You’d think after I told the interwebs that I pooped my pants, nothing would embarrass me…well, you’d be wrong. This video that Annie is showing makes me cringe. I just need to say a few things about it:
~ It’s my elementary school talent show.
~ YES I am wearing a black hat, a pink shirt, a skirt, stacked socks, jellies and PIANO LEGGINGS.
~ It was THE EIGHTIES!
~ The footage is not great. Unfortunately, the sound is.
~ The Hand Motions. THE HAND MOTIONS!
Over twenty years later, and I still am pretty horrified.
{ 121 comments… read them below or add one }
You actually have a pretty good voice, especially for that age! But yeah, the hand motions… Those are something else. I like how seriously and earnestly you did them, too, like you really thought they were an essential, coolness-boosting part of your performance.
Please realize that this is all coming from someone who entered a middle school lip-synching competition. I judge because I, too, know the shame.
OMG! I can not stop laughing here! I, too, was a HUGE Debbie Gibson fan in the 80′s and could sing that whole song (complete with hand motions though mine were a bit different…) as well. I agree with Mary-good voice for a kid and the hand motions just totally made the song. So, did you win the talent competition?!
Me too, my first thought was ‘OMG DEBBIE GIBSON I LOVED HER’. You actually did serious justice to the song too, your voice was and is great…but about those hand motions. I particularly enjoyed one of the earlier ones, where you throw your chest out and swing your arms back, very cool
Christine Hendricks´s last [type] ..My Levanto- Redux V
Girlfriend! You made that neon and those Mariah Carey hand motions look GOOD!
LOL…Way to rock it!!! Debbie Gibson was the best in the 80′s and your outfit is perfect! Great payback Annie.
I sang along with you word for word (tho you sounded better) my fave Debbie Gibson song was Electric Youth tho, and can still do the dance we made up for it, lucky no cameras were involved!
I used to love Debbie Gibson& that song! You rocked it, girl!
I actually like your version better than the original. I’m a child of the eighties and knew of the piano tie but piano leggings, wow.
Heather+part Punky Brewster+part Blossom= Awesome 80′s
Thank God my parents didn’t have a video camera… I couldn’t sing like you, and I couldn’t dance either, but that didn’t stop me from trying.
Kate @ UpsideBackwards´s last [type] ..Times tables
The first BIG gesture with the throw back of the chicken winged arms looks like it gave you a GOOD back crackin’.
Sometimes I am thankful I am more a child of the 70′s and not the 80′s. Although I did go through a Madonna stage. **shiver**
Adrienne´s last [type] ..Not For Me
Sounded really good! I inwardly cringed for you, but my 2.5 year old LOVED it! She danced along and then clapped and cheered for you at the end!
well I think yer cute as a bug’s ear- a saying that is lost on me to be honest.
still it seems you have other fans.. one kid in the front room about jumped out of their seat to clap for ya Heather… they just knew you had a future in the public eye.
hawkfeather´s last [type] ..When the Earth is your Canvass
LOL That was great!! The HAND MOTIONS!!
I never could hit those Debbie Gibson high notes, but you nailed ‘em! Love it!
But… Didja win??
that was precious! I used to be obsessed with that song and Debbie Gibson when I was younger.
I managed to escape the videos of any talent show/dance recital I participated in. However, my older cousin has a video of himself dressed in a bear suit singing “the Bear Necessities” from the Jungle Book. You think YOU’RE embarrassed.
Natalie @ Hope Springs Eternal´s last [type] ..Cuz Shes Got
You have a great voice and I loved the coreography! In sixth grade I was in a play entitled All Around the World, I was in the Japan scene doing a dance in a green nightgown with a sash tied around the middle that my mother said looked “just like a real kimono”. Of course all the good moms who sewed made their childrens costumes THAT ACTUALLY LOOKED LIKE GORGEOUS KIMONO’S – thanks Mom!
loved this……..:)
coloradolady´s last [type] ..Vintage Thingie Thursday
WOW – all of your obvious awesomeness AND you can sing?!?! Love it! And the hand motions make me <3 you even more!
Debbie Gibson, FTW!
mel´s last [type] ..small change
That was awesome! Did you win the contest?
