EP 5 - Forever Your Girl - Paula Abdul (1988)

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Paulette Abdul ain't now one thing. Paulette Abdul ain't mommy. That girl is singing off key on the record. Cause she got a right image that we all know ain't really true. Well, well, well. [00:00:34] Speaker B: Welcome back to Diva Decoded. [00:00:37] Speaker A: We are Nelly and Cam. [00:00:41] Speaker B: We hope you guys are doing well. You're having a good week. Thank you for joining us again. How was your week, Nelly? [00:00:47] Speaker A: My week was okay. I sprained my foot. [00:00:50] Speaker B: We have an injured person with us today, so Nellie's been hobbling around. But that didn't stop us from recording today. [00:00:58] Speaker A: Because you know what? Divas never stop, so why should we? [00:01:00] Speaker B: Yes. So, you know, if they're sick, they go out there, they perform. So that's why we're here, too. We're. We're going through the storm with you. [00:01:08] Speaker A: Guys can push me down the stairs. [00:01:09] Speaker B: I did. I said, oh, my God, you didn't like this album? [00:01:14] Speaker A: You're like, that's enough. [00:01:15] Speaker B: But that being said, what album are we covering this week, Nelly? [00:01:19] Speaker A: This week, we are covering forever. Your girl by the one, the only Paula Abdul. [00:01:26] Speaker B: So what was your awareness of Paula Abdul before going into this or preparing for this episode? Because for me, it was a name I always knew, but I didn't know any songs, choreography. [00:01:38] Speaker A: I knew her as one of the greatest choreographers. [00:01:41] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:01:42] Speaker A: I remember the first time watching Coming to America. [00:01:45] Speaker B: Oh, I forgot she did that. [00:01:47] Speaker A: Yeah. And I remember just being like, who is this black queen behind here? And I was like, oh, my God. Not only is she not black, it's Paula Abdul from American Idol that did this. I just. Yeah, she's just. I know physically, like, she's always been just amongst the greats, but I was not familiar with her music like that. [00:02:08] Speaker B: Okay. Yeah. I didn't think I knew her music either. I knew, like, I got into her, like, a few years ago, and I got into, like, I knew straight up. That was pretty much it. But that was. I only, like, kind of knew it. Like, that was my only real awareness of her. And maybe a bit from American Idol, but in terms of her music career, I wasn't really aware of that. So going into this, like, I liked Paul Abdul before I liked Janet. And then I was like, oh, my God, there's so much more to Janet. No offense to Paula Abdul. Paula Abdul has, like, one album of hits versus Janet has, like, everything. Yeah, yeah. She was huge. From 86 to, like, 2003. Ish Janet. And she's still a legend now. [00:02:52] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:02:53] Speaker B: But in terms of charting success versus, like, Paul Abdul had a few albums, but the reason why I wanted to cover her, because I'm going to be honest, this is my choice. Like, I. I don't want to talk about Paul Abdul in a derogatory kind of way because I do love her. But I think this is such a rare album where it's kind of like a flash in the pan. I think it was the first album with four number one singles off of it. [00:03:19] Speaker A: Certified diamond. Yeah, like five times. [00:03:22] Speaker B: No, Yeah, I think it was really. It was a. It was a big album. Sorry, I mean, her first day, a first debut album with four number one singles. Technically, I think the first album with five number one singles was bad by Michael Jackson and then Teenage Dream by Katy Perry matched it, period. So she was the first female to do it. And then Mariah also kind of matched the record with her first five singles, going number one with her debut album and then the Emotions album. So anyway, all of that to say this was kind of a huge, huge, huge moment at the time that no one really talks about or remembers. No one really talks about or remembers Paula Abdul. But I. In my opinion, this is an album of some really strong bops. We'll get into. We'll get into, like, what we think of it vocally, But I think. I think this is a strong album sonically, and this is to sound. I kind of like, like, it's very similar to Rhythm Nation. It was released, I think, the year before, and Paula Abdul was very involved with the Control album. She choreographed all of the videos for Janet Jackson's Control album. [00:04:34] Speaker A: Yes, she did. [00:04:35] Speaker B: Yeah. And you could see it in the video. And she's. She's also in some of the videos for what have you done for me lately. So you could kind of feel her presence there. [00:04:44] Speaker A: She is very, very incredibly influential. And I think, like, listening to this album, I was like, yeah, I can see where your daughters came from. [00:04:53] Speaker B: Her daughters? [00:04:54] Speaker A: Yeah, musically. Like, I feel like she has daughters musically. [00:04:58] Speaker B: Oh, you mean, like. I thought you meant like her real daughter. [00:05:00] Speaker A: No, no, like her. [00:05:02] Speaker B: Her, like spiritual. Kind of like how you were saying last week that, like, Beyonce's Tina Turner's daughter. Yes, like, musically. Okay, no, no, that totally makes sense. I. I would say, like, it's so similar to Janet. Like, I think it's very much like kind of coming from that. Yeah, coming from that same place. But I wouldn't say she's a straight out. Right. Copying Janet because she was like, the choreographer. [00:05:31] Speaker A: I think, like, what you're saying is correct. I'm just Like, I feel like there's a level of, like, sisterhood when you listen to this album. [00:05:37] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:05:37] Speaker A: That she had with Janet. So not necessarily, like, one is the mother of the other, as opposed to they grew up together. Like, I can see that. [00:05:45] Speaker B: Yeah. Where Paul Abdul got her start is with the Los Angeles Lakers. And I remember she was saying in her audition, she went in dance the first time, got booted out, changed her clothes and her hair, went back in, did it again, got booted out again, and then came back to it again. They were like, you're in. Wow. Yeah. So she. She made it, and it was just not giving up that determination, which I think is really special. [00:06:13] Speaker A: I'd be giving up so fast. [00:06:16] Speaker B: But the. The Jacksons attended a game and then saw her perform there. And by the Jacksons, I kind of mean the Jackson five. But the Jacksons rebranded to the Jacksons when they switched from Motown, I believe, because they couldn't use the name anymore. So for their video Torture, I believe she choreographed. And then with that relationship, Janet started using her as a choreographer with her Control album, which is kind of where Janet's music career really took off. And then also where her videos started being more of a thing, which I think in the 80s is paramount to having big success, is having videos, having strong videos, which we'll later get into with Paul Abdul and why her videos were so great. But, yeah, that's where she kind of got her start. And you could see the influence in Janet's videos. And I think. I think Paula was very influenced by the new Jack Swing sound of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and Janet Jackson from the Control album, because she kind of went in that direction. No, she very much went in that direction with Forever your Girl. This is on the same. No, this was Virgin Records, which Janet would later join. So, yeah, I feel like, like, Forever your Girl and Rhythm Nation 1814 are kind of like two peas in a pod. And we've already covered Rhythm Nation 1814, so go listen to it if you haven't. [00:07:31] Speaker A: Listener or die. [00:07:35] Speaker B: If you like the new Jack Swing kind of sound like I do, these are, like, two of the best albums. I mean, I feel like Rhythm Nation is a lot deeper than this album just by the themes it covers. But this is just kind of a fun pop record. It's dance music. [00:07:51] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:07:52] Speaker B: And for what it is, I really like it. I think it's really fun. And Paula has a great personality for these songs. And that especially comes across in the videos. And she has. The thing is about Paula, like, she's really great presentation. So while her voice may not be like the best, it's, it's her presentation sonically in the music and then also with the visuals that kind of bring her up to scratch. And then also trend wise like New Jack Swing was huge at the time and this kind of music was huge at the time. So I could see why it popped off in the way it did. What do you think about this album, Nelly? [00:08:34] Speaker A: So I know how passionate you are. This album. I don't want to break your heart. Not one of my favorites that we have covered or will cover. I think the struggle that I found within this song and Don't Stone Me is that a lot of them did sound the same. I found with a lot of these songs. And I think as a whole, like collectively like listening to Back to back, it felt super repetitive which is why I struggled with this album. But I'm just like, I did like the sound of it. So it's, it's like, it's not that I didn't like it. It's as much as I'm like, I think the sound, it got it. Yeah. It just got really repetitive and I, and I struggled to see the difference between a lot of the tracks. [00:09:17] Speaker B: Yeah, that's fair. I think, I think it helps because like I more listen to the single mixes of these songs like Opposites Tracked the. There's a single mix with a rap in it. [00:09:27] Speaker A: Oh. [00:09:29] Speaker B: That I listen to in place of the album version all the time. Yeah. And then I also listen to the 12 inch mix of the Way that yout Love Me over the original. And then there's also a remix of Knocked out that I think was originally released. So it's kind of like I, I, I listen to those and they kind of have a bit more variation. And I really think of this album like the singles and the non singles. Cause there's six singles from the album and yeah, the rest are not singles. So if you vibe with it and you like the sound, you will love this album. But that being said, like you said, it's true. A lot of it is the same. And especially because what's something this album is missing that you love? I think it's really obvious. [00:10:09] Speaker A: I think for me it's a ballad. [00:10:11] Speaker B: Yes. [00:10:11] Speaker A: I just like when I was listening to it, I'm just like, yeah, this is the type of music I can get myself like getting ready to go out. But I need a moment where I'm like, sorry girls, I'm gonna stick back tonight. I'm just Gonna be in my one some in my bedroom. [00:10:27] Speaker B: Yeah. I think Next to you. Next to you was the only one that was kind of a ballad. But even then it's like, it's not really. It's not like a ballad in the same way where it's kind of a half assed ballad. Like versus Come Back to Me from Rhythm Nation is like done so well. [00:10:49] Speaker A: Come back to me. Anybody wanna hire us to sing? [00:10:54] Speaker B: Sing a capella? [00:10:54] Speaker A: Yes. [00:10:56] Speaker B: Come back to Me. [00:11:01] Speaker A: No, but seriously, if you haven't listened to our Jackson of Janet Jackson cover this season, then what the hell are