I remember this performance so well. The stage was too dark, her costume was weird, and the sound was weird. This song is badass, great to dance to in clubs and the choreography was great in this video. It was just too long and too busy for an MTV performance then. Still better than anything you’d see now.
Much props to her for singing this completely live with all that dancing! I remember loving this performance when I first saw it on tv that year. I always found those comments about her looking fat in that outfit irrelevant to her talent. Vibeology is a great song!
There’s a reason why you sing to a backing track. It helps the performance. 100% Live singing is not needed for this type of performance. If she wanted “showcase” vocals, she should’ve done Rush Rush.
True. But when you have a Milli Vanilli-like scandal attached to your name like Paula did when her BGV, Yvette Marine decided to sue unpaid & unaccredited vocals, you don't have much of choice
Make no mistake, Paula Abdul did NOT want to showcase vocals. But she was in the middle of the lipsync scandal… which is a quaint thought today (hi Mariah!). Worse than lipsyncing, Paula was being accused of not singing at all on some of the songs in Forever Your Girl. There was plenty of talk about a studio back up singer being brought in to fix what auto tune or the 1990 version of auto tune couldn’t. Sheryl Crow was years from being anybody but the legend is that she sang the entirety of some deep cut ballads on that album. Anyhoo… Milli vanilli has just happened, and Paula had just announced her very first world tour. People didn’t like the idea of lipsyncing back then (oh hey, Mariah’s still here y’all) and Paula didn’t want canceled shows and two thirds empty concert venues for her big tour… so she took the most ridiculously pointless song off her latest to demonstrate that she is a live singer. These are the results. She mercifully gooped her public on tour anyway. She was never in any danger of singing live, but ppl had to buy tickets to find that out. Because of Vibeology.
For all the haters below. Paula was going through a scandal at this time and she decided to sing live because of it. This isn't a song you sing live to especially with all that choreography but she did her best and overall gave a good performance. I'm pretty sure if she had lipsynced this would've been a great performance. so if you don't have anything nice to say.. don't say ANYTHING at all! GO PAULA!
@@WhiteBear2024"In 1991, singer Yvette Marine filed a lawsuit against Abdul and the Virgin label, alleging that it was her vocals that were used on several tracks from Forever Your Girl, most notably "Opposites Attract"" Source:Wikipedia
Paula is NOT a mess! And alot of people have credited her for her staying power in this business. She's done alot since then and has even had 2 songs chart on the billboard again!
Paula wasn't fat here. The outfit makes her looks that way but she really wasn't fat. u can look at pics from this night and tell she wasn't. And this performance didn't end her career, she still had a successful tour and a platinum album after this
Well a couple of things, You are right she was not fat, and it is ridiculous that she was maligned for it. But, unfortunately this performance did end her career, in terms of being a poptress. The press teared her to bits and the public followed suit. I love it and see nothing wrong with, but you know how mean people can be.
11 years late to respond but she had a Top 10 hit right after this performance and launched a successful tour that lasted almost a year. What killed her career was waiting three years to release her next album.
I was a teenager when this came out and everyone talked about how big she got. I thought she was much bigger from what I remembered. She's not big at all! You really had to be a size 0 in the 80's. It was crazy.
The size zero trend came later (the 2000’s really), not by this point. I don’t think she was overweight at all but she had gained a little weight and the outfit was incredibly unflattering. Great dancing skills as ever though.
Same here. I was a kid and remember thinking she looked fat. But looking back now I think she looked fine. She's not very tall, so even a tiny bit of weight is going to show. But it was mostly an unflattering costume. She looked great on her tour just a couple of months after this.
Paula Abdul was ahead of her time! Incorporating androgyny with Vegas jazz and funky choreography! Her curves then - which ppl called fat - is what female celebrities of today strive to achieve.
