Debbie Gibson...

If you were a teen in the 1980s, like I was, you have heard a lot about Debbie Gibson.  Back in those days, she wrote a lot of cutesy dance hits.  She was kind of the Taylor Swift of my generation, though I don't think her career was quite as successful as Taylor Swift's.  For some reason, I started thinking about her this morning.  I ran across several interviews she did back in the day.

I remember this so well...

Jeez... I hear she goes by Deborah Gibson now.  

I actually have some respect for Gibson.  She writes her own music and sings.  I hear she even has perfect pitch!  But sometime after the 90s, she kind of faded into oblivion.  Last I heard, she was working on Broadway, which is certainly nothing to sneeze at.

She comes across as pretty down to earth...

In the 80s, there was a lot of competition between Tiffany and Debbie Gibson.  Tiffany was famous for having a big voice and doing covers of songs she turned into dance music.  I was never really into dance music, even when I was a teen.  For that reason, I never purchased an album by either Tiffany or Debbie Gibson.  I do remember the music well, though...  And if I had to choose, I think I'd choose Debbie over Tiffany.  

Gawd, I feel so old!

Gloria Estefan...

I remember very well back in the mid 1980s when Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine burst onto the pop music scene.  Her big hit was called "Conga"...

Excuse the video... it was all I could get to play here in Germany, land of intellectual property rights.

"Conga" was such a sassy, fun song and just what we all needed in the 80s.  Then she followed up with "Bad Boy", a song I always liked.

This was still pretty flirty and sassy...

Next thing we know, Gloria is recording a shitload of ballads and sounds a bit like a Cuban version of Karen Carpenter.  The ballads were universally pleasant, but all kind of sounded the same.

"I Can't Stay Away From You"

"Don't Wanna Lose You"

"Cuts Both Ways"

"Words Get In The Way"

"Here We Are"

"Anything for You"

She perked up a bit with "123"...

Nice chaps...

"Rhythm is Gonna Get You" was another upbeat number.

I remember seeing Gloria Estefan on a VH1 divas program with Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Carole King, Mariah Carey and Aretha Franklin.  Next to Carole King, I think Gloria was the most down to earth of the bunch.  I also remember back in 1990 when her bus was in a terrible accident and she got hurt.  She recovered gracefully and came out with more music.

Aretha Franklin is quite the diva...

I like Gloria Estefan.  I think she has a good voice and I especially enjoy her saucy songs in Spanish. But I will admit in the late 80s and early 90s, her music was everywhere and it all sounded a little pat.    And every time I hear a song by her, I think of The Golden Girls.

The Blow Monkeys...

When I hear these guys, I'm immediately taken back to high school.  The Blow Monkeys were kind of a quick sensation that fizzled out at some point.  I had forgotten all about them until one day when I was watching a Police Academy movie and heard this song...

I went crazy trying to figure out who was singing this until a few days ago when weirdly enough, I ran into it on YouTube.  Then I remembered another song they did...

This song sort of sounds the same as the other one, which is probably why these guys faded into oblivion.  Or maybe they are still around and I've just lost touch... This guy's voice reminds me of Boy George's.