you doing? [00:11:06] Speaker B: Yeah, that was one of my favorite episodes to do. Like, I love that album and I think there's so much depth to it. I think the difference between these two albums is there isn't as much depth here, but I do think it's very fun and it's kind of similar to Control because control is like, there's not much depth to it. But yeah, I, I do really like the album. But I, I do see what you mean when it's like very similar. [00:11:29] Speaker A: And I can appreciate how much you love this album too. Funny enough, on the other side of the pendulum swinging the other way. I do like how I'm like sometimes you just need fun. Not everything is sobbing, but I'm like, I do like a little bit of dynamic that way. [00:11:43] Speaker B: Yeah, I think we're used to with divas like this up and down of the ballads and the up tempos. So this is a bit jarring. And honestly I didn't even notice it didn't have any ballads until I listened to the next album of Paula Abduls called Spellbound. And it has Rush Rush on it, which was another big hit for her. And it's like, it's actually a really good song. [00:12:05] Speaker A: I didn't know it. [00:12:05] Speaker B: Keanu Reeves is in the video. [00:12:07] Speaker A: Keanu Reeves? [00:12:08] Speaker B: Yeah. Like she, like she was really big at the time and for a moment and then stopped releasing music. And so it's unfortunate but we'll get into that later. But to me, the up tempos were so strong, especially a lot of the singles. Like straight up, yeah, the way that you love me, Cold Hearted and Opposites Attract, those really carried the album. But yeah, I, I just, I love this album and I've loved it for years. And I think if you haven't already, Nelly, we need to look at some of the visuals of this album. We should, because I saw like a. [00:12:45] Speaker A: Little bit of which video, the video for Forever your girl. Was it that song that I Saw the video for. [00:12:52] Speaker B: I'm gonna show Nelly some of my favorite clips from this yes. Era and we'll come right back. Okay. So I showed Nelly a few things. [00:13:10] Speaker A: He's like. He educated me. [00:13:11] Speaker B: Education, it's the knowledge. So illiteracy. [00:13:16] Speaker A: No, sorry, continue. [00:13:20] Speaker B: So we watched a little bit of the forever your girl video. We watched a little bit of the original it's just the way that you love me video and the choreography from that. And we watched some of opposites attract too. [00:13:30] Speaker A: Good. [00:13:31] Speaker B: So these were really stellar, high quality visuals. And we'll kind of get into it a little bit later. But I think it's in a lot of way carried the singles, even though I think they're great songs. Whereas I feel like for other artists such as Whitney, the songs are what made it go number one. And we'll see. I have another gag of tricks for you. And there was a leaked video of Whitney Houston talking about Paula Abdul from 1990. And we're going to watch it. [00:14:05] Speaker A: Oh my God. Live with Cam and Nelly. I think. Yeah, it definitely was a bit of a power move to be like. Because if they just relied on all love Paula but like if they just relied on her voice to carry. Don't know if the songs would have reached as high. But I'm like, I think like playing into the idea of like how strong of a dancer she is too with the visuals, I think helped support the necessity of these songs. [00:14:31] Speaker B: Yeah. And they. They really leaned on the strength, like their strengths with this album in the rollout. So I think that's admirable. Like she's not going out there trying to sing like Whitney. [00:14:42] Speaker A: No. [00:14:43] Speaker B: But that being said, we're gonna roll the clip now. [00:14:47] Speaker A: One thing, Paula. [00:14:48] Speaker B: Jewel ain't. [00:14:52] Speaker A: Mommy. That girl is singing off key on the record. Give it to people cuz she gotta image that we all know ain't really true. [00:15:06] Speaker B: Okay, would you what you think of that? [00:15:09] Speaker A: Here's the thing about Whitney. Whitney was not afraid to be messy as we know. [00:15:14] Speaker B: Well, not the thing about this video. This was filmed by Robin, which was Whitney's friend. Yeah, lover. And it didn't come out for 30 years until the Whitney documentary in 2018 where this video surfaced. So she wouldn't have publicly said that. And I know Whitney loved Janet. [00:15:34] Speaker A: That's true. [00:15:34] Speaker B: But yeah, what do you think of that? Whitney's like your top vocalist. Talking about Paula in this way. [00:15:40] Speaker A: Well, say similar to how Mariah's highly revered. And it just reminds me of Mariah and JLo being like, I don't know her. [00:15:51] Speaker B: Yeah, it is, in a way. [00:15:53] Speaker A: And I'm like, I feel like part of being a divas. Being a diva. [00:15:57] Speaker B: Yeah. And the thing is, like, I love Paul Abdul, but Whitney's not wrong. She is singing off key on the record. [00:16:03] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:16:03] Speaker B: I mean, Whitney's not putting it nicely, but she. She really is off key on the record. But like I said, for this type of music, it's very different. So I don't think it really matters, but I'm gonna. I'm. Before we get into the album and the track list, I just kind of want to talk about how this ties in with the visuals, because I do think Paula Abdul's visuals were stronger than Whitney Houston's in terms of videos. Song wise, absolutely not. Album wise, absolutely not. But in my opinion, it's undeniable that some of these videos are more visually interesting than something like I'm your baby tonight or my name is not Susan from that album. [00:16:43] Speaker A: Well, that's. I think that's why, like, dancing is also very important. And Whitney also danced. Like, she. I would say she was actually a pretty strong dancer. [00:16:54] Speaker B: I feel like. I don't know. To me, she was just more like, would kind of get into it, like, put her body into the song as opposed to it being a choreographed moment, especially on stage. But, I mean, Mariah doesn't fucking move at all now anymore. But back in her day, she would, like, bop along to the song as well and really move with it. So I think it's, like, similar for Whitney, or maybe there's, like, some fun choreography, but not in the same way as Paula Abdul. [00:17:22] Speaker A: I'm wondering if. I feel like maybe they didn't or she didn't allow herself a moment of dancing. But I'm like, I feel like there was a lot of potential there for her, but I think what makes. Tying back to how, like, strong the visuals were for Paula songs, dancing is really important. I think, like, that's how. That's why musical theater, you know, I love musical theater. I'm like, one can't go without the other. Like, all of it is all together. Acting, singing, and dancing, all three in one. And similarly to, like, music videos, because you're not just hearing somebody sing, you're seeing them perform the song. [00:18:00] Speaker B: Right. [00:18:01] Speaker A: And it wouldn't have been. It wouldn't have been enough for Paul, like, for Paula to stand behind a mic the way that others may have. [00:18:07] Speaker B: And you know what? Whitney Houston never had to do any of that. She didn't. And she was bigger and has A longer legacy than Paula with just her voice, which I think is very admirable. And I'm not. I'm not shading Paula Abdul. I love Paula Abdul, but her career didn't last very long because it was kind of based on these trends and kind of gimmicky moments. But I do think it's an. This is an amazing album and she had an amazing run and some people never have half the success that Paula Abdul has had. But it's just a very different thing than Whitney. And why I bring Whitney up is just because of that video that we just watched and just, you know, that's the kind of diva that's like our definition of perfection. [00:18:55] Speaker A: Well, that's the thing too, is. Sorry, last bit of thing about the video adding on to my reaction from before is that like literally was gonna say was that Whitney, everything had to be 10 out of 10. Like it was. There was. There was no room for mediocrity with her. Yeah. And even thinking of like the behind the scenes videos of her and Brandi singing from the Cinderella soundtrack. Brandy is Brandy, as we know, like the vocal bible. And there's Whitney in her face being like, why are you down there? Like, she didn't like there was no room for just getting by. [00:19:30] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:19:30] Speaker A: And I can see how in her eyes she thought of Paula as just somebody that is just getting by. And she's like, it's all about image with her. Like, I'm not. Let's not try to pretend that this is something that it's not sort of thing. And I kind of appreciate the whole diva hood that she kind of took on for that. I do think Paul is great, but I kind of don't sense many lies with what. [00:19:51] Speaker B: When he said, yeah, Whitney was. Whitney wasn't lying. She just wasn't nice about it. No, but no, no, no, I. I do think she speaks the truth. And for people who go to see Paula nowadays, basically similar with Janet, this is all alleged, but this is what I think. So these are very dance heavy songs. So naturally one would lip sync for a lot of these shows. So back in this time, Paula would lip sync to her studio vocals which sound decent, they sound professional. They may not be like the best singing ever, but they sound professional nowadays. Oh my God, her vocal tracks are a mess. It's literally so auto tuned and horrible. It does not sound good. And I love Paul Abdul, but yeah, I'm like, girl, just. Just lip sync to the 901989 track or 88, whatever. Just do that. But anyway, we're on a bit of a tangent, so back to where. Where we were going before. I. I do think. I do think while these visuals and. And the album isn't deep, it is fun. It's very fun and it's very. I like running to this kind of music. I think it's really. Gives you a lot of energy and. Yeah, I think it's a fun change from sometimes the deepness of. Of ballads and. And it's just a nice change up. So. Yeah, I appreciate this album and in that respect. But. Yeah. Do you have anything to add? [00:21:26] Speaker A: No. [00:21:27] Speaker B: No. Okay. [00:21:28] Speaker A: I'm glad you showed me that. That's so interesting. [00:21:31] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:21:31] Speaker A: Messy diva. [00:21:32] Speaker B: I know. But at least you saw some of the visuals as well, so you could kind of like. I mean, you've seen some on your own as well. But I wanted to show you some of my favorites. [00:21:40] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:21:41] Speaker B: Because that gagged me. The way that you love me. Original video, dance break. And the first chorus. Holy shit. And the AMA performance that I believe she won an Emmy for. Gagged. I was gagged. [00:21:53] Speaker A: And like, it's so clear how. Why she was so revered. Yeah, girl, like, the way she jumps to her knees and gets back up. I can't do that today. Well, that's not just because of my foot injury. I got bad knees. Like the hell. There are just things that, like, you can't even imagine doing just, like, as an average person. So. She's not average. Like, she's not just getting by. She is still way ahead, like, ways ahead than the average person. [00:22:17] Speaker B: She's. She's making up for the vocals