From: houk@athena.cs.uga.edu (Joshua Houk)
Newsgroups: alt.music.alternative
Subject: Mailing List Review (LONG)
Keywords: puke gag barf retch throw-up upchuck technicolor yawn spew bile
Date: 3 Oct 92 22:10:53 GMT
Organization: University of Georgia, Athens


This was to have been included in the forthcoming Indie-List Digest.
However, the sheer length of it annulled that idea.

Okay - so my idea was to subscribe to a buncha music mailing-lists and
review them for the Indie-List. In fact, I'm still doing that.
[send sub requests to Mark Cornick at cc647@cleveland.Freenet.EDU!!!
If you want your mailing list reviewed, email me - houk@athena.cs.uga.edu]
Anyhow, for fun, I decided I'd subscribe to a mainstream music list
just for fun. When I got a mailing back, I realized that what was
supposed to have been funny had turned out to be worse - it's a
cesspool of depravity, degradation, masochism, and self-hate.
So, I present to you...

* * * * * * 

Excerpts from the Debbie - oh, excuse me - *Deborah* Gibson 'Between
the Lines' List:
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

"I thought she was a talented singer, but when I realized she also wrote all
of her own material, I was awestruck."

"I bought the Out of the Blue album four years ago yesterday (July 19, 1988)."

-----

"My first experience with Debbie's music was sometime in the summer of
1987."

"I joined D.G.I.F. (#1721) and it 
seemed like forever until I got my first mailing from them."

"I found out that Deb was
going to make an appearance on the "The Arsenio Hall Show" the day after her
concert at the GW Forum.  So, I made arrangements to attend the taping of the
show.  Yes, I did meet Deb, but it was so quick I don't even remember it."

"Deb was being interviewed by Rick Dees and then Rick mentioned Deb
would be on his TV late night talk show "Into the Night."  I ended up being
second in line.  I would later find out that the guy in front of me was there
for the same reason.  Before they started to tape, I started to talk with the
guy who was first in line.  His name was Maurice Montoya.  He started to tell
me about Matthew Jung, BtL, and his experiences as a DG fan and I became very
interested.  We exchanged addresses and Maurice sent me my first copy of BtL. 
Being at the taping of Rick Dees was a lot of fun.  I got to meet Deb after
the taping of the show and even got to talk to her for a few minutes.  That
was a day I will never forget."

"I would have to say after receiving my first issue of BtL
my level of being a Debbie Gibson fan nearly tripled; it was nice to know I
was not the only Debbie Gibson fan out there.  It also makes it a lot more
enjoyable to attend Deb's appearances with all my DG friends."

-----

"Hello, My name is Andrew, and I'm a Debhead."

"Now, with those formalities out of the way, I can freely discuss my Debhead
experience.  (Now Andrew leans back in his chair, and borrowing a trick from
deposed talk-show host Dennis Miller, runs his fingers through some bushy
hair.)  I was listening to Casey Kasem some time around the first weekend of
September 1987.  Most of that week's show was filled with the usual suspects
-- Glenn Frey, Richard Marx, Madonna, Gloria Estefan.  Nothing unusual.  Then,
at number four, Casey introduced the debut single of a seventeen-year-old
singer-songwriter who took notes from the soaps and worked in a garage studio.
The name -- Debbie Gibson.  The song, "Only In My Dreams," impressed me
immediately, and I began to follow this promising new artist."

"Next, was supposed to have been that all-important first look.  Unfortunately,
I can't remember it at all.  I have no idea under what circumstances I first
saw her.  I do remember a weekend during that time when I feverishly scanned
the channels for the "Shake Your Love" video.  They must have shown "Only In
My Dreams" a jillion times that weekend before playing SYL at last.  SLAM! 
The "record" button goes down, and the tape rolls!  Thus ends the "First
Debquest." "

"I'm sure that we all agree that it's not always easy following and loving that
woman named Deborah.  In my senior year in high school, I rode both highs and
lows in my Deb-life.  There were a few types in my school that I could never
quite get along with.  They force-fed me a constant diet of Metallica logos
and Guns 'N Roses jackets.  I had no choice but to hang a picture of Deborah
from any handy place to proclaim the chart-topping "Lost In Your Eyes" and
_Electric Youth_ album."

"In college, I was spared the harassment of obnoxious headbangers, but I still
lacked support from others of the Gibson Faithful."

"But, Quest Three continues ....  Unlike many BtL members, I haven't yet had
the honor of actually meeting Deborah.  I've always wondered what she's like
in a one-to-one situation and BtL's "close encounters" articles are no
substitute.  Unless she's planning a stop in Birmingham or Atlanta on her next
tour, the only way I'll get to meet Deborah is only in my dreams."

