Wikipedia

Anything Is Possible (Debbie Gibson song)

"Anything Is Possible" is song by American singer-songwriter Debbie Gibson. Entirely written, arranged, and produced by Gibson and Motown writer Lamont Dozier, it was released on November 13, 1990, as the lead single and title track to her third studio album Anything Is Possible. In Europe, a version remixed by Harding and Curnow of PWL was released in place of the original.

"Anything Is Possible"
Single by Debbie Gibson
from the album Anything Is Possible
B-side"So Close to Forever"
Released
  • November 13, 1990 (1990-11-13)[1]
  • February 25, 1991 (1991-02-25) (UK)[2]
Genre
[3]
Length3:39
LabelAtlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Deborah Gibson
  • Lamont Dozier
Debbie Gibson singles chronology
"Without You"
(1990) 		"Anything Is Possible"
(1990) 		"This So-Called Miracle"
(1990)
Music video
"Anything Is Possible" on YouTube

The track received favorable reviews, with the production being compared to the work of Madonna. It charted in Canada and peaked at number 26 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Content

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Sheet music for "Anything Is Possible" is published in the key of A major, with the vocals ranging from G3 to E5.[4] TimesDaily described the song as an anthem that "tells you that even though you might think you are living the 'perfect' life you should not limit yourself," and that "you can do anything in life when you put a little extra effort into it."[5]

Critical reception

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Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "Grown-up teen diva offers the title track to her fab new album. Mature, understated vocals glide over a glistening pop/disco instrumental base. Remix by Jellybean on the 12-inch accentuates the tune's fun and funky tendencies."[6] Gina Arnold from Entertainment Weekly called it a "high-energy" cut, adding that the song "come close" to being "as infectiously Madonna-esque" as Gibson's 1987 hit "Shake Your Love".[7] Pan-European magazine Music & Media described it as "Madonna-inspired dance pop with a fashionable co-production by Motown veteran Lamont Dozier. Certainly a dancefloor filler, though EHR should pay close attention too."[8]

Chart performance

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The song entered the Billboard Hot 100 the week of November 17, 1990, at number 74. It peaked at number 26 on January 12, 1991, spending 12 weeks in total on the chart. The song was listed on the Canada RPM Top Tracks.

The track began receiving airplay in late November 1990 in Europe, first in Sweden.[9]

Music video

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The music video was directed by Jay Brown.[10] In the video, Gibson sings atop an apartment building, while a choreographed dance is performed on the floor. The video features South African actress Musetta Vander.[11]

Track listings

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All tracks are written by Deborah Gibson and Lamont Dozier

No.TitleLength
1."Anything Is Possible"3:43
2."So Close to Forever"3:00

Charts

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Chart (1990–1991) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[12] 60
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[13] 32
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[14] 15
UK Singles (OCC)[15] 51
US Billboard Hot 100[16] 26
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[17] 48
US Cashbox Top 100 Singles[18] 26
US Contemporary Hit Radio (Radio & Records)[19] 21
US Top 40 (Gavin Report)[20] 22
US Adult Contemporary (Gavin Report)[21] 35

Uses in pop culture

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In 1992, the song was used in the Season One episode of the 1990s action crime drama TV series Street Justice in the episode "Backbeat" where Debbie Gibson made a guest appearance in that episode as a singer named Gabrielle.

References

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  1. ^ Duffy, Thom (November 24, 1990). "'Anything Is Possible' For Debbie Gibson". Billboard. Vol. 102, no. 47. Nielsen Business Media. p. 28. ISSN 0006-2510.
  2. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. February 23, 1991. p. 6.
  3. ^ "Gibson lacks gems". The Vindicator. December 19, 1990. p. D11.
  4. ^ ""Anything Is Possible" Sheet Music". Musicnotes. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  5. ^ "Songs reflect the times: Reviews". TimesDaily. January 16, 1991. p. 8C.
  6. ^ Flick, Larry (November 17, 1990). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 77. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  7. ^ Arnold, Gina (December 21, 1990). "Anything Is Possible". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  8. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. January 26, 1991. p. 16. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  9. ^ "Station Reports: Sweden". Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 47. November 24, 1990. p. 36.
  10. ^ "Music Video: New Videoclips". Billboard. Vol. 102, no. 47. Nielsen Business Media. November 24, 1990. p. 62. ISSN 0006-2510.
  11. ^ "Debbie Gibson: Anything is Possible (Music Video 1990) - IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  12. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 113.
  13. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1032." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  14. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 6320." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  15. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  16. ^ "Debbie Gibson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  17. ^ "Debbie Gibson Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2015.
  18. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits 1952-1996. Sheridan Books, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-209-0.
  19. ^ "The Back Page: Contemporary Hit Radio". Radio & Records. No. 871. December 21, 1990. p. 94.
  20. ^ "the Gavin Report: Top 40". Gavin Report. No. 1838. January 11, 1991. p. 10.
  21. ^ "the Gavin Report: Adult Contemporary". Gavin Report. No. 1837. December 14, 1990. p. 22.
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