good manners And all that stuff But they don't teach you how to love Dad taught me fishin' Baitin' the hook Mama taught me how To sew and cook I know that they tried But what I'm dreamin' of, Is that someone's gonna teach me how to love Anyone can move a mountain If they work hard enough If it was only that easy To move someone to love They teach you to hurt They teach you to hate And learn to hold back Till it's just too late Then they teach you to run When the goin' gets tough But they don't teach you how to love They teach you to dance They teach you to sing These days they teach you Everything I know why my heart Feels like it does If someone's gonna teach me how to love Please won't you teach me how to love. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= DEB'S CLOSING WEEK IN GREASE =- Ron Coulter - St. Paul, Minnesota (rcoulter@winternet.com) March 6, 1996 Deb's final week in Grease was from Tuesday, February 27th through Sunday, March 3rd here in the Twin Cities. She did 8 shows: Tuesday-Friday at 8 P.M., Saturday 2 and 8 P.M., Sunday 2 and 7 P.M. She appeared Wednesday afternoon at the Mall of America's Planet Hollywood. I saw the Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday night performances and the Saturday matinee, as well as the Mall of America appearance. Tuesday night Grease opened at the Historic State Theater in downtown Minneapolis. It was my first time going to that theater, since it hasn't been that long since the old movie theater was restored for Broadway shows. They did a beautiful job restoring all the fancy gold leaf figures and the ornate ceilings inside the theater, and then wrapped a two-story plaza with restaurants, the YMCA and a 28-story office tower around it. What a wonderful setting for Grease!. My overall impression is that the London show was better--a more lavish stage setting, better selection of songs, better posters, show programs, playbills, souvenirs, and cast recording. Sutton Foster does take the prize for wonderful figure, and Sally Struthers is a riotous Miss Lynch. The U.S. production excels in zany humor-it may not have the best of everything, but it is just plain funny. Well, when I got home and finished watching a taped movie I'd made earlier, on at that very moment came a segment of the Carnie show entitled "Summer Fling Reunions." Who do they have as their guests offering their wise counsel on summer flings but Jeff and Lacey, the current Broadway stars of Grease. Lacey is only 17. Wise counsel is imparted to the onstage couples whose summer flings have gone bust. What an amazing coincidence that the VCR happened to be tuned at that very moment the tape was done to the middle of a show I never watch to show me the current Broadway stars of a play I just saw. Wednesday's 1 P.M. gathering in front of the Planet Hollywood, which is on the fourth level of the Mall of America, was sponsored by a local radio station. Selected listeners of the station won the opportunity to have lunch with Deborah at Planet Hollywood before the public event. Then several hundred people gathered around the little platform stage as two announcers kept stalling with hula-hoop and bubble-gum blowing contests for quite some time while the cast from Grease got ready. They introduced the lesser known members first, and then Adrian Zmed, and then Debbie Gibson. Debbie joked about staying up until 3 A.M. playing games with fellow cast members and watching "Showgirls" on pay-per-view, then having to get up at 8:30. They were quite shocked at the change in weather from San Antonio to the Twin Cities, where the announcer said it was 8 degrees Faranheit. Debbie mentioned that she will go to Los Angeles after finishing up Grease on Sunday to start planning and doing the TV pilot, and then hopes to have the summer off to relax. Debbie said in response to a question from a fan in the audience that they were thinking of having the D.G.I.F. convention in May. They presented a Grease jacket to Planet Hollywood, that in turn presented Planet Hollywood jackets to Adrian and Deborah. Someone asked what the other cast members would get and the manager said they would get some t-shirts. Deb said they really couldn't do any songs from Grease, so they did "In The Still Of The Night." Debbie was the star of the song, showing how much her vocal talent has developed since the Wonder Years/Live-In Concert recordings. Then, everyone lined up to enter the store (which is to the right of the restaurant) for autographs, where Debbie and Adrian were behind the store counter. It was quite an assembly line operation. I wish the line for a teller at the bank would move so quick. Debbie had several piles of pictures to sign for those who wanted one, and Adrian signed Grease promo fliers. Once she looked up and seemed amazed at what a line was waiting to see her. She held a baby to pose for a picture, and climbed over the counter to pose with a fellow in a wheelchair. When my turn came, I got an autographed flier from Adrian, who seemed like a nice guy, and then got my 8"x10" photo from last year's appearance at the Mall of America signed. I also had time to snap a picture of Debbie. There can never be too many. If I can go on a trip and shoot a 1000 pictures, then Debbie is certainly worth a roll! On Debbie's last performance of Grease Sunday there were a lot of pranks. Debbie gave about as good as she got. I'll describe the ones I noticed. It was funny to see the audience clueless on most of them. This is where it pays to have seen it three times already--you can spot most of the jokes. Danny threw the first punch. When he was asked if he met anyone during the summer, he said, "just that Debbie chick everyone makes it with." Debbie caught that Adrian had slipped in this derogatory mention of her--she had the look you would expect of her--Adrian would get his. Next, as Vince Fontaine was up in his little window doing his commercials and dedications, he dedicated a song to Debbie Doodles. The next prank came when Deb was showing Sandy how to chug from the wine bottle. As she took the bottle away and burped, someone slipped in the sound of a fart as well. It might have been Sandy--Deb nailed her later. Deb got back at Adrian. Rather