"Knocked Out" is the debut single by American singer and dancer Paula Abdul, released in May 1988 via Virgin Records as the lead single to Abdul's debut studio album, Forever Your Girl (1988). The song was written by Babyface, L.A. Reid and Daryl Simmons, and produced by Babyface and Reid, the only track on Forever Your Girl produced by the duo.[2] Babyface and Simmons provide background vocals along with Pebbles and Yvette Marine. "Knocked Out" was later re-released to US radio in May 1990 following its re-issue in the United Kingdom and Europe.[3]
Paul Mathur from Melody Maker wrote, "Paula isn't as clever as Jessica but she's almost as accomplished in the art of artifice. When she sings, plastic takes on whole new forms, Madonna looks like Joni Mitchell and I'm humming for weeks. She cuts her soul pop jib with scissors the size of shears, but she doesn't give two hoots, and for that alone we should cherish her."[4] Dave Sholin of the Gavin Report responded favorably, "If you're lookin' for hooks, this is it. Produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface, the arrangement lends itself to multi-format potential. This former Los Angeles Lakers cheerleader and choreographer for the likes of Janet Jackson is gonna be big."[1] Bill Coleman of Billboard called the track "an appealing number."[5]
Chart performance
"Knocked Out" debuted on the US Billboard Hot 100 on June 18, 1988 at number 93.[6] peaked at number 41 on the US Billboard Hot 100, the first of what would be fourteen charting entries through 1995.[7]
Music video
Abdul's first music video was directed by Danny Kleinman and Limelight Film and Video Productions. The video features Abdul and her dancers working out choreography on the dance floor. It premiered to BET on June 11, 1988.[8]
↑ Forever Your Girl (album liner notes). Paula Abdul. Virgin Records. 1988. 90943.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
↑ "the Gavin Report: Urban Contemporary". Gavin Report. No.1717. July 29, 1988. p.14.Note: The July 22 issue that "Knocked Out" reached its peak position has not been archived; the peak for this week is derived from the "Last Week" position in the July 29 issue.
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