Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simple and Fun!, May 15, 2001
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!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great For What It Is... Dance Pop!!!, March 1, 2001
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.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Still Forever Your Girl after all these years, May 15, 2000
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.
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