Forever Your Girl (song)
"Forever Your Girl" | ||||
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Single by Paula Abdul | ||||
from the album Forever Your Girl | ||||
B-side | "Next to You" | |||
Released | February 20, 1989 | |||
Recorded | November 1987 – January 1988[1] | |||
Genre | Dance-pop | |||
Length | 4:58 | |||
Label | Virgin | |||
Songwriter(s) | Oliver Leiber | |||
Producer(s) | Oliver Leiber | |||
Paula Abdul singles chronology | ||||
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"Forever Your Girl" is a song recorded by American singer-choreographer Paula Abdul for her 1988 eponymous debut studio album. Written and produced by Oliver Leiber, who also produced her previous single "(It's Just) The Way that You Love Me", the single version was released on February 20, 1989, by Virgin Records. Following the unexpected success of "Straight Up", the song continued Abdul's newfound commercial success, becoming her second chart-topper on the Billboard Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks.
"Forever Your Girl" spent two weeks at the top of the US Billboard Hot 100 in May 1989, reached number 28 on the Dance Club Songs chart, and number 11 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
Composition and lyrics
The song is about loyalty in a relationship. The female vocalist proclaims that, despite rumors that others may be interested in her, none of those matter because she will remain faithful to the man she loves; she will remain "forever his girl." The single version differs slightly from the album version, as it uses more of the background male vocal featuring The Wild Pair, Bruce DeShazer and Marvin Gunn.
Critical reception
Eleanor Levy left ironically negative review on this single for British music newspaper Record Mirror. She called it "a disappointingly predictable pop song".[2]
Music video
The accompanying music video for the song was directed by David Fincher, and featured Abdul acting as a choreographer and director of a children's performance (a 6-year-old Trevor Wright, 8-year-old Elijah Wood and 10-year-old Nikki Cox were among them). The "Forever Your Girl" video spent two weeks at number one on MTV's video rotation.
Charts
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Cover versions
The 2020 film Impractical Jokers: The Movie, the plot of which revolves around a party with Paula Abdul, includes the original version by Abdul, a live version, and cover versions by Bon Jovi, Method Man, Harry Connick Jr. and Joey Fatone.
References
- ^ "Oliver Leiber : Songwriter Interviews".
- ^ Levy, Eleanor (27 May 1989). "Review: Paula Abdul — Forever Your Girl" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 29. ISSN 0144-5804. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2022 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 2014-01-17". Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2015 – via Imgur.
- ^ "Paula Abdul – Forever Your Girl" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ Lwin, Nanda (2000). Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. p. 18. ISBN 1-896594-13-1.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6352." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 6364." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 6, no. 26. July 1, 1989. p. V. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Forever Your Girl". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 23, 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ "Paula Abdul – Forever Your Girl" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ "Paula Abdul – Forever Your Girl". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ "Paula Abdul – Forever Your Girl". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ "Paula Abdul Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ "Paula Abdul Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ "Paula Abdul Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ "Paula Abdul Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
- ^ "Paula Abdul Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles: May 20, 1989". Cash Box. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Paula Abdul – Forever Your Girl" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ "Top 100 Singles of '89". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1989". Archived from the original on January 25, 2010. Retrieved December 27, 2010.