Knocked Out

"Knocked Out" is the debut single by American singer Paula Abdul, released on May 4, 1988. It was the first song from her first album, Forever Your Girl, consisting of a pop/R&B sound. It was written by Babyface, L.A. Reid and Daryl Simmons and produced in 1987 by the former two.

"Knocked Out"
Single by Paula Abdul
from the album Forever Your Girl
ReleasedMay 4, 1988
Format
RecordedSeptember 1987
Genre
Length3:52
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • L.A. Reid
  • Babyface
Paula Abdul singles chronology
"Knocked Out"
(1988)		 "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me"
(1988)

Song information

The song was originally included on a Virgin Records sampler for the launch of Virgin Records America. In spring 1988, it was released as a single to test Abdul's commercial appeal. "Knocked Out" proved to be very successful for a low budget single; it became a top 10 R&B hit.

In the UK, "Knocked Out" was released three times. It was Abdul's first single and charted on September 24, 1988, peaking at a lowly #98. Following the success of "Straight Up" and its follow-up, "Forever Your Girl", "Knocked Out" was reissued and peaked at #41 on 19 August 1989. Finally, after the huge success of "Opposites Attract" in 1990, the single was extensively reworked by Shep Pettibone and it entered the UK Top 30, peaking at #21 on July 28, 1990.

The remixed version of "Knocked Out" which was released in the UK as well as Germany was from the Shut Up and Dance remix album. While this version was not issued as a single in the United States, it did receive significant airplay and just missed the American Top 40, peaking at #41.

Music videos

The original "Knocked Out" video was directed by Danny Kleinman. It showed Abdul and a large number of dancers working out dance routines on the dance floor. For the second release, a revamped video was made and released without Abdul actually in it. This video was plotted around a boxing match, while screen caps of Abdul's other videos were played in the background.

Personnel
  • Paula Abdul: lead and background vocals
  • Babyface: songwriter, producer, arranger, keyboards, background vocals
  • L.A. Reid: songwriter, producer, arranger, LM-1 programming, percussion programming
  • Daryl Simmons: songwriter, arranger, background vocals
  • Kayo: Memory Moog bass
  • Pebbles, Yvette Marine: background vocals

Track listings and formats
US 12"
  1. Knocked Out - Extended mix
  2. Knocked Out - Instrumental
  3. Knocked Out - Radio edit
  4. Knocked Out - TKO dub
UK 5" CD
  1. Knocked Out - 7" version
  2. Knocked Out - Extended mix
  3. Knocked Out - TKO dub
  4. Knocked Out - Instrumental

Official mixes
  • Radio edit / 7" version / album version / Single Version 3:52
  • Extended mix 7:06 - L.A. Reid/Babyface
  • TKO Dub 6:31 - as above
  • Instrumental 3:43/2:24 - as above; faded early on UK CD single
  • Pettibone 12"/edit 6:10/3:31 - Shep Pettibone
  • House 12" 7:28 - as above
  • Bassey Thang 5:53 - as above
  • Power mix 6:44 – Boris Granich/Christer Modig
  • DMC mix 6:30 – Sanny X

Chart performance
Chart (1988–90) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[1] 82
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[2]
Shep Pettibone remix version		 27
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[3]
Shep Pettibone remix version		 21
US Billboard Hot 100[4] 41
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[5] 8
US Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales (Billboard) 11
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[6] 14

Cover version

In 1990, Hong Kong singer Vivian Chow covered this song in Cantonese.

References
  1. "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 2014-01-17". imgur.com. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved 2015-08-29.
  2. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 972." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  3. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  4. "Paula Abdul Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  5. "Paula Abdul Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  6. "Paula Abdul Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2019.


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