Heather, there is no talent show video of me. Why? Because although I had aspirations that I was going to be a famous singer, I auditioned for the middle school talent show and was REJECTED. TURNED AWAY. And, in retrospect, the committee did me a HUGE favor, because otherwise there’d be a similar video of me…except my voice was 30 times worse than yours, I was a little older so I wasn’t cute, and this was the mid-90′s so the video quality would be good enough that people could actually tell it was me.
I think you actually have a good voice. And even after you described your outfit, I still can’t really tell what you’re wearing. It’s the kind of video that may be embarrassing to you but is actually genuinely cute and charming. I would take that video over the horrible photos of me from that age!
I seriously love you. Can we be bff’s? The hand motions were the best….I have tears rolling down my cheeks! I love the confidence! Love it! I have a similar video of me singing “you gotta fight for your right” by the beastie boys in third grade. I even flung my strap off my shoulder in mid song!!!
Thanks for sharing…it made my morning!
My toddler and I watch all your videos, she loves them!! However, this one may have made her cry…. You have mad skills as a singer, I can’t believe you didn’t choose that as a career.
Karen Chatters´s last [type] ..The waiting game
Oh. My. God. Hea. Ther. We are kindred spirits. I knew it was “Lost In Your Eyes” as soon as the music started. I have one of those “record your own tape” things with my 8th grade self singing it. This was phenomenal. The hand motions? GENIUS.
Jen L.´s last [type] ..Oh what a tangled interweb we weave
My family has SO many videos like this of me. You’re brave to let Annie put this one online!
And yeah, the HAND MOTIONS! ARE AMAZING!
Abby´s last [type] ..Black Bean and Feta Tacos
That was pretty great! I just wish there was a close up of the totally rad outfit you were wearing. You should see some of the 80′s clothing that my 8 and 10 year olds are asking for this year. I can’t believe this stuff is coming back into style.
Really, you get huge impressive points just for being brave enough to do this, both then and now!
You had me on the edge of my seat, anticipating the next fabulous hand motion
Lamb’s Most Recent Post: YUCK! Sexy Nerd Has a New Hobby
Oh, how I miss the 80′s!!! LMAO
AmazingGreis´s last [type] ..The BFL is back and better than ever…
EMOTIVE HANDS!!! Seriously that wasn’t nearly as cringe worthy as I had hoped.
Jen´s last [type] ..A New Endeavour
You rocked it!!! At least you could sing. In the talent show video my mom has of me I sound like a dying cat.
Lisa´s last [type] ..Toddler Beds Are Not Comfortable
LOVE IT!!! You have a great voice! Only thing missing is a close up of that fab outfit! So cute!!
heather, YOU ROCKED IT. The hand motions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I know I will have this song in my head all day… Around dinner I’ll be thinking “Why am I singing debbie gibson?”
Singing in my cube at work, great way to start a Friday!
I’m now going to use Heather’s Hand Motions when singing at home. I think it will really annoy my husband. If that doesn’t work I’ll look for some piano leggings, that oughta do it.
rkmama´s last [type] ..Photography for Imbeciles- as written by a total imbecile
Um, the hand motions just made my morning. And your voice is not bad at all!!
Well. Um.
Luckily, the picture quality is bad enough that you could TOTALLY deny it’s you and no one would ever know.
Well, no one, that is, except all of us bloggy peeps. But we won’t tell.
sorry had to stop it at 1min 30sec – LOL
That is hysterical. The singing was pretty good, but you were right.. can’t get over those hand motions!!! Makes me quite glad the 80′s are gone.
you sing better than I do.
Loved it!! Way to go Annie… Although you sing way better than I ever could.
This made me laugh, but in a good way of course! My 18 month old gave you a round of applause when you finished singing.
Bad idea to watch this while eating breakfast. I heard the opening notes & knew it was Debbie Gibson, and I choked on my omelet. You poor, poor thing. I’m suddenly grateful for how awkward & shy I was in school, because it means there’s no talent-show footage of me *anywhere*.
If anyone had had a video camera to tape me and my talent show performances we would be seeing an awful lot of Whitney Houston going on. I’m pretty sure I sang her songs in at least three talent shows.