Yeah her album after went platinum because loyal fans went out and bought it but it ended up being worse than they thought and it all really put the nail in the coffin so-to-speak. And thus fizzled out her career. She couldnt compete at that time anymore. Janet and Madonna were becoming iconic goddesses in the industry and Paula is just a choreographer. But hey.... I used to love me some Paula too. It was all about the first album.
@@soultraln2813 Yes, eventually. It was originally planned as the third single, but after the performance they went with "Blowing Kisses in the Wind" first. Then "Vibeology" was the fourth single.
@tome212121 but britney hasn't danced like this in awhile. Paula TRIED to sing (forced to cause of a scandal) and danced great! so yea lemme see Britney do this
It's not a bad performance but it does sound a little bit wierd for Paula to sing live with these dance moves. I was wondering why Paula would perform this song on VMA that year. Since Rush Rush was the nominated one, The Promise of a New Day was ready to reach No.1 on Billboard, and Blowing Kisses In The Wind was the next single... Why singing this one?
Vibeology was planned to be the next single but I think they scrapped it after this performance got so much bad press. And radio started playing "Kisses" instead.
I thought she looked great I liked the outfit I didn't think she looked fat at all she's just a curvey girl like me love the performance and the dancing they all looked great I love this song love u Paula she is one of my favorites and one of the very best and she is one of my idols 👍❤️
I remember watching this as a kid and thinking it was a hot mess, but looking back at it now - it's a pretty cool performance. I love the costume fake-outs and she sounds pretty good considering she isn't the greatest vocalist and she's doing intense choreo. The only issue I have with this performance is the leotard and tights, which aren't flattering. The mic pack on her back didn't help the situation. But it's shocking to think she got so much hate for this. It's pretty good!
it was the end of her career in a metaphorically way..you`re right... the album sold well, but it flopped compared to her previous albums and 2 years later nobody knew who she was..it is considered the beggining of the decline in her music career until becoming the mess we know now.. sorry, she was great..not anymore.
Not sure what album you're referring to, but this album did very well. She waited three years to release her third album, which didn't do as well as the first two. That's what "ended" her career, not this performance.
I know them and many other ppl! The ppl who downloaded those songs, got them on the radio, got them on the charts, and put boths songs in the Top 10 on itunes! That's not a small group of ppl! For paula, who was 15 years removed from music, to come back with 2 songs and chart says something about her! Other than the music, her ability to still be relevant now is amazing. Many ppl from her era would love to still be relevant and known and Paula has succeeded!
I don’t think this is a bad performance, but it’s more “weird” than bad. Paula was going through a minor scandal at the time and she decided to sing live to prove a point. However, this song is NOT a good choice to sing live with the kind of choreography and layered singing that the song has. I give her props for giving it her all! That’s not disputed. However, from the stage lighting, the costume, and song choice…it didn’t look the best. She should’ve sang “Blowing Kisses in the Wind” or “Rush, Rush” to prove her singing abilities OR sang a stripped down version of her hits. That’s my two cents. Bottom line: this is not a bad performance, but just weird and poor choice of song to sing live.
It didn't ruin her career. "Blowing Kisses in the Wind" was released after this and was a big hit. And her tour was very successful. What ruined her career was taking a three-year hiatus after the tour. She waited too long.
look...I respect Paula and her past achievements in the music industry. I have my opinions and are different from yours. you obviously are are a huge Paula fan and she would be pleased to see the way you defend her. Im only 23 and I was just a baby when she was really huge and maybe I dont understand her greatness..good for you. keep it up!!!
you really need an eye checkup because britney never looked like a fat midget ( 3:55 ) and there is a reason why some critics called this performance the end of paulas career while britney was able to recover from her performance and make a succesful comeback
the 90's was a TIME but MTV fucked up for this one. absolutely nothing wrong with her performance. I don't think people got it's message. it promoted. basically saying women can stand with men in every aspect. The fact that her career took a hit after this symbolizes that society is shallow and image based.
oh....come on!!! no, musicallly speaking nobody gives her any credit for her "staying power in this business" ...those 2 songs you speak about.. WHO KNOWS THEM!!!??
