For anyone around in the 1980s it was hard to miss teased bangs, acid washed jeans and lots of great music. Those wanting to revisit the decade of excess, wild fashions and huge mall concerts can do so at the Iowa State Fair at a concert by “I Think We’re Alone Now” singer Tiffany.
The former teen idol is all grown up and will be performing songs from her 30-year career. The concert begins at 8 p.m. Sunday on MidAmerican Energy Stage and is free with admission to the fair.
“(The concert is) high energy with a retro kind of sound,” said Tiffany during a phone interview. “We do the hits of course — ‘I Think We’re Alone Now,’ ‘Could’ve Been,’ ‘I Saw Him Standing There’ — but with a little bit more of a rock edge so I say it is a retro fun, more ‘80s hair bands which is what my passion is.”
With the resurgence of cassettes and vinyl, crowds at the fair can’t seem to get enough music from retro acts. Tiffany is among several stars from that era to perform at the 2017 Iowa State Fair. Other artists included Kix, former Journey lead vocalist Steve Augeri, Bang Tango and Dokken. She attributes the rising popularity in reunion tours and live shows from artists like herself to the fact that music from the decade was just more fun.
“I think there was something about ‘80s music. It was fun. It was a little quirky and a little different from the fashions to some of the sounds. It was just fun,” Tiffany said. “I always thought there was something cool about it, and it makes you kind of chuckle a bit to think we are going back there. (That music) just got you feeling good. And I think that is what I’ve tried to put into my live show is that live anthem feeling, easy breezy great night of fun music. My musicians are amazing, my band is great, and so we are there to rock out and have a good time.”
While most well-known for her biggest hit — a cover of the 1967 Tommy James and The Shondelle’s Top 10 hit, Tiffany said she is not shying away from her past and embraces the one hit everyone comes to hear her sing.
“I’m very proud and very lucky that for being a 9-year-old girl who wanted to sing that it worked out. I’ve got to step back and say I’m very lucky with that. ’I Think We’re Alone Now’ I don’t get tired of singing the song,” she said. “It is not, again, something I thought I’d be recording but it is part of me. I love it and it makes people happy and I’m very grateful for that. Definitely that is my beginning. So my challenge now is to again connect with audience.”
For Tiffany, part of connecting and reconnecting with her audience is performing new music including “Can’t Stop Falling” a single she co-wrote, co-produced and released in July.
“‘Can’t Stop Falling’ the new single is kind of the first song that will take me into the next direction I want to go musically,” she said.
The singer credits her fans with embracing her music from yesterday and today, and for being supportive of letting her try new things.
“My true fans are amazing. They have been with me for 30 years,” she said. “They really are just amazing fans. They have let me grow up, be a mom, take time off, make crazy sci-fi movies. They have been wonderful.”
Tiffany promises her fans will not be disappointed with the show as the singer is excited to be performing at the Iowa State Fair once again.
“I’m really excited to come to Iowa and go to the fair,” she said. “I know it is a big fair and I remember doing it from before. I’m a fair girl so I love all of it. I’m gonna get a corn dog, and I’m gonna get a funnel cake. I’m gonna get it all.”