with the dancing. [00:22:21] Speaker A: Yes. [00:22:22] Speaker B: In my opinion. But I'm not mad about it comparatively. [00:22:26] Speaker A: Would you, like, kind of agree with that also that approach sort of for Tate McRae as well? [00:22:32] Speaker B: I think Tate McRae has a decent voice, a very soft voice, but I think it's. It works for the type of music that she sings. It's kind of like Britney. Tay McCrae seems very Britney coded to me just in terms of like, I'm going to dance and, you know, my voice not. May not be like the most amazing, but it's unique. So I think that's interesting. Whereas I don't know if Paula's voice is super unique. Does that make sense? [00:22:59] Speaker A: Yeah, I see what you mean. [00:23:00] Speaker B: So, yeah, I. But also, I don't know if you could really be as iconic as Britney Spears. I'm like, I'm not saying Tate McCrae is anywhere near as good as Britney Spears, even though I think Tate McRae has some great songs. It's okay. I'm okay. It's okay. [00:23:14] Speaker A: I'm okay. Greedy. [00:23:15] Speaker B: Yeah, that's a good one. But that being said, should we go into the track list? [00:23:18] Speaker A: Let's do it. So the first track on the album, the way that she loved me. Cam, take it away. [00:23:32] Speaker B: I love this song. So I believe it was the second single from the album, the first being knocked out. And with these two, they weren't really having big success, so they were kind of not sure where the album was going to go and how well it was going to do because it was doing okay up until this point. So this song got a remix for the single edit and for the video. And so it was called it's just the way that you love me, Whereas the album version is called the way that you love me. I think there's another song called the way that you love me. So they didn't want to confuse it. So yeah, there are two videos for the song, one for the original release. And then after straight up went number one and maybe cold hearted as well, they re released the way that you love me and it went to number three on the Hot 100. So this song eventually did have big success when there were more eyes on Paula Abdul. But I love this song. I love the 12 inches version of this song as well. Have the 12 inch single. And I think she's so this such a fun song with kind of a cute message. It's not about the money. It's just, you know, it's kind of a sweet sentiment. It's really not that deep. I love the original video with the choreography. The. The next video is cool as well, which is just using the album version of the song. And I love the AMA performance. I think that won an Emmy and the choreography there, it was amazing. Janet was there that night too and sang escapade. So that was like a great night to be at the AMAs. I'm so jealous I wasn't born like what? [00:25:04] Speaker A: Yeah, that's kind of messed up, mom. [00:25:07] Speaker B: Oh God. But yeah, I absolutely love this song. I think it's so fun. It has such a great beat. I love the vocoder that's kind of in there with the way that you love me like in the beginning. I love the hard hitting drum. This song is one of my favorites from the album and really hits for me and is what this kind of sound 80s new jack swing dance music is at its best. [00:25:33] Speaker A: You said everything correctly. I think this one is definitely one of my favorites from the Album. I think it's also just such a lovely intro into the album. It also also kind of feels like it's like early 80s coded a little bit early to mid 80s, as opposed to later 80s. [00:25:52] Speaker B: I could see that. [00:25:53] Speaker A: But, like, I think that, like, there's just a certain element of down to Earth with this song that I really like, of her being like. Like, he would mention of just being like, I don't need a lot. I'll take you just the way that you are. And I love how you take me just the way that I am. And it's kind of like. It just. It's really, really innocent and fun. And I do. I do love a. Like, I think that's what I like about a lot of albums that we covered is that, like, there's always a level of innocence that. To the songs that I'm always like, oh, this is so fun and cute. And I'm. I'm always a sucker for that. So this is a great intro to the album. [00:26:28] Speaker B: Yeah. And I feel like it ties in well because I feel like the 80s were very materialistic. I'm not saying we're not materialistic anymore, because that's not true. [00:26:36] Speaker A: But it was like, I am actually. [00:26:39] Speaker B: I love things like, I do. Things are the most important thing in the world. [00:26:42] Speaker A: You know what I mean? [00:26:43] Speaker B: No, I'm just kidding. But so I like that it kind of plays on that and. Because even at the end. Have you seen Back to the Future? I have at the end, when he changes the past, and now he's in a house with nicer furniture and his parents work better jobs and stuff, and it's like, okay, like, money is the happy ending. Like, it's kind of a. It's kind of an interesting thing. Like, you know, that was. What. Maybe it was in the 80s in America. [00:27:12] Speaker A: The American dream. [00:27:13] Speaker B: Yeah, I guess so. But, yeah, so it's. It's kind of an interesting take that this song has. But, yeah, I love this song. Like, this was great. [00:27:22] Speaker A: This one is great. I like this one. I remember even starting the album being like, okay, period. Like, this was nice. This is a nice listen. And then, like, I can see myself bopping to this today. [00:27:34] Speaker B: Cute. Cute. So the next song on the album is Knocked Out. What do you think of this one, Nelly? [00:27:40] Speaker A: This one doesn't. It kind of reminds you of Lucky Star by Madonna a little bit. I Might Lose My Mind. I feel like this one, I think I also like this one. I think, like, the musicality. I love the way I can't Describe it, but I love the music specifically on the words knocked out. Knocked Ouch. Like, it feels. I don't know, it feels like almost like a. Like a cymbal crash. That's like. Like I'm feeling like rebirth in that moment. [00:28:07] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:28:07] Speaker A: Which, again, I just described it very poorly, but whatever. It's my mind. Yeah. I really like. I do like this one. This one is fun for me. Like, when I. When I hear the song, I think of, like. I think of her. There's a lot of, like, a lot of these albums that feel like alleyway approach, but I picture her specifically, like, banging on some. Like, what are they? Like the silver. Like the tin trash bins in the alleyway. [00:28:31] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:28:32] Speaker A: Like doing her own music in that way, being very DIY with the music. But, like, I. I do like it. I really. I really do like the song. [00:28:41] Speaker B: Yeah, it's. It's very cute. It was the first single and, like I said, didn't have very much success. It's definitely the least successful single of the album. Wow. That was a lot of S's. The least successful single of the album, period. But, yeah, so I enjoy this song. Is it my favorite? No, it's probably my least favorite single of the six that are on the album of the 10 tracks. But I do enjoy it. There is a little bit of a gag with this one. One of your favorite producers produced this with L A Reid. This is produced by Babyface. Yeah. [00:29:14] Speaker A: Baby Face. [00:29:15] Speaker B: Yeah. I had no idea as well. [00:29:18] Speaker A: Yo, Babyface was just doing anything. He was everywhere. [00:29:21] Speaker B: This is his only credit on the album. What? Yeah, I was like, what? [00:29:26] Speaker A: He does need to perform at my wedding, so I'll have to figure that out. [00:29:28] Speaker B: It kind of makes sense, though, that they would make it the lead single because, I don't know. I feel. I don't know how many accolades yet at that point, but LA Reid and Babyface, like, I feel like putting them. [00:29:41] Speaker A: Together, you're making a real baby like this. Like, you. This is a baby that you want to, like, freaking promote. [00:29:47] Speaker B: Yeah. So from a record company perspective, a new artist, it makes sense why they choose Knocked Out. But the real success from the album started with Straight Up. But, yeah, I like this song, but I don't know. I feel like Babyface, his ballads are my favorite. I've also got into Boys to Men more recently. Oh, my God, they're so good. And he did End of the Road. Did he do, like, Unbended Knee and I'll Make Love to you? [00:30:22] Speaker A: He did. He also did There Can Be miracles. [00:30:28] Speaker B: Oh, yeah, he did. He did do when you believe. That's a really good song too. [00:30:33] Speaker A: Baby Face, you thing is, I say you're gonna perform my wedding, but, like, I don't know how you're gonna perform when we're marrying each other. I don't know. We'll figure it out. [00:30:41] Speaker B: But he could perform. [00:30:43] Speaker A: Yeah, that's true. Like, he could sing me down the aisle and I. And I want an original. But also, like, I'm fine with when he believes. [00:30:49] Speaker B: No, if it me, I would pull up Mariah and I want to hear every time I close my eyes. [00:30:53] Speaker A: That's true. That's true. [00:30:54] Speaker B: I love that song as well. And bring Kenny G as well. He could come. Yeah, but. Yeah, all right. That being said, I don't think I really have much more to add about Knocked Out. Did you want to move on to the next track on the album? Opposites Attract? [00:31:10] Speaker A: Opposites Attract. Okay, so something about this song, I remember when I originally listened to it, I'm just like. I feel like this could be cool. This could have been cool as an album opener. At least the beginning of it. [00:31:20] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:31:21] Speaker A: Felt like it could have been something that I'm like, I would. This looks like it, like, sounds like an introduction to the album, but I think the first one makes sense. The. The Way youy Love Me makes more sense as an opener. The way that she loved me. The way that you love me makes more sense as the opener. This one I found was good. It didn't. It wasn't really. It didn't do much for me. Yeah, I do. Like, I was left. I actually do think it. I was left a little bit disappointed because the moment I heard the beginning, I was like, wow. Like, I'm ready to like. I feel like I was like being jump started and then I kind of was left on the table. [00:32:01] Speaker B: Yeah, that makes sense. This is one of my favorites on the album, for sure. But now I don't listen to the album version. This is the one where I listen to the 7 inch remix that's on her greatest hits album. Because there's a rap at the beginning. And I like. I like kind of the duetti vibe of the. Of this song. I don't know why this other singer isn't credited, like, featuring so and so. But yeah, it's interesting for the video, though, that they went with, you know, this other singer would be Scat Cat, which is the cat in the video that she's dancing with the cartoon. And he does the rap as well. So they gave him kind more of a part for the single version. And I just think the rap makes it stronger. Like, it's. It's a little bit. It's cuter. There's more of a baseline in the single version that's catchier. So I do prefer that version, but. And I honestly am left a little bit disappointed when I go back to this version. But we are covering the album, not the single. But