Paula Abdul – Straight Up: Lyrics and Music Video
Straight Up by Paula Abdul lyrics and music video. You can sing while listening to the song Straight Up performed by Paula Abdul. Hope you like the music video and song lyrics for Straight Up.
About the Song
Paula Abdul - Straight Up: Song Overview
Paula Abdul's *Straight Up* (1988) is a seminal dance-pop anthem from her debut album, Forever Your Girl. Produced by Elliot Wolff, the track became Abdul’s first No. 1 hit, blending infectious rhythms with her signature choreography and cementing her status as a late-1980s pop icon.
Release and Chart Performance
- Released in November 1988 as the album’s third single.
- Topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 3 weeks and charted in 15+ countries, including No. 3 in the UK.
- Helped Forever Your Girl become 7x Platinum in the US (7M+ sales), one of the best-selling debut albums by a female artist.
Musical Style and Themes
The song combines:
- New jack swing beats, synth hooks, and Abdul’s playful, breathy vocals.
- Lyrics about romantic uncertainty, anchored by the iconic chorus:
“Straight up, tell me, do you really wanna love me forever? / Oh, or am I caught in a hit-and-run?”
Legacy and Cultural Impact
- A defining 1980s pop classic, amassing 500+ million streams globally.
- Featured in films like The Karate Kid Part III (1989) and TV shows like Stranger Things, reviving its retro appeal.
- Praised for its groundbreaking music video, directed by David Fincher, which showcased Abdul’s choreography and set MTV standards.
Songwriting Credits
Written and produced by Elliot Wolff. The track’s minimalist production and Abdul’s charismatic delivery redefined dance-pop for the MTV era.
Summary
*Straight Up* catapulted Paula Abdul from L.A. Lakers cheerleader to global stardom. Its chart-topping success, iconic video, and enduring grooves solidify it as a quintessential late-1980s pop milestone, bridging bubblegum pop and new jack swing.
Keywords
- Paula Abdul Straight Up lyrics
- 80s dance-pop anthems
- Forever Your Girl album
- David Fincher music videos
- Best Paula Abdul songs
Paula Abdul: Straight Up Lyrics
I don’t know which way to go
(Ah, let me say it now)
If you are all that you seem
Then, baby, I’m movin’ (movin’) way too slow
I’ve been fooled before
Wouldn’t like to get my love caught in the slammin’ door
How about some information, please?
Straight up, now tell me
Do you really wanna love me forever? (Oh, oh, oh)
Or am I caught in a hit-and-run?
Straight up, now tell me
Is it gonna be you and me together? (Oh, oh, oh)
Or are you just havin’ fun?
Time’s standing still
I’m waiting for some small clue
(Ah, let me tell ya now)
I keep getting chills
When I think your love (when I think your love) is true
I’ve been fooled before
Wouldn’t like to get my love caught in the slammin’ door
How about some information, please?
Straight up, now tell me
Do you really wanna love me forever? (Oh, oh, oh)
Or am I caught in a hit-and-run?
Straight up, now tell me
Is it gonna be you and me together? (Oh, oh, oh)
Or are you just havin’ fun?
You are so hard to read
You play hide-and-seek
With your true intentions
If you’re only playin’ games
I’ll just have to say
Ah-b-b-b-bye, b-b-b-b-bye
Do, do you love me? (Do, do you love me, baby?)
(C’mon now) do, do you love me? (Do, do you love me? Ah, tell me, baby)
I’ve been fooled before
Wouldn’t like to get my love caught in the slammin’ door
Are you more than hot for me
Or am I a page in your history book?
I don’t mean to make demands
But the word and the deed go hand in hand
How about some information, please?
(Please, please, ah, please, please)
Straight up, now tell me (tell me)
Straight up, now tell me (tell me)
Straight up, now tell me (tell me)
Straight up, now tell me
Straight up, now tell me
Straight up, now tell me
Do you really wanna love me forever? (Oh, oh, oh)
Or am I caught in a hit-and-run?
Straight up, now tell me
Is it gonna be you and me together? (Oh, oh, oh)
Or are you just havin’ fun?
Straight up, now tell me
Do you really wanna love me forever? (Oh, oh, oh)
Or am I caught in a hit-and-run?
Straight up, now tell me
Is it gonna be you and me together? (Oh, oh, oh)
Or are you just havin’ fun?
