Recorded October, 1987 Length 5:22 | Genre Pop
new jack swing Label Virgin | |
Released August 2, 1988
September 15, 1989 (re-release) Format CD Maxi, 7" Single, 12" Maxi, Cassette | ||
"The Way That You Love Me" is a 1988 Pop single by American singer Paula Abdul taken from her debut album Forever Your Girl. It was written by Oliver Leiber.
Contents
Song information
In June 1988, Forever Your Girl was released, along with the follow-up single "The Way That You Love Me." Virgin and Abdul's producers felt that it was necessary to remix the song for its single release, hence the addition of (It's Just) to the song's title. The song failed to attract much attention, despite its dance-pop remix, and it further alienated the small R&B fan base that "Knocked Out" had generated. The song stalled at #88 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In the UK, "The Way That You Love Me" was also Abdul's second single release, following "Knocked Out" in 1988. It failed to chart in the Top 100, although after the success of "Straight Up," "Forever Your Girl" and the rerelease of "Knocked Out" in 1989, this song was also rereleased but it was not a success. It charted at #86 on 25 November 1989, going on to peak at #74 the following week, becoming Abdul's least successful single in the UK.
In the autumn of 1989 in the US, "The Way That You Love Me" was rereleased in its original edit. This time, it became a huge success, peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 on December 2, 1989, blocked from the top by Milli Vanilli's "Blame It On The Rain." It was subsequently included as the demonstration song on several Casio keyboards (e.g. CT-670 ToneBank Keyboard).
Music video
The song's video was Abdul's first with director David Fincher in July 1988, who would later direct her most successful videos. It consisted of Abdul dancing and singing with male dancers at a photo shoot, while expensive product shots were flashed in and out. It also featured Abdul's first tap dancing sequence, which she would use again in her videos for "Straight Up", "Opposites Attract", and "Forever Your Girl".
A new video was made in August 1989 with the same director and theme for the single's rerelease. It consisted of less dancing and more interaction between Abdul and her material world.
Track listings and formats
US 12"
- The Way That You Love Me - 12" remix
- The Way That You Love Me - 7" dub
- The Way That You Love Me - Houseafire mix
US cassette
- The Way That You Love Me - 7" Radio edit
- The Way That You Love Me - 7" dub
US promo/Euro 5"/3" CD singles
- The Way That You Love Me - 7" Radio edit
- The Way That You Love Me - 12" remix
- The Way That You Love Me - 7" dub
- The Way That You Love Me - Houseafire mix; on the Euro 3" single, this mix is faded early, at 2:53