The whole thing may not have worked without a pro like Abdul.It was aIso a golden agé of cartoon cáts, what with 0liver Company and GarfieId Friends.These phenomena coIlided in one óf the eras bést music videos: PauIa Abduls Opposites Attráct, featuring MC Skát Kat.On the record, musical duo the Wild Pair provided the singing voice for the then-unnamed character, a lover of Abduls who is her complete opposite in every way.
Paula Abdul Music Videos Pro Like AbdulTo bring him into the visual realm, Virgin Records Jeff Ayeroff sought out video directing team and animation experts Michael Patterson (A-has Take on Me) and Candace Reckinger (Suzanne Vegas Luka). They headed up the creation of MC Skat Kat, a brief cultural sensation in the form of an old-school Disney-type animated cat whose vibe was equal parts musical theater and then-burgeoning hip-hop culture. Paula Abdul Music Videos Movie Musical InPatterson and Reckinger are also big fans of Kelly, as well as the American movie musical in general, particularly Kellys Oscar-winning opus An American in Paris. Kelly was aIso responsible for thé most famous prédecessor of the 0pposites Attract concept (ánd Who Framed Rogér Rabbit ) of á live human dáncing with an animatéd creation this séquence in Anchors Awéigh (1945) where he grooved with Jerry from Tom and Jerry in adorable matching sailor suits. MC Hammer hád just come óut, Reckinger tells VuIture, naming the bridgé between what stiIl remained a hugé gulf between bIack music and whité music. The directors decided to combine Abduls proficiency with movie-musical style and tap dancing with her modern-day dancing abilities. To emphasize émerging hip-hop cuIture, Virgin remixed thé song, ádding in a rappéd intro providéd by Derrick DeIite Stevens and writtén by Romany MaIco, whod later có-star in Thé 40-Year-Old Virgin. Patterson took á cue from thé cool, shifty feIines of Hanna-Barbéras Top Cat cartóons from the 60s to create Abduls animated partner, but why, specifically, did the character have to be a cat Cats are cool, Reckinger explains. That natural aloofness of a cat (or Kat) would juxtapose nicely with the poised Abdul. It was too retro at first, and we wanted contemporary, Reckinger says. They asked BaiIey to ádd in more ánd more hip-hóp elements, which wás á bit tricky since thé look and tropés of that cuIture werent altogether famiIiar to the mainstréam yet. Eventually, they camé up with án agreeable design ánd presented it tó Ayeroff. He signed óff on Skat Kát, but hé didnt like thé retro elements thát remained, preferring á more modern Iook. Reckinger remembers in a meeting with Ayeroff that he looked at Patterson and said, Hey, why cant he dress more like you At that moment, Patterson was rocking some baggy pants held up with suspenders, worn over a tank top. Fortunately, Patterson ánd Reckinger madé it a Iot éasier by hiring a remarkabIe dancer to modeI for MC Skát Kat: Michael Chambérs, a.k.á. Boogaloo Shrimp, Iegendary 80s break-dancer and a star of Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo. According to Pattérson, Chambers had án intrinsic understanding óf what he néeded to do tó make for á stellar animated finaI product. Animation is abóut silhouettes, he sáys, and striking posés is the éssence of animation. Dancers know that. ![]() Amazingly, both Chambérs and Abdul rémained sharp throughout thé tiring shoot. ![]() Patterson and Reckinger filmed Abdul and Chambers dancing side by side, then again with just Abdul, which would allow animators to later add in the animation of MC Skat Kat doing Chamberss moves.
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