Interview with 80s icon Tiffany
Could’ve Been so beautiful? It is!
By Jon Chattman
Between The Transformers and the reemergence of those trendy yet uncomfortable “Jellies” shoes, it’s clear everything ‘80s is new again. It’s been that way for awhile. How else would you explain the chain of ‘80s clubs opening up nationwide, and the renewed success of such former pinups as Scott Baio, The Coreys, and Ralph Macchio? OK, the last name was wishful thinking on our part.
But, anyway you slice it the decade of Rubik’s Cubes and Snorks is back, but Tiffany, that decade’s pop sensation who made it big with hit singles like “I Think We’re Alone Now” and “Could’ve Been,” is no retread novelty act.
The singer, who’s best known for touring malls and – yes fellas – for posing for Playboy a few years back, isn’t trying to recapture yesterday’s magic. She’s actually – dare we say – trying to grow as an artist, and with her new album Just Me, the now 35-year-old singer/songwriter has done just that.
While it might not climb the charts like her songs of old, the disc is stacked with well-written pop tunes. It’s earned her critical acclaim, which at this point, along with her fans respect, is all she’s after.
We chatted with the singer, who finished up a stint on VH1 Celebrity Fit Club last spring, and asked her all about looking and feeling good about her music, her body, and her body of work. We also asked the singer/songwriter, who lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son Elijah, how she has managed to stay so grounded in an industry full of Brits and Lohans.
Your new album and recent material have been received so well by critics. Are you hoping to parlay that back into commercial success?
That’s kind of a hard question, because really for me as a singer/songwriter and for somebody who’s been in the industry for like 20 years now, what really matters to me most is what the fans think. And, [whether] it’s an album I can feel I can step off and continue to grow as a songwriter especially. You know a lot of stuff that’s commercially out there today, I’m not really a big fan of. I really love people that can sit down with a guitar and blow you away. That’s so raw and organic.
Commercially, I don’t think that’s something that’s really in my headspace. I think we all want it to do the best it can do but for me, I’ve been under the radar for a while now, and I really love to be able to pick and choose and tour when I want to – do projects I want to, and take time off. I’m kind of spoiled at this point. I’ve already had the urgent, urgent success and I’m so thankful for that, but I think that you tend to lose a little control. I really love laying down a foundation and stepping back from my work and being like ‘I’ve done the best I can do.’ I wouldn’t want to take the easy way out and compromise the music.
Right on, talk to us a little about writing this new cd.
I really wanted to reflect 20 years of being in the industry. A lot of people don’t know I started off in country music but I’m also a huge Stevie Nicks fan. I love southern rock. I wanted the album to reflect a little of everything. I was really happy at the end of the day with the body of work.
How’s it different than previous albums of yours?
It’s definitely got a more country aspect to it. But, it’s still pop. My voice is pretty pop. The Color of Silence was kind of my breakthrough album, one of the first albums I co-produced.
I’ve really just been growing since then. I did my dance album [last year], and that all came about because my fans from ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ and all the mall tours and touring with the New Kids On the Block had always really wanted me to do another dance album. I was holding that at bay. It wasn’t where my heart was at. Finally, after being over in Europe, I was really inspired to do a fun, dance album and dedicate it to the fans. [Dust Off and Dance] was really successful.
Your fans seem very loyal and you to them…
You have to listen to your fans and give them what they want. [The dance album] was really received well – I really am thankful my fans allow me to kind of come back to base camp for myself. They really understand and support me.
I have to admit, I saw that New Kids tour you mentioned before.
[Laughs] It was a lot of fun.
You were nearly pummeled at the show, because you went into the crowd…
Yeah. I still do that today. I love to be out there and close to the audience. The more they get into it, the more I get into it. I think I learned that from country music. It’s very much about people, signing autographs, and being out in the crowd. The mall tour also… it reconfirmed that for me. I’d do a couple songs then hang out with everybody. I’m definitely a people person. I love seeing the same faces when I go out with tour. I’m terrible with names, but I’m great with faces.
Your son is around the age you started breaking into the business, is he interested in making music?
Not really. He’s 14, and likes to play drums but it’s not something that’s serious. I’d love for him to learn an instrument just because learning an instrument is fun. But, education is really important. He’s a really great student and is in a college prep program. I just support him in that aspect. If he wanted to get into music, we would totally talk about it. My godson, who’s 19, shows interest in music but he wants to be a sound engineer.
Do you offer either of them advice?
I don’t do the ‘walk up hills with no shoes in the snow’ thing. but when [my son] turns and says ‘oh, I don’t want to do this’ or that, I’m like ‘I was on the road working [at your age], ok?’
Seeing all that’s happened post-success to Britney and Lohan, to name two out of dozens, how did you stay so grounded?