than asking Eugene, the geek, if his mother dated Mr. Potato Head, as the line went the first three times I saw it, she asked him if his mother ever dated Adrian Zmed. Of course the implication is that Eugene was so ugly from having not Mr. Potato Head as a father, but Adrian. The whole cast played a prank on Debbie next. Miss Lynch went over the rules for the dance contest. Usually, after she gives Rule #2 about no suggestive or vulgar body movements, Deb usually says, "Well, that lets us out." But the whole cast stole her line and said it before she could. Next, before Rizzo was to sing "There Are Worse Things I Could Do," where she usually stops Sandy from leaving by saying "Where are you going Miss Goody Goody?," she said, "Where are you going Miss Tight Ass?" The audience was rather shocked by that bold, harsh, mean statement, not realizing it was a prank line. Later, as Sandy sang "Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee (Reprise)" face to face with Rizzo with their sides to the audience, she had a hard time keeping a straight face--Debbie must have been making faces. At the end, where Rizzo usually kisses Eugene to give him a thrill, she instead shoved him away and said, "only in your dreams!" Well, it was finally over, and the audience gave the cast a standing ovation. Of the four times I saw the show, in only the last two did the audience give standing ovations. Saturday it was nearly instantaneous, Sunday the first was a little slower in coming. On Tuesday and Thursday, a few stood but it just didn't happen. I wonder if people are in a better mood on the weekend than on a weekday evening. Sally Struthers gave Deb a great farewell speech, reading from a paper she has written out. Debbie had tears in her eyes as Sally said what a very special night it was, how we didn't even know it (not getting all the inside jokes), how Debbie plays a mean piano and will go back to creating wonderful songs and producing more albums, praised her talent as a gift from heaven and otherwise saying wonderful things about Debbie--she's perfect in every way--except the way she keeps her dressing room. Debbie turned from tears to great laughter in an instant. Sally said that Debbie's mother flew in for the last show, and after much pleading from the audience and explanation from Debbie that Diane wouldn't come out she finally appeared onstage to much applause from the audience and snapped a picture of Debbie onstage and they posed arm-in-arm. Debbie apologized for all of the goofy pranks. Somewhere in all that, the audience gave Debbie her own standing ovation. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= FAREWELL TO DEBORAH =- Melissa Kramlinger - St. Paul, Minnesota March 19, 1996 This is the farewell speech that Sally Struthers gave for Deborah on Sunday night, March 3, 1996. You were here for a very special show, and you probably didn't even know it. But I want to tell you about it. We've been out on the road doing this show for the past year and a half now, and tonight you saw our 585th performance. People often ask us how can we do a show like this night after night and not get tired of it. Don't we find the repetition of it unbearable? Well, the answer is no. The music makes it more than bearable. And actually, the music itself is what brings us here tonight, right? We love to sing it, the band loves to play it, and you love to hear it. And then also every once in a while something magical happens out on the road. Not only do we get to hear and sing great music every night, but someone like Deborah Gibson shows up, and we are on the receiving end of a soul brought to earth just to give the gift of music. Deborah plays a mean piano, produces prolific amounts of beautiful songs, and sings like the angel that she is. It's been our privilege and utmost pleasure to bask in this presense of her. Tonight is the last we'll get to share on this stage with her. You have more songs to write, more albums to produce, and tours in store. But we want you to know, you *will* be missed. Not only for your professionalism and manner on stage, but maybe even more for your humor and heart off stage. Deborah Gibson is a fine example of what a star *should* be, well, okay, maybe not in the way she kept her dressing room [Deb and cast laugh, breaking all the tears] but in every other way she has been a baby diva. Please help say goodbye to someone who is loved so much: Deborah Gibson." [standing ovation] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= -= CLOSING REMARKS =- Thanks go to Shaun Stuart for giving BtL 8.2 to Deb in Tempe, Arizona on Saturday, February 17th. Shaun reports that she was pleased to get it and told Steve "Kenickie" Geyer, "I find out stuff about myself that I didn't even know from this!" D.G.I.F. announced on their hotline (212-803-5425) on February 12th that they are planning a convention to be held later this year. They asked for ideas and suggestions, and are still deciding when and where to hold the convention. They plan to have it in the New York area on a Saturday and Sunday. Almost $5,000 was raised in the D.G.I.F. fundraiser. The money will go to Children's International and St. Mary's to start a college scholarship fund. The grand prize winner is Sean McFarland, second prize goes to Omar Alvarez, and the two level 3 winners are Jeff Tharp and Shawn Winstain. There is no deadline for the level 1 prizes. Fundraiser participants have already started to receive their prizes. Debbie Gibson will be performing at St. Mary's annual dinner dance on April 12th at the Crest Hollow Country Club at 7:00 P.M. Tickets are $250. For more information, call 516-921-0808 extension 114. According to the latest D.G.I.F. hotline message on February 26th, the Volume 7, number 4 magazine was at the printers and had not been sent out yet. Debbie Gibson appears in the April issue of Detour magazine. Two interesting color photos and a one-page interview of Deb appears on pages 124-125. Detour is on the World Wide Web at http://www.rocktropolis.com/detour BtL celebrates its 7th anniversary at the end of this month. The first issue of the then-named "The Electric Youth" electronic discussion forum was released on March 31, 1989.