Paula Abdul claims she inspired Rihanna and Beyonce

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Paula Abdul is easily one of my five favorite crazy celebs. Maybe she’s still heavily medicated for her chronic pain issues – but she’s still saying some delusional things. Paula claims that her cheesy late 80s/early 90s pop career was so influential that she’s truly inspired Rihanna and Beyonce. Sadly, neither of them have sung with M.C. Skat Cat.

American Idol judge Paula Abdul is taking the credit for inspiring modern pop stars including Rihanna and Beyonce.

The singer rose to fame in the 1980s, selling over 23 million records worldwide and topping the American charts six times before taking a musical hiatus in 2000. She subsequently re-launched her career as a judge on the hit TV talent show and returned to the pop charts in 2008. And Abdul is convinced her long running career and her forward thinking music videos have paved the way for the music stars of today.

She says, “My videos stand the test of time. They are like the almanac for every performer. Even Rhianna has come up to me and said ‘I hope you don’t mind.’ And Beyonce. 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.”

[From Starpulse]

Boy, there are some nice little exaggerations in that article. Most notably that Paula had a music career until 2000. Maybe she kept putting out CDs, but that doesn’t mean anyone was listening to them. I don’t remember her getting any airplay after 1994. Though I will sadly admit that I still have “Rush, Rush” on my iPod. For shame.

Paula honey, you were not the first person to interact with an animated character. Maybe you came up with the idea for M.C. Skat Cat (though I find that claim a little dubious at best), and it was cool at the time, I’ll give you that. But I really don’t see a whole lot of Skat Cat’s influence in Rihanna’s videos, unless I’m missing something. You were an okay pop star, but I wouldn’t say innovative. But keep up with the self-congratulatory statements. They’re almost as entertaining as watching a cartoon cat dance.

Here’s Paula at the Screen Actors Guild Awards last night. Images thanks to Splash.

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23 Responses to “Paula Abdul claims she inspired Rihanna and Beyonce”

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  1. guest says:

    it is entirely possible she was an inspiration to them, but they should be the ones saying so, not her.

  2. mE says:

    Am I the only one to find it hilarious that Paula Abdul is a judge in a singing competition?

    I always thought her singing voice was pretty nasal.

  3. california angel says:

    I could see how her choreography would be influential.

  4. hmm says:

    Well now we know who to blame.

  5. Cinderella says:

    If Rihanna and Beyonce actually approached her, that’s great. Despite having no real singing voice, Paula knew how to work with the right people to release hits and make entertaining videos. And she did appear to work her ass off in those days.

    Let the crazy lady be!

  6. bdthomp says:

    Her neck is very glittery in that top photo.

  7. meow mix says:

    She makes me laugh! I can’t help it she just cracks me up!

  8. Shannon says:

    Hahahaha…I finished reading that quote and I’m still laughing. “My videos stand the test of time.” OMG!!! That’s some classic shit!

  9. Giz says:

    …Well, if that’s what she believes, so be it. I, on the other hand, totally find that to be a whole lotta bull. She should have a singing voice half as good as thoses two. Take it down a few notches honey!

  10. jenn says:

    that chick is crazy she wishes she could be beyonce or rihanna i hate american idol she sucks

  11. Diva says:

    I don’t doubt Rhianna and Beyonce said to her when they met her. That’s what you say to people who were doing your job decades before you when you meet them, even if they weren’t great at it, just to be polite, I suppose. But I must agree, it’s not something Paula should be talking about… it’s very unbecoming.

  12. deka says:

    i agree with #1 🙂

  13. Shelby says:

    I like Paula crazy azz!!

  14. Di says:

    I have to give her the credit she’s due. Paula Abdul was one of the foremost choreographers of music videos in the 80s, and her choreography has shaped music videos ever since (mostly through Janet Jackson rather than Paula herself but why parse words). I think she deserves some credit.

  15. snappyfish says:

    she voice was very pinched. she should really try and be known for her choreography. She did ‘can’t buy my love’ and ‘coming to america’ and many music videos (janet jackson in the 80s) she is just a crazy woman now. Fun to watch and to watch implode.

    But it is true, those she said were inspired by her should be the one saying it, otherwise it reeks of ‘blowing one’s own horn’ and let’s face it, sounds a bit sour.

  16. snappyfish says:

    Her voice was very pinched. she should really try and be known for her choreography. She did ‘can’t buy my love’ and ‘coming to america’ and many music videos (janet jackson in the 80s) she is just a crazy woman now. Fun to watch and to watch implode.

    But it is true, those she said were inspired by her should be the one saying it, otherwise it reeks of ‘blowing one’s own horn’ and let’s face it, sounds a bit sour.

  17. natasha says:

    I absolutely agree, Di.

  18. snappyfish says:

    computer acting mad today, sorry for the double post.

  19. barneslr says:

    Make fun of her all you want. She WAS popular for a while, and she had/has as much talent as many of the so-called “divas” today. She just didn’t market herself as a self entitled bitch, such as the only moderately talented Beyonce.

    All I can say is that I can still remember her videos and the words to several of her songs, which is more than I can say about a lot of singers from that era. Back then she was young, cute, a great dancer and a fairly good singer with a string of hits.

    I agree she sounds a bit full of herself, but the comments about her being untalented are unwarranted.

  20. mel says:

    And how many #1 hits did Paula have? LMAO she’s nuts!

  21. Giz says:

    How about we call her “under talented”?

  22. barneslr says:

    Mel-she had 6 number ones hits. Two of her albums went multi-platinum and one went gold.

  23. AC says:

    Her first two albums were good but I didn’t enjoy the rest (I didn’t even know she had released more in the late 90s).

    I think her dance moves were very influential to others but her singing voice is another story.

    She’s funny and always dresses crazy. How can someone with so much money dress so tacky?