On this day in 1989: Paula Abdul started a two week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Forever Your Girl.’ It was released on February 20, 1989, as the fourth single and title track off her debut album ‘Forever Your Girl.’
Following the unexpected success of ‘Straight Up’, the song continued Abdul’s new found commercial success, becoming her second chart-topper on the Billboard Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks and further fueled the album to reach the top-ten on the Billboard 200 chart.
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 music video 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.
Here’s a look at the Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day in 1989:
1 4 FOREVER YOUR GIRL –•– Paula Abdul – 11 (1)
2 3 REAL LOVE –•– Jody Watley – 10 (2)
3 1 I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU –•– Bon Jovi – 12 (1)
4 5 SOLDIER OF LOVE –•– Donny Osmond – 9 (4)
5 8 ROCK ON –•– Michael Damian – 10 (5)
6 9 PATIENCE –•– Guns N’ Roses – 7 (6)
7 10 WIND BENEATH MY WINGS –•– Bette Midler – 12 (7)
8 6 AFTER ALL –•– Cher & Peter Cetera – 11 (6)
9 15 EVERY LITTLE STEP –•– Bobby Brown – 9 (9)
10 2 LIKE A PRAYER –•– Madonna – 10 (1)
11 11 ELECTRIC YOUTH –•– Debbie Gibson – 8 (11)
12 16 I’LL BE LOVING YOU (FOREVER) –•– New Kids On The Block – 8 (12)
13 7 SECOND CHANCE –•– .38 Special – 15 (6)
14 18 EVERLASTING LOVE –•– Howard Jones – 10 (14)
15 20 CLOSE MY EYES FOREVER –•– Lita Ford & Ozzy Osbourne – 12 (15)
16 13 CULT OF PERSONALITY –•– Living Colour – 11 (13)
17 14 IKO IKO –•– The Belle Stars – 12 (14)
18 12 THINKING OF YOU –•– Sa-Fire – 16 (12)
19 23 BUFFALO STANCE –•– Neneh Cherry – 8 (19)
20 24 WHERE ARE YOU NOW? –•– Synch – 25 (20)
