Opposites Attract

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1989 single by Paula Abdul and the Wild Pair

title: "Opposites Attract" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1988-songs", "1989-singles", "animated-music-videos", "billboard-hot-100-number-one-singles", "cashbox-number-one-singles", "grammy-award-for-best-short-form-music-video", "male–female-vocal-duets", "new-jack-swing-songs", "number-one-singles-in-australia", "paula-abdul-songs", "the-record-retail-singles-number-one-singles", "rpm-top-singles-number-one-singles", "songs-written-by-oliver-leiber", "virgin-records-singles"] description: "1989 single by Paula Abdul and the Wild Pair" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opposites_Attract" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1989 single by Paula Abdul and the Wild Pair ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox song"]

FieldValue
nameOpposites Attract
coverPaula abdul opposites attract single.jpg
borderyes
typesingle
artistPaula Abdul
albumForever Your Girl
B-sideOne or the Other
released
* JHL (Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles)<ref name"Ref_a"/
* Minneapolis funk<ref name"Breihan 2021"
* R&B<ref name"Deggans"
* {{Durationm
* {{Durationm
labelVirgin
writerOliver Leiber
producerOliver Leiber
chronologyPaula Abdul
prev_titleCold Hearted
prev_year1989
next_titleRush Rush
next_year1991
misc
::

::callout[type=note] the Paula Abdul song ::

| name = Opposites Attract | cover = Paula abdul opposites attract single.jpg | alt = | border = yes | type = single | artist = Paula Abdul | album = Forever Your Girl | B-side = One or the Other | released = | recorded = | studio =

  • Creation Audio (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
  • Kren (Hollywood, California)
  • JHL (Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles) | genre =
  • Minneapolis funk
  • new jack swing
  • R&B | length =
  • (album version)
  • (single version) | label = Virgin | writer = Oliver Leiber | producer = Oliver Leiber | chronology = Paula Abdul | prev_title = Cold Hearted | prev_year = 1989 | next_title = Rush Rush | next_year = 1991 | misc = "Opposites Attract" is a song by American singer Paula Abdul from her debut album, Forever Your Girl (1988). 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 in November 1989 by Virgin Records and achieved success in many countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, where it was a number-one hit. Lyrically, the song is about a couple who love each other despite being different in almost every way possible.

Critical reception

Melody Maker commented, "Lovely, lovely Paula released her fourth American Number One. This kicks off with a smart little rap then Paula jumps in and tip-taps her way through sounding happy, naive and full of herself, like the homecoming queen out on her first real date. She can do no wrong. It must be love." Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "For this release Abdul duets with the Wild Pair. The song also features a rap by Derrick Delite and is, of course, very danceable." A reviewer from People Magazine described it as one of "the liveliest cuts" from the album.

Chart performance

"Opposites Attract" initially rose from number 72 to number 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 US Billboard Hot 100. In doing so, it made Abdul the first female artist to achieve four number-one singles from a debut album. It also made her the fourth artist in music history to score four number-one hits from a single album, after Whitney Houston, George Michael and Michael Jackson, in addition to being the second artist overall to achieve four number-one singles from their debut album, after George Michael. (Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Usher and Katy Perry would later duplicate the feat). "Opposites Attract" also topped the charts in Australia and Canada and peaked at number two in the United Kingdom.

Music video

This song's accompanying music video was combination of live-action and cartoon, directed by Candace Reckinger and Michael Patterson, in which Abdul dances with animated cartoon cat character MC Skat Kat, voiced by the Wild Pair, Bruce DeShazer and Marvin Gunn. An additional rap, written by Romany Malco, 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. MC Skat Kat's movements were the result of rotoscoping animation, with Michael "Boogaloo Shrimp" Chambers standing in for the character against a blue screen, then drawing the animated form over Chambers' dance moves. The Wild Pair Marvin Gunn and Bruce DeShazer did not appear in the video, although two other cats (also animated) did appear, possibly meant to represent them.

The video won the 1991 Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video and was nominated for Breakthrough Video at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards.

An alternative version of the video with minor edits, such as replacing the shot in which MC Skat Kat is seen smoking, was shown on some television chart programmes, such as Top of the Pops and The Chart Show in the UK.

Track listings and formats

  • 7-inch and cassette single
  1. "Opposites Attract" (7-inch) – 3:45
  2. "One or the Other" (LP version) – 4:08
  • US and Australian 12-inch single
  1. "Opposites Attract" (Street mix) – 4:28
  2. "Opposites Attract" (12-inch mix) – 5:40
  3. "Opposites Attract" (dub version) – 6:25
  4. "Opposites Attract" (Magnetic mix) – 4:01
  5. "Opposites Attract" (club mix) – 6:01
  6. "Opposites Attract" (Party dub) – 3:09
  • Japanese CD single
  1. "Opposites Attract" – 3:46
  2. "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me" – 4:03
  • UK and Australian CD single
  1. "Opposites Attract" (Street mix) – 4:28
  2. "One or the Other" (LP version) – 4:08
  3. "Opposites Attract" (club mix) – 6:01
  4. "Opposites Attract" (Party dub) – 3:09
  • UK 12-inch single
  1. "Opposites Attract" (Street mix) – 4:28
  2. "Opposites Attract" (Party dub) – 3:10
  3. "The Paula Abdul Megamix" ("Straight Up"/"Cold Hearted"/"The Way That You Love Me"/"Forever Your Girl"/"Knocked Out")

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel are adapted from the Forever Your Girl album liner notes.