Paula was always a performer! Singing alone was not her's. She always brought us a perfect show.
Are we watching the same video? this is one of the most ambitious difficult choreography ever performed live. And one of the funkiest!
and the concept is impeccable too
I remember this performance so well. The stage was too dark, her costume was weird, and the sound was weird. This song is badass, great to dance to in clubs and the choreography was great in this video. It was just too long and too busy for an MTV performance then. Still better than anything you’d see now.
She was going for a Michael Jackson style performance. It didn't work.
Much props to her for singing this completely live with all that dancing! I remember loving this performance when I first saw it on tv that year. I always found those comments about her looking fat in that outfit irrelevant to her talent. Vibeology is a great song!
Goodness those this echo what was said of Britney Spears's 2007 VMA performance
Great classy choreography!
Classy??
Whoever is playing drums and keys on this and is KILLIN🔥This song is too funky.🎵
There’s a reason why you sing to a backing track. It helps the performance. 100% Live singing is not needed for this type of performance. If she wanted “showcase” vocals, she should’ve done Rush Rush.
True. But when you have a Milli Vanilli-like scandal attached to your name like Paula did when her BGV, Yvette Marine decided to sue unpaid & unaccredited vocals, you don't have much of choice
I don't think she sounded too bad. It's much better than I remember at the time.
There is a backing track..and her live BGVs sang the verses and the choruses with her.
Make no mistake, Paula Abdul did NOT want to showcase vocals. But she was in the middle of the lipsync scandal… which is a quaint thought today (hi Mariah!). Worse than lipsyncing, Paula was being accused of not singing at all on some of the songs in Forever Your Girl. There was plenty of talk about a studio back up singer being brought in to fix what auto tune or the 1990 version of auto tune couldn’t. Sheryl Crow was years from being anybody but the legend is that she sang the entirety of some deep cut ballads on that album.
Anyhoo… Milli vanilli has just happened, and Paula had just announced her very first world tour. People didn’t like the idea of lipsyncing back then (oh hey, Mariah’s still here y’all) and Paula didn’t want canceled shows and two thirds empty concert venues for her big tour… so she took the most ridiculously pointless song off her latest to demonstrate that she is a live singer. These are the results. She mercifully gooped her public on tour anyway. She was never in any danger of singing live, but ppl had to buy tickets to find that out. Because of Vibeology.
Her studio vocals on the album version of this sounded bad to begin with.
For all the haters below. Paula was going through a scandal at this time and she decided to sing live because of it. This isn't a song you sing live to especially with all that choreography but she did her best and overall gave a good performance. I'm pretty sure if she had lipsynced this would've been a great performance. so if you don't have anything nice to say.. don't say ANYTHING at all! GO PAULA!
I love Paula
I thought it was a good performance. Respect for her for singing and dancing at the same time
What was the scandal?
@@WhiteBear2024Go to the Opposites Attract demo.
@@WhiteBear2024"In 1991, singer Yvette Marine filed a lawsuit against Abdul and the Virgin label, alleging that it was her vocals that were used on several tracks from Forever Your Girl, most notably "Opposites Attract""
Source:Wikipedia
Paula is NOT a mess! And alot of people have credited her for her staying power in this business. She's done alot since then and has even had 2 songs chart on the billboard again!
Paula wasn't fat here. The outfit makes her looks that way but she really wasn't fat. u can look at pics from this night and tell she wasn't. And this performance didn't end her career, she still had a successful tour and a platinum album after this
she's clearly NOT fat here.... but even if she was..?? never a reason to hate on someone
Props to her backing vocalists! They practically sang the whole song.
Reina del escenario forever.
Paula Abdul!
