My Car Ride with Paula Abdul: "All the World Needs is Love" - and Gays!

I'm a lifer fan of Hey Paula, so the prospect of meeting Paula Abdul was almost too much for me to handle. But when she and Randy came to TRL Monday to promote her new "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow" single and Randy Jackson's Music Club album (watch Paula's video after the jump), it was actually happening ... happening! 

But yes, sometime in transit between TRL and David Letterman, Paula and I had a semi-intimate, car-ride chat ... all about the gays, of course. If you'd like an intro, and an idea of the amazing and cleavage-y outfit Paula changed into, here's Paula on Letterman. (She calls Randy "The Dude-Dog-Dude on my left.")

And read my Q&A - and my take on Paula in real life - after the jump!

OK, so I know I said "intimate chat," but let me set the scene of waiting around in the TRL green room for you: Being Paula, she was late and disappeared into her dressing room with her gay until right before the TRL taping ... and then she had to dash to David Letterman right after. Needless to say, a blog interview got bumped.

Good news, though! Paula's publicist felt bad for me and invited me to ride in their black car from TRL to Letterman - all six blocks - and speak with Paula there. So I was actually living Hey Paula! Her life is actually just like that show: walking from event to event, Paula semi-listening to a string of assistants carrying her clothes and hat boxes reminding Paula what she's doing and where she's going ... but plus me this time!

And, as a person, Paula's just like she is on the show. Obviously, I only spoke with her for a moment or two, but she was a little ... dreamy ... a little tired - but hey, she was on no sleep and people were pulling her in a million directions. And she was nothing but sweet to me as a member of gay press, 'cause Paula loves her gays, as you'll find out.

Watch her video - which Paula directed and choreographed - before reading the Q&A 'cause I led off the convo with her video concept. I didn't have time to ask too many questions, and she kind of just talked about what she wanted to talk about, but come on - Paula is Paula.

So you've said the "Dance" track blends Classic Paula with what's hot right now. Can you tell me about your early concept for the video?

What I was trying to go for was something ... like for instance, my videos still stand the test of time; they’ve been like the almanac for a lot of young, female performers. So I knew I had to something that was Classic Paula, but completely different from everything I’ve done before. So I wanted to make it avant-garde, but really fun - and I wanted to have a cheerleading stomp in the middle.

The whole thing for me, this whole thing I wanted to do ... with portraits: If I could do stills and take their picture – and maybe ... everyone would remember ... ‘cause that’s how I see choreography in my head: Polaroid pictures - since I was a little child.

And I had a lot of fun in post-production, building on old Getty images from cheerleading. Also when I stand up the ship - when I was the captain of the ship - I took the frame, when I saw it, I have this frame at home that has sea shells ... and the net ... and the treasures...

Well, you know gays all love Classic Paula. What do you think about where your talents lie, or your music, attracted such a gay following?

I’ve had so many different careers that have all been about music and dance and helping other artists realize their potential. And then when it was time for me to come out, I kind of had an already built-in audience of fans based on what I did with other artists. So everyone kind of ... kind of hung in there with me. -she whispers and smiles-  I’ve had a tremendous love for the gay audience. You give love, you get love back, you know what I mean? And you can never take for granted ... the magnitude of your core fan-base.

And I’ve done a lot of things, you know ... I’ve hosted AIDS danceathon, AIDS Walk in L.A. - always a part of that, raising money – I started the Pediatric AIDS Foundation for Elizabeth Glaser – a lot of people don’t know that. -my eyes must have widened-

Yeah, I did - with Elton John. Yup, with Elton John - the two of us together. My whole life - my best friends ... I lost a lot of best friends…um… -she looks down and pauses- ...Yeah, you know, people ask, All your friends are gay, and I go, They are? -laughs- I say, Really? I didn’t know that. Why are you pointing that out? –smiles- People are people. Love is color blind ... race, or preference ...

(We’ve arrived at Letterman at this point, and her camp isn't happy with me.)

Call me silly, but I do believe ... all the world needs is love. And that’s how I feel, you know? My closest, closest friends always have been gay, and that’s the affinity I have. And sometimes I feel like –she whispers again- I’m always misunderstood – but not by my gays. ‘Cause they know who I am; they know my plights. I’ve been up here -she motions-; I’ve been down here.

And that was it! Paula apologized but quickly got out of the car to pose for photographers.

Ooooh, I'm still recovering from it all... Meanwhile, here's Part 2 of Paula's Letterman segment for your enjoyment...

Comments

[BV]

I'll bet that while riding with you in the car she secretly wanted to pop your head off and dangle you from the rearview mirror.

[hey]

she is awesome, i love her