Customer Reviews

Forever Your Girl [Vinyl]

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

From 1986 to 1991, I listened to Top 40 radio CONSTANTLY. Paula Abdul's Forever Your Girl was one of the first CDs I ever purchased, and, listening to this album over a decade later, I am still surprised at how good it sounds. The music is slick dance-pop, but the grooves have a little bit of a funky R&B edge to them, which gives the music extra oomph. There is even a contribution by Babyface on the excellent single "Knocked Out", and this was back in 1988, long before Babyface was well-known in the pop community. Other standout hits from this album are "Straight Up", "Cold Hearted", "Opposites Attract", "The Way That You Love Me", and the title track. Quite a setlist of pop classics! Paula Abdul also had a certain amount of dignity that today's bubble gum pop queens do not. She appeared fully clothed in her videos, and her sound and style came across as cute and sexy without ever crossing the line to vulgarity. Today's dance-pop has a tendency to bombard the listener with bombast and over-production. However, on Paula's first album, she kept it pure, simple, and "Straight Up"! So, if you are looking for a fun, energetic pop CD that doesn't overdo anything, this album is the one! Great for its 80s nostalgia value, too!

Paula Abdul was the Britney Spears of 1989 through 1992 (or maybe she's more like Christina Aguilera, seeing as how Paula mixed in a little R&B with her pop songs and followed the "hip" culture of the late 80's). Her music is nothing more than infectious, upbeat and unforgettable dance pop songs, and her debut album proves it. From the #1 smash hit "Straight Up", with its electric guitar and snappy vocals, to the more R&B-ish "Knocked Out", you'll find a lot of catchy pop on here. "Cold Hearted", another huge hit single, has an 80's hip-hop beat and edgy lyrics, all the while warning some girl about her no good man. "Forever Your Girl", the title track, has a very jazzy feel to it, with nicely played instruments and high pitched vocals. It's the most upbeat song on here. I also enjoyed "I Need You", because it doesn't sound like the Paula you expect (a little more mature) and "One Or The Other", because even though the song is sugary and corny, you won't get it out of your head. The songs I skip every time I listen to this album are "Next To You" and "State Of Attraction." These are a little too much for my tastes. One thing Paula Abdul was (and will always be) remembered for is her amazing, smooth, and entertaining dancing skills. And while this album won't make you think (no deep lyrics anywhere on here... Paula tries this on her second album), Forever Your Girl will definatley make you dance.

After her success as a dancer and choreographer to the mega pop dance stars of the 80s, Paula Abdul breaks out on her own with her debut release of Forever Your Girl. This was a smash hit in the late 80s, and many of the hits off this release are still being played today on top 40 stations. To show that kind of staying power after over 10 years, this release obviously has something special to offer its listeners. If you love that style of pop dance music with fun lyrics and awesome beats and orchestration, this is a must have release.

We start off with one of many smash hit singles "The Way That You Love Me," which is a great dance and attitude song that still stands true today. I still see that sexy gold video every time I hear it... mmm MMM! "Knocked Out" was a moderate success as a single (I saw the video more on BET than MTV) but is really a great dance tune with some great lyrical and orchestration hooks. "Opposites Attract" is pretty good and has gotten a recent resurgence thanks to Sabrina the Teenage Witch. I still remember how groundbreaking the video was with Paula dancing with the animated cat. "State of Attraction" wasn't released but could have easily been a hit with great dance beat and orchestration hooks. "I Need You" isn't as trite as it sounds and is a strong pop dance tune with an R&B groove. "Forever Your Girl" was a pretty big hit with its happy, bouncy, upbeat message and orchestration. We finally get to Paula's first huge single, "Straight Up." I must admit, I'm not exactly fond of this tune for some reason - something about the orchestration. But this was a phenomenal success and is a classic late 80s dance favorite. For you trivia buffs, the video featured Arsenio Hall. "Next to You" is the only ballad on this predominantly danceable release; very smooth and relaxing. "Cold Hearted" is an awesome attitude dance song with fantastic lyrics and a killer beat; it was a pretty big hit with a great concept dance video. The bridge features an almost rapped chant that really hooks you and was pretty innovative at the time. The release concludes with the somewhat cheesy and shallow "One or the Other," but it is still fun and danceable.

I'm personally torn between giving this release 4 or 5 stars. I like most of the songs, and I remember watching, dancing to and loving the videos for many of these songs (which were visual and dance masterpieces). However, the release never really made that perfect connection with me. While this release holds a special place in my history, it just didn't have that something special to become part of my soul. Therefore, I give it a very strong 4 star rating.

