The second single off of Abdul’s 1991 album Spellbound, this song was released while Abdul’s “Rush Rush” was still high on the music charts and played heavily on radio stations. It peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Canadian charts as well. The song’s music video was recorded in front of a green screen in Hawaii. However, since Abdul was unable to film the clip due to other commitments, she shot the necessary scenes elsewhere, which were then edited into the video. The video featured stunning images of nature and featured a message at the end from The Rainforest Foundation International, stating, “The Indians say: When the forest dies, we all die. Leave the jungle alone.”
2. Forever Your Girl
The title track off of her 1988 debut album, “Forever Your Girl” was the second #1 single off the album. The song’s theme is about loyalty in a relationship and despite rumors to the contrary, Abdul professes to remain faithful to her man and “forever your girl.” The song spent two weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and charted at #24 in the U.K. and #17 in Germany. The song’s music video had Abdul acting as a choreographer and directing a performance by a group of children. An 8-year-old Elijah Wood and 10-year-old Nikki Cox were among the children featured in the video.
3. Opposites Attract
Off of Abdul’s 1988 debut album, “Opposites Attract” was the sixth and final single off the album. The lyrics are about a couple who love each other despite being completely different in about every way possible. In the song’s music video, Abdul dances with a cartoon character known as MC Skat Kat. The idea of MC Skat Kat came from Abdul’s love of Gene Kelly and his 1945 film Anchors Aweigh, where Kelly dances with Jerry Mouse from the Tom and Jerry cartoon series. Abdul even choreographed the animated character's moves to match her live-action dance moves in the video. The video won the Grammy in 1991 for “Best Short Form Music Video.”
4. Rush Rush
Off of Abdul’s 1991 album Spellbound, this love ballad topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was a major success in the U.S. The song also spent five weeks atop the U.S. adult contemporary chart and peaked at #6 on the U.K. Singles Chart. The song’s music video featured a young Keanu Reeves where he played a James Dean-type character in a Rebel Without a Cause-themed video.
5. Cold Hearted
Off of her 1988 debut album, “Cold Hearted” hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the album's third song to top the U.S. chart. The song also ranked sixth in the Top 100 hits of 1989. The music video had Abdul dance suggestively with her backup dancers in front of record execs. The dance floor included scaffolding where Abdul and her dancers hung onto and grinded against each other and Abdul wore a fishnet see through dress.
6. Blowing Kisses in the Wind
The third single off of Abdul’s 1991 follow-up Spellbound, this love ballad peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at #4 in Canada. The song’s music video had Abdul dancing on a theater stage, ballet-style.
7. The Way That You Love Me
Off of Abdul’s 1988 debut album, Forever Your Girl, the song initially didn’t gain much attention with its dance-pop remix, but when it was rereleased in its original edit, “The Way That You Love Me” became a mega smash, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, #11 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music chart and #2 on the Canadian singles chart.
8. Straight Up
Off of Abdul’s debut album, this song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 where it spent three weeks and brought her worldwide attention. It was the third single off the album and was ranked fourth in the Top 100 hits of 1989. The black and white music video, directed by David Fincher and choreographed by Abdul herself, won four 1989 MTV Video Music Awards for Best Female Video, Best Editing, Best Choreography, and the first Best Dance Video. It also featured Abdul’s friend, Arsenio Hall, in a small cameo appearance.
9. Vibeology
The fourth single off of Abdul’s 1991 follow-up album titled Spellbound, “Vibeology” reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a big success on the club charts. It hit #3 in Canada and remained on the charts for 27 weeks.
10. Knocked Out
The first single released off of Abdul’s debut album, Forever Your Girl, “Knocked Out,” was written by Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, LA Reid and Daryl Simmons and became a Top 10 R&B hit.