"PS: And on the occasion of Deborah's twenty-second birthday... Happy Birthday,
    Deborah! I love you...."

[I-L Note: Damn - Debbie Gibson's older than me! Wha'?]

-----

"I know, I know - I'm
sorry for not introducing myself before, but I've been really busy with work.
It's a crummy job, but I got to earn money somehow to buy all the Deb stuff
out there."

     "I first became a fan when "Only In My Dreams" came out, but went crazy
after "Out of the Blue" when I realized that Deb was beautiful and talented at
the same time.  Before then, I didn't know that this beautiful lady wrote and
produced her own songs."

     "Anyways, the day was September 4, 1989.  Deborah was performing in 
Calgary that night.  Luckily it was a holiday, so my three friends (not very
big fans) and I went to the Calgary Saddledome early.  We were there by 5:00
P.M.  We hung around trying to find her, but it was too early.  At about 5:15
P.M., a tour bus went by and I told my friends that she had arrived.  They
looked at me, laughed and said, "Does that look like a limo to you?"  But we 
ran to the back entrance anyway.  We waited around for a while and everytime
someone came out the back doors of the Saddledome, my cousin shouted,
"Debbie!" "

     "When she finally did and my cousin called out again, she looked at us and
waved.  My cousin then asked her to come over (I think I went crazy then
because I couldn't believe that I was finally meeting her).  We took some
pictures and gave her flowers over the fence.  I couldn't say anything because
my mind went blank.  We then said goodbye to her and she left."

-----
[I-L Note: This one's *really* sick...]

     "In fact, I revel in the fact that I do
catch flak for being a "Debhead," because I know how much I do love her music,
even if many people (especially in the last 3 years or so) may not seem to
understand.  Maybe someday her time will come again, and we can honestly say 
we stood behind her all the way."

     "However, it was the release of "Lost in
Your Eyes" that really got me started.  I was a radio DJ at another university
and I played the song about once a shift.  Needless to say, she moved me with
that song, and often got me to sing along (off mike, of course)."

[I-L Note: Next time you complain about the local college station - keep
 that one in mind...]

     "Then, "Electric Youth" came out, and that clinched it.  This song became
a personal anthem for me.  Even though I am 23, people never really have taken
my opinions seriously."

     "WHAT DOES DEB DO FOR ME?

     "She's an inspiration.  She's like me in many ways; upbeat, charismatic,
firm, and caring.  I guess I sometimes use Deb to give me an indication of
what I could be doing better in my own life (within perspective, of course).
Deborah goes out there and pursues her dreams until she is successful."

     "And forget about that "baby
fat" comment in the "Live Around the World" studio interview.  She's a great
looking woman too.  And as her pictures on AIP (and since) have shown, she's
quite a woman at that!!!"

"Favorite Gibson Songs:
        
   "One Hand, One Heart" -- Why do I imagine myself and Gibson waltzing to
                            this song??  (If that were ever to even come close
                            to happening, I'D FAINT!!!!)"
     "Lost in Your Eyes" -- Could she be singing this to her (male) fans??
                            I know many probably sing it to her while she
                            does it in concert.
"This So-Called Miracle" -- One great piece of music.  Tells me I'm human.
     "Stand Your Ground" -- Another anthem song.  She's right; "The only 
                            police are in your mind."
         "Over The Wall" -- Pure inspiration here."


     "Especially over the past couple of years, we each know stories of how
we've literally had to spell out why we are DG fans.  So, for her 22nd
birthday, I'd like to spell out my reasons for being a Deb fan so that there's
no question:

  Down to Earth  -- A person that many can be proud to look up to.
  Electric Youth -- The title describes the woman to a T.
  Broadway       -- Where she expanded her career even further.
  Original       -- Writes all her album material; few others match that.
  Realistic      -- Didn't let AIP's performance get her down; didn't quit.
  Active         -- Does the woman ever slow down?
  Honest         -- To herself, to her fans, and to all who work with her.

  Giving         -- of her time and talent for numerous charity events.
  Inspiration    -- Something she wants to give.  She succeeds with me!!
  Beautiful      -- Not only to look at, but as a role model as well.
  Success        -- Something Deb has enjoyed, but it has not spoiled her.
  Over the Wall  -- Another of her songs, and where she always heads.
  Number 1       -- Where she's been twice  --  and will soon be again!!"

-----

     "On January 7, 1992 Debbie Gibson started her major Broadway debut in Les
Miserables.  The following are the box office receipts and attendance records
from Variety Magazine.  The statistics start in December and end in April to
show a more complete statistical analysis.  Debbie's last appearance in Les
Miserables was on March 29th...."