I was such a Debbie Gibson fan in jr. high. I wore a hat like hers and of course wore my Electric Youth perfume all the time!
Thanks for sharing this awesome video.
O.M.G……DEBBIE GIBSON!!!!!!!!! I started laughing as soon as you skipped out on stage!
I also have audio recording of me singing Madonna that I would die if it came out!
Brave, brave woman!
You actually had a pretty good voice for a kid! I’m impressed although I could see why you’d cringe over the hand motions. I partook of similar antics as a child and I shiver with embarrassment when I think about those days.
My favorite part was kid in the front row who jumped up and clapped at the end! Awesome! Was that your brother or some other big fan?
Thank you for starting my Friday off with a laugh!
Oh Heather, that was actually really cool!
I just thank heaven that my Dad didn’t get a recording of my sister and myself and our rendition of Rapture by Blondie. Talk about the hand motions!
THANK. YOU. SO. MUCH. FOR. THAT!!! Wow, that was funny. You did have some guts back then to sing in front of your whole school though, way to go!.
You totally rocked it. Loved Debbie Gibson and wore that cassette out from listening to it so much. Kudos to you because I would have never gotten up in front of tons of people like that.
This is eeriely reminiscent of a church talent show act I entered with a middle school friend. Only instead of singing that particularly awesome D.G. song as you did, we choreographed a dance routine to Ms. Gibson’s inferior tune, “Electric Youth”. Our costumes were also very neon. And the best part? The routine utilized squirt guns. Yeah. If you want to see a picture of my embarrassment, I posted one in this blog entry: http://wordtotheys.com/?p=1499
Thanks for sharing, Heather! I swear I only laughed at our mutual Debbie Gibson love. Oh, and the hand gestures. A little bit.
I actually thought you were pretty good, Heather:) If that had been me in the video, I’d still be pulling it out to this day as a tribute to a time when I was cool….
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!
THE HAND MOTIONS!!! BWAAHAHAHAHAH!
Oh, Heather, that was AWESOME! love it!
Ha! Boy did this take me back to High School!! I love it!
I have a video of my oldest in the talent show singing the Backstreet Boys…he hates when I pull it out and play it. But he actually won! He is now 22 and just got married last weekend, how time flies! Great memories! Thanks for sharing!
EVERYBODY looked silly in the 80′s. And YOU can sing girl!
I am so old that I do not even know who Debbie Gibson is, even if I do have a son who is a junior in high school. I wish there had been a close up of your face. Your voice was impressive though but I did laugh when you did the dramatic hand motions. I love seeing Annabelle with Madeline’s picture next to it. Both so beautiful and similar.
AWESOME! I loved me some Debbie back in the day! I had a nightgown with her picture. Have you seen what she’s up to now?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa7ck5mcd1o
Rachel Witmer´s last [type] ..The One in Which I Explain the Title
can i just point out that those aren’t *hand* motions…they are full-on ARM MOTIONS!
fantastic. and i was singing along – sans motions. i’m clearly no fun.
Heather and Annie – I *HAD* to delurk today. Because, seriously? In my elementary school talent show, I wore almost the VERY same outfit (my leggings were black though). And I sang “Live to Tell” – where they closed the curtains on me in the middle of the song because the audience thought it was over.
One of the most embarrassing moments of mine EVER.
I feel ya, sister.
xoxo
OMG! I sang that same song at my talent show in 5th grade! LOL You are way better than I was!
This brings back memories of my 6th grade talent show, where my friend and I lip-syched to “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” – I believe I was wearing my Reebok high tops, stacked socks, turquoise pants, and a big white sweatshirt with the not-intentially-ironic word “COOL” on it. Thank God there is no video footage of THAT.
You rock! I am sitting here shocked that I remember all the words to “Lost in Your Eyes.” No wonder I can’t remember where anything is – I’m using up brain storage for hits from the 80s.
amanda´s last [type] ..The August Break- Day 16
Every morning TOF and I sit down to watch Annabell movies and today he said to me, I don’t like when Annabel’s mommy sings, I just want to watch Annabel and Rigby!
megryansmom´s last [type] ..CSN Stores Giveaway
LOL The only reason I’m laughing is because if you think you didn’t sound good you have to hear me singing, I sing worse by the day
Plus I would never be able to remember the lyrics to a full song. I think you looked really cool. You were a little fashionista 
Great job…………even for 20 years ago. I’ve been in plenty of talent shows, was a cheerleader in Jr. High school, did so many jumps and splits and showed off my underwear in the process……..