yeah, listener, I would. I would urge you to listen to the single version. But, yeah, I. I think this is very cute. The video is awesome. It's definitely one of my favorites of the album. But not this version. Not the album version. [00:33:17] Speaker A: Interesting. Well, well noted. I feel like watching the visuals with you, I was like, oh, this is so fun and cute. It made me like it a little bit more, but that's what we talked about. I think her visuals carry the songs in a different way. [00:33:30] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:33:31] Speaker A: And I just wonder, being of that era, if I was like, I had to also, like, sometimes when we listen to these albums, like, I have to transport myself as to. As if I'm listening to it. In that time era, I had imagined that I'd be putting on, like, putting it on my record player as opposed to, like, turning on the TV and watching it. So I'm like. I feel like I. I would have to, like, somebody would have to avert my gaze to the actual video for me to actually like this or appreciate the song better, which. Which is why it leaves me a little disappointed just hearing it on its own. [00:34:04] Speaker B: Yeah, that's fair. I will send you the single version. And yeah, let me know if that. If that. If you like that one better. [00:34:13] Speaker A: I just made Cam cry, guys. And I don't know how I feel about that. [00:34:16] Speaker B: I was sobbing. We had to cut. I was so distraught that I was like. [00:34:25] Speaker A: He'S a moment. He does. [00:34:28] Speaker B: No, but, yeah, it's. It's okay. You can be wrong. [00:34:33] Speaker A: Yeah, whatever. Literally, whatever. [00:34:37] Speaker B: Shall I move on to the next track on the album? The first non single State of Attraction. [00:34:42] Speaker A: Yes. I'll say point blank period. Didn't allow this one, like, kind of at all, unfortunately. [00:34:50] Speaker B: Huh. Yeah. This is our first non single, so I could see why, like, even the record company was like, there's better ones. But I like it for what it is. It's cute. It has a nice vibe. If you like the sound, you'll like this song. If you like the sound of the album, you'll like it. But is it particularly a standout for me? No, but I think it's really Fun. And I like it when it comes on. I won't skip it. Like any song on this album. I pretty much won't skip except for, like, next to you, but we'll get into that. [00:35:23] Speaker A: Interesting. And I, this one just. I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I just I, I remember it ending and being like, oh, well, that just happened. Like, I. So then that's why I'm like, even, even having to, like, replay the song right now. I'm like, it took me a while to remember which song this was. And I was like, oh, yes, yes, yes, I do remember. But yeah, this one wasn't a standout to me. Not my favorite, but. [00:35:51] Speaker B: I don't have. [00:35:51] Speaker A: Any things to say about it other than, like, I think the beginning is fun. Like, I like the, like, it almost feels like, it kind of feels like diva decoded. Like that you'll go with the hacky sort of feel to it. But I, I think this one, I think there were other songs that overpowered this song. [00:36:10] Speaker B: That's fair. So a little lore. So a few years after this album came out in 1991, a singer named Yvette Marine filed a lawsuit against Paula Abdul and the Virgin label, alleging that it was her vocals that were used on several tracks from Forever your Girl, most notably Opposites Attract. I believe this was the other song that she alleged that on as well. The jury later sided with Paula Abdul in 93, rejecting Marine's claim. [00:36:40] Speaker A: Wow. [00:36:41] Speaker B: And copyright compensation. So during the making of this album, they did mix some of the background vocalists together with Paula Abdul. You could hear it a lot on Knocked out, that ad lib at the end. I'm knocked out. I'm knocked out. I'm knocked out. That's not Paula Abdul. And you could tell. [00:37:01] Speaker A: Right, right, right. That does make sense. [00:37:04] Speaker B: So I don't really know what was going on behind the scenes of the album. It does all sound like Paula Abdul's voice to me. And I feel like, like, no shade, no tea, no shade. I love you, Paula, but if you're going to have a ghost singer, learn from JLO and get someone who could actually sing, like, no, sorry, you're not going to. You're not going to put Paula on it. And, you know, the jury sided with Paula Abdul, so it makes sense. But yeah, she was sued for this and there's a video online of her making a statement about this and saying that she would never deceive her fans and that these claims are totally false and they were proven false, but it did affect her image in 91, and I think affected the next album cycle for Spellbound because of that. And. And when it came out that she won the lawsuit, it was kind of buried in the newspapers versus when the lawsuit came out. It was front page news. So, you know, a lot of people didn't even know that she was vindicated and, you know, she won everything. So. Yeah, just wanted to mention that because that's a big part of the history of this album and would affect the future album. Future albums. [00:38:11] Speaker A: Well, like, you know, they're always doing some next level trickery with a lot of, like the ghost song, like the ghost singers, the ghost writers of a lot of music in these days, too. [00:38:21] Speaker B: Yeah, I would never. Okay, I'm gonna be real. I don't know. We don't have to keep this in. I will never cover JLO on this podcast. [00:38:29] Speaker A: No, we don't have to. Please. [00:38:32] Speaker B: No. Thank you. No, especially what she did to Mariah. No, sorry. [00:38:37] Speaker A: Go look it up if you have Ashanti. I just feel like they're just too many people. [00:38:41] Speaker B: Well, cover Ashanti instead. It's the same thing. [00:38:44] Speaker A: Yeah, Yeah, I would love to. I just. I can't. And I wouldn't classify. I feel like if we were to do Cinema divas, then maybe JLo. But I'm like, she. She's more of a hit in movies than she is with songs. Like, in terms of actual, like, the way that she does. [00:39:01] Speaker B: Well, like, yeah, I think. I think, like, probably the one that she was the most respected for was the Selena movie. And a lot of people say that she wouldn't have had a career if Selena hadn't died, which is kind of crazy because Selena might have taken that place. Like, Selena was on her way up. I mean, we're talking about Paula Abdul this week, but I'm just saying, you know, we go on tangents on this podcast. So, yeah, I think that's an interesting way for people to look at it. And then also, I think, like, JLo got her big break through the Selena movie, so it's kind of interesting to think about. [00:39:38] Speaker A: Rest in peace, Selena. [00:39:40] Speaker B: Yeah. It's so sad. [00:39:43] Speaker A: The next track on the album is I need you, Cam. Want to talk about it? [00:39:47] Speaker B: Yeah. This is probably my favorite non single of the album. I think it's like kind of a cool vibe. It's still pretty much enough tempo to mid tempo, but I love the sax. [00:39:58] Speaker A: It's pretty sexy saxophone. Like, oh, my God, it felt so nostalgic listening to it. I'm like, like, oh, my God. Like, it Felt like an instrument. Sorry, you go. [00:40:07] Speaker B: No, no, go, go, go. [00:40:09] Speaker A: I was gonna say it felt like there was a part of it. I'm like, I. Something I love. I love listening to instrumental tracks, a lot of songs, and it felt like this is the perfect, like, song for that. I just. I don't know. I just. I really, really loved the. The instruments on the song, specifically the saxophone. I also loved the drums at the beginning. [00:40:26] Speaker B: Yeah, it all blended very well together. And it's very 80s, but it feels like an 80s Miami sunset. Like, that's kind of what I'm getting from this. So, like the 80s in the Best way. Whereas I feel like, say, like last week, 1984 by Tina Turner was the 80s. The kind of the opposite end of the spectrum of the 80s and then in a not so good way. Yeah, I don't know. I just. I love this song. I think it's. There's more heart to it than a regular up tempo on this album. Say, like the way that you love me so. I don't know. I just think it's so fun. I think it's. I think it's different from what we've heard on the album so far. And yeah, like I said, my favorite album track. There's non single. [00:41:10] Speaker A: You know me. I'm always gonna talk about the vulnerability of it. Like, I need you. Like, she's like, so innocent with it. And this is the type of song where I'm like, yeah, this. Like, you pictured it so well. Like, you. Or you captured it so well. So I'm like. I picture this after the sun going down. I imagine it, like driving down to the beach to go search for her lover. Like, I picture that to throw a letter, put a message in a bottle sort of thing is what I get from this song. And yeah, this one is really precious. I really do like this one. [00:41:40] Speaker B: Yeah, this one was great. Did you want to move on to the next track on the album? Forever your girl. [00:41:47] Speaker A: Okay, again, you might not agree with me, and that's fine. This song, I feel like, is the cousin of Borderline by Madonna. [00:41:56] Speaker B: You know what? That is true. [00:41:57] Speaker A: I really. This one is. I really like this one. That was. That was also the visuals I did see beforehand. And again, like, I just like. I. I like how fun this one is. Like, I'm like. And I. All these songs are pretty fun, to be honest. But, like, this one is, like, it feels even younger with the age. Like, it feels like it's appealing to. Even in an even younger age, as opposed to, like, mid-20s. I'm like. I can see this actually being, like, fresh. 