Well, when all other efforts and attempts to revive a faltering career have failed, there's always the last resort of posing nude for Playboy. The thing that shocked me, as well, was that she's still just 34 years old! She had hit songs before some RedsZoners were born!
Here's the Debbie I remember, when the most skin we would see would be a hole in the knee of her jeans...
http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,...,00.html?tnews
Debbie Does "Playboy"
by Sarah Hall
Jan 26, 2005, 12:30 PM PT
Apparently, Debbie Gibson is trying to revive her electric youth.
The '80s pop phenom, whose hits included "Foolish Beat" and "Into Your Eyes," bares it all in the March issue of Playboy, which hits stands Feb. 11.
The layout reportedly features a "well-defined, yet very sexy, feminine look" for Gibson and marks a departure from her squeaky-queen teen idol image of yore.
Gibson, now 34 and known as Deborah, has turned down offers to pose nude in the past.
"I was born in the wrong era," she told USA Today in 2001. "I'm not comfortable with showing everyone everything. I never say never though. I've said I'd never get a tattoo and I got one."
It seems the Out of the Blue singer has upped her comfort levels in recent years--and Playboy readers will no doubt be looking forward to checking out that tattoo she mentioned.
Coinciding with her body-baring shoot, the singer will release her new, aptly named single, "Naked." She is also at work on a cover of Hall & Oates' "Rich Girl," which will be on her upcoming album.
Her last album, M.Y.O.B. was released in 2001.
Since exiting the glare of the pop spotlight, Gibson has carved a niche for herself on the Broadway stage, appearing in crowd pleasers such as Cabaret and Beauty and the Beast.
She's not the first 1980s pop princess to attempt to leap back into the public eye via Playboy's pages.
Back in 2002, onetime rival Tiffany stripped down for Hugh Hefner's mag, earning the distinction of being "the first teen star to ever do it," in her own words.
The "I Think We're Alone Now" singer actually advised Gibson not to follow in her (bare) footsteps.
"I think it probably wouldn't have the same effect," Tiffany said at the time. "I don't think [Gibson] would do it, frankly...And I don't think she needs to."
Hopefully for Gibson's sake, Tiffany is at least correct about her upcoming spread not having the same effect on the general population--namely little to none.
In addition to hitting the magazine racks next month, Gibson will also be seen in two Broadway on Ice productions in Florida, where she'll perform show tunes with former Olympic skater Brian Boitano.
We're just glad she has a contingency plan in place.