Memories are wonderful. You can show that video to Annie when she is 16, we’ll see what she says then.
You nailed the Debbie Gibson look for sure, like totally!
Please tell me you would practice this song in your room by singing into a hair brush in front of your mirror.
Please tell me you won!!!!!!!
(((HUGS))) from Florida
That. Was. AWESOME.
C’mon…give yourself a break…You were doing the early Karaoke, and I would have come back to hear you…you DO have a nice voice!
Debbie Gibson FTW!
Manda´s last [type] ..The Mama Decathalon
DUDE! “Lost in your Eyes”! I was a huge Debbie Gibson fan. I probably would have sang it in a elementary school talent show if we had one. It is still my karaoke jam (the only one I will sing in public) and luckily not many places have it. I did download the karaoke version from iTunes so I could sing it at my sister’s wedding a few years ago.
Was your twin bro a Tiffany fan like my twin sis? LOL! I highly enjoyed out twitter convo on the twin topic the other night.
YOU GO GIRL! You’re my new 80′s Idol!
Lisa Marie´s last [type] ..Sometimes I Do
Love me some Debbie Gibson – Another fav – Shake your love, I just can’t shake your love. Shake your love, I just can’t shake – your love! Heather, I love it!!!!
Those who lip-synched to The Jet’s “Rocket 2 U” in her elementary talent show — OH! And to Sheena Easton’s “Strut” in the 2ND GRADE — shall not throw stones at those who make large hand gestures while doing a pretty good job singing over Debbie Gibson.
That was fantastic Annie. Thanks for sharing. I started laughing the minute the music started playing. I am glad you mentioned the hand motions because the video not being the best quality looks like there is a neon pink shirt just hanging on the microphone stand until the arms start waving. You did good though. Favorite Debbie Gibson song then was “If we could be together for awhile” Favorite Perfume “Electric Youth” I am glad she came out with that I was getting sick of “Baby Soft”!
I’m blushing for you! Your voice was good! Oh how I wish there was close up of your expressions, if it is anything half as good as the hand motions!
Seriously, my face is red. SO AWESOME!
You do realize you put this on YouTube right?
jenny´s last [type] ..In Eight Years
that. was. AWESOME.
The voice was great.
However, the outfit? After seeing this, and your “Teen” modeling side pony-tail, I have decided that it is high time that you call your parents and thank them for endowing you with a such a high sense of self-esteem at a young age.
Teasing! You were definitely exactly what the style was at the time.
xoxo
That is DA BOMB!
Heather´s last [type] ..Hair TodayGone Tomorrow
Thought about you guys when I read this:
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourHealth/you-cant-be-denied-health-coverage.aspx
Woozers!! those really are some grand hand movements!!!
I love it. I have to ask, is that at Roosevelt? Looks just like it
mariah´s last [type] ..Leukemia
You make me so glad my parents don’t have video of my old gymnastics competitions. What a good sport.
Janelle´s last [type] ..Back to school
Heather… OMG! your voice was great…and love that song! Did you win????? everyone wants to know!!!???? Have a great weekend! and love, love Annabel…. she’s gorgeous!
THANK YOU- for participating in this talent show, for having it film, and then for sharing. I cannot even begin to count my regrets surrounding my childhood. I danced in so many talent shows. It’s like I was compelled to participate and, instead of playing the piano or something (which I could do), I opted instead to DANCE (which I could not do. Didn’t even take lessons). I still live with the shame. So this was therapeutic for me.
That was fantastic! Piano leggings. . .I wish the video were better so I could see them.
At least you didn’t do a dance to “Let’s get Physical” in your leotard and leg warmers and fake weights, all the while having NO IDEA what the song was really about. (Oh, wait. . .that was me in my 5th grade talent show.)
This made my day.
