Paula Abdul Influenced Rihanna and Beyonce?

American Idol judge, Paula Abdul, recently said that she has been influential in the music careers of artists like Rihanna and Beyoncé. In what way? Through her videos!

Paula said: “My videos stand the test of time. They are like the almanac for every performer. Even Rihanna has come up to me and said ‘I hope you don’t mind.’ And Beyoncé. You can see the influence of what I’ve done. It’s really fun to see that I’ve left a mark. It was my idea to create an animated character. It takes a lot of focus, a lot time, and a lot of money."

I actually believe this. I was a real fan of Paula’s back in the day and, on more than one occasion, I have spent time looking through YouTube for some of my favorite videos. My favorite? It’s a tie between her collaboration with MC Skat Kat called “Skat Strut” (they also did “Opposites Attract”) and “Promise of a New Day.” Feel like going down memory lane? Check out the videos below:

“Skat Strut” – I picked this one because I think the sequence towards the end when she dances with the imaginary sheet of paper and then exits into an ink bottle was an incredible feat for the time and shows her strength as a performer.

Sure, Paula is stretched out to look thinner in the “Promise of a New Day” video but it’s still great. I love the message and it’s visually just really beautiful with the fields of tall grass, waterfalls, reflective water scenes and bold, rich colors. Very nice.