No More Rhyme Explained

No More Rhyme
Cover:Nomorerhymedebbie.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Debbie Gibson
Album:Electric Youth
B-Side:Over the Wall (Dub Version)
Released:[1]
Recorded:1988
Genre:Pop
Length:4:13
Label:Atlantic
Producer:Fred Zarr
Prev Title:Electric Youth
Prev Year:1988
Next Title:We Could Be Together
Next Year:1989

"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.[2] Lyrically, the track is about a relationship's "first hurdle."[3] Gibson stated that it was one of the few songs where "I can't remember where or when I wrote it."[4]

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."[5] In his review for Electric Youth, Harry Sumrall of the Lakeland Ledger called the track a "sappy paean to love."[6] Dan Firestone of the Toledo Blade however, gave it a positive review, calling it the best song off the album.[7]

Music video

James Yukich directed the video for "No More Rhyme".[8] 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.[9] It was first released to Night Tracks on July 1, 1989.[10] At the time, "No More Rhyme" was the third most requested video on MTV.

Track listing

7-inch and cassette single[11] [12]

  1. "No More Rhyme" (LP Version) – 4:15
  2. "Over the Wall" (Dub Version) – 4:24

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1989)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[13] 58
Costa Rica (EFE)[14] 3
US Top 100 Pop Singles (Cashbox)[15] 20
US Adult Contemporary (Gavin Report)[16] 6
US Top 40 (Gavin Report)[17] 13
US Adult Contemporary (Radio & Records)[18] 13
US Contemporary Hit Radio (Radio & Records)[19] 16

Year-end charts

Chart (1989)! scope="col"
Position
US Adult Contemporary (Gavin Report)[20] 66

Notes and References

  1. "No More Rhyme", the follow-up to the smash singles "Lost in Your Eyes" and "Electric Youth". Radio & Records. 31. June 2, 1989. 791.
  2. Web site: Gibson . Deborah . February 16, 2015 . Debbie Gibson "No More Rhyme" Sheet Music in A Major - Download & Print . December 9, 2024 . Musicnotes.com . en.
  3. Book: Buss, Bryan . All Music Guide to Rock . November 27, 2002 . . 2002 . Woodstra . Chris . 464 . Erlewine . Stephen Thomas . Bogdanov . Vladimir.
  4. News: Tuber . Keith . August 1989 . Debbie Gibson: An Electric Youth . . . 174 . 15 . 8.
  5. Oscar. Wednesday. Singles: Debbie Gibson – "No More Rhyme". Cashbox. 17 June 1989. 52. 49. 22. New York. The Cash Box Publishing Co. Inc.. 4 February 2023. World Radio History. 0006-2510. https://web.archive.org/web/20220327074418/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1989/CB-1989-06-17.pdf. 27 March 2022.
  6. News: Sumrall . Harry . March 10, 1989 . 'Electric Youth' immature: Review . Lakeland Ledger, republished from KNT News Service . . 12C.
  7. News: Firestone . Dan . February 26, 1989 . 'Dylan and the Dead' is tired and jumbled . . . D4.
  8. Web site: Debbie Gibson: No More Rhyme (Music Video 1989) - IMDb . December 9, 2024 . IMDb.
  9. Web site: Guerra . Joey . 2019-03-11 . Debbie Gibson's 'Electric Youth' album is 30 years old . 2024-01-31 . Midland Reporter-Telegram . en-US.
  10. News: July 1, 1989 . The Clip List . . . 36 . 101 . 26 . 0006-2510.
  11. No More Rhyme . US 7-inch single sleeve . Debbie Gibson . Atlantic Records . 1989 . 88885.
  12. No More Rhyme . US cassette single sleeve . Debbie Gibson . Atlantic Records . 1989 . 4-88885.
  13. Web site: Gavin. Scott. This Week In 1989: July 23, 1989. Chart Beats: A Journey Through Pop.. September 30, 2020. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200926235155/https://www.chartbeats.com.au/post/23july1989. September 26, 2020.
  14. News: Listado de discos de Latinoamérica. El Tiempo (Colombia). es. January 27, 2025. September 12, 1989. 12.
  15. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Cash Box Pop Hits 1952-1996. Sheridan Books, Inc.. 2014. 978-0-89820-209-0.
  16. News: August 11, 1989 . the Gavin Report: Adult Contemporary . . 26 . 1769 . y.
  17. News: July 28, 1989 . the Gavin Report: Top 40 . . 6 . 1767.
  18. News: August 11, 1989 . The Back Page: Adult Contemporary . . 96 . 801.
  19. News: July 28, 1989 . The Back Page: CHR . . 96 . 799.
  20. News: December 15, 1989 . Adult Contemporary 1989: Top 100 . Gavin Report . 21 . 1787.