19. [00:42:24] Speaker B: Yeah. This is a very innocent. [00:42:25] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:42:26] Speaker B: Song. Yeah, no, this one's. This one is great. Out of my singles, it's probably lower tier for me and probably lower tier on the album. Sorry to disagree with you. [00:42:37] Speaker A: Literally. Whatever. [00:42:40] Speaker B: But, yeah, I. I don't know. I just think even the vocals, forever and ever, like, it just seems a little bit like, not showing her strengths. The video is awesome. She actually did, like, a Voltaire in commercial where they superimposed her now with her doing the same choreography from the original video. And so she. They superimposed her next to herself in the original video, and she's like, voltaire and keeps me young and, like, something like that. [00:43:06] Speaker A: That's so funny. [00:43:07] Speaker B: And I'm like, that is such a good idea. [00:43:09] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:43:09] Speaker B: Whoever pitched that ate that up. [00:43:12] Speaker A: She was me. [00:43:15] Speaker B: But no, I think this is. This is a good song, honestly. A skip for me out of. Out of, like, a lot of them so far. It is interesting. [00:43:25] Speaker A: It's funny that you mentioned, like, the idea of, like, the vocals, like, not playing on her strengths. Okay. I'm trying to find a way to say this in a not Whitney Houston way. I just feel like I'm Okay. Like, the vocal, like, her vocals aren't gonna be. Aren't gonna be the strength, really, anyways, so might as well have fun with it. [00:43:43] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:43:44] Speaker A: And so I'm like. It sounds. Hey, like, I apologize in advance for all the stands out there, but I'm like. I just feel like there's a level of, like, fun that is had with this that I'm like. It feels. I won't say campy. I won't say that her. Her weak vocals are campy, but an equivalent of that of being like, you know what? Just have fun with it. If we're like, we can't get to where we need. Where we. If we can't get to the levels of the vocalists that are surrounding me, then let's have fun with it. And I'm like, yeah. [00:44:18] Speaker B: Yeah, I was. I'd say it's like, yeah, it doesn't take itself too seriously, which is nice. Like, I enjoy the song. I. But I do think when I say, like, this isn't really playing to her strengths versus other songs on the album. Even, like, the way that you love me in the verses, the clothes that you wear, like, is very, like, kind of sexy. Not. Not. I'm saying she always needs to sound sexy, but for that particular song, she does sound like a better singer than she does in this song. Yeah. In my opinion. So. Yeah. But that being said, I still think it's a fun song. I think it's a deserved single. It's a number one hit, so clearly it was well loved by the general public. She actually has six number one singles. Paul Abdul in the US Yeah. Can you believe that? [00:45:04] Speaker A: Wow. [00:45:05] Speaker B: Yeah. Pretty cool. [00:45:06] Speaker A: Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow. [00:45:09] Speaker B: Like, when she was a diva, she was here for a moment and then had a big moment and then kind of left. But the moment was big. That's what I'm saying. Like, people forget about her, but she was big in her time. [00:45:20] Speaker A: That's true. [00:45:21] Speaker B: So, yeah, I. I like this song. It's a cute title track. [00:45:24] Speaker A: I will say. I'm like, I'm late to the game of Paula. I think, obviously, growing up in an era where, like, I knew her through American Idol, and so I remember being like. I remember not really well, in general. I was always. I remember, like, coming into consciousness when I was actually, like, understanding the show a little bit more and, like, being like, why do they choose these judges? Like, I'm a little confused by. I'm still confused by Simon Cowell, but, like, Paula was somebody to me that was kind of an enigma. And then I remember getting into her choreography quite a bit and singing came after. Like, that was the last bit of information that I knew about her. But, like, knowing how, like, freaking massive this album was, I'm like, damn. Like, I actually. I'm pretty late to the game and understanding her, and I think there's still more things to understand about her. But, like, yeah, that's so wild to me. [00:46:14] Speaker B: Well, I'd say, like, none of these songs even straight up are, like, as big as something. Like, what's Love got to do with it from last week. [00:46:21] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:46:22] Speaker B: So I don't know. I. Like I said, I always knew the name, but I didn't know the songs. [00:46:27] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:46:28] Speaker B: And even same with Janet for a while. Like, I. I kind of knew of Escapade, but I couldn't have told you what the song was. [00:46:35] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:46:35] Speaker B: And maybe I could have told you about Rhythm Nation, but, yeah, it's. It's interesting because she only has three albums from 88 to 95. Only three, which is kind of wild. But, yeah, good song. Not my favorite. [00:46:50] Speaker A: That's raw. [00:46:51] Speaker B: Shall we move on to the next song on the album? [00:46:53] Speaker A: Yes. [00:46:54] Speaker B: Straight up. [00:46:56] Speaker A: Straight up, Damn it. You can, if ever. [00:47:00] Speaker B: Oh, oh, oh. [00:47:05] Speaker A: So as you can see, I'm not the greatest with memorizing words, but I. Hey, I'm a freaking fraud of a music head. This is. This is what, like, one of my favorites, like, on the album. [00:47:19] Speaker B: Oh, yeah, Yeah. [00:47:20] Speaker A: I think it might just be because I'm so familiar. I mean, it must be because I'm so familiar with the song. [00:47:25] Speaker B: Yeah, well, not yet, as in. Yeah, that's why. But like. [00:47:30] Speaker A: Yeah, no, but you're like, you're hearing me out. [00:47:33] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:47:34] Speaker A: It's just something for me that I'm like. It's an easy listen. It stands out, I think, so far the most from the other songs, at least for me. [00:47:43] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:47:43] Speaker A: In terms of, like, it makes sense that it was a single. It makes sense. It was the biggest single. Yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:47:50] Speaker B: This was the one that switched it from her being okay, like. Like commercially doing okay to being huge. [00:47:59] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:47:59] Speaker B: And this is what kind of started the fire of her career that burned so hot and so fast, but really hot. And. Yeah, I. I think this is a great song. It makes sense why it's as famous as it is. And even like the term, like, straight up, I feel like that's like. Yeah, pretty, like. Like a pretty, like, cool thing to say. Like maybe jacket. Yeah. [00:48:23] Speaker A: Colors popped. [00:48:24] Speaker B: Tell me straight up, like, you know. Yeah, so it makes sense. But yeah, I. The. I don't even know what instrument that is, but that is so iconic, that sound. [00:48:42] Speaker A: Do you think? [00:48:43] Speaker B: Probably, yeah. And then I also really love, like, all the hits. Lost in a dream, don't know which bang. Way to go. Like, I think that's for dance music. Absolutely. You need that kind of shit. So I understand, like, why the song was as big as it was. And then like the electric guitar throughout the chorus. It's just a good song. It's a really good song. Even if, like, her vocals are standard. Paulo dual vocals, which we still love, don't get us wrong. Just differently than Whitney vocals. Not gonna lie, the song is still amazing and the video is awesome. So, yeah, I really enjoy this one. It's pretty much her signature song, if I had to choose one. [00:49:26] Speaker A: Something that I like about the song too is, like, how different it is from, like the innocence of the. From the songs before being like, I like you, I like the way you make me feel. It is so different, the confrontation from her and then I'm like. That's actually mirrors her choreography a lot more. Like, her dancing style is so heavy hitting and like, boom. In your face. Which is kind of contrast a little bit of the songs before and just being like the soft edged approach of the tone of the music, but like Something about this song that I really appreciate is that, like, it's. It. I feel like this matches, like, when I think of her, her dance style, this is the song for me that I'm like, yeah, like, heavy hitter in your face, Stomping, knees jumping. Yes. Into it. That I'm like, it's. It's rougher. Like, the song feels grittier, which I really like. [00:50:15] Speaker B: Yeah. I do think it is grittier than knocked out and the way that you love me. So it makes sense why this kind of resonated the way that it did. And then, like I said, it really catapulted her into mainstream success. [00:50:28] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:50:29] Speaker B: We'll talk about the album success a little bit later. But, yeah, this kind of changed it from being a flop to a huge worldwide hit. So, yeah, I'm grateful for this song for that as well. But, yeah, I. It's. It's a great song. [00:50:43] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:50:43] Speaker B: We'll always listen to it if it comes on and most people know it, so. That's kind of cute. [00:50:47] Speaker A: Yeah. Literally, when you hear the words, like, straight up, you can just say it, and you can already start visualizing the song in your head. Like, straight up. Straight up. Now, like, it's just. It's just so direct. I love this song. [00:50:58] Speaker B: Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, my Caught in a hit and run. [00:51:03] Speaker A: That's so good. Where the. Why. Where was our. I'm always asking for invites for, like, the writer's room for the studio for us. Where were we on that album track? Why weren't we asked to sing? Why weren't we asked back ups? Yeah. [00:51:16] Speaker B: Yeah. I don't know why we. Okay. Can we do the o O together? [00:51:20] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:51:21] Speaker B: Okay. Three, two, one. Okay. If you could add a little auto tune on that. [00:51:28] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:51:29] Speaker B: And a little reverb, that'd be real nice. Anyway, let's move on to the next. [00:51:35] Speaker A: Track next to you. Cam, what do you think? [00:51:38] Speaker B: This is probably my least favorite on the album. It's not. It's not, like, bad, but I wouldn't say it's good. I'm gonna. Like, I'm probably gonna skip it, but if you handcuffed me and put my headphones on. [00:51:51] Speaker A: Oh, my God. [00:51:52] Speaker B: And put this song on. I wouldn't be mad. Like, it wouldn't be torture or anything, but, like, you wouldn't catch me. Let me listen to next to you. Like, I would listen to the other songs every. Yeah. You know what I mean, listener. But I do appreciate that they kind of tried something different with the little ballady moment, like, with Anything with, you know, a show, a movie album, I always appreciate a risk and trying something different, you know, not giving us more of the same. That's appreciated, but sometimes it doesn't work, and I don't think it worked. Paula would later go on to do ballads with her next album, Spellbound. She did Rush Rush, which was her fifth number one single in the US and then she also had songs like Blowing Candles, Blowing Kisses in the Wind, Blowing Candles in the Wind. What else did she got? I don't know. Rush. Rush. But, yeah, I don't know. I'm kind of spoiled with ballads, though. Like, we, like. Yeah, on Rhythm Nation, we had Come Back to Me and then some other great ballads like Lonely, I think, and, you know, Some Days Tonight. So this just kind of falls flat. And for being the only ballad, like, I don't know, it's kind of like. Like, it's a risk, but it's really not giving that much, you know? [00:53:16] Speaker A: This song also my least favorite from the album. But, like, when I'm thinking of visually, like, how the song came together, like, I just literally picture her, like, pen, like a notebook, writing down aimlessly. This song kind of does. Doesn't really have any direction lyrically. [00:53:32] Speaker B: It's not great either. [00:53:33] Speaker A: No. And, like, I'm wondering, like, how, like, in what order that they created, like, wrote each song, because I'm like, I wonder. I feel like this might have been a last edition. Like, it feels like a very much so Just like, like, oh, we need to add. We need to add a little bit of a slower song. [00:53:48] Speaker B: Yeah, we need a 10th track, and we don't have a slow song, so. [00:53:51] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:53:52] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:53:52] Speaker A: So I'm like, it felt like something that was an afterthought. And, you know, as we know, like, we freaking love ballads