Released February 20, 1989 Length 4:58 | Format 7"
12"
CD
cassette Label Virgin | |
Recorded November 1987 – January 1988 Genre R&B
new jack swing
dance-pop | ||
"Forever Your Girl" is a song by American recording artist Paula Abdul from her 1988 debut studio album of the same name. Written and produced by Oliver Leiber, the song was released as the album's fourth single on February 20, 1989.
Contents
After the unexpected success of "Straight Up", Virgin Records quickly released another single to satisfy the public's newfound interest in Abdul. It eventually became the second number-one single from the album, which would eventually yield four number-one singles.
History
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 and denser instrumentation.
The song was part of a medley Abdul sang at the 1989 MTV Music Video Awards.
"Forever Your Girl" spent two weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in May 1989, charted at #24 in the UK, and peaked at #17 in Germany.
The video 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 and helped establish Abdul as a leading visual entertainer.
The video also parodied Robert Palmer videos, having three little girls dressed like the three women who play backup guitars in his videos (black dresses, red lipstick, white makeup, and hair tied in buns).
US 12" single
- Forever Your Girl - 12" version 6:33
- Forever Your Girl - Yo! Greg dub version 5:45
- Forever Your Girl - Saunderson-Grosse House of Love mix 6:33
- Straight Up - Kevin Saunderson Club mix 6:52
- Next to You - album track 4:28
UK/European CD single
- Forever Your Girl - Remix 4:15
- Straight Up - 7" edit
- Next to You 4:29
- Forever Your Girl - 12" remix 6:33