For me, to do a lot of the stuff that’s out right now, and be caught in a club with underage drinking, it would’ve ruined my career. When I was 14, 15, or 16, it wasn’t acceptable – that would’ve ruined my career. I had a manager who was pretty direct. I didn’t have people that said ‘yes’ to everything I wanted. In fact, I had people who said ‘if you want this, you have to work hard.’ It’s not just talent. Sometimes I thought it was hard that I wasn’t even having fun. I’d go out on the road and tour, and then be put back into a hotel room. Looking back at that, it gave me a very strong work ethic and kept me out of trouble. And, shortly after that, I got married and had a baby. That’s something I always wanted to do. I always saw myself as a mom, and I took that very seriously. It’s a responsibility thing. I really haven’t had the nannies. I wanted to be hands on and that kept me out of trouble, as well.
(Elaborating on that point)
It’s still a business at the end of the day, and you have to have some business sense. You have to keep your nose clean as much as you can. Things come crashing at you. I see a lot of people in Hollywood now, and people are like ‘what would you say to them?’ and I’m like ‘it’s really not an age thing.’ Hollywood is a whole different beast. Everybody’s telling you ‘yes’ to everything you want.
I’ve got to ask…was there ever a rivalry with you and Deborah/Debbie Gibson?
No. We get caddy with each other, but it’s not mean spirited or anything. I have a bay window in my kitchen with photos of friends and family, and there’s [a photo of] Deborah and I. That’s my childhood. I have really fond memories of us. If anybody could relate to me and my experiences, it’d be her.
Do you hang out at all?
We’re actually friends. She lives in L.A, and we have mutual friends. We talk on the phone. We’re totally two different people, but we respect each other and I think we grew up together and respect that about each other. She does certain things, lives a certain way, and I’m a mom and a wife, but together we have the music business in common. And, we love shopping. [Laughs] It’s all good with me.
You must still get flooded with requests to do things together right?
We do. Two years ago would’ve probably made the most sense with the ‘80’s resurgence: ‘80’s clubs popping up. She’s busy, I’m busy. She does a lot of Broadway, and it never quite worked out. My music has taken a turn now and our shows are not compatible. ‘Never say never.’ If it made sense, I’m sure we’d both be interested.
You were just on Celebrity Fit Club. Now that the show’s over and you can reflect on everything – notably what an ass Dustin Diamond was – what can you tell us about the experience?
It was great to lose 30 pounds, and I’m still losing. I think for me, it just jumpstarted my workouts again. I’ve been working out since I was 18. I don’t really have a weight problem, but I think I’m like most women in that if you’re really diligent about your body, it shows that you’ve been working out. If you don’t, it doesn’t. [Laughs].
For me, I had been out on the road, just kind of living life and not really hustling to be in the gym. Last year, I brought my son out on the road and it really was just about showing him all the wonderful places you go to. We did a lot of sightseeing, hanging out with family and friends a long the way, and there were a lot of home-cooked meals that just kind of really got to me.
Are you motivated to keep the pounds off?
Totally. If I endulge, I just hit the gym. Sometimes it’s not just gym, it’s walking outdoors or riding a bike or old school getting on some roller skates. It’s just being active.
Do you keep in touch with your teammates? I know Dustin was difficult to deal with for many of you guys.
Dustin was really Dustin. Sometimes he played it up a bit, but it got to a point where he was like that even when the cameras weren’t rolling. For him being on my team, I really never had a beef with Dustin. But, it was nerve wracking because I wasn’t really sure he’d take it seriously and lose the weight. I’m really good friends with Ross (the Intern) and Maureen [McCormick]. We do a lot of shopping and hanging out. She’s just a ray of light. I mean she really is a wonderful person. I’m so happy to have her as my friend.
That’s got to be a little surreal shopping with Marcia Brady…
You know, it’s so funny. One day she was talking to me while we were filming and was talking kind of low, and her eyes were sparkly and she was excited about something, and I looked her and said ‘Maureen, I hope you’re not offended, but this is so Marcia Brady right now telling me a secret.’ She really does have those mannerisms. Her eyes still sparkle, and that little smile…I obviously grew up watching The Brady Bunch so it’s just a wonderful experience.
Lastly, the 1980’s resurgence is unstoppable. How do you set yourself apart from being just a novelty act? In other words, it’d be so easy for you to do a Debbie/Tiffany tour or a hits-only tour?
It would kind of be easy for me to try and come back on the scene and do a Beyonce style track with [elaborate] videos. That’s not where my heart is at. Beyonce does a great job being Beyonce and I respect a lot of artists because they’re amazing and they’re committed. I could never see myself in that niche.
If you just continue to do credible music, it’s going to find a home. Nowadays, as an artist, it’s so great to have the Internet and YouTube. Eventhough your music might not be on MTV, it doesn’t mean you’re not successful and out there.
For more on Tiffany, check out tiffanymusicsite.com
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What a nice article. Tiffany’s always seemed so down-to-earth and this further confirmed that. It really is a shame that truly talented people like her aren’t given the fair shake they’ve earned and deserve.