Opposites Attract

Last updated
"Opposites Attract"
Paula abdul opposites attract single.jpg
Single by Paula Abdul
from the album Forever Your Girl
B-side "One or the Other"
ReleasedNovember 17, 1989 (1989-11-17) [1]
Studio
  • Creation Audio (Minneapolis)
  • Kren (Hollywood)
  • JHL (Palisades)
Genre
Length
Label Virgin
Songwriter(s) Oliver Leiber
Producer(s) Oliver Leiber
Paula Abdul singles chronology
"Cold Hearted"
(1989)		"Opposites Attract"
(1989)		"Rush Rush"
(1991)
Music video
"Opposites Attract" on YouTube

"Opposites Attract" is a song by American singer Paula Abdul from her debut album, Forever Your Girl (1988). It was written and produced by Oliver Leiber. Vocals on the song, in addition to Abdul, were provided by Bruce DeShazer and Marv Gunn, also known as the Wild Pair. "Opposites Attract" was the sixth and final single from the album in November 1989 and achieved success in many countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, where it was a number-one hit. Lyrically, the song is about a couple who love each other despite being different in almost every way possible.

Contents

Music video

This song's accompanying music video was combination of live-action and cartoon, directed by Candace Reckinger and Michael Patterson, [4] in which Abdul dances with cartoon cat character MC Skat Kat, voiced by the Wild Pair, Bruce DeShazer and Marvin Gunn. [5] An additional rap, written by Romany Malco, was provided by Derrick "Delite" Stevens [6] for the Street mix version of the song, which was edited for the 7"/video.

The idea of MC Skat Kat came from the Gene Kelly film Anchors Aweigh , where Kelly dances with Jerry Mouse from the Tom and Jerry cartoon series. Paula even choreographed the animated character's moves to match her live-action dance moves in the video. MC Skat Kat was animated by members of the Disney animation team, working outside the studio between major projects, under the direction of Chris Bailey. [7] MC Skat Kat's movements were the result of rotoscoping animation, with Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" Chambers standing in for the character against a blue screen, then drawing the animated form over Chambers' dance moves. The Wild Pair Marvin Gunn and Bruce DeShazer did not appear in the video, although two other cats (also animated) did appear, possibly meant to represent them.

The video won the 1991 Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video and was nominated for Breakthrough Video at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards.

Chart performance

"Opposites Attract" initially rose from number 72 to number 47 the week of December 23, 1989, and landed at number one the week of February 10, 1990, where it remained for three weeks, matching the run of "Straight Up". It became Abdul's fourth number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 and made her the fourth artist in music history to score four number-one hits from a single album, after Whitney Houston, George Michael and Michael Jackson. (Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Usher and Katy Perry would later duplicate the feat). "Opposites Attract" also topped the charts in Australia and Canada and peaked at number two in the United Kingdom.

Critical reception

Melody Maker commented, "Lovely, lovely Paula released her fourth American Number One. This kicks off with a smart little rap then Paula jumps in and tip-taps her way through sounding happy, naive and full of herself, like the homecoming queen out on her first real date. She can do no wrong. It must be love." [8] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "For this release Abdul duets with the Wild Pair. The song also features a rap by Derrick Delite and is, of course, very danceable." [9] A reviewer from People Magazine described it as one of "the liveliest cuts" from the album. [10]

Track listings and formats

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel are adapted from Forever Your Girl album liner notes. [19]

Charts

Certifications and sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [44] Platinum70,000^
Canada (Music Canada) [57] Gold50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [58] Silver200,000^
United States (RIAA) [1] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.
United StatesNovember 17, 1989
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • cassette
 Virgin [1]
JapanJanuary 21, 1990Mini-CD [59]
United KingdomMarch 26, 1990
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • 12-inch vinyl
 Siren [60]
April 16, 1990
  • 7-inch vinyl with poster
  • 12-inch gatefold vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [61]

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References

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  2. ↑ Breihan, Tom (September 6, 2021). "The Number Ones: Janet Jackson's "Escapade". Stereogum . Retrieved December 2, 2023. ...Paula Abdul's "Opposites Attract," a bubbly take on Minneapolis funk...
  3. ↑ Deggans, Eric (January 1, 1998). "Paula Abdul". In Graff, Gary; du Lac, Josh; McFarlin, Jim (eds.). MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide. Detroit: Visible Ink Press. p. 2.
  4. ↑ Miranda, Carolina A. (April 26, 2017). "Michael Patterson and Candace Reckinger turn animation into a wild sensory art installation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
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  6. ↑ "City Pages - Culture to Go - Will the real MC Skat Kat please stand up?". Archived from the original on December 10, 2007. Retrieved October 28, 2007. Will the real MC Skat Kat please stand up?
  7. ↑ "Chris Bailey". Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved November 15, 2009.
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  11. ↑ Opposites Attract (US 7" single liner notes). Paula Abdul. Siren Records. 1990. 7-99158.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ↑ Opposites Attract (US cassette single liner notes). Paula Abdul. Virgin Records. 1990. 4-99158.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ↑ Opposites Attract (US 12" single liner notes). Paula Abdul. Virgin Records. 1990. 0-96528.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ↑ Opposites Attract (Australian 12" single liner notes). Paula Abdul. Virgin Records. 1990. VOZT059.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ↑ Opposites Attract (Japanese CD single liner notes). Paula Abdul. Virgin Records. 1990. VJDP-102.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  16. ↑ Opposites Attract (UK CD single liner notes). Paula Abdul. Siren Records. 1990. SRNCD 124.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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