Fantastic performer
Well a couple of things, You are right she was not fat, and it is ridiculous that she was maligned for it. But, unfortunately this performance did end her career, in terms of being a poptress. The press teared her to bits and the public followed suit. I love it and see nothing wrong with, but you know how mean people can be.
11 years late to respond but she had a Top 10 hit right after this performance and launched a successful tour that lasted almost a year. What killed her career was waiting three years to release her next album.
In retrospect the outfit is fierce.
I was a teenager when this came out and everyone talked about how big she got. I thought she was much bigger from what I remembered. She's not big at all! You really had to be a size 0 in the 80's. It was crazy.
The size zero trend came later (the 2000’s really), not by this point. I don’t think she was overweight at all but she had gained a little weight and the outfit was incredibly unflattering. Great dancing skills as ever though.
@@FlabbyTitmussabsolutely nothing unflattering about that outfit. it fits her body perfectly.
Same here. I was a kid and remember thinking she looked fat. But looking back now I think she looked fine. She's not very tall, so even a tiny bit of weight is going to show. But it was mostly an unflattering costume. She looked great on her tour just a couple of months after this.
This is so 90s. Yes!
Paula Abdul was ahead of her time! Incorporating androgyny with Vegas jazz and funky choreography! Her curves then - which ppl called fat - is what female celebrities of today strive to achieve.
The dancers are great, hard dancing
Yeah her album after went platinum because loyal fans went out and bought it but it ended up being worse than they thought and it all really put the nail in the coffin so-to-speak. And thus fizzled out her career. She couldnt compete at that time anymore. Janet and Madonna were becoming iconic goddesses in the industry and Paula is just a choreographer.
But hey.... I used to love me some Paula too. It was all about the first album.
I would say the third album of ours was lackluster
When MTV rebroadcast this they cut this number out. It wasn’t that bad. MTV did her dirty.
@reddingmalik yup, I actually liked the song and wanted to hear it again and BAM! they cut it… I was shocked
Maybe her team requested it? They decided not to release this as the next single too. Looking back now it's not a bad performance at all.
@@soultraln2813 Yes, eventually. It was originally planned as the third single, but after the performance they went with "Blowing Kisses in the Wind" first. Then "Vibeology" was the fourth single.
I'd go see her live..🎉
My girl crush back then
@tome212121 but britney hasn't danced like this in awhile. Paula TRIED to sing (forced to cause of a scandal) and danced great! so yea lemme see Britney do this
It's not a bad performance but it does sound a little bit wierd for Paula to sing live with these dance moves.
I was wondering why Paula would perform this song on VMA that year. Since Rush Rush was the nominated one, The Promise of a New Day was ready to reach No.1 on Billboard, and Blowing Kisses In The Wind was the next single... Why singing this one?
Vibeology was planned to be the next single but I think they scrapped it after this performance got so much bad press. And radio started playing "Kisses" instead.
Tragic
I thought she looked great I liked the outfit I didn't think she looked fat at all she's just a curvey girl like me love the performance and the dancing they all looked great I love this song love u Paula she is one of my favorites and one of the very best and she is one of my idols 👍❤️
I remember watching this as a kid and thinking it was a hot mess, but looking back at it now - it's a pretty cool performance. I love the costume fake-outs and she sounds pretty good considering she isn't the greatest vocalist and she's doing intense choreo. The only issue I have with this performance is the leotard and tights, which aren't flattering. The mic pack on her back didn't help the situation. But it's shocking to think she got so much hate for this. It's pretty good!
This was the end of her career!
For some strange reason she was criticized for her body (!)
and this is the last memorable performance of Paula!
it was the end of her career in a metaphorically way..you`re right... the album sold well, but it flopped compared to her previous albums and 2 years later nobody knew who she was..it is considered the beggining of the decline in her music career until becoming the mess we know now.. sorry, she was great..not anymore.
time to look again, she,s back and no matter what you say, she is great - so fo dude
Not sure what album you're referring to, but this album did very well. She waited three years to release her third album, which didn't do as well as the first two. That's what "ended" her career, not this performance.