As a recommendation, if you are a fan of late 80s/early 90s dance pop, you should have this release. It's not earth shattering or mind altering, but the release is a strong representation of the era, and it really does make you want to get out onto the dance floor. It's a shame if you missed the videos, because they were all quality pieces that enhanced the songs and, at the time, broke a lot of new ground. As a bonus recommendation, if you like this release, I strongly suggest you also get the remix album Shut Up and Dance, which features songs from Forever Your Girl.

This looks like another album that is underrated because of the anti 80s bigotry...just because this album came out in the 80s, people automatically hate it. "Its cheesy" says one 80s hater. "It sounds so DATED" says another anti 80s person. What if this CD came out a year and a half later than it did? That would make it a 90s album. Would you still hate it then?

Its so unfair how everybody thinks music from the 80s is "cheesy" and a "guilty pleasure". The truth is, music from the 80s (and just about any other decade for that matter) far surpasses anything being made today. Artists like Paula Abdul made music for entertainment purposes only. It put a smile on your face and made you feel good.

Now compare Paula's music with the supposedly "real" music that came out a few years after this. In 1992, music like this disappeared forever! All traces of it were obliterated behind a faceless wall of droning, muddy, distorted guitar noise. Thats right, grunge. All those "woe-is-me, my-life-sucks-because-I-live-in-the-suburbs-and-I-hate-my-parents" mosher bands totally ruined music. How could anybody think Paula is "80s cheese" but think Nirvana were "real" and "honest"? How could they prefer teenage angst and negativity to positive music like Paula Abdul? It simply boggles my grunge hating mind.

I know "Forever Your Girl" might not be hip by today's standards, but be honest. What would you rather listen to? Paula Abdul singing "Forever Your Girl", or Kurt Cobain screaming about how much life sucks and how we should all die? No contest, I'd take "FYG" over the miserable, depressing,negative grunge any day.

After her success as a choreographer to the mega pop dance stars of the 80s, Paula Abdul breaks out on her own with her debut release of Forever Your Girl. This was a smash hit in the late 80s, and many of the hits off this release are still being played today on top 40 stations. To show that kind of staying power after over 10 years, this release obviously has something special to offer its listeners. If you love that style of pop dance music with fun lyrics and awesome beats and orchestration, this is a must have release.

We start off with one of many smash hit singles "The Way That You Love Me," which is a great dance and attitude song that still stands true today. I still see that sexy gold video every time I hear it... mmm MMM! "Knocked Out" was a moderate success as a single (I saw the video more on BET than MTV) but is really a great dance tune with some great lyrical and orchestration hooks. "Opposites Attract" is pretty good and has gotten a recent resurgence thanks to Sabrina the Teenage Witch. I still remember how groundbreaking the video was with Paula dancing with the animated cat. "State of Attraction" wasn't released but could have easily been a hit with great dance beat and orchestration hooks. "I Need You" isn't as trite as it sounds and is a strong pop dance tune with an R&B groove. "Forever Your Girl" was a pretty big hit with its happy, bouncy, upbeat message and orchestration. We finally get to Paula's first huge single, "Straight Up." I must admit, I'm not exactly fond of this tune for some reason - something about the orchestration. But this was a phenomenal success and is a classic late 80s dance favorite. For you trivia buffs, the video featured Arsenio Hall. "Next to You" is the only ballad on this predominantly danceable release; very smooth and relaxing. "Cold Hearted" is an awesome attitude dance song with fantastic lyrics and a killer beat; it was a pretty big hit with a great concept dance video. The bridge features an almost rapped chant that really hooks you and was pretty innovative at the time. The release concludes with the somewhat cheesy and shallow "One or the Other," but it is still fun and danceable.

I'm personally torn between giving this release 4 or 5 stars. I like most of the songs, and I remember watching, dancing to and loving the videos for many of these songs (which were visual and dance masterpieces). However, the release never really made that perfect connection with me. While this release holds a special place in my history, it just didn't have that something special to become part of my soul. Therefore, I give it a very strong 4 star rating.

As a recommendation, if you are a fan of late 80s/early 90s dance pop, you should have this release. It's not earth shattering or mind altering, but the release is a strong representation of the era, and it really does make you want to get out onto the dance floor. It's a shame if you missed the videos, because they were all quality pieces that enhanced the songs and, at the time, broke a lot of new ground. As a bonus recommendation, if you like this release, I strongly suggest you also get the remix album Shut Up and Dance, which features songs from Forever Your Girl.

