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. Abdul 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 DateCityCountryVenueNorth America October 18, 2018TulsaUnited StatesRiver Spirit CasinoOctober 20, 2018BiloxiHard Rock Live BiloxiOctober 25, 2018WindsorCanadaThe Colosseum at Caesars WindsorOctober 26, 2018NorthfieldUnited StatesHard Rock Rocksino Northfield ParkOctober 27, 2018New BuffaloSilver Creek Event CenterNovember 2, 2018Lincoln CityChinook Winds CasinoNovember 3, 2018November 4, 2018RenoReno BallroomNovember 6, 2018ModestoGallo Center for the ArtsNovember 7, 2018Santa RosaLuther Burbank Center for the ArtsNovember 9, 2018TemeculaPechanga Resort & CasinoNovember 10, 2018Las VegasRed Rock Resort Spa and CasinoNovember 11, 2018ChandlerWild Horse Pass Motorsports ParkNovember 13, 2018San DiegoCopley Symphony HallNovember 16, 2018TucsonFox TheatreNovember 17, 2018IndioFantasy Springs Resort CasinoNovember 23, 2018BethlehemSands Bethlehem Event CenterNovember 24, 2018EnglewoodBergen Performing Arts CenterNovember 25, 2018LynnLynn Memorial City Hall and AuditoriumNovember 28, 2018Staten IslandSt. George TheaterNovember 29, 2018UncasvilleMohegan Sun ArenaNovember 30, 2018NorwalkWall Street TheaterDecember 2, 2018Oxon HillThe Theater at MGM National HarborDecember 5, 2018San AntonioHEB Performance HallJune 7, 2019 Los AngelesLA Pride
Cancelled shows + List of cancelled concerts, showing date, city, country, venue and reason for cancellation Date City Country Venue ReasonOctober 3, 2018MorristownUnited StatesMayo Performing Arts CenterProduction issuesOctober 4, 2018LynnLynn Memorial City Hall and AuditoriumRescheduled due to production issuesOctober 6, 2018RamaCanadaCasino RamaProduction issuesOctober 7, 2018VeronaUnited StatesTurning Stone Resort CasinoOctober 9, 2018Staten IslandSt. George TheatreRescheduled due to production issuesOctober 10, 2018EnglewoodBergen Performing Arts CenterOctober 12, 2018WestburyNYCB Theatre at WestburyProduction issuesOctober 13, 2018LincolnTwin River Event CenterOctober 14, 2018Oxon HillThe Theater at MGM National HarborRescheduled due to production issuesOctober 19, 2018Lake CharlesGolden Nugget Lake CharlesProduction issuesOctober 23, 2018BethlehemSands Bethelem Event CenterRescheduled due to scheduling conflictsMarch 30, 2019OrilliaCanadaCasino RamaUnforeseen circumstances
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