Customer Reviews

Out of the Blue

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Debbie Gibson was the Britney Spears of the 80's. The big difference was, Debbie Gibson didn't use sex like Britney and Christina Aguilera have done in recent years. Debbie gained appeal through her songwriting and catchy pop songs. This was her 1987 debut and was a smash going muliplatinum and launching four top 5 singles for Debbie. Pretty much every kid had this album or at least one of the singles. "Only In My Dreams" and "Out of the Blue" are the best tracks. They're just great pop tunes that you can't help but sing along with. Debbie's biggest hit from this album was "Foolish Beat" which set records and became her first #1 single *she would have another one in 1989 with "Lost In Your Eyes."* "Shake Your Love" was the other huge hit with its bouncy beat and poppy lyrics. "Red Hot" and "Stay Together" are equally good songs and are right up there with the singles.

After "Out of the Blue," Debbie would continue to be successful through-out the late 80's and into the early 90's with another multiplatinum release entitled "Electric Youth" in 1989 and the gold release "Anything Is Possible" in 1990. The cool thing about her was that she didn't compromise herself or her image in order to sell records. She made great pop and remained true to herself.

There is one thing that the cable channel VH1 does very effectively. It allows one to relive moments from your childhood through its "I Love the [insert decade here]" series of shows. Born in the early 1970s, but with music tastes more in tune with the 1980s (when I really started to notice girls) I was sitting down to watch the episode covering 1987 when a familiar music video played across my television screen.
Rewind almost 20 years and I was a 15-year old high school student in the United Kingdom. While all my friends were into heavy metal and speed metal bands I had a secret - I enjoyed and listened to pop songs and released that year were a trio of female singers, two of which would have a major impact on my life. First, was the incredibly beautiful French singer and actress Vanessa Paradis whose debut single "Joe Le Taxi" rocketed up the charts and to this day I collect any DVD or music that is released by her (which isn't much since she became the life partner to Johnny Depp). Second came Debbie Gibson (who now prefers to be known as Deborah). I immediately developed a teenage crush on the blonde singer/songwriter and joined DGIF (Debbie Gibson International Fanclub) before they had even settled on a name. To this day the only fan clubs I have ever joined was DGIF and Vanessa Paradis'.
Debbie's first CD single "Only In My Dreams" was actually released in December 1986. But she did not appear on the British music scene until mid-1987 with the song "Shake Your Love," and it was this song that introduced me to the talented young performer (and the video of which made me sit up and take notice on VH1 recently). The songs on her debut album were all light hearted and good-natured (including my favorite "Red Hot") with a heavy reliance on rhythm and drum programming (this was after all the decade that saw a heavy use of synthesized tracks).
Debbie's main competitor stateside was Tiffany who had risen up through performances at U.S. shopping malls. But whereas Tiffany was a product of cookie-cutter marketing and was fond of doing covers of others songs, Debbie wrote all her own material and represented a warm personality and a wholesome image that I appreciated.
Debbie wholesome image took a hit in 2005 when, after almost two decades of refusing requests from Hugh Hefner, she agreed to pose topless for the men's magazine `Playboy.' But a quick google of her name and one comes to realize that Debbie may have vanished from the mainstream music scene but she still has legions of loyal fans and DGIF is still going strong.
And it all started with this great selection of pop music.

Debbie Gibson debuted with this successful pop album which aims mainly on dance-pop oriented genre and comes up with radio-friendly tunes like the title track, and big top 40 hits such as Only In My Dreams, Shake Your Love, all have become pop classics even as we speak. But the real highlight of this album is the ballad, Foolish Beat, which top the charts and professes Debbie, at her creative singing-song- writing best. The other remaining tracks are delightful to listen also like Red Hot, Wake Up To Love and Fallen Angel. It's an album that anyone will enjoy, it's a classic!

