The name Debbie Gibson may conjure images of teased hair, torn jeans and shoulder pads — but the singer-songwriter, now known as Deborah, is a long way from her days as the bubblegum pop princess of the 1980s.
After becoming the youngest-ever artist to write, record and sing a number-one Billboard single, Gibson continued to explore her varied musical and writing talents in the past two-and-a-half decades. She recorded nine studio albums and sold 16 million albums worldwide, went on to a successful Broadway career and hit the reality-TV circuit, including an appearance on “The Celebrity Apprentice” — as well as being a frequent face at Prides and other LGBT events.
Gibson’s latest venture is “Cirque Musica,” which will be performed Sept. 18 at Trenton’s Sun National Bank Center. The show fuses daring circus acts from Ringling Brothers’ and Cirque du Soleil vets, with a live symphony orchestra whose repertoire will range from classical to pop. Gibson composed two original songs for “Cirque Musica” and recently talked with PGN about the new show and her other career highlights since her 1980s heyday.
PGN: Last year was the 25th anniversary of your debut album. Does it feel like that much time has gone by? DG: If I add up all the tours and all of the eight shows a week on Broadway etc., yes, it seems I would have filled most every minute of the last 25 years! But at the same time, it is literally like a minute has passed.
PGN: Do you ever regret getting into the industry so young? DG: Never! I believe that we all have a path we are meant to follow, and for me that was the moment I was meant to break. And I wouldn’t change a minute of it.
PGN: Some of the young stars of today have gone down destructive paths. From your experience, what is the pressure like for young people in the spotlight? DG: It’s a lot harder than people think, and that is mainly because you are not allowed to say it’s hard or you look ungrateful. So young performers go out of their way to make believe they feel superhuman all the time and it’s that that gets them in trouble. Imagine being not even college-age and employing 100 people and being responsible for putting food on all those 100 families’ tables! Most kids that age are just figuring out what they’re going to major in in college. Psychologically, young people are just not equipped to handle that, and it’s even worse now with the scrutiny and social media. I don’t know how kids keep up!
PGN: You’ve been composing most of your life. How do you feel your composing style has changed over the years? DG: I think in the beginning, my early hits were very much channeled. I didn’t overanalyze and I was in a zone when they just kind of poured on through me. Then I got a bit heady about the writing and started to actually think egotistically that I was doing something. [Laughs.] Now I am back to being totally humbled and I am channeling again and I am way more particular now as an adult about lyrics because clichés don’t cut it once you’ve had life experience. At this point, it is my job to sum up in the most perfect way what people have been through and what they are feeling.
PGN: You’ve worked in the recording industry, on stage, in film and TV. Is there one of those mediums that you feel most drawn to? DG: I do love it all, but being in front of a live audience is always the greatest because it is an energy exchange and no two shows are ever alike, even when you are doing the same theater piece eight times a week. There is ultimate freedom in performing my original material because I can change things on the spot, etc.
PGN: Throughout your career, you’ve developed a large following in the LGBT community. Did that ever surprise you? DG: Well, “Only In My Dreams” really broke in the gay clubs, so from the time I was 16 I was playing for gay clubs a week on average! So it wasn’t a surprise, but the surprise is in the fact that the LGBT audience has been so loyal to me throughout the years. It never ceases to amaze and move me. Thank you for picking me! [Laughs.]
PGN: Did you ever see any pushback for your support of the LGBT community? DG: Occasionally there is some ignorant person or two on Twitter and I block them if they say anything negative about the LGBT community because, as I see it, they are entering my house and I do not invite people into my house to show hatred and ignorance.
PGN: How did the partnership with “Cirque Musica” come about? DG: I was doing the Rewind Symphony dates with Sam Harris for producer Steve Cook and we were on the same flight home, and I reminded him that I am primarily a composer at heart and asked if he had any projects brewing, and it just so happened he needed two original songs for “Cirque Musica” and quickly! I grew up performing at the Metropolitan Opera in the children’s chorus and I’ve always loved the big-symphony sound and foresee myself scoring film someday. In fact, I scored “3 billion and Counting,” a documentary on malaria and the banning of DDT that my man Dr. Rutledge directed and produced. The song we worked on for that was shortlisted for an Academy [Awards] nomination and is called “Rise,” and it really is about any group of people that society tries to keep down.
PGN: What can people expect from the new songs that you created for “Cirque Musica”? DG: “Birdsong” is the song the aerial artist performs to and it is a waltz. There are many songbirds in this world to mimic what they hear, but this is about being the music that is most authentic because there is only one you. The spectacle in the show is amazing, but it is my goal to impart something deeper to people. The music really sums up the experience of “Cirque Musica” because it is not just something you hear or see or feel, it is all encompassing. And you, the audience member, become a part of the experience. So this song is my command for you to be a part of what we’re doing up on the stage. It combines elements of Bollywood, Latin music and theater music. It is a melting pot of styles and cultures much like the cast of “Cirque Musica.” Christine LaFond performing the songs live is such a treat. You will feel like you are discovering a star that you want to rally behind for her whole career. She is quite extraordinary as a vocalist!
PGN: Are you planning to make any appearances at the shows, especially the New Jersey one? DG: At the moment, I am only scheduled to appear in the performances in Ohio, but never say never!
PGN: What’s next for you? DG: My main focus is working on new music and continuing to perform live. I also wrote a musical with Jimmy Van Patten and we are exploring possible performance venues in Las Vegas. My new album will hopefully be out sometime next year. The writing process is taking a while but I promise it will be worth the wait!
“Cirque Musica” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at Sun National Bank Center in Trenton. For more information or tickets, visit www.sunnationalbankcenter.com.