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Straight Up

written and produced by Elliot Wolff

This page was made on June 19th, 2021, the 59th birthday of Paula

Julie Abdul. Happy Birthday, PA!!

For Paula’s birthday tribute, it came down to a choice for me

between “Straight Up” and “Forever Your Girl.” Either would’ve

been a fantastic selection; I guess I felt “Straight Up” was the way to go, due to its status of vast acclaim spanning its 30+ years of existence. (Although the 2020 movie based on truTV’s Impractical Jokers sure pumped some fresh new wild life into “Forever Your Girl.”)

Long before her judging gigs on American Idol and a few other programs, and shorter before her recording career took off, San Fernando native Paula was an NBA Laker Girl and cheerleader, where she got started choreographing the Laker Girls’ routines. The siblings Jackson discovered her and her work, and soon after she started choreographing videos for Janet. Once Paula started recording and releasing, similarities between her work and that of Janet Jackson began to crop up, to the point that casual fans and listeners less in the know got them confused.

Paula made a splash with her debut release, Forever Your Girl, in 1988, with more than half the tracks—6 out of 10—being released as singles. The final single released from the album, “Opposites Attract”—with The Wild Pair—performed best commercially. And one of Paula’s best friends during the era that treated her well and fueled her career was MTV. Paula did her utmost to return the favor. “The Promise Of A New Day”’s video is a fine example of that.

Check out “Straight Up”’s video to see Paula kicking it with Arsenio Hall in B&W.

Have notes to add? Let me know!

YT:

full version

music video

Paula’s official website

 

1988

Lyrics

Lost in a dream I don’t know which way to go (A-let me say that) If you are all that you seem Then baby, I’m movin’ (movin’) way too slow I’ve been a fool before Wouldn’t like to get my love caught in the slammin’ door How about some information, please Straight up, now tell me Do you really want to love me forever (oh oh oh) Or am I caught in a hit-and run Straight up, now tell me Is it gonna be you and me together (oh oh oh) Or are you just having fun Time’s standing still I’m waiting for some (I’m waiting for some) small clue (A-let me tell you now) I keep getting chills When I think your love (when I think your love) is true x1 x1 You are so hard to read, you play hide-and-seek With your true intentions If you’re only playing games, I’ll just have to say A-b-b-bye-bye, b-b-b-b-bye A-do, do you love me (a-do, do you love me, baby) A-do, do you love me (a-do, do you love me, a-hey baby) A-do, do you love me (a do, do you love me, baby), come on now A-do, do you love me (a-do, do you love me), tell me baby I’ve been a fool before Wouldn’t like to get my love caught in the slammin’ door Are you more than hot for me Or am I a page in your history book I don’t mean to make demands But the word and the deed go hand in hand How about some information, please (please, please, a-please please) Straight up, now tell me (tell me) Straight up, now tell me (tell me) Straight up, now tell me (tell me) Straight up, now tell me Straight up, now tell me x3/[repeat and fade]

first release: Forever Your Girl (1988/06)

FOREVER YOUR GIRL—Paula Abdul.png
STRAIGHT UP {Single}—Paula Abdul.jpg

audio treated sample

This page was originally made on June 19th, 2021 and last edited on July 28th, 2021

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