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

Martin Page

Martin PageSongwriter Interviews

With Bernie Taupin, Martin co-wrote the #1 hits "We Built This City" and "These Dreams." After writing the Pretty Woman song for Go West, he had his own hit with "In the House of Stone and Light."

Female Singers Of The 90s

Female Singers Of The 90sMusic Quiz

The ladies who ruled the '90s in this quiz.

Julian Lennon

Julian LennonSongwriter Interviews

Julian tells the stories behind his hits "Valotte" and "Too Late for Goodbyes," and fills us in on his many non-musical pursuits. Also: what MTV meant to his career.

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.