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"Opposites Attract" is a song recorded by Paula Abdul, featured on her debut album Forever Your Girl. It was written and produced by Oliver Leiber. Vocals on the song, in addition to Abdul, were provided by Bruce DeShazer and Marv Gunn, also known as The Wild Pair. "Opposites Attract" was the sixth and final single from the album, and achieved success in many countries, including the United States and Australia, where it was a number-one hit.

Lyrics and music video

The lyrics are about a couple who love each other despite being different in just about every way possible.

The song's music video was directed by Candace Reckinger and Michael Patterson, in which Abdul dances with cartoon character MC Skat Kat, voiced by The Wild Pair, Bruce DeShazer and Marvin Gunn. The music video adds an intro rap written by Romany Malco. An additional rap was provided by Derrick 'Delite' Stevens for the Street mix version of the song, which was edited for the 7"/video.

The idea of MC Skat Kat came from the Gene Kelly film Anchors Aweigh, where Kelly dances with Jerry Mouse from the Tom and Jerry cartoon series. Paula even choreographed the animated character's moves to match her live-action dance moves in the video. MC Skat Kat was animated by members of the Disney animation team, working outside the studio between major projects, under the direction of Chris Bailey. The Wild Pair did not perform in the video.

The video won the 1991 Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video.

Chart performances

"Opposites Attract" became one of the most popular R&B and dance-pop singles of 1990. The single initially rose from #72 to #47 the week of December 23, 1989, and landed at number one the week of February 10, 1990, where it remained for three weeks, matching the run of "Straight Up". It became Abdul's fourth number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 and made her only the fourth artist in music history to score four number-one hits from a single album, after Whitney Houston, George Michael and Michael Jackson. (Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey and Katy Perry would later duplicate the feat). "Opposites Attract" also topped the charts in Australia, and peaked at #2 in the United Kingdom.

Track listings

Official mixes

• Album version – 4:23
• 7" mix / 7" Edit – 3:46 (Keith Cohen)
• Street mix – 4:35 (as above)
• Magnetic mix – 4:33 (as above)
• Dub version – 6:26 (as above)
• 1990 mix – 6:48 (as above)
• 12" mix – 5:39 (Steve Beltran)
• Club mix – 6:04 (Chris Cox for Hot Tracks remix service)
• Party dub – 3:10 (as above)
• Shep's Special mix – 6:43 (Shep Pettibone)

Charts and certifications

References

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAGu7oG_b5w
2. Miranda, Carolina A. (26 April 2017). "Michael Patterson and Candace Reckinger turn animation into a wild sensory art installation". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
3. Stransky, Tanner (February 19, 2010). "20 Years Ago: Paula Abdul hits No. 1 with 'Opposites Attract'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-12-10. Retrieved 2007-10-28. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Will the real MC Skat Kat please stand up?
5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-07-25. Retrieved 2009-11-15. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
6. ^ "Opposites Attract", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
7. "Image : RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Retrieved 5 March 2018.
8. ^ "Single top 100 over 1990" (pdf) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
9. German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
10. Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
11. UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
12. ^ Billboard Allmusic.com (Retrieved September 5, 2008)
13. 1990 Australian Singles Chart aria.com (Retrieved September 5, 2008)
14. "Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990". RPM. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
15. "End of Year Charts 1990". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
16. "Billboard Top 100 - 1990". Retrieved 2009-09-15.
17. Australian certifications (Retrieved August 5, 2015)
18. US certifications riaa.com (Retrieved September 5, 2008)

External links

• Template:MetroLyrics song

• 1988 songs
• 1989 singles
• Paula Abdul songs
• Songs written by Oliver Leiber
• Virgin Records singles
• Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
• Number-one singles in Australia
• Number-one dance singles in Canada
• RPM Top Singles number-one singles
• Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video
• Vocal duets
• New jack swing songs