No More Rhyme
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox song
| name = No More Rhyme
| cover = Nomorerhymedebbie.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Debbie Gibson
| album = Electric Youth
| B-side = Over the Wall (Dub Version)
| released = {{Start date|1989|6|2}}{{cite magazine|title="No More Rhyme", the follow-up to the smash singles "Lost in Your Eyes" and "Electric Youth"|magazine=Radio & Records|page=31|date=June 2, 1989|issue=791}}
| recorded = 1988
| studio =
| genre = Pop
| length = 4:13
| label = Atlantic
| writer = Deborah Gibson
| producer = Fred Zarr
| prev_title = Electric Youth
| prev_year = 1988
| next_title = We Could Be Together
| next_year = 1989
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|KnRWQOhQJEs|"No More Rhyme"}}}}
}}
"No More Rhyme" is a song written and performed by American singer-songwriter and actress Debbie Gibson. It was released as the third single from her second studio album Electric Youth (1989) only in North America, Australia, and Japan. It was produced by Fred Zarr.
The song had moderate success, peaking at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 13 on the Adult Contemporary chart. Internationally, the song entered the charts in Canada, Australia, and the Flanders region in Belgium.
Content
According to the sheet music published on Musicnotes.com, "No More Rhyme" is performed in the key of A major, with Gibson's vocals ranging from F#3–D5.{{Cite web |last=Gibson |first=Deborah |date=February 16, 2015 |title=Debbie Gibson "No More Rhyme" Sheet Music in A Major - Download & Print |url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0139899 |access-date=December 9, 2024 |website=Musicnotes.com |language=en}} Lyrically, the track is about a relationship's "first hurdle."{{Cite book |last=Buss |first=Bryan |title=All Music Guide to Rock |date=November 27, 2002 |publisher=Backbeat Books |editor-last=Woodstra |editor-first=Chris |pages=464 |editor-last2=Erlewine |editor-first2=Stephen Thomas |editor-last3=Bogdanov |editor-first3=Vladimir}} Gibson stated that it was one of the few songs where "I can't remember where or when I wrote it."{{Cite news |last=Tuber |first=Keith |date=August 1989 |title=Debbie Gibson: An Electric Youth |work=Orange Coast Magazine |location=Orange County, California |page=174 |volume=15 |issue=8}}
Critical reception
Oscar Wednesday of Cashbox gave the track a negative review writing, "This tender ballad makes me want to lean over into little Debbie’s ear and whisper, "How can I say doo-doo? Let me count the ways."{{cite magazine|first=Oscar|last=Wednesday|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1989/CB-1989-06-17.pdf|title=Singles: Debbie Gibson – "No More Rhyme"|magazine=Cashbox|date=17 June 1989|volume=52|number=49|page=22|location=New York|publisher=The Cash Box Publishing Co. Inc.|access-date=4 February 2023|via=World Radio History|issn=0006-2510|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327074418/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1989/CB-1989-06-17.pdf|archive-date=27 March 2022}} In his review for Electric Youth, Harry Sumrall of the Lakeland Ledger called the track a "sappy paean to love."{{Cite news |last=Sumrall |first=Harry |date=March 10, 1989 |title='Electric Youth' immature: Review |work=Lakeland Ledger, republished from KNT News Service |location=Lakeland, Florida |page=12C}} Dan Firestone of the Toledo Blade however, gave it a positive review, calling it the best song off the album.{{Cite news |last=Firestone |first=Dan |date=February 26, 1989 |title='Dylan and the Dead' is tired and jumbled |work=Toledo Blade |location=Toledo, Ohio |page=D4}}
Music video
James Yukich directed the video for "No More Rhyme".{{Cite web |title=Debbie Gibson: No More Rhyme (Music Video 1989) - IMDb |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5814590/?ref_=nm_flmg_job_1_cdt_c_48 |access-date=December 9, 2024 |website=IMDb}} It was filmed in Los Angeles in mid-May 1989. The music video features Danica McKellar from the hit TV show The Wonder Years playing a cello. In the original recording of "No More Rhyme", Bob Osman played the cello.{{Cite web |last=Guerra |first=Joey |date=2019-03-11 |title=Debbie Gibson's 'Electric Youth' album is 30 years old |url=https://www.mrt.com/entertainment/music/article/Debbie-Gibson-s-Electric-Youth-album-is-30-13678986.php |access-date=2024-01-31 |website=Midland Reporter-Telegram |language=en-US}} It was first released to Night Tracks on July 1, 1989.{{Cite news |date=July 1, 1989 |title=The Clip List |work=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media |page=36 |volume=101 |issue=26 |issn=0006-2510}} At the time, "No More Rhyme" was the third most requested video on MTV.
Track listing
7-inch and cassette single{{Cite AV media notes |title=No More Rhyme |type=US 7-inch single sleeve |others=Debbie Gibson |publisher=Atlantic Records |year=1989 |id=88885}}{{Cite AV media notes |title=No More Rhyme |type=US cassette single sleeve |others=Debbie Gibson |publisher=Atlantic Records |year=1989 |id=4-88885}}
- "No More Rhyme" (LP Version) – 4:15
- "Over the Wall" (Dub Version) – 4:24
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" border="1"
|+Year-end chart performance for "No More Rhyme" ! scope="col" |Chart (1989) ! scope="col" |Position |
| US Adult Contemporary (Gavin Report){{Cite news |date=December 15, 1989 |title=Adult Contemporary 1989: Top 100 |work=Gavin Report |page=21 |issue=1787}}
|align="center"|66 |
{{col-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|master=2702133|name=No More Rhyme|type=single}}
{{Debbie Gibson}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Song recordings produced by Fred Zarr
Category:Songs written by Debbie Gibson