Notably, Abdul has released three studio albums so far: Forever Your Girl (1988), Spellbound (1991), and Head Over Heels (1995). Subsequent to that, she has for the most part been on a musical hiatus.
After her initial period of success, Abdul suffered a series of setbacks in her professional and personal life, until she found renewed fame and success in the 2000s as a celebrity judge on the television series American Idol (2001-2009).
In 2011, it was revealed that she would judge on the new show created by former partner in crime Simon Cowell, along with Island Def Jam owner L.A. Reid, and former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger. After the success of the show's first season however, Abdul, Scherzinger, and their host Steve Jones were fired by the staff.
In 2000, she co-wrote "Spinning Around", a dance-pop track intended to be the lead single off her new album. The album never materialized and "Spinning Around" was given to Kylie Minogue as a single. The song became highly successful and re-launched Minogue's career, as it was intended to do for Abdul, and reached #1 in numerous countries.
According to her official website, Abdul is working on a new album that is reportedly scheduled for release by the end of 2008. Her first single from the album Dance Like There's No Tomorrow was released March 11, 2008 and is also featured as the opening track in the multi-artist compilation album Randy Jackson's Music Club, Volume One.
Official website: WWW.Paula.com
One or the Other
Paula Abdul Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To make up your mind
You shouldn't even try
I'm tired of hearing all of your lines
Just tell me that you're mine
You know I'm better than she'll ever be
It's very clear to me
I'll let you mess with me
But baby can't you see
You can only have (one or the other)
Is it gonna be her or
Is it gonna be me
You can only have (one or the other)
If it's gonna be her
You gotta set me free
Let me tell you that it hurts so bad
When you're the last to know
My friends told me so
My heart was always just for you
But now you want her too
You see her you try her
You're always on fire
But boy I've got news for you
You've taken advantage
But baby you can't have
Your cake and eat it too
One or the other
You can't get it right
You say I'm your lover
But someone else is waiting
One or the other
I'm not gonna fight
This won't last forever
So stop your hesitating
One or the other
You can't get it right
You're so undercover you always think I'm playing
One or the other
You want me tonight
I'm not gonna play
It boy
I'm not with it
One or the other
You got to get it right
Said ya can't have
Your cake and eat it too
The lyrics of Paula Abdul's "One or the Other" speak of a woman's frustration with a man who can’t decide between her and another woman. As she realizes that he's been stringing her along with empty promises, she demands a clear-cut decision. She is tired of his indecisiveness and wants him to make up his mind once and for all, even though it would mean that she might get hurt. She lets him know that her heart belongs to him, but he cannot continue to play with her emotions.
The chorus of this song highlights the theme of the song by saying, "One or the other, you can't get it right, you say I'm your lover, but someone else is waiting." It tells the man that he can't have both women and must make a choice. The song captures the confusion and frustration that come with uncertain love and relationships, and emphasizes the importance of making a decision rather than leading someone on.
Line by Line Meaning
If you think you're gonna have the time
If you believe you have the time to decide on what you want
To make up your mind
To make up your mind and choose between me and her
You shouldn't even try
You better not even try to take your time to decide
I'm tired of hearing all of your lines
I'm tired of listening to your excuses and reasons
Just tell me that you're mine
Just tell me that you choose me and only me
You know I'm better than she'll ever be
You know that I am better than her in every way
It's very clear to me
It's obvious to me
No more
I'm done with it
I'll let you mess with me
I'll allow you to play with my emotions
But baby can't you see
But can't you see how much you're hurting me?
You can only have (one or the other)
You can only choose one, me or her
Is it gonna be her or
Are you going to choose her?
Is it gonna be me
Or are you going to choose me?
If it's gonna be her
If you choose her instead of me
You gotta set me free
You have to let me go
Let me tell you that it hurts so bad
Let me tell you how much it hurts me
When you're the last to know
When you find out about something last
My friends told me so
My friends warned me about you
My heart was always just for you
My heart only belongs to you
But now you want her too
But now you want her as well
You see her you try her
You see her and pursue her
You're always on fire
You're always interested and passionate
But boy I've got news for you
But I have something to tell you
You've taken advantage
You have manipulated me
But baby you can't have
But you can't have both of us
Your cake and eat it too
You can't have the best of both worlds
You say I'm your lover
You refer to me as your lover
But someone else is waiting
But someone else is interested in you
I'm not gonna fight
I'm not going to compete with her
This won't last forever
Our relationship won't last forever
So stop your hesitating
So stop being uncertain and make a decision
You're so undercover you always think I'm playing
You're very secretive, and you always think I'm joking
You want me tonight
You want to be with me tonight
I'm not gonna play
I'm not interested in games
One or the other
You must choose
You got to get it right
You have to make the right decision
Said ya can't have
You can't both have
Your cake and eat it too
The best of both worlds
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAULA J ABDUL, DUNCAN PAIN, CURTIS FITZGERALD WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind