Rush Rush

Infobox Single
Name = Rush Rush


Artist = Paula Abdul
from Album = Spellbound
Released = May 2 1991
Format = Cassette
7" single
CD maxi
[Recorded = ]
Genre = Pop/R&B
Length = 4:22 (single)
4:56 (album)
Label = Virgin
Writer = Peter Lord
Producer = Peter Lord
Vernon Jeffrey Smith
Certification = Platinum (US)
Last single = "Opposites Attract"
(1989)
This single = "Rush Rush"
(1991)
Next single = "The Promise of a New Day"
(1991)

"Rush Rush" was the first single off of Paula Abdul's second album, "Spellbound". Written by Peter Lord, the song achieved success in the U.S. where it topped the "Billboard" Hot 100.

The song listed at #60 on "Billboard's Greatest Songs of all time." [http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/specials/hot100/charts/top100-titles-60.shtml]

Background

The song was a turning point for Abdul's career, as it was her first ballad released, following five upbeat songs.

The single kicked off sales for Abdul's second album of new material "Spellbound".

It was considered a risk to release a ballad first off the album because most of her success prior to the album had been in dance music but despite that the song became her biggest hit to date.

Critics praised Abdul for taking a chance and not choosing the opening single to be a generic dance or pop song, but choosing a ballad instead. Critics also noted that Abdul's vocals had improved from her last album.

Abdul laid a scratch vocal down for the track and the producers loved the raw feel to the sound and her voice that it ended up on the final cut for the song. The scratch vocals never were intended to be on the final song at first.

Music video

The video features a street race and co-stars Keanu Reeves, drawing inspiration for its look from the film "Rebel Without A Cause", and as such, has a 1950s theme, and a 90-second prelude to the song, as if it were showing scenes from a movie. The video was directed by Stefan Würnitzer [Anglicized spelling: Stephan Wuernitzer.] , and produced by Karen Rohrbacher for Lucasfilm Commercial Productions. [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2007915/ IMDb] , [http://www.mvdbase.com/tech.php?last=Wuernitzer&first=Stephan mvdbase] , [http://www.a1vcd.com/vcd/MV8012.shtml Paula Abdul Captivated - The Video Collection '92] , [http://www.sobocasting.com/credits.htm Sobo] ]

Chart performances

"Rush Rush" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at #36 on May 11, 1991, and hit #1 five weeks later, June 15, 1991, where it remained for five consecutive weeks. At the time of its five-week stint, it was the longest running #1 since Madonna's "Like a Virgin" spent six weeks at #1 during the Winter of 1984-1985. The song also spent five weeks atop the U.S. adult contemporary chart. It peaked at #6 on the UK Singles Chart.

Track listings and formats

U.S. Cassette
# "Rush Rush" (7" edit) (Peter Lord)
# "Rush Rush" (dub mix) (Peter Lord)

U.S. Promo 5" CD
# "Rush Rush" (7" edit) — 4:22 (Peter Lord)
# "Rush Rush" (LP version) — 4:56 (Peter Lord)
# "Rush Rush" (dub mix) — 5:54 (Peter Lord)

UK 5" CD
# "Rush Rush" (LP version) (Peter Lord)
# "Rush Rush" (7" edit) (Peter Lord)
# "Rush Rush" (dub mix) (Peter Lord)

Official remixes

* 7" edit - 4:22
* Dub mix - 5:54
* Dub edit - 4:59

Certifications

References