Charts

Weekly charts

::data[format=table] | Chart (1989–1990) | Peak position | Canada Retail Singles (The Record) | Canada Contemporary Hit Radio (The Record) | Denmark (IFPI) | Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) | Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg) | Quebec (ADISQ) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | 1 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | 7 | | | | | | | | | | 5 | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | | ::

Year-end charts

::data[format=table]

Chart (1990)PositionAustralia (ARIA)Belgium (Ultratop)Canada Top Singles (RPM)Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)Germany (Media Control)Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)Netherlands (Single Top 100)New Zealand (RIANZ)Sweden (Topplistan)UK Singles (OCC)US Billboard Hot 100US Hot R&B Singles (Billboard)US Cash Box Top 100
6
29
13
22
29
83
44
44
40
41
25
14
40
19
::

Decade-end charts

::data[format=table]

Chart (1990–1999)PositionCanada (Nielsen SoundScan)
30
::

Certifications and sales

Release history

::data[format=table]

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Ref.United StatesJapanAustraliaUnited Kingdom
November 17, 1989Virgin
January 21, 1990Mini-CD
February 19, 1990
March 5, 1990CD
March 26, 1990Siren
April 16, 1990
::

References

References

  1. Breihan, Tom. (September 6, 2021). "The Number Ones: Janet Jackson's "Escapade".
  2. Deggans, Eric. (January 1, 1998). "MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide". [[Visible Ink Press]].
  3. The Stud Brothers. (April 14, 1990). "Singles".
  4. (March 3, 1990). "Previews: Singles".
  5. (September 5, 1988). "Picks and Pans Review: Forever Your Girl".
  6. (April 26, 2017). "Michael Patterson and Candace Reckinger turn animation into a wild sensory art installation". Los Angeles Times.
  7. Stransky, Tanner. (February 19, 2010). "20 Years Ago: Paula Abdul hits No. 1 with 'Opposites Attract'".
  8. "City Pages - Culture to Go - Will the real MC Skat Kat please stand up?".
  9. "Chris Bailey".
  10. (1990). "Opposites Attract". Siren Records.
  11. (1990). "Opposites Attract". Virgin Records.
  12. (1990). "Opposites Attract". Virgin Records.
  13. (1990). "Opposites Attract". Virgin Records.
  14. (1990). "Opposites Attract". Virgin Records.
  15. (1990). "Opposites Attract". Siren Records.
  16. (1990). "Opposites Attract". Virgin Records.
  17. (1990). "Opposites Attract". Siren Records.
  18. (1988). "[[Forever Your Girl]]". [[Virgin Records.
  19. Lwin, Nanda. (2000). "Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide". Music Data Canada.
  20. Danish Singles Chart. March 30, 1990.
  21. (May 5, 1990). "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles".
  22. Nyman, Jake. (2005). "Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja". Tammi.
  23. [http://www.umdmusic.com/default.asp?Lang=English&Chart=F&ChDate=19900422&ChMode=N Radio Luxembourg Singles. April 29, 1990.]
  24. (12 July 1997). "Palmarès de la chanson anglophone et allophone au Québec". [[Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec.
  25. "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1990". [[Australian Recording Industry Association.
  26. "Jaaroverzichten 1990". [[Ultratop]].
  27. "Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1990".
  28. "Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1990".
  29. (December 22, 1990). "Eurochart Hot 100 of 1990".
  30. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1990". [[GfK Entertainment]].
  31. "Single top 100 over 1990". Top40.
  32. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990". [[MegaCharts]].
  33. "End of Year Charts 1990". [[Recorded Music NZ]].
  34. "Årstopplistan 1990, Singlar". Grammotex.
  35. (March 2, 1991). "1990 Top 100 Singles".
  36. (December 22, 1990). "1990 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles".
  37. (December 22, 1990). "The Year in Music 1990: Top R&B Singles".
  38. (December 29, 1990). "Awards: Top 50 Pop Singles".
  39. Lwin, Nanda. "Top 100 singles of the 1990s". [[Jam!]].
  40. "甘い誘惑 {{!}} ポーラ・アブドル". [[Oricon]].
  41. (February 18, 1990). "New Release Summary: Singles".
  42. (March 4, 1990). "New Release Summary: Singles".
  43. (March 24, 1990). "New Singles".
  44. (April 14, 1990). "New Singles".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

1988-songs1989-singlesanimated-music-videosbillboard-hot-100-number-one-singlescashbox-number-one-singlesgrammy-award-for-best-short-form-music-videomale–female-vocal-duetsnew-jack-swing-songsnumber-one-singles-in-australiapaula-abdul-songsthe-record-retail-singles-number-one-singlesrpm-top-singles-number-one-singlessongs-written-by-oliver-leibervirgin-records-singles