Straight Up (Paula Abdul song)

"Straight Up" is a song by American singer and dancer Paula Abdul from her debut studio album, Forever Your Girl (1988). It was written and produced by Elliot Wolff. Virgin Records released the song as the album's third single on November 22, 1988.

"Straight Up"
Single by Paula Abdul
from the album Forever Your Girl
B-side	"Opposites Attract"
Released	November 22, 1988
Recorded	1988
Genre	Dance-pop new jack swing R&B
Length	4:11
Label	Virgin
Songwriter(s)	Elliot Wolff
Producer(s)	Elliot Wolff
Paula Abdul singles chronology
"(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me" (1988) "Straight Up" (1988) "Forever Your Girl" (1989)

Track listings and formats

• Australia 12-inch single

1. "Straight Up" (Ultimix)
2. "Opposites Attract" (1990 mix)
3. "Straight Up" (single version)

• French 12-inch vinyl

1. "Straight Up" (12-inch remix)
2. "Straight Up" (Power mix)
3. "Straight Up" (House mix)
4. "Straight Up" (Marley Marl mix)

• US 12-inch single

1. "Straight Up" (12-inch remix)
2. "Straight Up" (Power mix)
3. "Straight Up" (House mix)

• Japanese mini-CD single

1. "Straight Up"
2. "Cold Hearted"

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Forever Your Girl.^[1]

• Elliot Wolff – songwriter, producer, arrangement, LinnDrum programming, synthesizer programming, synthesizers
• Keith "K.C." Cohen – producer, recording, mixing
• Josh Schneider – assistant engineer
• Annette Cisneros – assistant engineer
• Peter Arata – mixing assistant
• Paula Abdul – lead vocals, background vocals
• Delissa Davis – background vocals
• Dann Huff – overdrive guitar
• Dan Hersch – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1988–1989) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[2] 27 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[3] 8 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4] 5 Canada Retail Singles (The Record)[5] 1 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[6] 2 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[7] 1 Denmark (IFPI)[8] 3 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[9] 2 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[10] 8 France (SNEP)[11] 12 Greece (IFPI)[12] 2 Ireland (IRMA)[13] 6 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[14] 3 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] 2 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16] 6 Norway (VG-lista)[17] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[18] 2 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] 3 UK Singles (OCC)[20] 3 US Billboard Hot 100[21] 1 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[22] 39 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[23] 3 US Dance Singles Sales (Billboard)[24] 1 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[25] 2 US Contemporary Hit Radio (Radio & Records)[26] 1 US Urban Contemporary (Radio & Records)[26] 4 West Germany (Official German Charts)[27] 3 Chart (2019) Peak position Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[28] 61

Year-end charts Chart (1989) Position Belgium (Ultratop)[29] 46 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[30] 25 Canada Dance/Urban (RPM)[31] 9 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[32] 16 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[33] 16 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[34] 16 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[35] 9 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[36] 16 UK Singles (OCC)[37] 31 US Billboard Hot 100[38] 4 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[39] 48 West Germany (Official German Charts)[40] 17

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[41]	Gold	50,000^
Sweden (GLF)[42]	Gold	25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[43]	Silver	200,000^
United States (RIAA)[44]	Platinum	1,000,000^
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	November 22, 1988	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl cassette	Virgin	[44]
United Kingdom	February 20, 1989	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl		[45]