Straight Up Paula!

Straight Up Paula!
Tour by Paula Abdul
Promotional poster for the tour
LocationNorth America
Start dateOctober 18, 2018 (2018-10-18)
End dateJune 7, 2019 (2019-06-07)
Legs1
No. of shows25
Paula Abdul concert chronology

Straight Up Paula! was the second headlining concert tour by American singer Paula Abdul. The tour marks the singer's first headlining tour in 27 years, since her 1991–92 Under My Spell Tour. The tour played 25 concerts throughout North America.

Background

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On July 9, 2018, it was announced that Abdul would go on tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her debut album, Forever Your Girl (1988). Ticket sales started four days after the announcement.[1] The singer said that "It's been decades since I've done my own tour, but I had a great taste of what it's like being on the road last summer with the New Kids on the Block and Boyz II Men, and had a great time. It was just a real warm welcome and [it reminded me] of how it felt like when I was on the road constantly years and years ago".[2]

Critical reception

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The tour received positive reviews throughout its run. Debra L. Rothenburg of Infocus Visions gave a positive review of the Staten Island show stating “Ms. Abdul at age 56 is a bundle of energy and she sings and dances and owns the stage the same as she did over 25 years ago.”[3] Shaun Astor of Tahoe Onstage gave a positive review of the Reno show stating “Paula did exactly what she explained she had done throughout her career: persevered. And when it was all over, she stepped out of the spotlight and left a room full of people with ecstatic smiles on their faces.”[4] Eileen Shapiro of Get Out gave a positive review of the show in Englewood, stating “The visual cascade was extraordinary, sequentially fascinating and vibrant.”[5]

Setlist

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This set list is from the concert on November 25, 2018, in Lynn. It is not intended to represent all shows from the tour.

  1. "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me"
  2. "Knocked Out"
  3. "Singin’ in the Rain"
  4. "Opposites Attract"
  5. "Cold Hearted"
  6. "Rush Rush"
  7. "Blowing Kisses in the Wind"
  8. "The Promise of a New Day"
  9. "Crazy Cool"
  10. "Straight Up"
  11. "Forever Your Girl"

Shows

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Date City Country Venue
North America[6][7]
October 18, 2018 Tulsa United States River Spirit Casino
October 20, 2018 Biloxi Hard Rock Live Biloxi
October 25, 2018 Windsor Canada The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor
October 26, 2018 Northfield United States Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park
October 27, 2018 New Buffalo Silver Creek Event Center
November 2, 2018 Lincoln City Chinook Winds Casino
November 3, 2018
November 4, 2018 Reno Reno Ballroom
November 6, 2018 Modesto Gallo Center for the Arts
November 7, 2018 Santa Rosa Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
November 9, 2018 Temecula Pechanga Resort & Casino
November 10, 2018 Las Vegas Red Rock Resort Spa and Casino
November 11, 2018 Chandler Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park
November 13, 2018 San Diego Copley Symphony Hall
November 16, 2018 Tucson Fox Theatre
November 17, 2018 Indio Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
November 23, 2018 Bethlehem Sands Bethlehem Event Center
November 24, 2018 Englewood Bergen Performing Arts Center
November 25, 2018 Lynn Lynn Memorial City Hall and Auditorium
November 28, 2018 Staten Island St. George Theater
November 29, 2018 Uncasville Mohegan Sun Arena
November 30, 2018 Norwalk Wall Street Theater
December 2, 2018 Oxon Hill The Theater at MGM National Harbor
December 5, 2018 San Antonio HEB Performance Hall
June 7, 2019 Los Angeles LA Pride

Cancelled shows

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List of cancelled concerts, showing date, city, country, venue and reason for cancellation
Date City Country Venue Reason
October 3, 2018 Morristown United States Mayo Performing Arts Center Production issues
October 4, 2018 Lynn Lynn Memorial City Hall and Auditorium Rescheduled due to production issues
October 6, 2018 Rama Canada Casino Rama Production issues
October 7, 2018 Verona United States Turning Stone Resort Casino
October 9, 2018 Staten Island St. George Theatre Rescheduled due to production issues
October 10, 2018 Englewood Bergen Performing Arts Center
October 12, 2018 Westbury NYCB Theatre at Westbury Production issues[8]
October 13, 2018 Lincoln Twin River Event Center
October 14, 2018 Oxon Hill The Theater at MGM National Harbor Rescheduled due to production issues
October 19, 2018 Lake Charles Golden Nugget Lake Charles Production issues
October 23, 2018 Bethlehem Sands Bethelem Event Center Rescheduled due to scheduling conflicts[9]
March 30, 2019 Orillia Canada Casino Rama Unforeseen circumstances[10]

References

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  1. ^ Paula Abdul (July 9, 2018). "Paula Abdul Announces Solo Headlining Tour Celebrating 30 Years As A Pop And Dance Icon" (Press release) – via PR Newswire.
  2. ^ Zach Seemayer (July 9, 2018). "Paula Abdul's Back on Tour -- Here Are Some of Her on-the-Road Must-Haves! (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight.
  3. ^ "Paula Abdul "Straight Up Paula!" – InFocusVisions Music & Arts Magazine". InFocusVisions Music & Arts Magazine – The Latest on your Favorite Musicians and Artists!. February 6, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  4. ^ "Straight up, Paula Abdul illuminates the Reno night - Lake Tahoe music concerts and sports". Tahoe Onstage | Lake Tahoe music concerts and sports. November 6, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  5. ^ Shapiro, Eileen (November 25, 2018). "Live Review: Paula Abdul: Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood New Jersey: 11/24/18 - NYC's Gay Magazine". Get Out! Magazine. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  6. ^ "Paula Abdul Tour". Straight Up, Paula!. Archived from the original on August 22, 2018.
  7. ^ "Paula Abdul Tour". Straight Up, Paula!. Archived from the original on December 4, 2018.
  8. ^ Ian Courtney (October 22, 2018). "Paula Abdul Takes a Spill from Stage, and Cancels a Show as Her Tour Gets Underway". CelebrityAccess Encore.
  9. ^ Moser, John J. (October 22, 2018). "Paula Abdul postpones Tuesday's show at Sands Bethlehem event Center". The Morning Call.
  10. ^ "Paula Abdul pulls out of Casino Rama concert". The Cochrane Times Post. January 30, 2019.