Electric Youth

Album: Electric Youth (1989)
Charted: 14 11
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The title track of Debbie Gibson's second album is about empowering the young generation. As a teenager herself, Gibson felt that the beliefs and ideas held by the youth were just as important as those held by adults. It also reminded them that the future belonged to the youngsters, or the "Electric Youth."
  • Gibson recalled to Billboard magazine regarding the song title in January 2014: "That was one of those channeled titles that I feel was meant to be a phrase infused into pop culture at the time. I never really put any thought into coming up with it. Literally, it, and the song, dropped in and I looked up to the sky, waved and said 'thank you! To me, that's how anything inspired comes. If you and your thinking get out of the way, the universe provides what is supposed to be and it comes on through."
  • Most of Gibson's early hits, including "Out Of The Blue" and "Foolish Beat," are about finding or losing love. "Electric Youth" went in a different direction, with Gibson calling for her generation to be heard.
  • The big hit from the album was the first single, "Lost In Your Eyes," a ballad that went to #1 in the US. "Electric Youth" was released next and was less successful, peaking at #11.
  • Gibson is credited as a director on the video along with Jim Yukich, who did most of her videos around this time. In the clip, Gibson shows off some of the looks and moves that would earn her the role of Sandy in the West End production of Grease in 1993.
  • In 2008, Gibson started a summer camp for kids called Debbie Gibson's Electric Youth. At the camp, kids develop their musical talents, often working with Gibson and other mentors to write songs.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

Don Felder

Don FelderSongwriter Interviews

Don breaks down "Hotel California" and other songs he wrote as a member of the Eagles. Now we know where the "warm smell of colitas" came from.

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

Dave Pirner of Soul AsylumSongwriter Interviews

Dave explains how the video appropriated the meaning of "Runaway Train," and what he thought of getting parodied by Weird Al.

Movie Stars In Music Videos

Movie Stars In Music VideosSong Writing

Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis and John Malkovich are just a few of the film stars who have moonlighted in music videos.