Deb’s out of blue return

KIDS FIRE UP 80s LEGEND

BLAST from the past Debbie Gibson is back – and it’s partly thanks to inspirational current pop kids such as Dua Lipa. The star, who had success aged 17 with Out Of The Blue in 1987, this week releases The Body Remembers – her first new album of original pop songs in 20 years. Debbie, now 50, said: “I love the female pop artist landscape now. I feel like there’s so much acceptance of people’s authenticity. I really pay attention to the female artists out there – Dua Lipa,

Miley and Noah Cyrus.” Debbie seemed poised for decades of superstardom but the 1990s ushered in a new breed of sexy pop star, making her girlnext-door style obsolete. She said: “Definitely things were more sexualised with the girls coming out in the 90s.

I was a T-shirt and jeans and Converse girl. So I was a little bit envious of the girls who started with that image.”

However, today’s female voices have inspired Debbie to write songs again: “Going back, starting with Taylor Swift, and bringing up Miley, and now Olivia Rodrigo; there’s so much talent. I focus on talent anyway. I’m like, ‘Dress how you want. You do you.’”

But it’s 2021’s brightest star who is really rocking Debbie’s world. She said: “I finally listened to the Olivia Rodrigo album, and what a musical genius she is, and so innovative. “I always feel like the proud auntie, or the fairy godmother, because I know the road they’re on.

“It’s their road, it’s not the same, but I kind of know where they are emotionally and musically, and I’m rooting for them and proud of them. I’m excited by this generation.”