Ah, the 1980s. Rock music had entered yet another evolution, pop music was glittery and full of synth-y goodness, and plenty of pop and rock icons were enjoying their heyday. One such pop star was Tiffany Renee Darwish, better known as Tiffany.
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On this day in 1987, Tiffany kicked off a very successful mall tour. Just a few days later, on June 29, she would formally drop her self-titled debut album. The record would catapult to the top of the charts in the US, Canada, and a number of other countries. Her hit song from that album, “I Think We’re Alone Now”, would also become a No. 1 hit by November of 1987.
Mall tours were all the rage back then, though you’d be hard-pressed to see them nowadays. Teen idols and pop musicians often kicked off mall tours to promote their music, as it was the top spot to attract the attention of young shoppers who typically considered the mall to be their “third place,” so to speak.
Tiffany’s Time in the Spotlight Was Brief but Intense
Tiffany’s debut mall tour kicked off at Bergen Mall in Paramus, New Jersey, on June 23, 1987. The Beautiful You: Celebrating The Good Life Shopping Mall Tour ’87 was already established before Tiffany was brought on. But considering her already growing popularity, it was a no-brainer to get the up-and-comer to join.
From the start, Tiffany would perform three sets every day per weekend, where she would sing over pre-recorded tracks. She was also required to do interviews and greet attendees. After her first weekend at Paramus, she would sell dozens of copies of her album and start attracting the attention of the media. After 10 stops on the tour, Tiffany would return to school. By the following year, Tiffany would be a huge sensation and launch an arena tour with New Kids On The Block as her opening act.
While Tiffany’s mall tour was successful and her first album was a huge hit, she would struggle to find footing on the charts with her subsequent releases. Her sophomore album, Hold An Old Friend’s Hand, would drop in 1988 and only reach No. 17in the US. Her subsequent releases would fail to chart in the US entirely.
Being a pop star is hard enough, but maintaining longevity is even harder.
Photo by Ron Eisenberg/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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