I know them and many other ppl! The ppl who downloaded those songs, got them on the radio, got them on the charts, and put boths songs in the Top 10 on itunes! That's not a small group of ppl! For paula, who was 15 years removed from music, to come back with 2 songs and chart says something about her! Other than the music, her ability to still be relevant now is amazing. Many ppl from her era would love to still be relevant and known and Paula has succeeded!
4:19 sexy performance. always loved paula.
I don’t think this is a bad performance, but it’s more “weird” than bad.
Paula was going through a minor scandal at the time and she decided to sing live to prove a point. However, this song is NOT a good choice to sing live with the kind of choreography and layered singing that the song has. I give her props for giving it her all! That’s not disputed. However, from the stage lighting, the costume, and song choice…it didn’t look the best.
She should’ve sang “Blowing Kisses in the Wind” or “Rush, Rush” to prove her singing abilities OR sang a stripped down version of her hits.
That’s my two cents. Bottom line: this is not a bad performance, but just weird and poor choice of song to sing live.
I can't believe this ruined her career. Vocals aside, and that bad ass wig, this is a great performance.
It didn't ruin her career. "Blowing Kisses in the Wind" was released after this and was a big hit. And her tour was very successful. What ruined her career was taking a three-year hiatus after the tour. She waited too long.
Nirvana killed her career. People at that time had enough of this type of music.
This performance was way better than Britney Spears' VMA performance back in '07.
thank goodness you're not like others who disagree and just attack me. At least you respect her work! Yu have a favorite song?
Leon Lipscombe they just don’t understand that it’s ok for someone to be thick 🤦🏾♀️🤨
look...I respect Paula and her past achievements in the music industry. I have my opinions and are different from yours. you obviously are are a huge Paula fan and she would be pleased to see the way you defend her. Im only 23 and I was just a baby when she was really huge and maybe I dont understand her greatness..good for you. keep it up!!!
Wasn't there like a problem with her earpiece or the sound?
Her voice
This version edit has a stretched visual to hide the embarrassment.
how?
haha... this was her career ending performance where she banned MTV from ever airing that performance.
I think she said this performance was the day her career died.
stop comparing...paula and brittney
2:55-3:15 ♨🥵
She looked great. They were making fun of weight? Wtf
Skinny was the thing back in the early 90s. No one would bat an eye now. In fact, people would probably make fun of her for having no bb.
I Really Wish Paula Would Wear Less Cloths...More Often... Like In This Fine Piece Of Art...Cause She Is A fine Piece Of Art...*
you really need an eye checkup because britney never looked like a fat midget ( 3:55 ) and there is a reason why some critics called this performance the end of paulas career while britney was able to recover from her performance and make a succesful comeback
When you book Madonna from wish.
The way Madonna could never dance like this 😭
@@arib3586 Probably not , but dancing is super gay & her primary job was singing.
@@arib3586Have you seen Blonde Ambition or Confessions Tour? Please. She could do it twice over and flex her arms at the end too.
@@arib3586 Paula is technically a better dancer but Madonna is also incredible. She's a trained dancer and the best in the biz.
This is the one that killed her career first time actually going live
The dancing was good..the concept and costumes were atrocious
no.
Every musician gives a poor performance occasionally. Deal with it.
Shes so weird
the 90's was a TIME but MTV fucked up for this one. absolutely nothing wrong with her performance. I don't think people got it's message. it promoted. basically saying women can stand with men in every aspect. The fact that her career took a hit after this symbolizes that society is shallow and image based.
The dancing was ok,but the costuming was/is horrendous and looks cheap
oh....come on!!! no, musicallly speaking nobody gives her any credit for her "staying power in this business" ...those 2 songs you speak about.. WHO KNOWS THEM!!!??
Madonna better
One of the worst performances in MTV VMA history.
😂