Knocked Out Explained

Knocked Out
Cover:Paula-Abdul-Knocked-Out.jpg
Caption:U.S. promotional cover
Type:single
Artist:Paula Abdul
Album:Forever Your Girl
Released:1988
Length:3:52
Label:Virgin
Next Title:(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me
Next Year:1988

"Knocked Out" is the debut single by American singer and dancer Paula Abdul, released on May 4, 1988 by Virgin Records from her debut album, Forever Your Girl (1988). The song was written by Babyface, L.A. Reid and Daryl Simmons and produced in 1987 by the former two. Babyface and Simmons also provide background vocals with Pebbles and Yvette Marine.

Critical reception

Paul Mathur from Melody Maker wrote, "Paula isn't as clever as Jessica but she's almost as accomplished in the art of artifice. When she sings, plastic takes on whole new forms, Madonna looks like Joni Mitchell and I'm humming for weeks. She cuts her soul pop jib with scissors the size of shears, but she doesn't give two hoots, and for that alone we should cherish her."[1]

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1988–90)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[2] 82
Canada Contemporary Hit Radio (The Record)[3] 18
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[4]
59
US Urban Contemporary (Radio & Records)[5] 6

Notes and References

  1. Paul. Mathur. Singles. Melody Maker. September 3, 1988. 28. October 31, 2023.
  2. Web site: Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 2014-01-17 . 2015-08-29 . imgur.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141129020822/http://i.imgur.com/j7baC6b.png . 2014-11-29 .
  3. Book: Lwin, Nanda. Nanda Lwin. 2000. Top 40 Hits: The Essential Chart Guide. Music Data Canada. 18. 1-896594-13-1.
  4. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. August 4, 1990. June 20, 2021. Music & Media.
  5. July 29, 1988. The Back Page. Radio & Records. 112. .