Original release date: April 1st 1989
Billboard Hot 100 chart debut: April 1st - 7th 1989 chart
Billboard Hot 100 peak: 11
UK Singles Chart peak: 14
Buy Electric Youth on Electric Youth here (Amazon GB)
Read my anniversary celebration of Debbie's second album, Electric Youth, here
THE #EY30 PROJECT:
On January 24th 1989, Debbie Gibson's sophomore album, Electric Youth, was released. She had already won over millions of fans with her percolating debut album (Out Of The Blue) and I was already a dedicated fan. Electric Youth took her song craft and ability to create musical magic to the next level. In a year that had some truly stellar music releases (Madonna's Like A Prayer, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814, Kylie Minogue's Enjoy Yourself), Electric Youth quickly cemented itself as my favourite album of the year. To celebrate its 30th anniversary I will be revisiting all four singles (plus one that absolutely should have been a single) on the anniversary of their release date as a way to revel in the timeless tunes Ms Gibson provided but also to try and put into words what these glorious songs have meant to me and my life over the years. Time has gone onto prove that this is still my very favourite album of all time - it remains eternally electric.
Electric Youth (the video and remixes):
(Read part one of this post here - the single and Top Of The Pops)
A song as grandiose and bold as Electric Youth certainly required a video which was equally as visionary and dramatic. Atlantic and Debbie Gibson certainly did not skimp on the phenomenal mini-movie that accompanied the single release. I always loved that Debbie directed the video alongside Jim Yukich, ensuring that the clip was infused with the same level of vitality as the song. I remember sitting transfixed, one Saturday morning, when it debuted on UK television on a show called The Chart Show (and in hindsight being rather pleased they showed the entire clip). From the moment those regal horns heralded the arrival of a Majestic pop princess, it was a blistering five minutes of royal castles, dynamic dance routines and scintillating shadow poses. There was costume changes, hair pieces, young people, young at heart people, neon lights, a Richard Marx lookalike guitarist and, of course, Buddy and Keith holding Royal Court. What was not to love? It was a Disney fantasy come to life in an MTV world. It is easy to forget now that it was, at the time, a pretty groundbreaking video which was as visually a rallying call to arms as it was an audible warrior cry. Madonna might have been getting all the press the controversy of her Like A Prayer video but there was a definite tangible buzz on both sides of the Atlantic for the more inspirational work of art that Electric Youth provided. Oh, and as if anyone needed to know - my favourite dance move? Comes at around 1 minute and 45 seconds into the clip (see here on YouTube). There's a right leg stretch which transitions into a left hand point and then a little shimmy in that direction. Super fun and (I like to think) inspiration for drag queens everywhere who like to point (as part of their routines/ball culture walks) to where they are going next. It's electric!
As if all of that wasn't enough there were some pretty sizzling remixes of the song. These helped the 12" become a pretty sizeable seller whilst propelling the mixes up the club chart. The US 12" came with cover art that was pretty similar to the album cover - that striking blue jacket which gave an almost military style look to our electric commander at arms. I'd bought both the official 12" as well as some promos on import (costing me a small fortune but totally worth it). The Shep Pettibone deep house mix was and is utterly sensational. It was the type of remix which cleverly keeps the essence and spirit of the original yet transforms it into something new. Shep knew how to take popular club beats at the time and use them to accentuate the forward thinking electronica within the song, sending it soaring to glorious new heights. That whole section between 3 minutes 50 seconds and 4 minutes 4 seconds (see here on YouTube) where you have the pulsing percussion with just flourishes of synth from the original, meshed with a male spoken vocal of "this is the house" was so deliriously addictive that it makes my spine tingle with joy that it exists each time I hear it. Whenever I randomly mention this mix on social media, I'm always deluged with people saying how fondly they remember it. It is no wonder it debuted at a super impressive number 15 on the US club charts before rocketing to a peak of number three. Also rather splendid? The Latin Edit on the promo CD which finally got a more public airing on the We Could Be Together boxset in 2017. Freestyling grooves in a radio friendly format? Utterly delectable.
(And finally, talking of the WCBT boxset, let us not forget a brand new remix of Electric Youth commissioned just for that project. US folk might not appreciate what a big deal expert knob twiddlers, 7th Heaven, are in the UK. In the past two years alone they've transformed hits by Little Mix, Erasure and Steps. Taking on this enduring 1989 smash was no easy feat but they have proved more than up to the task. The energy of the original is still as potent as ever, but ensconced in dazzling new synth-pop beats and undulations which compel your body to dance means it feels like a contemporary pop smash all over again. Play after Steps Scared Of The Dark (7th Heaven Mix) for dance ecstasy).
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