# Straight Up Paula!

Straight Up Paula! was the second headlining concert tour by American singer Paula Abdul. The tour marks the singer's first headlining tour in 27 years, since her 1991–92 Under My Spell Tour. The tour played 25 concerts throughout North America.

## Background

On July 9, 2018, it was announced that Abdul would go on tour to celebrate the 30th anniversary of her debut album, Forever Your Girl (1988). Ticket sales started four days after the announcement. The singer said that "It's been decades since I've done my own tour, but I had a great taste of what it's like being on the road last summer with the New Kids on the Block and Boyz II Men, and had a great time. It was just a real warm welcome and [it reminded me] of how it felt like when I was on the road constantly years and years ago".

## Critical reception

The tour received positive reviews throughout its run. Debra L. Rothenburg of Infocus Visions gave a positive review of the Staten Island show stating “Ms. Abdul at age 56 is a bundle of energy and she sings and dances and owns the stage the same as she did over 25 years ago.” Shaun Astor of Tahoe Onstage gave a positive review of the Reno show stating “Paula did exactly what she explained she had done throughout her career: persevered. And when it was all over, she stepped out of the spotlight and left a room full of people with ecstatic smiles on their faces.” Eileen Shapiro of Get Out gave a positive review of the show in Englewood, stating “The visual cascade was extraordinary, sequentially fascinating and vibrant.”

## Setlist

This set list is from the concert on November 25, 2018, in Lynn. It is not intended to represent all shows from the tour.
* "(It's Just) The Way That You Love Me"
* "Knocked Out"
* "Singin’ in the Rain"
* "Opposites Attract"
* "Cold Hearted"
* "Rush Rush"
* "Blowing Kisses in the Wind"
* "The Promise of a New Day"
* "Crazy Cool"
* "Straight Up"
* "Forever Your Girl"

## Shows

| Date | City | Country | Venue |
| North America ||||
| October 18, 2018 | Tulsa | United States | River Spirit Casino |
| October 20, 2018 | Biloxi | United States | Hard Rock Live Biloxi |
| October 25, 2018 | Windsor | Canada | The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor |
| October 26, 2018 | Northfield | United States | Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park |
| October 27, 2018 | New Buffalo | United States | Silver Creek Event Center |
| November 2, 2018 | Lincoln City | United States | Chinook Winds Casino |
| November 3, 2018 | Lincoln City | United States | Chinook Winds Casino |
| November 4, 2018 | Reno | United States | Reno Ballroom |
| November 6, 2018 | Modesto | United States | Gallo Center for the Arts |
| November 7, 2018 | Santa Rosa | United States | Luther Burbank Center for the Arts |
| November 9, 2018 | Temecula | United States | Pechanga Resort & Casino |
| November 10, 2018 | Las Vegas | United States | Red Rock Resort Spa and Casino |
| November 11, 2018 | Chandler | United States | Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park |
| November 13, 2018 | San Diego | United States | Copley Symphony Hall |
| November 16, 2018 | Tucson | United States | Fox Theatre |
| November 17, 2018 | Indio | United States | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino |
| November 23, 2018 | Bethlehem | United States | Sands Bethlehem Event Center |
| November 24, 2018 | Englewood | United States | Bergen Performing Arts Center |
| November 25, 2018 | Lynn | United States | Lynn Memorial City Hall and Auditorium |
| November 28, 2018 | Staten Island | United States | St. George Theater |
| November 29, 2018 | Uncasville | United States | Mohegan Sun Arena |
| November 30, 2018 | Norwalk | United States | Wall Street Theater |
| December 2, 2018 | Oxon Hill | United States | The Theater at MGM National Harbor |
| December 5, 2018 | San Antonio | United States | HEB Performance Hall |
| June 7, 2019 | Los Angeles | United States | LA Pride |

## Cancelled shows

List of cancelled concerts, showing date, city, country, venue and reason for cancellation :
| Date | City | Country | Venue | Reason |
| October 3, 2018 | Morristown | United States | Mayo Performing Arts Center | Production issues |
| October 4, 2018 | Lynn | United States | Lynn Memorial City Hall and Auditorium | Rescheduled due to production issues |
| October 6, 2018 | Rama | Canada | Casino Rama | Production issues |
| October 7, 2018 | Verona | United States | Turning Stone Resort Casino | Production issues |
| October 9, 2018 | Staten Island | United States | St. George Theatre | Rescheduled due to production issues |
| October 10, 2018 | Englewood | United States | Bergen Performing Arts Center | Rescheduled due to production issues |
| October 12, 2018 | Westbury | United States | NYCB Theatre at Westbury | Production issues |
| October 13, 2018 | Lincoln | United States | Twin River Event Center | Production issues |
| October 14, 2018 | Oxon Hill | United States | The Theater at MGM National Harbor | Rescheduled due to production issues |
| October 19, 2018 | Lake Charles | United States | Golden Nugget Lake Charles | Production issues |
| October 23, 2018 | Bethlehem | United States | Sands Bethelem Event Center | Rescheduled due to scheduling conflicts |
| March 30, 2019 | Orillia | Canada | Casino Rama | Unforeseen circumstances |