BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) — By Andrew Colton, Editor/Publisher — Eighties superstar Debbie Gibson brought down a packed “house” Saturday night at the Sunset Cove amphitheater at South County Regional Park in West Boca. Before you laugh at the venue, often reserved for birthday parties with bounce houses, consider the significance of the park.
It's where children of the 80s now come with kids of their own.
Looking incredibly fit, Debbie sang her hits like “Out of the Blue” and “Shake Your Love,” accompanied by a music track and two talented albeit aging men who really liked to dance. But she also turned off the track and pulled out her keyboard — singing “Lost In Your Eyes.”
Her voice was as solid as it was in the late 80s.
For what we estimate to be the few thousand people in attendance, Debbie Gibson was a hit, reminding us all why we loved her so much growing up. And unlike other celebrities, Debbie Gibson was truly appreciative of her fans, waiting for nearly an hour after her set to sign autograph after autograph and pose for photo after photo. Just watching the hug after hug and touch after touch made us want to take a shower. We give her tremendous credit for exposing herself to her fans.
If you read our initial coverage of 80s Fest, you may recall that I mentioned a quasi-personal connection. Debbie Gibson was my first “celebrity” interview when I was a teenager writing for a Philadelphia-area newspaper while in high school. She was performing at the Mann Music Center. A quarter century later, I was honored to interview her again this evening — this time for spot that will later air on a national radio network. She was as gracious as could be. (As we mention from time to time, my network affiliation has nothing to do with this website which exists to offer professional news coverage of the Boca Raton community).
The concert was part of the first — and possibly annual — 80s Fest in Boca Raton, also featuring Eddie Money who, at 63, is looking like he may want to take his Two Tickets To Paradise, move to Florida and enjoy some R&R. His performance was power packed — and fun — but rockers who rocked their way through the 70s and 80s deserve a rocker of their own in 2013.
If you missed the concert, you missed an incredibly fun event with great performers in a fantastic venue. Watch below as a fearless Debbie Gibson walks into a very excited crowd.
LOCAL JOURNALISM SUPPORTER.