Paula's debut album epitomises the late 1980's to me. It is slick, cool and there almost isn't a dud track on the album. Straight Up is easily the best song, completely sing-along and dance-along. The weakest track is Next To You by miles - it's awful. The other classics include Cold Hearted, and The Way That You Love Me - these are also great to sing to and dance to. I Need You is also an inspired song. Ok, so Paula isn't the best singer in the world and actually the album really comes alive when the videos are viewed as well.

Much ink has been spilled about how Paula Abdul had little talent and was mostly all style over substance. But let's be honest, this has been going on in the music business since it first began. Other artists over the years who had a limited range to their voice, yet had hit after hit on the charts include: Lesley Gore, Nancy Sinatra, Diana Ross, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Kylie Minogue, Shania Twain, Britney Spears, etc. For all of these singers listed and many, many others, their style was almost or more important than their songs.

Let's face it folks, for every Petula Clark singing "Downtown", there was a Janis Joplin singing "Piece of my Heart." For every Madonna singing "Vogue", there was a Tracy Chapman singing "Fast Car." For every Paula Abdul singing "Straight Up", there was a Tina Turner singing "The Best." The point is, that there is always going to be more serious artists who sing with their heart and soul and there are going to be artists who are fun and frothy.

If Paula Abdul's music can brighten one person's day, then she has done more for this world than many of the critics who want to tear her down.

I originally bought this CD when it first came out, and it still to this day brings back memories of my wild, fun, adventurous youth. I can remember dancing at the clubs to songs like "Knocked Out" and "The Way That You Love Me." I also liked album cuts such as "State of Attraction" and "One or the Other." Listening to this CD still brings a smile to my face, and really, in the end, isn't that all that matters?

No one can deny Paula had those #1's in 1989-1991. What sticks out more in my mind is the endless push of her videos on MTV, starting with "Straight Up", and yes, prophetically, the CD also shot "Straight Up" too. But looking back, Paula was VERY LUCKY this CD came back from the brink of death and even made the charts at all in 1989. Remember, the CD was released in 1988 and went nowhere. I'm not sure if she filmed her videos in 1988 or was it after "Straight Up" hit #1, that her manager demanded a video be made right away to be put on MTV.

On a side note trivia -- the story goes: Aretha Franklin picked up the phone to congratulate Paula on her CD hitting #1 on the charts. Paula hung up on Aretha TWICE, thinking it was a lousy joke from someone. Only, the THIRD phone call finally convinced Paula that Aretha was the REAL THING! My question is: why would Aretha Franklin even call Paula THREE TIMES just to convince her that it was NO practical joke?! Paula's manager told the press afterwards Paula was so overcome with emotion the "Queen of Soul" would even pick up the phone to call her that it was too much for her to handle. She managed to only churn out the words "Thank You, Aretha" to Aretha's congratulations.

No one is gonna argue that Paula Abdul does not possess the pipes of a Barbra Streisand or Mariah Carey, but she does pump her vocal performances full of vigor and energy. She gives it her all with whatever limited vocal abilities she has. It's not a put-down, we can't all have the pipes of a Mariah or Celine, but Paula was helped tremendously by the endless rotation of her videos on MTV. Remember, in those days, they didn't have TRL on MTV, so can you imagine what her appearances on TRL might've done to her CD. It probably would've kept the disc on the charts much longer.

This CD has hits that "Spellbound" WISHES it had, but in "Spellbound's" defense, Paula's vocals improved. You can hear the difference on "Rush, Rush" and compare that to the thinner vocals on the "Forever Your Girl" CD. Too bad "Spellbound" lacked any decent songs except "Rush Rush", which still shot to #1 on Billboard.

Paula does have that lucky break to come back from the dead. Who knew she'd be back in our lives once again and be seen every week on Fox TV?

paula abdul's best album to date...yes "spellbound" was great..yes " head over heels "was good but a bit lackluster..but paulas first album still rocks after 16 years and its still going stong..its a classic... all the tracks are pure gold especially "straight up".."state of attraction" and "cold hearted" paula keep on doing what you do best

There was a time when "Paula Abdul" was a cheerleader for the "L.A. Lakers". There was also a time when she was as popular as "Madonna" and "Janet Jackson", and that was because of "Forever Your Girl". The album was huge when it came out, and seemed to produce an endless supply of singles. Included is probably her biggest hit "Straight Up", plus "Opposites Attract", "Cold Hearted", and "Forever Your Girl". All the other tracks are almost as good, and a favorite of mine is "Next To You". She does actually have a "Greatest Hits" out as well, and six of these songs are on that, plus "Rush Rush", "Promise Of A New Day", and others. It's too bad that now she's mostly known for judging "American Idol". Some people will never know she used to make videos with animated cats.