Zabler Design Blog

Zabler Design Blog
June 12th, 2015
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you hit songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today, Paula Abdul sings about aggressive suitors and jealous boyfriends in her chart-topping signature song, “Forever Your Girl.”

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Released in 1989 from the album of the same name, “Forever Your Girl” describes a romantic rivalry, where another boy attempts to win Abdul’s heart with promises of fine jewelry.

She sings, “Baby, just remember I gave you my heart / ain't no-one gonna tear us apart / Baby, he could promise me diamonds / even in he promised me pearls / honey, you know I ain't lyin' / listen as I tell it to the world.”

In the end, she vows to remain faithful to her boyfriend because she’ll always love him and be “forever his girl.”

Written and produced by Oliver Leiber (son of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame lyricist Jerry Leiber), “Forever Your Girl” was originally titled “Small Town Girl.” The younger Leiber had written the song about a girl he was dating in Fargo, N.D.

According to SongFacts.com, Leiber played the song for Abdul, who really liked it. When she inquired as to whether he could write a song for her, he modified the lyrics to better reflect Abdul's personality and a hit song was born.

"Forever Your Girl" would become the second of four #1 hits from Abdul’s debut album. The others were "Straight Up," "Cold Hearted" and "Opposites Attract." The album Forever Your Girl was released in June of 1988 and spent 64 weeks on the Billboard 200 before finally reaching #1.

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The official video for the song features Abdul in the role of a choreographer and director of a children's music video. If you watch closely, you will see an eight-year-old Elijah Wood in his first on-screen performance. Wood went on to star in many critically acclaimed films, such as Radio Flyer and The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

In addition to her successful singing career, Abdul is also well known as an original judge on American Idol and later on the American version of The X Factor. She also judged Dancing With the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance.

Please check out the video of Paula Abdul performing “Forever Your Girl,” and keep your eyes peeled for a pint-sized Elijah Wood. The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…

"Forever Your Girl"
Written by Oliver J. Leiber. Performed by Paula Abdul.

Hey baby, just remember I'm forever your girl.
Baby, forever, and ever and ever, you know I am.

Baby, pick your head up, (head up)
come on and look me in the face,
'cause I can tell that something is bringin' you down.
(Why are you down?)
Is it the rumor that another boy wants to take your place?
(I hear he's after your heart.)
Have you been hearin' the stories?
They're goin' around.
(All of my friends are talkin'.)
Baby, just remember I gave you my heart,
ain't no-one gonna tear us apart.
He can promise the moon and the stars above,
even if he promised me the world;

Just remember I'm forever your girl.
He could promise the world.
Just remember, I'm forever your girl.

Honey, listen to me,
Your love is all I need.
You should know that I don't need nothin'
That money can buy.
So if a boy were to come along
And try to make me leave you,
(Girl, I'd go out of my mind.)
There'd be no need to worry,
I'm tellin' you why.
(I need to hear that you really love me.)
Baby, don't you know that I love you,
And I'd never put nobody above you.
He could promise the moon and the stars above,
Even if he promised me the world.

Just remember I'm forever your girl.
He could promise the world.
Just remember, I'm forever your girl.
I'm forever your baby.

Just remember I'm forever your girl.
He could promise the world.
Just remember, I'm forever your girl.
When the mountains crumble in to the sea,
that's the day someone will come between you and me.
Baby, just remember I gave you my heart,
ain't no-one gonna tear us apart.
Baby, he could promise me diamonds,
even in he promised me pearls;
honey, you know I ain't lyin',
listen as I tell it to the world.

Just remember I'm forever your girl.
He could promise the world.
Just remember, I'm forever your girl.

Girl you know I love you,
And I always will.
If we live till forever,
I'll be lovin' you still.
just remember I'm forever your girl.
He could promise the world.
Just remember, I'm forever your girl.
I'm forever your baby,
I'm forever your girl.
I'm forever your baby,
I'm forever your girl.


Images: Publicity shot of Paula Abdul (uncredited); screen capture via YouTube.