Abdul Looks to Restart Singing Career

By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY, AP Music Writer

NEW YORK - Spending three seasons watching thousands of wannabes warble their way toward attempted singing stardom can make anyone a bit restless. But with the fourth season of Fox's "American Idol" under way (8 p.m. EST Tuesdays and Wednesdays) Paula Abdul (news) — the "nice" judge of the often brutal talent competition — is getting anxious for another reason altogether.

"I miss my art," Abdul sighs as she looks out the window, looking like a classic '50s sweetheart, right down to her flowery, flared-out dress. "The great part about who I am is, I came into this business as a facilitator. I was a world-class choreographer ... I've always been able to help mold (other people) into their greatness.

"But there is a whole other hat that I wear as a performer that I need to infuse a little bit of energy into, so I've made a conscientious decision that after this season, I have to take some time to be mindful of my own craft."

When Abdul refers to her craft, she's talking about her time as a singing sensation. More than a decade before "American Idol" became a pop-culture phenomenon, she was the real thing, segueing from a career as a top choreographer for Janet Jackson (news), the Laker Girls and the Academy Awards (news - web sites) to one as a chart-topping entertainer. Among her No. 1 hits, mostly pop and R&B tunes, were songs such as "Straight Up" and "Forever Your Girl."

Her catchy hits, along with her fast-paced, drop-on-a-dime dance moves, made her a dazzling video artist, while her girl-next-door persona made her a media darling. She even had a celebrity marriage to Emilio Estevez (news) (though it ended in divorce, as did a subsequent marriage).

But her time on top of the music charts was relatively short. While her two albums, "Forever Your Girl" in 1988 and 1991's "Spellbound" sold millions, by the time 1995's "Head Over Heels" came out, the music world was over Abdul.

While her singing career faded, Abdul didn't go away. The 42-year-old laughs at the idea that she wasn't up to much before "Idol": She continued to choreograph (including in movies such as the Oscar-winning "American Beauty"); she ran her own dance camps and competitions for youth; and she even wrote songs for others.

"I'm responsible for helping Kylie Minogue (news) come back," she maintains while talking about the song "Spinning Around," which she co-wrote for the dance music star in 2000. "She couldn't get signed to a worldwide deal ... She entered for the first time ever on the U.K. charts No. 1 on a song I wrote."

Still, for many, Abdul had drifted into the "Whatever Happened to ..." category until her incarnation as part of the judging trio on "American Idol." Her "let 'em down easy" approach to the horrid tryouts became the perfect balance against the viciousness of Simon Cowell, while her motherly guidance of the show's true talent endeared her to both contestants and the audience.

"I think people knew me as a celebrity, as a pop star, as the famous choreographer. This show has done an amazing thing. It's reacquainting my fans with Paula the human being, and guess what? Everybody get over it — Paula's a nice person," she says with her smile, so broad and constant one wonders whether she could frown even if she wanted to.

Finding the good in other people has been very good for Abdul herself. She has become as popular as she was in her singing heyday. But it's singing that she craves to do more than anything, and she believes fans are waiting: "People say they miss me out there as an artist because I'm very creative."

Of course, there are plenty of critics would take issue with that statement. As a singer, Abdul's thin voice was constantly panned, and at times, her choreography drew jeers.

But Abdul smiles as she talks about the "Simons" in her own life.

"You can't be the popular people's choice and be the critics' choice," she says. "It's just the way it is in art. It's subjective, and I learned that very early on my career."

Besides, Abdul is too interested in the future to worry about what critics said about her in the past.

When she does make her grand return, fans should expect a different Paula than the one we knew way back then, she says. "I'm different as a human being. I'm much older and I have a lot more wisdom."

Except, of course, dance — that, we can count on from Abdul.

"Paula without dance would be a really dark world," she says, laughing.