This album is Debbie Gibson at her best. She wrote music that is even today fun to listen to. And I can say that I have never gotten bored of listenning to this album. The only thing that bothers me about this album now, is that either the label or Debbbie Gibson herself has had the song, "Between The Lines", removed from the reissued version. Those of you who have not heard it do not know what is missing, but I tell you it makes the album much better.

The Guinness Book of World Records says that Debbie Gibson still holds a world record for being the Youngest Person to write, produce and sing a No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 Single. Wow. I actually never knew that, despite owning this album in various formats for decades.

Just why is this album so special in this day and age? Well, if you can move past the 'mall-girl' and 'teen-pop' labels that Tiffany, Debbie Gibson and to some extent Paula Abdul were slapped with back in the 1980s, you'll find that its a frothy, fun-filled genre that doesn't have to rely upon clothes-bearing tactics to sell. The tunes are wonderful, still great after all these years, and Debbie Gibson, hate her if you must, is unique even today because her melodies have lasted a lifetime. She really is very, very talented.

"Foolish Beat" is obviously the best known thing here, but my personal favorite is "Out of the Blue" and the title track "Only in My Dreams". This song is so catchy. The singable "Shake Your Love" (which had a way funny video back in 1987) is another standout. You have to notice the songwriting here though. Despite her young age, Gibsons' lyrics are poignant and REAL, and she doesn't feel the need to make the ends of sentences unnecessarily rhyme. When they do, it sounds perfectly within context.

Its a real pity that many people laugh at this genre of music, but the truth is - this is some great music. When I can't think of what to listen to, this album, as well as Gibsons' far superior sophomore CD "Electric Youth", are all I need to have a good time.

Check this out, and also buy a copy of "Electric Youth". Two later albums - "Anything is Possible" from 1990, and "Body Mind Soul" from 1993 are both officially out of print, but contain some stunning examples of songwriting. They are well worth tracking down.

Debbie Gibson burst onto the scene in 1986 with the song "Only In My Dreams". Not long after, it went to #4, and she was on her way to stardom.

Soon enough, she released her first album, Out Of The Blue. Every song is just awesome, and shows that Debbie had the staying power. In addition to "Only In My Dreams", this album contains the hits "Out Of The Blue", "Shake Your Love", and the #1 hit "Foolish Beat", which earned Debbie the world record of youngest person to ever write, produce, and sing a #1 hit.

Other noteworthy songs include "Staying Together", which was released as a single but never charted too well; "Red Hot", an incredibly catchy dance number; "Fallen Angel", a rather funky song (love those tribal drums near the end!), and "Between The Lines", the album's closer and a great ballad. All in all, when you listen to the album you can see why it went double platinum. Obviously this girl's got talent, but why don't you be the judge? Buy it today, I'm sure you'll love it.

I've always loved Debbie and this is the album that started it all. If you're looking for a feel-good, roll-the-windows-down music, this is your CD. "Out of the Blue" launched Debbie recording career and made her a teen pop queen. This music will either bring back memories or make new ones.

Hard to believe this album is 12 years old. I was 46 when it came out, hardly a teenyboppy, but found the writing ability of this young lady remarkable. This remains quite a pleasurable album, with "Foolish Beat" a real classic. My copy DOES have "Between the Lines."

Sure the songs are simple and the themes pedestrian, but it reflects the mindset and lives of many teenagers. Or it may simply be an escape and fantasy for the child prodigy who grew up too fast. Pop songs are meant to be catchy and simple, and the songs of the Beatles were fine examples of such. Gibson oozes sweetness and savvy in her self-penned songs. Longevity is a sign of talent and genius in the unpredictable world of music. Time will tell if Deborah Gibson survives the cynics and fickle fans.

I am a only a teenager and I've liked Debbie Gibon's music ever since I was 11. It was that year when I bought her cassette tape from a yard sale and I loved it! Her music is great and fun to listen to. Sadly, my brother ruined the tape, so I am so happy to find out that they sell the CD on amaxon.com! Debbie Gibson's music is really good, it's 80s pop and I love it! This CD is totally worth it.