that are intentional. And, like, again, if it's coming, we. Sometimes we need a bit of relief from, like, the dancing, dancing, dancing to come down to just, like, have a moment of reflection. And this is not a. A song that would make me reflect. It's not a song that would make me think about my own experiences. It's a song that I'd get two seconds in and being like, next. [00:54:19] Speaker B: Yeah, it's just kind of boring. It's. It just really is. So, yeah, that's pretty much all I have to say. I don't really want to spend too much time on this one. [00:54:26] Speaker A: Nope. [00:54:27] Speaker B: Skip, Skip. We're skipping it in the podcast. All right. The next track on the album, this is the last single that we're going to cover from it is cold hearted. What do we think, Nelly? [00:54:39] Speaker A: He, he. Unfortunately. [00:54:42] Speaker B: Wow. Unfortunately, this was a number one hit. [00:54:45] Speaker A: Yeah. Not in my heart though. [00:54:47] Speaker B: Okay. [00:54:48] Speaker A: Not in my heart. I feel like this one is the one. Gets to a point, unfortunately for me, which is kind of like what I said at the beginning is that like it felt all the same. [00:54:59] Speaker B: Yeah. The fatigue. [00:55:01] Speaker A: It really did. And I'm just like. It's at this point, I'm like, I think they were making an album to make an album and I feel like this would have served as a great ep. Okay. My opinion also is invalid, knowing that how big and massive this album was. Like, at the end of the day, Paula, you can laugh like literally hearing my opinion, but I'm just like. I feel like there are some strong songs on here, but I feel like it would have served better for me personally if it was a bit shorter. I feel like there are too many skips on my end and this is one of them. [00:55:32] Speaker B: Yeah. Well, I feel like with the 10 track album, you can't really make it shorter. You could just make it better. [00:55:38] Speaker A: That's true. [00:55:39] Speaker B: But that being said, I do really like the song. I. This is one kind of like straight up where I always knew the melody and heard it somewhere, but I couldn't tell you what it was. Just the look into his eyes. Oh, he's been telling lies. Yeah, I always remember that. [00:55:57] Speaker A: That's true. [00:55:59] Speaker B: And the whole snake part, I think that's pretty good writing. Like it was pretty ahead of its time, so. Yeah. But I will say, like the greatest line about snakes is snakes in the grass. It's time to cut the law from Mariah Carey. What is it a no no. A no no by Mariah Carey. I mean, come on. That's a good one. [00:56:19] Speaker A: If there's one thing about Cam, Cam is going to mention. Mariah is gonna shut up. [00:56:23] Speaker B: Mariah. Oh my God. You haven't. [00:56:24] Speaker A: You. I haven't mentioned Sister act. Sister Act 2, track 2, specifically. [00:56:27] Speaker B: Yeah, no, not yet. [00:56:28] Speaker A: Yeah. I don't know, man. I'm feeling sad. [00:56:31] Speaker B: Oh. [00:56:32] Speaker A: Feeling lost. [00:56:33] Speaker B: Actually, it's because of. Next to you, honestly. Yeah, yeah, we'll work on that. We'll. We'll. We'll fix that. We'll put on some. I don't know where I was going with that. Anyway. Yeah, I. I do like the song. It was number one hit in the States again. Had a different version. I think the version had a little rap in it by Paulo where it's like, I never really listened to that version. But yeah, it's. It's cute. Is it my favorite? No. Do I own the 12 inch? Yes. Like, I have a 12 inch single for every single on this album as well as the album. Because I just. I need it. I need it. So, yeah, I. This is a great song. Makes sense why it was a number one hit. But that being said, I understand why you don't like it. It could be annoying with the, like, the. The high. Was it a violin? [00:57:24] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:57:25] Speaker B: Yeah. I. I will say, though, like, the bridge part where it's like. Like that. Like, that's a really kind of cool moment. And I love, like, pretending to play it while I'm listening to the song. While driving, probably. I'm gonna get my license taken away for that, but. Yeah. [00:57:42] Speaker A: Well, you drive. [00:57:43] Speaker B: I do. [00:57:44] Speaker A: Oh, my God. [00:57:45] Speaker B: Yeah, I drove. I drove yesterday. [00:57:47] Speaker A: Oh, really? No freaking way. I need to learn how to drive. [00:57:52] Speaker B: Oh, my God. Yeah. Like, nobody drives. But that being said, like, I didn't drive for years. [00:57:59] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:57:59] Speaker B: Because of Toronto. [00:58:01] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:58:01] Speaker B: Because I'm like, why the hell am I going to need to drive? It takes an hour and a half to get across the street. [00:58:06] Speaker A: Yep. [00:58:06] Speaker B: When you could just walk. So, like, doesn't make sense. But now it makes sense because I live in Etobicoke. But that's pretty much all I have to say about Cold Hearted. Do you. Anything else? [00:58:19] Speaker A: Anything else? I think this one is for me. I'm like. It did not hit and I was actually surprised to learn that it was a single like this. [00:58:24] Speaker B: Is this your least favorite single then? [00:58:26] Speaker A: Probably. [00:58:27] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:58:27] Speaker A: Yeah. This one, I was like. I. I think also the placement of it didn't help. Knowing it was near the end of the album. I feel like I was waiting for something more. [00:58:35] Speaker B: Yeah, that's fair. I do kind of think that this is a big hitter just because it was a number one. But. Yeah, I could see why you're not vibing with it, especially towards the end, because it's like, you're really not getting much variation. Whereas if there was a ballad in there, it could really kind of refresh you. So when you come back to this up tempo, you have peaks and valleys. [00:58:55] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:58:56] Speaker B: You know, as opposed to it just being, like, so much energy all the time. I'm tired. Sorry. Now we're doing the. Okay, should we move on to the final track on the album? [00:59:09] Speaker A: The final track on the album is one or the other Cam. What do you think? [00:59:14] Speaker B: I think it's cute. It's not a single. It's an album track. One of the four Non singles on the album, which is kind of crazy. There's more singles than not Usually. It's the way around, obviously. I think it's cute. Have your cake and eat it too is kind of like a. Can you have your cake and eat it too? What does that mean? [00:59:33] Speaker A: It's like, like. [00:59:34] Speaker B: Oh, like, can you possess your cake and eat it? [00:59:37] Speaker A: I've always. I've always thought about the idea of like, cake in a celebration and being like, can you, like, can you work hard but also be able to relish in your accomplishments? [00:59:48] Speaker B: Oh, I've. [00:59:49] Speaker A: But also I've heard it in different contexts. I feel like there's. That. There's also just like, you can't. The idea of, like, you can have it both ways. [00:59:57] Speaker B: Yeah, that's true. I guess it is like, choose me or the other girl. It kind of reminds me of the Victoria song. What is it? Or maybe I'm not thinking of it right. Maybe the episode of Victorious where, like, Cat's boyfriend cheats on. Did you watch Victoria? [01:00:11] Speaker A: Yes, she's on her. With Tori. With Tori? [01:00:14] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:00:15] Speaker A: Which then again, wish I was like, Tori, like, bro, like, yo, like bad friends. Sorry. Like, we need to choose better people. [01:00:23] Speaker B: Like what? Like, Like Tori needs to choose better people. [01:00:27] Speaker A: No, Cat, Like, I just. I just genuinely. [01:00:30] Speaker B: She's dumb. [01:00:31] Speaker A: Yeah, she is. Damn. I just. I think that that episode particularly was so overlooked and being like, there are so many of the things that we're focused on that I'm like, that was really bad. Like, you kissed your friend, your best friend's boyfriend. Like, that was weird good. Like, that's like, not normal and like, I don't know why. It was a thing. It was like, you forgive me? Yeah. Okay. No, I'm gonna kill you. I already killed him and now I'm gonna kill you. [01:00:59] Speaker B: It's okay. Ariana Grande got her revenge with her career. That is true. [01:01:03] Speaker A: That is true. [01:01:04] Speaker B: I think we all sing. [01:01:05] Speaker A: I think we all sing. [01:01:06] Speaker B: But yeah, that'll be a topic for later. It'd be cool to cover Victoria's soundtrack one day, but. Yeah, no, I think. I think it's cute. It does sound like the rest of the album. But I can appreciate it. Like, when it comes on. I won't skip it. [01:01:20] Speaker A: It. [01:01:21] Speaker B: But I won't reach for it. [01:01:23] Speaker A: You know what's so funny? I really like this one. [01:01:26] Speaker B: Really? [01:01:27] Speaker A: Yeah. I don't know what it is. I feel like it's a great closer. [01:01:30] Speaker B: You like it better than Cold Hearted? [01:01:32] Speaker A: Yeah. Wow. Sorry. [01:01:34] Speaker B: That's so interesting. [01:01:35] Speaker A: And whoever disagrees with me. Whatever. [01:01:38] Speaker B: Like, I feel like it's giving, like, the same as State of Attraction. It's very similar. [01:01:43] Speaker A: Yeah. I do. While I do feel like it does sound similar, especially the beginning and then, like, just the musicality of it. I'm just like, this one's fun. And I know that every other song is fun on this album, but, like, I think it's like, I think the placement of it makes sense. I think for me, about the. What works and doesn't work on the album are, like, where the songs are placed. So this one, I'm like, this makes sense for the end. Like, I like. I like it. Closing a chapter. [01:02:08] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:02:08] Speaker A: I feel like if. Maybe if it was number six, I wouldn't have thought the same way. But this is why it's important to listen song. Listen to albums in order as well. [01:02:16] Speaker B: Yeah, I agree 100%, because if I. [01:02:19] Speaker A: Listen to this in a different order of the album, I probably wouldn't have hit the same way for me. But I liked it in the placement of it being the final, like, the finale. Yeah. I don't think it's something. I think it. While I don't think it sounds much too different from many other, other songs in the album, I like it. It's like, yeah, good. [01:02:37] Speaker B: Good moment. All right. I think that wraps up the track list. So just to give you an idea of the music market at the time of release, as we said, Whitney was out, Janet was out. And I feel like Janet is closest to Paula musically and image wise. So I feel like the robe is already paved for Paula. Then again, she helped pave it with the choreography. She was involved with Janet Jackson's control album in the videos. So it's not like, oh, let me just. Let me just kind of tag along to what you're doing here with this new Jack Swing. So I think that's important to note. But, yeah, I feel like that's all we really need to go into in terms of that. Just because we talked about it so much in the beginning of this episode, kind of giving context to who Paul Abdul was. Because a lot of people don't know. Whereas I feel like everyone knows who, like, Tina