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Shit, she's referring to herself in the 3rd person again! Something tells me we can do without a new Paula Abdul album. Also Paula is only credited with cowriting about 10 songs in her entire career and now she's taking credit for Kylie Minogue's resurgence? Kylie apparently "couldn't get a record deal", but was signed to Parlophone/EMI long before Paula came along with Spinning Around (she's one of 4 writers, BTW) .
[Edited 1/31/05 17:53pm]

if she has a successful career, why the hell should she care what the public thinks happened to her? i hate that shit. someone can have a thriving career in entertainment, but if they're not thought of as some big superstar celebrity, it's not considered success. whatevs.

VoicesCarry said:

I think you just gave certain other posters "ammunition". You Pro-Tools, no talent loving, lipsynching-diva obsessed freak!

Axchi696 said:

I wonder if certain other posters will notice that I have some pretty negative thoughts about her at the end of the article?

Nah!
[Edited 1/31/05 18:20pm]

VoicesCarry said:

Paula Abdul isn't a "singer/songwriter" like Beyonce the genius or Alicia Keys the prodigy. How dare you waste a thread on a talentless worm like Miss Abdul!

VoicesCarry said:

Are there hyper-defensive Paula fans on the Org?

RipHer2Shreds said:

Nope just some hyper-sensitive Mariah fans *cough* who have a problem with differences of opinion.

VoicesCarry said:

Ah. I know the one. lol

RipHer2Shreds said:

Yep, I'm a card-carrying, gun toting, certifiably obsessed Paula fiend. Well, not exactly. But there are other orgers that love to rag on anyone who's not a fan of a certain plate-smashing, puppy-exploiting, dolphin-whistling singer.

Axchi696 said:

Beyonce genius WTF ????? your like the second person on here that I came across praising her as some fabulous songwriter...I am just curious but are you for real?
[Edited 1/31/05 18:35pm]

boriquateddy said:

Totally serious















Actually, not serious at all.

boriquateddy said:

You have to have seen another thread to know what he's talking about - it's an in joke.

VoicesCarry said:

oh ok...sigh of relief...

How long has there been talk of a new album? I might bite but she sounds a little full of herself (with the Kylie comeback thing, as she was only one of four writers). Judging by the article, seems like she's the one having problems getting signed. I remember hearing years ago that she got shifted to some other label after "Head Over Heels" flopped and that a new album was coming...that was like 1997!

I for 1 would love to see Paula Abdul come back. A lot of people didn't like her last album "Head Over Heels", but I loved it. Paula and Britney duet anyone? Imagine the choreography in that video.

She needs her ass kicked for the 3rd person shit alone

CalhounSq said:

She must've been hanging out with the queen of 3rd person...Mary J. Blaaaaahhhhge. That shit is annoying.

Chico1 said:

Don't forget Usher!

Oh come on now! Leave poor Paula alone!!!
She's harmless! If she can make a "comeback" with her limited singing ability, then more power to her! Blowing Kisses In The Wind is one of my favorite songs. No, she ain't no Alicia Keyes...but she sure as hell ain't no Ashlee Simpson either!!!!

I thought Spinning Around was written for Paula's comeback album that never materalized and when Parlophone was asking for songs that one came in.

HHMMMMMmmmmm.

oh well we all try to make ourselves better than we are.

PurpleJedi said:

VoicesCarry said:

Even though I'm not a fan at all, someone pointed out that Garth Brooks used to do that all the time! I'd watch interviews just to hear him do it! And man, the guy really retired!

VoicesCarry said:

Take it from CinisterCee, the sensible orger. CinisterCee says you're all making a big deal out of this.

CinisterCee said:

Does CinisterCee have a death wish?

Chico1 said:

CinisterCee doesn't like the direction this is going.

CinisterCee said:

Stop it. Or CinisterCee is gonna see my foot going in the direction of his ass!

Chico1 said:

CinisterCee loves role playing.

Chico1 said:

I was just going to say the same thing about Mary J always doing that. Isn't it strange?

I was laughing outloud when I read the article yesterday. Her albums were not that good to begin with. Just because she's popular now doesn't mean that that translates into her fans wanting to hear her putting out an album.

I think that she feels she can do better that the crap she hears on the show.