Paula Abdul

[bcmuk]

What was the lawsuit? Was it against the label?

I don't why pop artists are sometimes so concerned with being seen as "serious artistes" when they are selling records by the truck load. There are plenty of talented and serious artistes out there living in abject poverty. Regardless of what anyone thinks of a singer and vocal ability, you cannot argue with success, so she must have been doing something right.

 

[bcmuk]

Long shot but does any super fan have a list of the vinyl only mixes/material please?

 

[Suburbia]

I think Paula and her team were responding to the lawsuit. They wanted to show that Paula could sing and that she could get to #1 with a ballad and they proved that with Rush Rush.

I think Vibeology was always going to be a hard sell. I love it but it has a very unique structure. The VMA performance didn't help and I think the timing of when it was released converged with a massive transition in the music scene with Nirvana. The lawsuit also didn't help. Spellbound was a successful era but Paula and team were up against a lot.

What was the reaction to the VMAs? I thought there was a technical issue at the beginning until the Paula in drag reveal... that was gaggy I thought

 

[WhatKindOfKylie?]

It's funny, Spellbound is a great album and I enjoy it more as a whole listen than Forever Your Girl. But, compared to her debut, it does lack many songs that sound hits in that respect.

 

[torontodj]

What was the reaction to the VMAs? I thought there was a technical issue at the beginning until the Paula in drag reveal... that was gaggy I thought

She got a lot of flack for it.

What was the lawsuit? Was it against the label?

I don't why pop artists are sometimes so concerned with being seen as "serious artistes" when they are selling records by the truck load. There are plenty of talented and serious artistes out there living in abject poverty. Regardless of what anyone thinks of a singer and vocal ability, you cannot argue with success, so she must have been doing something right.

Yvette Marine, of the Mary Jane Girls, sued Virgin Records claiming she had shared lead vocals on some of the Forever Your Girl songs. She insisted that Paula did sing but that their voices were blended. The suit was in favour of Abdul but the damage was done. I even remember an interview with Cher who said that Paula was not a singer, she was a dancer.

 

[WhatKindOfKylie?]

Paula, was a great popstar and then and now, never got her credit. It's not all about the voice.

 

[bcmuk]

She got a lot of flack for it.

Yvette Marine, of the Mary Jane Girls, sued Virgin Records claiming she had shared lead vocals on some of the Forever Your Girl songs. She insisted that Paula did sing but that their voices were blended. The suit was in favour of Abdul but the damage was done. I even remember an interview with Cher who said that Paula was not a singer, she was a dancer.

Really? Thanks for the info. Paula is hardly alone in getting a bit of help on a record. She had a very distinctive voice, blended or not.

Quite mean spirited of Cher. Can you imagine if someone told her ‘you’re a singer, not an actress’?!

I’ll never understand what an artist gets out of shading a peer in public.

 

[SlowBurn]

Was M referring to Paula at 1:37 here:

 

[V3RYP05H]

Was M referring to Paula at 1:37 here:

And they say she’s not an actress!

 

[WhatKindOfKylie?]

Paula was arguably bigger than Madonna in the US during 1989/1990 I think.

 

[SlowBurn]

Paula was arguably bigger than Madonna in the US during 1989/1990 I think.

In terms of sales, possibly. In terms of cultural impact, not even close. Not even back then.

 

[WhatKindOfKylie?]

In terms of sales, possibly. In terms of cultural impact, not even close. Not even back then.

Yes, in sales terms. Probably her biggest female chart rival that period.

 

[djessie]

According to Wikipedia, Forever Your Girl has sold approx. 7 million copies in the US and the remix album about 1 million for a total of 8 million US sales.

Madonna released in 1989-1990 Like A Prayer, I´m Breathless and The Immaculate Collection which combined have sold around 18 million copies in the US.

That said, Paula had six number one singles from 1988-1991 while Madonna had three.

 

[That Blonde Lad]

Straight Up is such an amazing pop song. A bit weird, even slightly creepy but also unabashedly pop whist having an atypical pop structure. It didn’t sound like much else on the radio at the time, and still doesn’t. I guess you could say it sounds a wee bit Princey at a push? Also, great lyrics, superb vid and bewitching cover art make a fantastic combo.

 

[bcmuk]

Her run of singles from her debut was spectacular. And they could’ve got more from it.

 

[WhatKindOfKylie?]

Paula's best visual moment? I'd say this:


I think Ariana Grande would agree too:

 

[Suburbia]

Rush Rush is her third most played song on Apple Music after Straight Up and Opposites Attract. I'm in shock honey

 

[torontodj]

Rush Rush was a massive hit. It got a lot of hype and press. It was her first single after the mammoth success of Forever Your Girl. It was her first ballad to be released as a single, and there was also the expensive video co-starring Keanu Reeves. It was everywhere in the summer of 1991, along with Terminator 2 and Natalie Cole's Unforgettable... with Love.

 

[sometimesxtc]

I remember the Rush Rush video getting HEAPS of airplay back then, especially with such a gorgeous and cinematic video. Still very much a sentimental favourite.

 

[bcmuk]

Rush Rush actually killed my enthusiasm for album 2, even if it did well chart wise. I was never that struck on it. Promise Of A New Day was more my taste but it really took Vibeology to reel me back in. I don't think I bought the album until that single.