Turner is. [01:03:32] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:03:32] Speaker B: Or you know, who Celine Dion is. [01:03:35] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:03:36] Speaker B: So it's pretty. [01:03:37] Speaker A: Well, I didn't know, which is why I'm like, this is so cool. Like, I didn't get a chance to, like, actually, really, I think just the timing of my birth. [01:03:47] Speaker B: Yeah, me too. [01:03:48] Speaker A: I feel like we. We were. We were projected a different image of Paula than she than she was meant to be. [01:03:56] Speaker B: Yeah, just like we knew. We knew American Idol, Paula. But even then I was too. Was too young to watch that show. Kind of interesting. The 80s was a great time for music. So I think her kind of coming out with this little bit of a different vibe of diva than other divas, you know, it makes sense why she was as successful as she was in terms of the album success. It went number one in several countries, including Canada, the U.S. i think it went to number three in the UK. It also went to number one in Australia. There were four number one singles in the U.S. off this album, including Straight Up, Opposites, Attract, Forever your Girl, and Cold Hearted. [01:04:35] Speaker A: And wasn't it certified diamond like 5 times? [01:04:38] Speaker B: I believe so. Like, I think in the States it sold like 8 million copies or something crazy like that. Yeah. The album was later certified seven times platinum by the raa. So, yeah. And there was like a little remix album that came out after this. I think it was called Shut up and Dance or something. By the way, if you're Canadian, listen to Shut up and Dance. [01:04:59] Speaker A: Victoria Duffield. [01:05:00] Speaker B: That's such a good song. I don't even lie. [01:05:10] Speaker A: Should we do a Canadian divas moment? [01:05:11] Speaker B: Oh, my God. I would love to cover Victoria Duffield. Like, she is amazing. I like. This is so catchy. [01:05:18] Speaker A: Do Alyssa as well. Alyssa, yeah. Lisa Reed. [01:05:23] Speaker B: I. Yeah, I would love to cover her. Fifi Dobson. I'd love to cover Mariana's Trench. Yeah, well. [01:05:34] Speaker A: Would be better than Headley. You can't do Headley. [01:05:37] Speaker B: Yeah, we're not doing Headley, but unfortunate also. We are absolutely going to cover Carla Rae Jepsen. [01:05:42] Speaker A: Absolutely. [01:05:43] Speaker B: But, yeah, this was her biggest album out of the three. Every album after this kind of became a little bit less successful. She had spellbound in 91, which I think went three times platinum in the States, and then Head over heels in 95 went gold. And she kind of started to fall off at that point. But also, what a lot of people don't know about Paul Abdul, she dealt with bulimia and, you know, being so short and with the image that is projected on dancers to be super thin, she found that very difficult. So that's how she dealt with it. So, yeah, that. That being said, that came out in between Spellbound and Head Over Heels, so that really affected her success for the following album. So it's unfortunate. But, yeah, it. She never released an album again. She might have gotten dropped by Virgin. I'm not sure exactly what happened. But yeah. And she hasn't released an album since, which is unfortunate, but also the way that you love me did peak at number three, which is really close to number one. Very, very high chart success after it was re released when straight up went so big, as I said previously. All right, do we want to move on to the artwork? Nelly? [01:06:59] Speaker A: Let's do it. [01:07:00] Speaker B: What do you think of this album cover? [01:07:02] Speaker A: So something. I've seen this album cover like, a million times, but never really actually associated it with the album. I've just seen the COVID for some reason. Something I struggle with with the album cover. I think maybe it's the exposure that makes me. In the lettering that makes it hard to read, like, the actual legibility of Paula Abdul. [01:07:22] Speaker B: The lighting on her face is kind of weird too. [01:07:24] Speaker A: Yeah, it's a little strange. And so, like, also, like, the little symbol in the middle. I'm like, wondering if it's supposed to look like a hairpin. [01:07:33] Speaker B: I never really thought about that. I. I just kind of thought it was like a symbol and then they just put forever your girl on it. [01:07:40] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:07:42] Speaker B: But, yeah, it is kind of hard to read the words Paula Abdul. [01:07:45] Speaker A: Yeah. And I. While I'm like. While I do, like, she looks really stunning. [01:07:50] Speaker B: She does look gorgeous. [01:07:51] Speaker A: And especially like the. As we know from the greats and like, the best way for debut is showing your face. Boom. Face. Yeah, I. I think this. The COVID I think fell flat a little bit. For me personally, I like the COVID. [01:08:06] Speaker B: I. I don't know if I would choose any single covers that were produced for this album over this album cover. [01:08:13] Speaker A: True. [01:08:14] Speaker B: But, yeah, I think it's cute. I think she does look pretty. I do think some of the artistic choices were a little bit odd. But then again, I mean, I feel like they were just intending this to be like a little album and it became a huge success. [01:08:25] Speaker A: True. [01:08:26] Speaker B: Like, there was no kind of precedence for Paul Abdul. Whereas you could tell on Spellbound, the next album, they put money into it and they actually won a Grammy for the artwork for that album, even though that's not my favorite album cover. So, yeah, I feel like it was just kind of hastily thrown together and then, oh, shit, it went number one worldwide. So maybe it was that. But yeah, I do think she looks stunning with the open sweater moment. But yeah, it. Some of it is a little bit weird, like, not going to lie. [01:08:55] Speaker A: I do think also, like, she's like, mid dance or like, she's like, not in, like, the middle of a dance specifically, as opposed to, like, she's. She finished rehearsal and then she's. They're. Just like, let's do a photo shoot. [01:09:07] Speaker B: She's like, okay, yeah. [01:09:08] Speaker A: She like sat there. But yeah, like, literally what. I think that was my thing. I think. I'm not sure if I communicated it properly, like, earlier and being like something I feel about at least with the song. These. Some of these songs in this album is that, like, it felt like they needed to make it. Like, they felt like they needed to keep up. Like they weren't ready for the success that was coming from it. So they're like, okay, okay, okay. Like, everything felt like an afterthought, like, a lot of the time. Specifically the ballad quotation marks. [01:09:35] Speaker B: And it makes sense. It makes sense why there's so many single versions of songs that were on this album. Because a lot of the time that happens when it's like, oh, like, weren't expecting it to be this big. We're gonna, you know, put everything into this next song so it can be as big as the first huge single on the album, you know. Something that comes to mind is Christina Aguilera's debut album, she had genie in a Bottle. That was very big. I don't know if that's what they were expecting. And then they had Come on over, baby, all I want is you. And then they also had what a girl Wants. And both of those songs were re recorded and remixed and basically replaced on the album. At least what a girl wants. And I turn to you. It's kind of like a separate track. Yeah. The same thing happened with Britney Spears's debut album. And then you drive me crazy. The single version is completely different from the original album version. So I feel like kind of a similar thing here. You only really see that with debut albums, at least this much. So I thought that was interesting that they would choose different edits for the videos. But yeah, in terms of the album cover, yeah, I think it's. I think it's cute. But is it the best album cover ever? No. I will say, like, she does look very pretty. [01:10:50] Speaker A: She does. [01:10:51] Speaker B: She does. [01:10:51] Speaker A: Stunning. [01:10:52] Speaker B: She does. That being said, she looks really pretty. Yep, that's it. Yeah. No, that's all I have to add. This is a picture of her. Right. That being said, we'll move on to the producers of the songs. I think the most notable ones for me are Babyface and Ellie Reed. They only worked on one song on the album, Knocked out, so I thought that was interesting. But yeah, other than that, I think there's. There's Glenn Ballard. He produced for Michael Jackson. Man in the Mirror Bad. He also Produced for Barbra Streisand, 1988. And then also on Michael Jackson's Dangerous, he's saying keep the faith. He produced for Trailer Renz, who is Mariah's backup singer. And you know, I'll be there. He sang I'll be there with her. So that's for his album. He produced for Alanis Morissette. Jagged Little Pill looks like most of the album. [01:11:48] Speaker A: Wow. [01:11:49] Speaker B: Diva Aerosmith, Amy Grant, more Alanis Morissette. So, yeah, he has quite the long history. He also did the Voice within off of Christina Aguilera Stripped. He wrote for Anastasia, her album her. He wrote for Anastasia. Her album Anastasia. You want to say that? Can you say that? [01:12:13] Speaker A: Wait, are you talking about the movie? [01:12:15] Speaker B: It's an album. [01:12:16] Speaker A: Oh, wait, I thought you were talking about the movie. [01:12:18] Speaker B: This album. [01:12:19] Speaker A: Oh, I have no idea who that. Who the that is. Anastasia. [01:12:22] Speaker B: Yeah, I don't know who that is. Okay, I feel like that's enough. Oh, and you know what? This man also produced Butterfly, Fly Away from the Hannah Montana movie. [01:12:32] Speaker A: We need him on this icon. [01:12:34] Speaker B: I need to. [01:12:34] Speaker A: Does anybody have his number? [01:12:35] Speaker B: Yeah. Okay. Can we go on a date? [01:12:37] Speaker A: Yeah. A coffee. Like, like, literally like anything. [01:12:40] Speaker B: Zoom. Yeah, anything. But yeah, that's. To me, that's the most notable producers. It's kind of interesting that it's such a similar sound to Janet Jackson's album. But of course, Janet Jackson worked with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis on the production of her album Control and Rhythm Nation and the ones to follow. So Paula Abdul kind of had to find her own way and was great at picking the songs. I don't believe she wrote on many of them, but yeah, she. She did great with them. [01:13:08] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:13:09] Speaker B: Do we want to move on to the impact of the album? [01:13:11] Speaker A: Yeah, I think we like touched upon it earlier in being like making use of the importance of music videos as well with the timing of which this album came out. I'm like, I think they made. I think she came at the perfect time because knowing how much music videos impacted success as well. [01:13:28] Speaker B: Right. [01:13:29] Speaker A: And I think it also helped. It was such a nice precursor to Janet Jackson's album. [01:13:36] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:13:37] Speaker A: That like, it almost felt like they were like both waiting for the other to go. Like being like, okay, I'll wait for you, so you can go first. [01:13:45] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:13:46] Speaker