     "It's difficult to determine whether Debbie had any direct benefit to the 
show's revenue since the receipts changed so much from week to week.  Even now
with Debbie long since gone, the show does exceptionally well in its sixth
year.

     "Perhaps the greatest impact was on the media and her fans.  She proved
that she is far more than just a pop singer and that she has much more talent
than her detractors realized.  For her fans, she showed us that not only is
she still the greatest singer around, but that her acting talents are
exceptional as well."

-----

     "The brief blurb was accompanied by the picture of Debbie on the
motorcycle wearing the mini-dress with zippers and keys, the same as the back
of the _Anything Is Possible_ CD.

     "I was somewhat surprised to learn that Deborah would turn down a role in
"Grease" since she has been quoted on several occasions stating that "Grease"
was one of her favorite movies/musicals.  Deborah lists "Grease" (presumably
the movie since it is paired with "Dirty Dancing") as one of her "likes" in
her high school yearbook from Calhoun in 1988."

     "I somewhat RESENT
Norwich's comment "Talk about reviving the revivals" because it has a double
meaning.  Is he implying that Debbie herself is trying to "revive" her career
or simply noting Broadway's constant effort to bring back theatre hits of
yesteryear?  Norwich is known by New York Post readers for his sarcasm.  (He
ended a blurb about Marla Maples opening night celebration in "The Will Rogers
Follies" with: "Donald Trump is hosting Marla's opening post-performance
supper in the Terrace Room of the Plaza Hotel.  You didn't think the Helmsley,
did you?")  So I wouldn't doubt that Norwich's comment about Deb was intended
to be equally sarcastic."

-----
[from a video review of Chris Cuevas and Debbie...uh, Deborah Gibson]

This video is completely in black and white.  This emphasizes the overall
dreamy mood.  There are two different settings, both on open black sets.  The
first setting, for Chris Cuevas, resembles an outdoors scene where there are
bare trees, a fence, and snow lightly falling.  In all of these scenes, he is
either playing the piano, his guitar, or simply wandering around thoughtfully.
Deborah's set is an indoors scene.  She is wandering about a sparsely 
decorated bedroom dreamily, occasionally glancing out the window.  Deborah is
wearing a nice sweater-dress with light colored tights.  Her chin-lengthed 
hair is in small twists.  For the second verse of the song, Deborah's verse,
the camera is close up on her while the room spins around her.  Towards the
end of the song, close up images of both Chris and Deborah are overlaid.

     This rather simple video certainly conveys the dreamlike idea of "Someday
we'll be together."  Deborah is shown more than Chris and she looks beautiful!

-----

"A membership in D.G.I.F. is an exercise in delayed gratification, and issue
IV/3 of the D.G.I.F. magazine was no exception.  The magazine took nearly a
month to reach the homes of most U.S. members this time, but it was actually
worth the wait."

"The first surprise happened when I opened the envelope and was greeted by a
PROCESS COLOR cover.  For those keeping score, this was the first issue since
3.3 to include any process color at all."

"The centerfold pin-up shines also, though it's
black-and-white, as does that pouty-pretty back page.  The pinup collectors
and GIF scanners shouldn't be disappointed."

"Inside, Deborah writes about her new niece, the now three-month-old Diana
Joanne Lampiasi, and her thoughts on the Los Angeles riots.  She makes the
point that one group shouldn't be blamed for the crimes of generations before,
and I agree with her.  In fact, Deborah has actually made sense of the whole
ordeal.  I wish that everyone else could see things this way."

"While the pen-pal requests were about the same as in
previous issues, Q&A had its fill of ringers.  Deborah says she would like to
be in Cindy Crawford's shoes for a day.  Why, Deb?  Why?  I couldn't see Deb
parading around in the "Sports Illustrated" swimsuit issue."

"In this issue, D.G.I.F. pulls out some more backstage and grip & grin shots
from Les Miz, which she left nearly five months ago.  While we get to see Deb
in cute degrees of heavy stage makeup with co-stars in cute degrees of heavy
stage makeup, I would have rather seen photos from the Children's Miracle
Network Telethon."

[I-L Note: In case you were thinking that that was some astute sarcasm,
 nix that one - Deb-or-ah did a concert for the CMNT.]

* * * * * * * *

Sick, huh? Now I just have to figure out how to unsubscribe...and I think
I've thrown away the address...
-- 
Joshua Houk  ||  houk@athena.cs.uga.edu
[co-moderator of the Indie-List : email for info!]
"Restless eyes close, maybe it'll go away."
   - Sebadoh
Newsgroups: alt.music.alternative