Editor's Note: Although Paula Abdul is known more as a dance-pop phenemenon, songs like "Knocked Out" and her overall 'urban-rhythmic' lean in the beginning of her career warrants inclusion in this Hall of Fame.
- A. Knyte
A former Laker Girl, and a choreographer for Janet Jackson in the mid 80s, Paula made her debut with 1989’s Forever Your Girl album. Her first two singles flopped “The Way That You Love Me,” and “Knocked Out,” but Virgin believed in her, and released one more single, the sassy and confident “Straight Up.” Featuring a cameo by a rapidly rising Arsenio Hall, “Straight Up” was a huge hit, and Paula Abdul was an instant celebrity after that single.
Followed up with “Forever Your Girl,” “Cold Hearted,” “The Way That You Love Me,” “Opposites Attract,” and finally “Knocked Out,” Paula rode success during the New Jack Era, riding high in both the pop and R&B world, giving her former boss Janet Jackson a run for her money.
In the summer/fall of 1991, Paula released Spellbound, her last great album. “Rush Rush,” “Promise Of A New Day,” “Blowing Kisses In The Wind,” “Vibeology” and finally “Will You Marry Me?” were the singles released during that campaign. Paula even went on tour with Color Me Badd, and interracial group that was definitely a product of the New Jack Era.
In 1995, Paula released her final CD, which did not fare well commercially. In 2000, she released a Greatest Hits compilation. Paula Abdul can now be seen as a judge on Fox-TV's American Idol.
Paula Abdul: Greatest Hits
