By her third album in 1990, Anything Is Possible, Gibson’s chart fortunes were diminishing; only the lead single, the album’s title track, made any headway, peaking at #26. It would be her final U.S. top 40 entry. She shed the wholesome teen image for 1993’s Body, Mind, Soul, and later appeared in a Playboy magazine pictorial. Despite her diminished profile, another seven albums followed between 1995 and 2022. In 2006, she reached # 24 on the U.S. adult contemporary chart with "Say Goodbye,” a duet with Jordan Knight. Gibson has also had starring roles on Broadway and touring musicals, including playing Eponine in Les Misérables and Sandy in Grease, as well as television and independent film work.
Too Fancy
Debbie Gibson Lyrics
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To wear with ties of silk
Bought a herd of cows
To milk his own milk
I like his heart of gold, his personality
He's just too fancy for me
He's got a Cartier and a Mercedes Benz
When we were only friends
But when we're on a date
It's all too plain to see
He's just too fancy for me
I like a man who can roll up his jeans
And wade in the water
And still has some dreams
I like a man who can understand
Simplicity
Don't want 'em finely tuned
Cause quirky men are cool
The Concorde's caviar
Ain't like Balducci's food
Those thousand dollar suits
May suit society
But they're just too fancy for me
Give me a fishing boat
Give me a wide eyed grin
Don't even try to gloat
Cause you won't even win
Don't want the courtside seats
I want my nose to bleed
He's just too fancy for me
He's just too fancy for me
Debbie Gibson's song "Too Fancy" is about a woman who finds herself caught in a love affair with a man who enjoys an upscale lifestyle that is too grandiose for her. The lyrics express that he likes Armani suits to wear with silk ties and owns a Cartier watch and a Mercedes car, elements that are out of her realm of understanding. Furthermore, he bought a herd of cows to milk his milk which show how much money he has, but the woman finds his personal qualities more significant than his materialistic items. The woman likes his heart of gold, which refers to his kind and generous nature, and his personality, but feels that he is too fancy for her because she likes a man who is simple and can understand simplicity. She emphasizes this when she sings that a man who can "roll up his jeans and wade in the water and still has some dreams" is more appealing to her rather than a man who has wealth and fame.
The woman finds it hard to connect with this man on a deeper level because he is consumed with his lavish lifestyle that is all about prestige. She tries to explain that she wants a simple and quirky man with whom she can have shared interests, such as fishing or attending nosebleed section seats at a game, rather than luxurious activities like flying on the Concorde and eating caviar. In the end, the woman decides that her man is too fancy for her and that she needs someone who is more down-to-earth.
Line by Line Meaning
He likes Armani suits
He has expensive taste and prefers designer clothing
To wear with ties of silk
He enjoys accessorizing with luxurious materials
Bought a herd of cows
He made a large, financially significant purchase
To milk his own milk
He values self-sufficiency and may enjoy farming
I like his heart of gold, his personality
She admires his virtues and personal characteristics
He's just too fancy for me
Despite her admiration for his qualities, his lavish lifestyle is not compatible with hers
He's got a Cartier and a Mercedes Benz
He owns expensive and prestigious brands of jewelry and a car
And that was all ok
His possessions were not a problem before they began dating
When we were only friends
They had a different, less romantic relationship previously
But when we're on a date
His extravagant lifestyle becomes more apparent during their romantic outings
It's all too plain to see
It is very clear that he lives a life of luxury
I like a man who can roll up his jeans
She prefers a more casual, easygoing style of dress for her partner
And wade in the water
She appreciates a man who can join her in outdoor activities
And still has some dreams
Ambition and imagination are important qualities for her in a partner
I like a man who can understand
Her ideal man is empathetic and can relate to her values
Simplicity
She values simplicity and modesty over extravagance
Don't want 'em finely tuned
She does not want her partner to be polished or overly refined
Cause quirky men are cool
She finds unconventional or odd qualities endearing in a man
The Concorde's caviar
She is not impressed by expensive foods
Ain't like Balducci's food
She believes that high-quality food can be found at lower-priced establishments
Those thousand dollar suits
She does not believe that high-priced clothing is necessary or desirable
May suit society
Expensive clothing is a status symbol, but not necessarily desirable to her
But they're just too fancy for me
Despite their social value, expensive clothes do not appeal to her personally
Give me a fishing boat
A simple, inexpensive activity is more desirable than luxury for her
Give me a wide eyed grin
She values emotional authenticity over material possessions
Don't even try to gloat
She does not enjoy boastful behavior or showing off
Cause you won't even win
Any attempt at impressing her with material things will not succeed
Don't want the courtside seats
She does not value the best seats at sporting events
I want my nose to bleed
She would be content with a less expensive seat that is still enjoyable
He's just too fancy for me
His luxurious lifestyle is incompatible with her values and preferences
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