Paula Abdul - Straight Up (official Music Video) -

Before the video, "Straight Up" was already rising on the charts, but the visual component is credited with cementing Abdul’s stardom. It proved that high-quality visual style and dance capability could propel an artist to the top of the industry, even when critics were skeptical of their vocal range. The video remains a definitive example of the "MTV Generation" aesthetic. Paula Abdul: Straight Up (Video 1989) - IMDb

The video utilized a stark black-and-white color scheme, which critics noted drew significant attention to Abdul’s precise movements. Paula Abdul - Straight Up (Official Music Video)

It was directed by David Fincher , who later became an acclaimed film director ( Fight Club , The Social Network ). Before the video, "Straight Up" was already rising

The Cultural and Aesthetic Impact of Paula Abdul’s "Straight Up" (1989) Paula Abdul: Straight Up (Video 1989) - IMDb

Movements were designed to be both "sharp and snappy" to match the upbeat tempo and easily replicable for a broad commercial audience.