Rush Rush
Encyclopedia
"Rush Rush" is the first single released from Paula Abdul
's second album, Spellbound. Written by Peter Lord, and produced by Peter Lord and V. Jeffrey Smith (both members of The Family Stand), the song achieved major success in the U.S. where it topped the Billboard Hot 100.
released as a single, following as it did the six uptempo singles from her debut LP, and was viewed by all observers as a rather risky strategy in kicking off her second album of new material Spellbound. But the decision was vindicated, as it was very well received at retail.
Abdul laid down a scratch vocal
for the track, which was never intended to make it to the song's final mix. But the producers felt that its unpolished sound was what was needed to give the song its ingenuous tone, to match its subject matter and accompanying promotional video clip; it ended up on the final cut.
, drawing stylistic inspiration from the 1955 James Dean/Natalie Wood film Rebel Without A Cause
, and as such, has a period theme. A 90-second dramatic prelude to the song rather mirrors the characters from "Rebel." The video was often rumored to be directed by George Lucas, but this is incorrect. (It was produced through Lucasfilm Commercial Productions, which may have led to the confusion.) A video collection including the Rush Rush video titled "Captivated '92: The Video Collection" reveals that it was directed by Stephan Wuernitzer.
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
.
U.S. Promo 5" CD
UK 5" CD
Paula Abdul
Paula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits...
's second album, Spellbound. Written by Peter Lord, and produced by Peter Lord and V. Jeffrey Smith (both members of The Family Stand), the song achieved major success in the U.S. where it topped the Billboard Hot 100.
Background
"Rush Rush" was a departure for Abdul stylistically, as it was her first balladBallad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
released as a single, following as it did the six uptempo singles from her debut LP, and was viewed by all observers as a rather risky strategy in kicking off her second album of new material Spellbound. But the decision was vindicated, as it was very well received at retail.
Abdul laid down a scratch vocal
Scratch vocal
A scratch vocal is a vocal performance recorded by a singer in order to provide reference to a producer when crafting other pieces of the recorded song...
for the track, which was never intended to make it to the song's final mix. But the producers felt that its unpolished sound was what was needed to give the song its ingenuous tone, to match its subject matter and accompanying promotional video clip; it ended up on the final cut.
Music video
The video features a street race and co-stars Keanu ReevesKeanu Reeves
Keanu Charles Reeves is a Canadian actor. Reeves is perhaps best known for his roles in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Speed, Point Break and the science fiction-action trilogy The Matrix...
, drawing stylistic inspiration from the 1955 James Dean/Natalie Wood film Rebel Without A Cause
Rebel Without a Cause
Rebel Without a Cause is a 1955 American drama film about emotionally confused suburban, middle-class teenagers. Directed by Nicholas Ray, it offered both social commentary and an alternative to previous films depicting delinquents in urban slum environments...
, and as such, has a period theme. A 90-second dramatic prelude to the song rather mirrors the characters from "Rebel." The video was often rumored to be directed by George Lucas, but this is incorrect. (It was produced through Lucasfilm Commercial Productions, which may have led to the confusion.) A video collection including the Rush Rush video titled "Captivated '92: The Video Collection" reveals that it was directed by Stephan Wuernitzer.
Chart performances
"Rush Rush" debuted on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
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
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
's "Like a Virgin
Like a Virgin (song)
"Like a Virgin" is a song by American singer Madonna from her second album of the same name. It was released on November 6, 1984 by Sire Records, as the first single from the album. The song appears on the greatest hits compilation albums The Immaculate Collection and Celebration...
" spent six weeks at #1 during the winter of 1984-1985. The song also spent five weeks atop the U.S. adult contemporary chart
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
. It peaked at #6 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
Track listings and formats
U.S. Cassette Single- "Rush Rush" (7" edit) - 4:22
- "Rush Rush" (dub mix) - 5:54
U.S. Promo 5" CD
- "Rush Rush" (LP version) - 4:56
- "Rush Rush" (7" edit) - 4:22
- "Rush Rush" (dub mix) - 5:54
UK 5" CD
- "Rush Rush" (LP version) - 4:56
- "Rush Rush" (7" edit) - 4:22
- "Rush Rush" (dub mix) - 5:54
Peak positions
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian ARIA Australian Recording Industry Association The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956... Singles Chart |
2 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 23 |
| Dutch Top 40 | 9 |
| French SNEP Singles Chart | 24 |
| German Singles Chart | 12 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 11 |
| New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart | 7 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 9 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 7 |
| UK Singles Chart | 6 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary | 1 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Singles | 20 |
End of year charts
| End of year chart (1991) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 19 |
| Dutch Top 40 | 50 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 4 |
End of decade charts
| Chart (1990-1999) | Position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 64 |
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | Gold | November 21, 1991 | 10,000 |
| U.S. | Gold | June 24, 1991 | 500,000 |