Knocked Out

Album: Forever Your Girl (1988)
Charted: 21 41
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was supposed to be the breakout single for Paula Abdul, who as a Laker Girl and a choreographer on videos by the likes of Janet Jackson and ZZ Top made a lot of contacts and got the opportunity to record an album. She didn't have much vocal training, so her record company paired her with a top production team: Babyface and L.A. Reid. They supplied "Knocked Out," a song they wrote with their cohort Daryl Simmons. These guys were used to working with more refined singers, and the sessions did not go well. Abdul fared far better by choosing demos from two unheralded producers: Elliot Wolff and Oliver Leiber. Both were more laid-back and willing to compensate for Paula's vocal deficiencies, and their songs ended up being the big hits from the album.

    "Knocked Out" was released first and reached #41 in the US - it also did very well in the dance clubs. The next single was one of Leiber's songs: "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me," which reached #88. Next came Wolff's "Straight Up," which went to #1. "Forever Your Girl" (Leiber), "Cold Hearted" (Wolff) and "Opposites Attract" also reached the top spot.
  • According to L.A. Reid, he and Babyface gave her this song in exchange for her choreographing one of Babyface's videos.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)Songwriter Interviews

"Come On Eileen" was a colossal '80s hit, but the band - far more appreciated in their native UK than stateside - released just three albums before their split. Now, Dexys is back.

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")Song Writing

Wes Edwards takes us behind the scenes of videos he shot for Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Chase Bryant. The train was real - the airplane was not.

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."