Music Review: Paula Abdul "Straight Up"

Straight Up
Album: Forever Your Girl
Year: 1989

Paula Abdul is uncertain of where she stands with her wishy-washy boyfriend in the spurned “Straight Up.”

Questioning synths and insistent drums open the single, setting a provoked tone. In the first verse, she says the relationship seems perfect on the outside. But privately, she’s sorting through his lies and past behavior towards her. Something doesn’t add up, though. She thinks perhaps she’s being cynical at first, but realizes it’s been since the beginning of their relationship.

“Lost in a dream/Don't know which way to go/If you are all that you seem/Then baby I'm movin' way too slow.”

In the pre-chorus, she says other guys have cheated on her and she didn’t even notice. This time, she doesn’t want to be blindsided. She asks him for the truth about his feelings.

“I've been a fool before/Wouldn't like to get my love caught/In the slammin' door/How about some information—please.”

In the chorus, she demands to know if he does care for her or if she’s being strung along. She needs to know if he’s looking for a long-term or casual relationship.

“Straight up now tell me/Do you really want to love me forever oh oh oh/Or am I caught in a hit and run/Straight up now tell me/Is it gonna be you and me together oh oh oh/Are you just having fun.”

In the second chorus, she says her life is in slow motion as she observes her boyfriend for a sign that he wants her in his life. If he grins at a certain way, she thinks of the context and what he meant. She loves him and for him to feel the same way, excites her. She anticipates what their lives will be like.

“Time's standing still/Waiting for some small clue/I keep getting chills/When I think your love is true.”

The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

In the bridge, she says she can’t figure him out. He says one thing and does another. It’s difficult to tell if he was actually apologetic for forgetting to call her. She tells him that it’s over if he’s jerking her around. She wants a honest answer from him about his feelings for her. She wants to know if he can’t live without her or has already checked out of the relationship. She says despite the saying, words are as loud as actions.

“You are so hard to read/You play hide and seek/With your true intentions/If you're only playing games/I'll just have to say--bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye bye/Do do you love me/Do do you love me/Do do you love me/Do do you love me?/Tell me baby/I've been a fool before/Wouldn't like to get my love caught/In the slammin' door/Are you more than hot for me/Or am I a page in your history-book/I don't mean to make demands/But the word and the deed go hand in hand/How about some information—please.”

Part of the pre-chorus and bridge are sung again.

“I've been a fool before/Wouldn't like to get my love caught/In the slammin' door/Are you more than hot for me/Or am I a page in your history-book/I don't mean to make demands/But the word and the deed go hand in hand/How about some information—please.”

The second chorus is sung again.

“Straight up, now tell me/Straight up, now tell me/Straight up, now tell me/Straight up, now tell me.”

The chorus is sung about three times to close the single.

She thought she was in a healthy relationship. They went out for dinner together and took walks. However, on the phone, the conversations veer into every direction. She can’t keep up with his lies as she finds herself tangled in them. However, she isn’t certain they are lies or if he’s forgetful. She figures the only way she will know is to confront him.

Abdul’s inquisitive, guileless vocals are yearning and mystified. She really wants him to be a spazzy, absent-minded guy. However, deep down she knows he’s a jerk she’s best leaving alone. It pains her to let him go.

The commanding arrangement stands up for itself, reaching for anwers and refusing to back down.

The brassy “Straight Up” is a satisfying listen.


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