From the Daily Cougar (January 16, 1997)

Looking back at the year that was 1996, one simple statement can quickly sum up the state of popular music - wasn't nothin' but a she thang.

Time and time again, divas topped Billboard's pop album chart for weeks on end. Besides the fact that female solo artists or female-driven acts occupied the top five slots of the year's best-selling albums (Alanis Morissette, Celine Dion, Fugees, No Doubt and Mariah Carey, respectively), Toni Braxton, Shania Twain, Tracy Chapman, newcomer LeAnn Rhimes and the all-woman Waiting to Exhale soundtrack also muscled into the year's top 20.

Looking further, a few albums by some of music's most interesting and innovative maidens seem to have gotten lost in the shuffle of heavyweights.

Perhaps most interesting is a release I currently discovered in New York City by a name many of you might recognize: Deborah (Debbie) Gibson.

Now before you stop reading to cringe in dismay, please be informed that Deborah Gibson is a long way from the blonde teeny bopper that just wanted to "Shake Your Love." Ms. Gibson is all grown up now, and this album (her sixth), which is currently being distributed slowly across the U.S. by Espiritu Records, showcases a more mature, more confident singer than ever before.

Admittedly, I've always been a fan of Gibson, whose mix of sweet songs and an even sweeter personality soon became pass with the general public. Gibson has remained busy, though, churning out albums and making her mark in the world of theater.

Her latest effort, released under the title Deborah Gibson, is a mixture of pop and R&B-esque grooves, showcasing a knack for catchy hooks (Gibson penned most of the tunes herself) and an increased vocal range. This is especially evident on songs like the winsome "Ode to a Would Be Lover," a bittersweet tale told by the "other woman" in a relationship.

"But do I get to you just a little bit/I know I'm as close as I'm gonna get/And though my heart is close to breaking" sings Gibson, injecting the words with a heartfelt melancholia.

Other offerings like the moving duet "Cry Tonight" and "Where I Wanna Be" are equally affecting. Gibson has crafted a heartbreaking set of tunes filled with emotion, proving herself as a valid songwriter and vocalist.

Elsewhere, Gibson includes two songs from her current theatrical project, Funny Girl. While "People" features a slightly new arrangement that may take some getting used to, Gibson's vocal stamina is undeniable. Her gleeful take on "Don't Rain On My Parade" is a bundle of energy and excitement.

Say what you will, but Ms. Gibson deserves any success she achieves with the album, which is available by e-mailing the Debbie Gibson International Fan Club at DGIF@aol.com or by calling 212-803-5425.

These albums won't change the world, and you may not even give them a second glance, but they are all out there, giving listeners plenty of choices for their stereo. Not everyone can sell a million albums, but that won't stop these artists from putting out some truly notable releases in my book.

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