It was 80s-fab all around. Someday, Annabel is going to laugh over this.
Pattie´s last [type] ..Another 50 Things
Holy hell, Debbie Gibson! First of all, kudos for having the cajones to get up in front of your whole school to sing/lip-sync, I never could have done that. Second, your outfit is incredibly similar to my 6th grade school picture clothing: hot pink t-shirt under a black cardigan, black flouncy skirt, black leggings, hot pink slouch socks, black Ked knock-offs, and pink-framed Sally Jessie Raphael glasses. Don’t forget the pink scrunchie in my half-pulled-up spiral permed hair!
Awesome flashback. Seriously, RAD.
Thanks for making me smile and surprising me with your voice, wish I could sing like that and the hand movements so dramatic
(serious about the voice though)
Honest to God, I had to turn it off ’cause I was crying (I still am!) and not because of your hand gestures.
Maybe it’s just ‘cuz I’m hormonal but seeing THAT young innocent carefree girl with her whole life ahead of her and then knowing the pain you went through as an adult, turned me into a blubbering fool.
Can you just give me a fix of Amazing Annabel so I can get back to smiling? Thank you, Ms. Poopy Pants
You are a brave, brave woman.
Kristin´s last [type] ..Aug 19th Day of Hope
I can see where Annie gets all her talent! (sorry Mike)
Hey, as long as you’re wearing jellies, you can’t be wrong, so don’t worry so much.
Amanda M.´s last [type] ..Deep Breath- Positive Thoughts
I honestly haven’t laughed all day, until right now. When you came out on stage, I knew EXACTLY what song you were going to sing. Maybe because you looked just like I did in 6th (or was it 7th, I can’t remember anymore) grade.
Oh Debbie. Her hair, her hat, her Electric Youth…she was the woman I wanted to be, although she wasn’t yet a woman herself. Just don’t tell 12 year old Kim that.
Oh, and the fact that you are singing it WITH the tape? Classic.
Having endured a few Talent Shows, I can honestly say that I would much prefer that performance (with hand motions and all) to the many, many I’ve had to sit through that are so horribly out of tune. At least you carried the tune well.
And yes, you are a VERY brave woman to post this. I rather wish I had a copy of a video tape of my one and only talent show experience. I sang a duet of a silly song my best friend and I made up. Since it was humorous it was well received but I know I’d be mortified and yet glad if I could see my teenage self on video. 
It’s kind of like those horrid awkward year school photos we all have.
Ummm… That was AMAZING!!! My face hurts from laughing so hard! As soon as the first notes started, I knew who it was! I was obsessed with Debbie myself. I used to listen to that song and think about how romantic it was! HA!!! Thanks for sharing. Made my day!!
If it makes you feel any better, that totally made my day:)
I’m still laughing! Glad you have such a good sense of humor!
Man! I wish there was a PHOTOGRAPH out there of your outfit…I’d love to see it more clearly.
I was grinning from the second that song started, and through all of it.
I will say…you did a great job :0) Seriously. There would be NO WAY I would’ve gotten up there at that age, in front of all those people….
Just more proof you are fantastic.
That was spectacular! And jellies…..those are making a comeback
Wait, is there something wrong with leggings + stacked socks + jellies? And + Debbie (sorry, DEBORAH) Gibson? I am just thankful that there’s no video of the choreographed dance and lip-synch I did to “Open Your Heart” by Madonna for a Brownies talent show….
Love your bravery this week on the blog!
Wow. the hand gestures. So emphatic. Not bad though… the singing, I mean. The gestures were, of course, ridiculous.
Tell me please that was your mom or some relative in the front row that was like losing her mind clapping and jumping up and the whole thing.
HM
Hamlet’s Mistress´s last [type] ..It’s a beginning…
Classic!!! That was one of the first “tapes” Thai I had bought. I thought you sounded great (seriously!) and your outfit was very Debbie Gibson-ish!
When I was in 5th grade, back in ’85, my little brother and I sang a song from “The Sound of Music”… it’s still one of my Mom’x favorite tapes of us!
Thanks for the great smile on my face Heather!
LOVE the hands hahahaha.
This? Is priceless! Wish I could see those piano leggings better. I would have been SO jealous of those back in the day.