A: But yeah, we like, we can see in general, as we mentioned, like, Paula had like a bit like a short lived music career, how influential she was in pairing vocals and dancing, marrying those worlds together to like actually make a hit. Like a hit. And like, when we talk about albums like this. Like, we talk about hits of an album like this is it. Right. But, like, while, you know, it's objective on how. What, like, how good the vocals actually were. Sorry. [01:14:17] Speaker B: Definitely. [01:14:19] Speaker A: But I'm like. I do think that I'm like, she's. She's gonna sing. She's also gonna dance. And I think that is something that, like, it also helped shape performers, too. And being like, if you're gonna. If you're gonna perform at the VMAs, the AMAs, the Grammys, the. Whatever you're gonna. You're gonna need to perform, you need to bring it. [01:14:41] Speaker B: It did raise the bar for choreography, so I think that's definitely worth noting. Go check out some of her. Her music videos, her performance at the AMAs in 1990, if you haven't. Really fascinating to see. And I'm not someone who's really into choreography by any stretch, but watching this choreography that this woman put together and performs is unbelievable. It's unbelievable. So knowing that the music is intended for that is also worth noting. Yeah. Did you want to move on to ranking the tracks? [01:15:13] Speaker A: Let's rank the tracks. Okay, let's do it. [01:15:17] Speaker B: The tops and bottoms of the week are. Our bottom is probably gonna be the same. [01:15:28] Speaker A: Yeah. Like the last one. [01:15:30] Speaker B: Yeah. Lowest. Three, two, one. [01:15:33] Speaker A: Next to you, baby girl. [01:15:35] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:15:36] Speaker A: Like, we already knew. Going into it, talking about it, I was like, oh, no. [01:15:39] Speaker B: Yeah. Unfortunately, this just didn't resonate with us, but that's okay. You know, it was kind of our first little stab at a ballad, so I. I understand. It was. It was nice that something different was included, and I appreciate that she took a risk, but just not for me. What's your second lowest? [01:15:56] Speaker A: I think my second lowest might be Cold Hearted. [01:15:59] Speaker B: Wow. [01:16:00] Speaker A: Sorry. I just feel like by the point. By the time I got to that song, I was just over it, unfortunately. [01:16:09] Speaker B: Yeah. The fatigue had set in. [01:16:11] Speaker A: Yeah. What about you? [01:16:13] Speaker B: My second lowest would have to be Forever. [01:16:15] Speaker A: Your girl, you're actually. Wow. [01:16:21] Speaker B: Sorry. [01:16:21] Speaker A: Wow. We knew this was gonna be an album that we're gonna put heads on. [01:16:25] Speaker B: Yeah. I. I don't. I don't know what it is about the song. I just feel like, in terms of the dance music, I prefer something a little edgier. This. This feels a little bit too vanilla for me. For every girl, so. But I still like it. I still enjoy it. I don't think it's a bad song by any stretch, but probably my second least favorite. [01:16:44] Speaker A: Whatever that means. [01:16:47] Speaker B: That being said, did you want to Move on to your top three. [01:16:50] Speaker A: Yeah, let's do it. [01:16:51] Speaker B: All right. [01:16:52] Speaker A: My third. Straight up. Straight up, like, literally just straight up, like, I feel like that one, as I've already said everything, just being like, it's just. It's. It's the most direct. It's the most, to the point, succinct, and it makes sense of why it was so revered. But I. Yeah, that was my. My third hitter on this album for. [01:17:14] Speaker B: Me, I would actually have to agree. [01:17:16] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:17:16] Speaker B: Straight up is my third. [01:17:17] Speaker A: So good. [01:17:18] Speaker B: It is such a good song. I do feel bad kind of putting such a popular song at number three, but at the same time, it's undeniable how good it is. And yeah, it. It's her signature song for a reason. [01:17:29] Speaker A: Yeah. You know, we gotta give her flowers. [01:17:32] Speaker B: What's your number two? [01:17:33] Speaker A: My second one is forever your girl, you cam. Oh, my God, it is so good. [01:17:40] Speaker B: Aggressive. [01:17:41] Speaker A: I need to be as direct as Paula is, like, straight up. [01:17:44] Speaker B: Yeah, that's true. [01:17:45] Speaker A: Straight up, like forever your girl is. I think that's like. I think what also I struggled with this album too, is that, like, there weren't, you know, how, like, visual heavy I am and just, like, what this makes me think of personally. And while the song, like, this album is full of her own visuals, I'm like. I think, like, I was having trouble imagining myself, like, in a lot of these songs. I'm like, I don't know actually what I imagine myself doing. But forever your girl was one of those where I'm just like. I just think of just orange skies, just so nice. [01:18:18] Speaker B: It feels like a wide smile is being performed. Is. Is like. Like, it feels like she's performing it with a wide smile. Yeah, baby, keep your head up. So like, I. I totally understand. Even though it's my second least, you're so. I love this. You have to understand. I love this album. I love it. [01:18:35] Speaker A: Okay. [01:18:35] Speaker B: It's a great album. [01:18:37] Speaker A: I respect you for that. I guess. [01:18:38] Speaker B: I guess. Okay, my number two on this album would have to be the seven inch version with the rap of opposites attract. [01:18:48] Speaker A: Okay. [01:18:49] Speaker B: I think it's such a great song. The. The single version versus the original is the biggest difference ever. Or if we're talking just album versions, I can't pick the singles. Then I need you would be my number three, and then straight up would be number two, and then my number one, which we'll get to. But if we're talking seven inch version, I think the seven inch version and single version of this song opposites tracked Is so strong. It's so fun, the back and forth. I don't like cigarettes. I like to smoke. I think that's so cute. So, yeah, I. I just think it's such a cute song with a cute video. And. Yeah, it's my number two. [01:19:25] Speaker A: Okay, you know what? Fine. [01:19:27] Speaker B: Cool. Okay. [01:19:28] Speaker A: I agree with you. [01:19:29] Speaker B: Kind of listen to. Listen to it and we'll talk after, see if you change your. [01:19:33] Speaker A: Yeah, sorry. I said I agree with you. I don't know if I agree with you. Actually, I'll have to listen to it. So I trust you. I mean, sooner trust. [01:19:40] Speaker B: As you should. What's your number one? [01:19:42] Speaker A: So this one is hard. I was trying to decide between the way that you love me or knocked out. I think it's the way that you love me. [01:19:49] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:19:49] Speaker A: Yeah. I think it's a. It's. I think it's all about, like. All about placement, too. Like, this is a great opener. And, yeah, everything we had said, I'm just like. I love the musicality in it. I love how it freaking revives me. It feels like I'm like, wow. Like, I feel alive with this song. This album does, like. There's a. There's a. There's a certain joie de vivre with this album that I really like, and this leads us right into that. So I think that's. That's my number one. [01:20:16] Speaker B: The way that you love me is also my number one. My preferred version is probably the 12 inch version, but this is a great song regardless. Their original album version. It's such a fun song. The vocoder has done so well. It's probably the one that she vocally sounds best on. On the album, in my opinion. [01:20:34] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:20:35] Speaker B: So, yeah, I. It just really hits for me and makes me want to move. And I think it's this album at its best and Paula Abdul at her best. So, yeah, there's two videos, which is cute. Two very different videos. So, yeah, the way that you love me is my number one. [01:20:51] Speaker A: Well noted. Look at us agreeing at the end. [01:20:53] Speaker B: I know. That being said, we've ranked the album. Now we should grade it. What do you think you would give this one, Nelly? [01:21:03] Speaker A: I think I would give this a bloated blockbuster. [01:21:05] Speaker B: I think this is our first bloated blockbuster. I'm grading it something different, but I. [01:21:10] Speaker A: Know I. I just feel like this one, I was, like, reading into it. I was like, whoa. There are so many accolades for this album that I was struggling to see, unfortunately. And even, like, the. The times that it hit, for me, it Wasn't like, wow. Like, it wasn't, like, electrifyingly hit for me. I was like, oh, this is good. This is better than ones like some other ones that didn't hit for me at all. So, yeah, I think it's a bit bloated for me, unfortunately. [01:21:39] Speaker B: That's fair. I mean, I. I disagree, but whatever. It makes sense why you think that, like, I could see why I'm gonna give this momentary magic, because, I don't know, I think this is music of the 80s at its best. I think it's. It's very overlooked. I think more people should kind of get into it now. It's very of the time, but I think that's this album's strength as opposed to its weakness. So, yeah, definitely momentary magic for me. I don't know if it revolutionized the pop industry, which is why I didn't want to give it DVD coded, but it was important milestone and a fun moment. So, yeah, that's what I would give it. [01:22:25] Speaker A: Okay. That's real. [01:22:27] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:22:27] Speaker A: You know, as much as we disagree in rankings, I agree with the reasonings that you give. Less agree, but respect the reasonings that you give. Thank you. I'm not, like, sitting here being like, you're out of your freaking mind. Because, yeah, like, it was. It was magic for many, which is why it was ranked so high. [01:22:45] Speaker B: Yeah, it did well. [01:22:47] Speaker A: But for me, I'm just like, you know what? It's okay. [01:22:50] Speaker B: Yep. [01:22:51] Speaker A: You know what I mean? [01:22:52] Speaker B: All right, well, that's all we have for you today. Catch us next week. We're gonna be talking about a very notable R B rap album, so stay tuned, and thank you for listening. [01:23:02] Speaker A: Thank you for listening. And remember, if you're ever feeling down, remember, you are a diva and you're forever our girl. Oh, that was cute. [01:23:11] Speaker B: Yeah. See, I thought this is where you were going with it. [01:23:13] Speaker A: I know. I didn't know where I was going with it, to be honest. [01:23:15] Speaker B: That's okay. All right, thank you. [01:23:18] Speaker A: Thank you. We'll see you next week. All right, bye. Before we end, we'd love to shout out our lovely team behind this podcast. [01:23:44] Speaker B: First, we'd like to shout out our amazing editor, Blake Walker. Thank you so much. You do all the dirty work, and we really, really appreciate you. [01:23:52] Speaker A: We love you, Blake. We'd also love to shout out our lovely social media manager, Angelica Ortega. So everything you see, visually, it's her. [01:23:59] Speaker B: Yeah, she's killing it. Thank you so much for listening. My name is Cam Barbeau. [01:24:03] Speaker A: And I'm Nelly Deverles. [01:24:05] Speaker B: You've been listening to Diva Decoded.