Paula Abdul‘s debut album, Forever Your Girl, was released on June 13, 1988. But the first two singles, “Knocked Out” and “(It’s Just) The Way That You Love Me,” failed to crack the Top 40. But once “Straight Up” was released, there was no stopping the choreographer-turned-singer. Abdul’s pop career really took off, with the song becoming her first #1 hit.

Two more number-one hits from the album followed in succession, “Forever Your Girl” and “Cold Hearted.” Fueled by that trio of #1 singles, Forever Your Girl hit #1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart on October 7, 1989, finally checking into the penthouse after a crazy-long 64 consecutive weeks on the chart. Abdul’s record still stands today.

In light of that success, “(It’s Just) The Way That You Love Me” was re-released, reaching #3 on its second try, but it was the sixth single from Forever Your Girl, “Opposites Attract,” that landed Abdul her fourth #1 hit. The song’s success was aided by a memorable music video in which she co-starred with a scene-stealing cartoon cat, MC Skat Kat. The live-action/animated clip, which won the 1991 Grammy for Best Short Form Music Video, was inspired by one of Abdul’s dance heroes, the inimitable Gene Kelly, who partnered with Jerry, the mouse from Tom and Jerry, for a scene in the 1945 film, Anchors Aweigh.< Her wild pairing with MC Skat Kat also helped Abdul claw her way back up to the top of the albums chart. Twenty one years ago today, Forever Your Girl began a 9-week run at #1.

With “Opposites Attract” a smash, it wasn’t the last time we saw MC Skat Kat. A single, “Skat Strut,” and an album, The Adventures of MC Skat Kat and the Stray Mob, followed. But without Paula Abdul always at his side, the future of the fictional rapper was sketchy to begin with, and both releases flopped.

Purchase Paula Abdul – “Opposites Attract” via iTunes, Amazon MP3.