By: Lucy Hall
Dear Tiger Beat,
Andy Gibb is a real groovy dude! I mean I think he is terrific! Thanks for the great pictures you run. Every night before I go to sleep I put a picture under my pillow. This way I’m guaranteed to have sweet dreams!
Sincerely,
Shadow Dancer
Ok, so I never submitted a fan letter but if I had of been a teenager in the 70’s I certainly would have. Some people like Barry, some like Robin, while others prefer Maurice but I tell you baby brother got it over all of them. How did this admiration begin? Was it the chest hair? The feathered Farrah do? No, it wasn’t because I knew there was something about him I liked that was deeper than the glossy photos on the covers of 16 or Tiger Beat. It was long before he donned his Bicentennial uniform of long, pointed collared shirts, form-fitting, high-waist spandex disco pants, and big medallion necklaces. It was an early television appearance on Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert. His style was stripped down to simple high-waisted jeans and a white jacket open to reveal just the right amount of chest hair. He looked not only terribly handsome, but he had a certain presence about him; an innocence.
Throughout my life, Andy memorabilia finds a way to find me. While everybody was going crazy over The Osmonds or The Jackson Five; I found myself bypassing their albums in my sibling’s collection to find myself a really special pop star. Did I mention I am an 80’s child? Shouldn’t I have been crushing on New Kids on the Block or some other 80’s teen sensation? Well, that wasn’t the case, because not only were my siblings a generation behind me, but Andy also had that certain special something that no other pop star ever possessed. As a preteen, I managed to steal away my sister's Andy t-shirt. I wore it until it was so thin and faded that his face was no longer visible.
In college, my best friend surprised me with a random gift. When the package opened it revealed an Andy doll that still had the price tag attached. At six dollars it was definitely a steal. I was very pleased with my gift and quickly displayed him beside a pin-up from 16 Magazine of the pop star. A few months later another friend gave me the Andy Gibb/Victoria Principal 45. People tend to want to give me Andy inspired gifts so since then I have acquired a few more collectibles. Every holiday season we’re faced with the task of picking out presents. Of course, we could buy simple gift cards but we want to surprise our loved ones with something special. So, I totally get why my nephew gave me a custom Andy Gibb blanket. While it may have been a tough task finding the perfect kitsch gift for his auntie, the end result was definitely worth it. We had a great laugh together and he enjoyed the surprised look on my face upon opening this thoughtful gift.
Recently I received a couple of packs of what I believed were Donruss, Andy trading cards. They were still unopened but due to age were loosely closed. So, of course, I opened them. I was surprised to see that they were actually mini posters that came with a stick of gum. What is it about Andy that makes him so extraordinary? He’s a handsome guy with a great voice! And his image makes for some campy gifts I adore. Andy rules!
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