Your voice is actually quite good. I hope you were in the choir. Seriously.
Elaine´s last [type] ..Ive Done VERY Little to Support the Sugar Industry These Last Three Months and Zumba is My New Best Friend
Nice! So funny. You and Debbie (or Deborah as she goes by now) sound fantastic together. I love that you sang with her song. LOL
That wasn’t so bad … Minus the eighties get-up and the arm flapping, you sounded really good!
At least you didn’t participate in a middle school talent contest dressed as a nun, lip syncing to something from Sister Act. What can I say? I went to Catholic school and, for some reason, we thought that would be cool (not to mention give us bonus points with some of the judges).
Alas, we lost to someone that played an instrument because “lip syncing isn’t a talent.” Thank God that isn’t captured on video!
Emily´s last [type] ..living the dream
Okay, bad 1980′s wardrobe and music aside – I’m just super jealous that you had the balls to get up in front of a crowd and sing by yourself!! I always loved to sing and was always in band (played tenor sax) and for all of my “musical” life/education I was always too scared to show my stuff! Annie may be mocking in the video now but she’s got some good role models for showing her how to live life to the fullest!
Your voice was good. The band? Not so much!
Candice´s last [type] ..Sort of Wordless Wednesday
Okay, like we needed something to make us think you were more adorable. Sheesh! So stinkin’ cute, and you can totally sing! Annie comes by her natural talent and beauty honestly!
Megan´s last [type] ..Is There Anything Better in the World
That was pretty good, though I have to confess my crush was on Tiffany rather than Debbie Gibson, who always seemed a little too squeaky clean and up herself!
As the quality of the image was so bad, I think we deserve a 2010 version, assuming you can put together that same outfit…!
Mark´s last [type] ..Ice Cream Yes I do!
I’m not gonna lie I loved me some Debbie Gibson too. I probably would’ve wore the same outfit had I performed it lol. Soo funny. I still can’t watch videos from my childhood. Too mortifying. But you put your big girl panties on and show them to the world. You are braver than most
Absolutely hilarious! I love it! You did sing well though, I must say! And on a side not Annabel’s outfit is soooo cute! And one question…Is Annabel’s voice always played by the same actress or does an actor sometimes sub in as her voice?
Loved it!!!!
You go, girl!!!!
Ann´s last [type] ..Ahhh Summeryour days are numbered
Awesome! I hope you won!
OMG this is pure awesomeness. You looked adorable and sounded pretty good!
didnt think i could love you more- but you proved me wrong!
let’s not even get into my greek goddess talent number where i sang “open arms” while holding a single rose in my hand. I was 19, I had NO EXCUSE.
Heather: I thought maybe they found your computer and I would mail you this link. Don’t know if you saw this or not. I love your blog.Click here: Plane Cleaner Charged With Stealing Lost Passenger Items – AOL Travel News
Are you kidding? The hand motions MAKE THE WHOLE PERFORMANCE. That took guts. I was the kid who always wanted to do that, but just imagined Maria Carrie moments in her head instead.
Oh those wonderful Jr. high talent shows… my friends and I decided we HAD to do the New Kids “Hangin Tough” song, AND dance! To which, halfway thru, I got nervous and forgot the steps, lol! Needless to say, we didn’t win : )
You did great, and you know, i bet those leggings will make a comeback ; )
HEATHER!!!!! That was soooo good!! Seriously!! I don’t know why Annie would be embarrassed at all!! In fact, I’m slightly jealous. I was in my school’s talent show in the 8th grade and sang my 1st public solo. I was SOOOO incredibly nervous, my voice was shaking SOOOO badly, that I literally & seriously, sounded like a billy goat. I remember hearing chuckling coming from the audience. I was the longest, death-defying 3 hours of my life (ok, more like 3 minutes but it felt like hours!!) I’ve never been able to get back on stage again, except for the occassional karaoke which still takes some heavy cattle prodding from my husband just to get me even near the stage then. Thank you for sharing that video! I always loved that song and you ROCKED!
My 3.5 year old came over when she heard sound coming from my computer and said “her phinging (singing) is wonderful!!! SO beautiful!” Love reading your blog!